Chapter Two

It was the night everyone's been waiting for, it was prom.

Noel Khan unzipped his backpack and took out some of the books he revised with (yes, Noel Khan revised) last night and placed them in his locker, replacing them with the ones he needed for his first couple of classes. Over the weekend he had been relishing over the fact that her lips touched his cheek, sometimes he even thinks he can still feel it. But after thinking about it, a kiss on the cheek isn't a yes to prom. He's decided to (try) not get his hopes up too much.

''Noel,'' a breathless voice called, approaching him quickly.

He looked at Mona strangely when she wrapped her arms around him tightly, muttering a, ''I'm so sorry.''

''Uh, Kay, what happened?''

Mona broke away from their embrace, her green eyes wide as she looked up at him sadly. ''I was in the bathroom with Rachel and she was being really snappy, so I asked her what was up and she told me,'' she paused, contemplating whether or not to continue. ''She told me that Wren Kingston is going to prom with Spencer .''

His heart dropped, right into his stomach.

''Noel , I'm so sorry.''

''No,'' he plastered a reassuring smile on his face. ''I mean, she said no, right? She said no again and again and again, I just didn't listen to her.'' his voice grew soft as realisation hit him. ''Of course she was gonna find someone else to go with, prom's in a couple of weeks.''

She smiled (she looked like she felt sorry for him; it made him feel a little sick). ''Maybe you could go with Rachel? Both of your crushes are going to prom together, maybe you could, too. As friends,'' she clarified. ''But who knows? It could be more.'' she winked, her smile falling at the look on his face. ''Okay, maybe just as friends.''

''I-uh, I'll think about it.''

''Toby,'' Noel called, jogging after him in the hallway. He made sure Spencer was nowhere in sight (the sight of her made his heart ache, and he didn't want her to hear what he was about to say) before approaching his friend. ''Toby, wait up.''

Toby turned around, looking obviously annoyed holding his crutches. ''Yeah?''

He chuckled dryly. ''You 'let Spencer' got to prom with Wren?'' he questioned, using air quotes to emphasise his sarcasm. ''But going with me is such a bad thing? Do you have any idea how much of a player he is?'' he tried to stop his tone from rising. ''Not to mention the fact he's a huge jerk.''

''He's my friend.'' Toby insisted. ''He'a dating her.''

Rachel was there, sure, but she was just as miserable as he was. They had agreed to attend as friends, even though they weren't even that really, they had actually ever barely spoken two words to each other. But she really liked Damien, more than she probably should, and she just wanted to capture his attention somehow. He didn't blame her. He was doing the exact same thing.

Spencer looked stunning, of course. He had spotted her as soon as he walked through the door, looking amazing in a long green dress, with only one strap on the left shoulder, with this awesome sparkly belt around the place where her ribs are. Spencer also noticed that she didn't have a corsage though, even he got Rachel one of those.

He had saw her talking to Hanna, Caleb by her side. But he hadn't seen her again after that.

Noel liked that though, it hurt less if he didn't see her.

But that didn't stop prom from sucking.

''I'm going to get some fresh air,'' he informed Rachel, who shrugged in response.

Noel walked out of the doors of the gym and took a deep breath. He considered leaving, but he promised Aria and Hanna that he would stay, and they would kill him if he left. But everyone looked so happy with their dates, while he feels like crap. He hates it.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of quiet sobbing from one of the benches around the gym.

The sound was coming from a girl wearing a long green dress.

''Spencer?''

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of quiet sobbing from one of the benches around the gym.

Noel fought the urge to gasp. There she was, black lines down her face from the weird stuff girls put on their eyelashes and her hair (which had earlier been in a fancy twist at the back of her head) now had little pieces sticking out of place, she had obviously been running her hands through it as she cried.

She looked up at him, wiping her tears away hastily. Spencer sniffled, forcing her self to smile a little. ''Um, hey.'' Another tear rolled down her cheek, which she didn't bother to wipe away.

''Spencer, what happened?'' Noel asked softly, walking over to sit next to her on the bench. He placed a hand on her back carefully, rubbing his hand on it to try and comfort her somehow. ''Please don't cry.''

''You know,'' she sniffed. ''I deserve a big, fat 'I told you so'.''

''Well, you're not gonna get it from me.'' He half smiled. ''Spencer, what happened?''

Spencer took a deep breath, leaning into his touch.

(His heart skipped a beat).

''I, uh, it started great. No Josey Grosey thing or anything like that. He was a gentleman, but then he pulled out this key card for a hotel... for tonight.'' She wiped her cheeks, clearing the fresh tears that had fallen. ''I- I said no, that I'm not like that. I didn't want my first time to be with someone I barely know. He... called me prude and just stormed off.''

I'm gonna kill him, he swore.

