Chapter 17...

DANCING WITH MYSELF

The gymnasium of Beverly Hills High was packed to the walls with students, most of which had made an effort to look remotely costume-y. Eve was impressed; she hadn't expected such a good turnout. Everyone around here seemed 'too cool for school' and she hadn't expected costume parties to be their thing.

As she walked into the gym with Jack, Eve felt oddly reassured.

"Shall I go get us a couple of drinks?" Jack asked, placing a hand on Eve's upper arm. He looked so suave; apparently he was James Bond, but Eve thought he just wanted to look cool in a tuxedo. He'd been a perfect gentleman to her; he'd picked her up from her front door, and drove her to the dance.

So far, so good.

"That'd be great," She smiled as she watched Jack walk towards the refreshment table.

Looking around for people she knew, Eve managed to spot a couple of the cheerleaders. Rosa was a sexy vampire in fake teeth, a short red dress and a black cape. Both Bellas wore black veils over their faces, beaded crop tops and long skirts, in what looked to be belly dancer costumes. And Maryse? What else but a French maid in a black bustier dress with white lace trim, fishnet stockings and a small white fluffy duster.

"Well, that's a kickass costume if I ever saw one." Miz approached Eve and couldn't help but admire the ninja costume she'd worked so hard on. In all honesty, she's found a sheet of leather in the garage and made it into a short dress, with a pair of silver shorts underneath, but it had turned around very well. The black boots, gloves, headband and of course, the sword, were just touches.

"Thanks," Eve smirked at Miz's 'Pimp' costume. "You don't look so bad yourself."

"I like to make an effort on Halloween." He shrugged. "And there aren't many other opportunities when I'm gonna get to wear a long leopard-print coat and get away with it."

"Good point."

"I came over because I wanted to apologize, actually." Miz said to Eve. "I'd had a lot to drink, and my behaviour was out of line. Can we just...put it behind us, and forget about it? Fresh start?"

There was still a certain amount of tension after Jack's party, however Eve believed in politeness. She was sceptical, but she saw no point in holding grudges. "Okay," She nodded, and held out a hand for Miz to shake. They shook hands and both smiled. "I'm Eve." She grinned.

"I'm Miz." He replied, and they couldn't help but laugh. "This a little bit lame, isn't it?"

"Totally," Eve rolled her eyes, and felt Jack come up behind her and place a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, you." She turned to her date. "I wanna dance, and you have no choice but to be my dance partner."

Jack held up his hands, "I have to warn you, I'm not much of a dancer-"

"Don't worry," Eve winked, taking Jack's hands in her own. "I'm good enough for the both of us."

Sat on the bleachers, Kelly observed her classmates.

They all look so happy.

And here she was, sat on the bleachers with a face like a slapped ass. She hadn't even really wanted to come; it was only thanks to much persuasion from Eve that she agreed to go. Now she was here, she was regretting even bothering.

"Look who's sat here alone," Kelly looked up and saw Maryse was walking up the steps of the bleachers, and took a seat next to Kelly. "What a surprise, no-one invited you!" Kelly scowled; she hated Maryse. She really hated her. The once best friends were now bitter enemies, and it was all because of Maryse's bitter jealously.

It wasn't Kelly's fault. In freshman year, Kelly won the title of Freshman Homecoming Queen, and Maryse resented her for that. Kelly didn't even think she'd get nominated; people just seemed to prefer her because she was friendlier than Maryse. Ever since Kelly's win, Maryse pretended not to care, but everyone knew it tore the head cheerleader up inside. Kelly's pregnancy just gave Maryse a real reason to hate her.

Kelly didn't really care; good riddance to bad rubbish.

"So how's the white trash lifestyle working for you?" Maryse continued, scathingly. She was in a terrible mood; this was the first dance she'd been to without Jack as her date, and it made her miss him even more.

She decided to change the subject, "If you're so much better than me, then why are you here on the bleachers with the rest of the 'losers'? I thought you were dating some college guy; where's he?"

Maryse huffed. "Jared couldn't make it." The truth was, she hadn't even mentioned the dance to him. She was too embarrassed to ask if a college guy wanted to go to a high school dance. He'd probably have laughed in her face.

"If he goes to college, why would he want to come to a high school dance?" Kelly thought aloud.

Maryse's thoughts exactly.

