So I'm trying to get everything updated. Everything I haven't updated for awhile. I might just call Unfaithful finished. I like the way it ended and inspiration is few and far between. If you don't already know I'm grounded from the internet. It's also my birthday today so yay me 8D.

This if for thiscoffeeshop (Laxmi--who is my buddy! And wife.) and mandydoesntknow (Mandy--whose birthday is the day before mine) and the DACE girls (who have been an amazing support!) And to everyone who has reviewed! You guys are the best!

Even Better
Chapter Five
Ooooh, Jealousy

BEGIN&&

Two hours before the ball and he didn't have a date. Not that he had been looking, he wanted to go with Macy but she was preoccupied with kissing his older brother and being generally adorable. She was distracting him. Which, in hindsight, was probably why he didn't bother looking for a date. He was certain the search would be much better if he didn't have a certain adorable sporty brunette to worry about. It might've been even easier to find a date if she didn't spend every waking moment as his house, curled up on his couch...nestled snugly against his stupid older brother. Jealousy was a funny thing.

The past few weeks had been awful, terrible, incredibly tough. Not just because Macy was at his house all the time, but because she and Stella thought it would be fun to drag him along on shopping trips to shop for dress fabric or whatever. He wasn't into it and that's what he tried telling them, but Stella insisted. And you know how persuasive she can be. Then, when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he still hadn't found a date! Again, not that he was looking, but it'd be nice to have a date to the "social event of the year" as Stella referred to it.

"Nick!" Stella called from upstairs where she and Macy were getting ready. Joe and Kevin were getting ready in his parents room to give the girls privacy. Nick should be changing with his brothers, but instead he's on dress duty. Which is a lot less awesome than it sounds. He had to make sure nothing went wrong when the girls were changing. Which was kind of a cover for "Nick, we don't want you in the room with us (since it was smaller than theirs), so go wait on Stella and Macy while we change". His brothers were delightful.

"Yes, Stella?" He asked, trying to sound, well, not annoyed, but it wasn't working. Stella ignored his annoyance. Out of the goodness of her heart. Supposedly.

"Come up here and zip me up," she called and Nick sighed.

"Why can't Macy do it?" Nick asked. Walking towards the stairs, despite his comment.

"She's still getting ready," Stella responded. Nick sighed again, wondering why he knew what she was going to say before she said it. He climbed the stairs, almost dragging his feet. He wasn't looking forward to helping Stella get ready. Especially since she and Macy had carted him all over heck and creation to look at the things they bought and give his opinion. They knew he was going to just say everything looked "good", didn't they? Maybe not.

"Okay, Stella," he said, reaching the top of the stairs, "I'm here to assist you in getting your dress on." He lazily made his way towards the blonde who stood in the center of the room.

"About time," Stella said, holding the dress against her body. Nick sighed a third time, he felt like freaking Cinderella and he wasn't quite sure why. He stopped walking when he stood close enough behind Stella to grab the top of her dress, holding it together with one hand while with the other he zipped it up. Stella sighed with relief, turning to face him.

"How do I look?" She asked, flashing him a totally Stella smile. Nick withheld a gasp, taking in the intricate designs on her dress. It was stunning. Stella looked gorgeous in white, some pink accessories completing the outfit.

"Fantastic," he responded, in awe of how she looked. He couldn't wait to see Joe's fa--

Macy walked out of the bathroom, a red gown fitting snug against her body, showing off every curve. Nick's jaw dropped, if Stella looked fantastic, Macy looked incredible, gorgeous, fabulous, amazing, any other adjective to describe her beauty. She smiled at him when she noticed he was there and he felt his heart race. She turned around, showing him the back of the dress where he noticed a short train that began between her back and her rear and went all the way to the floor. Not that he was staring, of course.

"Can you tie this, Nick?" She asked and Nick allowed his eyes to travel upwards to her exposed back and he swallowed. Stella knew how to make a damn good dress.

"Of course," he responded, that's what he was there for right? He crossed the room and grabbed the ribbon that tied the dress around her neck and tied it in a perfect bow. Then, as he stood back, admiring his work he had an overwhelming urge to reach out and slide his fingers down her back. An urge that he gave into, way before he could stop himself.

Her back was smooth. The skin felt good, right, beneath his fingers. She shivered, turning around and staring at him with confused eyes.

"You had something on your back," he managed to choke out, thoughts going crazy. She smiled at him.

"Thanks for, uh, getting it," she responded.

"Anytime," he said. This moment was getting more awkward than he could handle.

"Alright, Nick," Stella said, clapping her hands together, "thanks for helping us. You can go get ready now. Bye." She forced him from the room, pushing him towards one of the three fire poles.

"You're welco--" he began, but Stella shoved him again and he had to grab into the fire pole to save himself from plummeting to his death. Well, sort of to his death. Stella always got a little controlling when she was getting ready for a social event, so he would try not to being up the fact that she very nearly killed him anytime in the near future.

END AND BEGIN AGAIN

By the time he had finished getting ready, everyone else had already gone. It was no surprise, Stella was hosting the event and, well, that really only excused Stella and Joe. Not that he was upset that Macy and Kevin had already left. That just made going to the ball alone that much easier. Or did it make it harder? His thoughts were a jumbled mess of emotions and memories of Macy. A lot of memories of Macy.

He got into his car, setting his mask in the seat next to him and made his way towards the building where the ball was to be held. This was going to be an interesting night. Nick Lucas arriving stag to the Stella-proclaimed "social event of the year". Not that they'd know it was him, he would be wearing a mask. Who was he kidding? He was easy to spot. One look at his hair ought to give him away.

He arrived at the building, minutes later, parking his car and making his way towards the entrance. He wasn't looking forward to this, walking into a ball alone. Not that he wanted to walk into the ball with anyone but Macy on his arm either. Tonight was proving to be rather difficult.

And it didn't help that he was dressed like a prince without a princess.

END&&

Short, I know, but I wanted to at least update something. And to suburbs and farietaleredux, you guys are amazing writers. I can only aspire to be half as amazing as you are. Ohhh. You guys rock!

Read and Review.