She looked up at him, giggling slightly as she sniffled. No more tears had fallen. ''No, don't.''

Oh, did he say that out loud?

''He doesn't deserve you,'' Noel stated, moving his arm up to her shoulders to hug her sideways. ''Neither do I. But your first time is supposed to be special, right? I was drunk at some stupid party, and I barely knew the girl.'' Crap. ''Which probably doesn't give you a very good impression.''

Spencer giggled again, leaning her head against his shoulder. ''It doesn't. But I didn't have a good impression of you anyway, so...'' her laughs escalated, making him smile.

He made her laugh. It was him, that was.

''Gee, thanks.''

She stayed silent then, her head still on his shoulder. While Noel had to remind himself how to breathe. He had never felt like this before. And he felt like a real pansy, having a huge crush on a girl and acting like a complete and utter idiot around her. It was humiliating. But at the same time, it felt so good, just simply feel so happy in one moment, just because of one person.

''Let's go and see a movie,'' he announced, standing up quickly, temporarily forgetting that she was leaning against him.

Spencer raised an eyebrow. ''Noel, its prom.''

''I can't go back in there in case I kick Wren's ass, and I don't think you can in case you do the same.''

''Look at me,'' she looked down at herself. ''I can't go to the movies like this.''

''You look amazing.''

A blush rose to her cheeks as she looked down, contemplating his offer. Spencer lifted her head up, holding out a hand. ''You're quite charming, you know that?''

This time it was his turn to blush as he shrugged nonchalantly. ''I try,'' Noel took her hand, lifting her up. ''Besides, we can just be two really rich people going on their first date.''

The two then walked away from the school, laughing with each other along the way.

(He didn't let go of her hand).

''I forgot how far away the movies was from school,'' Spencer muttered, lifting up her foot to rub her now sore ankle as they walked at a slower pace towards the movie theatre. ''We should have stolen a limo or something.''

''Spencer Hastings, you badass.''

''Shut up,'' she muttered, hiding a smile as she placed the shoe back on her foot properly. ''Damn it, these shoes hurt.''

Noel stopped walking, a certain glint appearing in his eye. ''I'll give you a piggy back ride then.''

Her eyebrows rose as she looked at him in disbelief. ''Noel , you can't be serious.''

''Deadly,'' He nodded. ''C'mon, we're almost there and I don't want you to ruin your dress.''

She bit her lip as he squatted down. Spencer lifted up her dress slightly before taking off her shoes and jumping on his back and wrapping her arms around his neck as he tucked his arms beneath her knees to hold her up properly. He chuckled as he started to walk again, feeling her rest her chin on his shoulder as they got nearer to the movie theatre.

''I didn't know you were so strong,'' she commented.

''Don't lie, don't think I don't see you checking me out, like, all the time, Hastings.'' Noel smirked. ''You see my muscles.''

''Shut up, Mr. Big Ego.''

He chuckled, realising that they had reached the back of the theatre car park. ''See, I bet you wouldn't have gotten this far in those shoes.'' he paused. ''Which are really nice, by the way.''

''Thank you.''

Noel could practically hear her grin.

He placed her back on the ground once they reached the main doors. She put on her shoes quickly, attaching the straps and wiping around her eyes, trying to clear any marks of the black gloopy make up stuff, which had already faded after she wiped it with a tissue from her purse at the beginning of their journey earlier.

''Okay,'' she smoothed down her dress. ''How do I look?''

''Beautiful and way too overdressed for the movies.''

Noel pointed an accusing finger at him. ''I told you!''

''Yeah, but we can be just act like snobs.'' He winked at her as they approached the ticket booth. ''Follow my lead.''

She giggled, taking his hand in hers.

Breathe Noel, breathe.

Noel looked at the ticket guy, who looked like he was in his mid-thirties. ''Hello,'' he said in a formal, posh tone. ''Two tickets for,'' he glanced at Spencer, who mouthed the word 'bridesmaids' to him. ''...Bridesmaids?''

The ticket guy snorted, tapping something into his ticket machine, eying Noel in his tux and the girl next to him in the formal gown. ''You're a bit dressed up to see a movie, aren't you?''

''Well,'' Spencer chipped in, mirroring his posh tone from a second ago. ''One likes to get dressed up when one goes to see a movie.''

Noel chortled, covering it with a way too over dramatic cough.

''Isn't it Rosewood High's prom tonight? You look like you're about to go there or something, my sister's there right now.'' the guy commented, taking the money Noel had handed to him.

''We don't go to public school.''

''Daddy would never allow it,'' Spencer chipped in, her lips pressing tightly together to fight the urge to laugh.

The ticket guy discreetly rolled his eyes, handing them the tickets.