"Hey guys," Coming up the steps of the bleachers towards the two blondes was Kofi, looking slick in a cop outfit. Maryse expected him to be greeting her, but his attention was fully on Kelly. She'd heard about Kofi's outburst in the cafeteria, sticking up for Kelly. What was he doing?

"Where's Alicia?" Kelly asked. The way she was looking at him...it was the way Maryse looked at Jack.

"With her parents in Florida." Kofi replied. "I'm dateless for the night."

"That makes two of us," Kelly giggled. Maryse sighed; had she become invisible?

"Well...why don't you come dance with me?" Kofi suggested. "You know what they say about cops and sailors!"

"No, I don't, actually." Kelly smirked.

"Me neither, I was hoping you did." He grinned. Kelly was looking pretty sweet in her sailor outfit; a short blue dress with a large white collar, and a sailor cap on her head. "Just dance with me." He held out a hand, which Kelly accepted, and he led her to the dance floor. All Maryse could do was watch as Kofi rested his hands on Kelly's waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, and they swayed to 'Come Back Down' by Lifehouse.

They were way too close for Maryse's liking.

"Have you seen this?" She pulled Rosa away from Zack, and pointed at Kofi and Kelly.

Rosa's red lips formed the shape of an 'O'. "But Kofi's with-"

"Exactly." She scowled. "Kelly Carlyle must be really happy with herself."

The truth was, Kelly was anything but happy. Here she was, dancing with the boy she'd fallen for, but it meant nothing. It meant nothing because he was taken. Kelly could feel tears forming in her eyes, and she rested her head on Kofi's shoulder so he couldn't see her. Kofi wasn't hers, and no matter how much she wanted to change that, she couldn't.

"Dude, I told you this place would be lame." Cody sighed, as he and Ted walked into the hall. There wasn't much time left, only about forty-five minutes, because Ted had spent so long persuading Cody to come, they'd missed over half the dance. "Everyone looks lame."

"No, Cody; you look lame because you're the only one not wearing a costume." Ted rolled his eyes at his friend. "You could've done something-"

"Fine, I'm dressed as you." Cody was wearing a pair of jeans, sneakers and a leather jacket. "Happy?"

"You're a douche." Ted wasn't even sure if he wanted to be here; he never went to school dances, because they were so full of fake happiness, but this was different.

"Ted!" Eve ran up to the two guys, and gave each one a hug in turn. Ted was purely here for Eve; he needed to tell her how he felt, and how better to do it than dressed as GI Joe?

"Cody, it looks like you came dressed as-" Eve eyed him up and down, unimpressed. "-well, you came dressed as Cody. But Ted, you look awesome." She let her gaze wonder over Ted; he looked fantastic in khakis; he definitely had the body to pull it off. "Love the Action Man look."

Ted looked over at Cody who was stifling his laughter by biting down on his finger. "It's actually GI Joe." GI Joe sounded much better. Ted took in Eve's costume. "You look great, too. We could do some serious ass-kicking together-"

"Eve, what're you doing over here?" Jack approached the threesome, and shot Cody and Ted dirty looks. "Let me guess; Action Man and Barbie."

"GI Joe and Cody Rhodes, actually." Ted responded bleakly. He hated Swagger with a passion, and wondered why Eve was hanging out with such a douche. "Are you guys here together?"

"Yeah," Jack said defensively. "You got a problem with that?"

Ted and Jack stepped towards each other, and Eve felt slightly worried that a fight was going to break out, yet slightly intrigued as to who would come out on top. She knew however, that wasn't the sensible thing to do. "Jack," She grabbed him by the hand. "Just leave it." She shot Ted an apologetic look, before pulling her date onto the dance floor.

"For what it's worth, I think you could've taken him," Cody nudged his friend,

"Yeah, well that's not going to get me Eve, is-" Ted didn't finish his sentence, as Jack pulling Eve in for a kiss on the dance floor stopped him in his tracks. He didn't get easily upset, but that hurt.

"Dude, I'm sorry," Cody muttered, unsure how to console his friend.

"Whatever, you were right, this is lame. Let's just go."

I think this is the worst chapter I've wrote, because I totally rushed it (but when it comes to writing, I'm very critical of myself...)
Poor Ted - and what does this mean for Eve/Jack?
Leave a review and keep reading! X