Noel giggled as he pulled her into the lobby. ''Did you see his face? He thinks we're totally stuck up. And you actually bought the Bridesmaids ticket? It's a girly movie, I didn't think you'd actually agree to see it.''

''It's a girly movie? Great.''

''Thank you, Noel,'' she grinned as they reached the concession stand. Noel reached into her purse, for some strange reason she had brought money with her to prom (he did too, but he had been using that to get beer after prom), though she froze when he already pulled his wallet out again. ''Noel, let me pay for this...''

''Nope,'' he said, popping on the 'p'. ''It's my treat.''

''You've already done too much...''

Noel chose to ignore her as he looked at the concession stand employee. ''Uh, two cola's and an extra large box of popcorn, please.''

She burst out laughing, her drink almost spluttering out of her mouth if she hadn't swallowed it sooner. ''No way, they jumped into a lake?''

Noel chuckled, munching on the popcorn that they hadn't finished during the movie as they walked along the random rude. Neither of them knew where they were going, he just hoped that Haley was too happy simply being here with him to care. ''Yeah, it was supposed to be romantic until Jake hit the water and panicked, thinking he was drowning. Sara tried to shut him up by kissing him, but it didn't really work.''

''Wow,'' Noel breathed. ''They are cute though, Jake and Aria.''

''I guess,'' he shrugged. ''They always buy each other a bar of chocolate every Friday, because it means another week since they've been dating. They haven't missed a week yet. If Jake did, I think she'd kill him.'' Noel chuckled, shaking his head at the oddness which were his best friends. ''It's kinda sweet.''

Noel then realised that they had found themselves arriving at the river court, causing his smile to widen.

Basketball + Spencer = Heaven.

(You know, without actually dying and stuff).

See, he can do math. Easy.

''Dance with me,'' he said suddenly, holding out a hand like he had done earlier.

''There's no music.''

Noel snorted. ''Well done, Sherlock.'' he mocked. ''But c'mon, haven't you seen romantic movies? You have to dance at prom. We could be like... Allie and Noah without the roads.''

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curved up into an amused smile.

''...Caleb made me watch it.''

Spencer rolled her eyes, giggling slightly. ''If that's your story.'' She took his hand though, her laughs escalating as he pulled her to the centre of the river court, placing a hand on her side. And slowly, and awkwardly, they started to slowly sway to the sound of the wind as the small waves in the lake bobbed along the water.

After a couple of minutes, her soft voice broke the silence, ''Noel?''

''Mm?''

''Thank you for saving my prom- saving me.'' she whispered against his chest. ''I've had a really, really great time with you.''

His heart started to race frantically, even more so when he feared that she would be able to feel it. ''Um, yeah, you're welcome. Any time.''

''Is that a promise?'' Spencer drawled, dare he say it, flirtatiously.

Noel chuckled at the words that were about to come out of his mouth. ''It's a pinkie promise.''

She pulled away from his chest and looked up at him, smiling brightly. ''You know, despite the fact that you used to torture my best friend-''

''-The key word there is used to-''

''-That's two words. And anyway,'' she glared at him mockingly. ''You're actually kinda like... a prince.''

''Spencer Hastings? Did someone slip some alcohol in your soda?'' She's kidding. She's kidding.

Spencer shook her head, giggling. ''Nope,'' She slapped his chest lightly. ''I'm being serious. You're so sweet to me, even though I turned you down, you defended me in front of Carrie and you gave me the perfect prom, even if we didn't spend it dancing with our friends and drinking un-spiked punch.'' Her brown eyes grew wider as she looked at him earnestly. ''What I mean to say is... I'm sorry,'' she whispered, before elaborating, ''For not giving you a chance sooner.''

''It's okay,'' he shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. ''Not everyone appreciates mysmoothness the first time around, or the second, or the third...''

She laughed, rolling her eyes teasingly. ''You have your moments,''

''Pfft,'' Noel scoffed. ''I got you a rose, and I didn't know you were allergic to. And I got punched in the stomach by your cousin, which really hurt, by the way. Then remember when you fell?'' He smirked slightly at her blush. ''I helped you up, and walked you to class! Moments. Moments, my-''

Best. Interruption. Ever.

The feeling of her lips on his was like heaven (basketball and her were great and all, but her interrupting him with a kiss was so much better). His lips moved in sync with hers as a soft moan escaped her mouth as it became more heated as she pressed herself closer to him.

Spencer Hastings just kissed him.

Spencer Hastings just willingly kissed him.

Oh. My. God.

He broke away breathlessly, a dreamy smile on his face. ''That was kinda smooth, Hastings .''

She beamed in response, her lips slightly swollen and eyes wide in... happiness.

''Kinda?''

Noel guided his face towards hers, kissing her again, softer than the first. ''Very.''

review.