A/N: I am SO sorry I haven't updated since May! Crazy that it's been that long! I ended up with really bad writers block and couldn't think of anything for this chapter. Thank you all your wonderful support and kind words! Literally means the world to me. More than I can ever explain! xxx Hope you like this chapter! Let me know what you think! Wonder what will happen next?! :o ;) xxx

Chapter Thirty- Party of the Year

The music boomed loudly, practically vibrating the nicely framed family portraits that hung proudly right off of the walls. Monica Brass was throwing one of her oh so famous end of the year parties and almost every kid from John Adams was there. She was one of the most popular girls in the 10th grade yet I had never heard of her or even met her. Kids got talking and people who normally wouldn't be at those sort of things came anyways. It was typical in the life of a high schooler I suppose. And I wasn't even sure why. Parties never interested me. If it wasn't for my cousin dragging me to such things I wouldn't have ever known how quickly I could get bored. Those types of things never kept my interest. Which was probably a big part of why I had very few friends.

Topanga had practically begged me to go with her, so of course, I said yes after much arguing and hesitating. I knew there was going to be some sort of event that would make me regret doing so, but to see my cousin happy and more or less to shut her up was worth it. I was sure there would be some sort of happy medium in the in-between.

Some kids danced, others laughed with each other like what they were talking about was the funniest thing they had ever heard and others stood around awkwardly sipping from red solo cups. I chewed at my thumb nail and looked around. So far, besides the loud music that nearly deafened me, everything seemed to be okay.

I wasn't sure if Monica was popular due to how pretty sure was or because her parents were stinking rich. It was probably both but what did I know? She had gorgeous jet black hair that seemed to flow endlessly in perfect waves down her back and piercing green eyes that just seemed to sparkle when she spoke. Needless to say, if there was one person I was jealous of besides Topanga, it was definitely her.

Monica danced her way over to us eventually and let out a giggle as she hugged Topanga and then me. "Hope you ladies are enjoying yourselves. Later!" She reeked of alcohol. I had smelt it enough from my own father's mouth to know. I frowned when she disappeared into the crowd of unfamiliar people and turned to Topanga who looked stunning as always. Her super long honey colored hair was slightly pulled back and she was wearing a black knee high skirt and a navy blue collared button up shirt that was tucked neatly into it. It actually meshed really good together. She was also wearing black sandals. Me on the other hand, I was wearing a dress that was split in two colors; the top from the waist up was white and the bottom was lavender and stopped at my knees. I was also wearing white flats and my hair was curled. I felt like I was overly dressed for a high school party, but the truth was that it was my first and I had no idea how to even stand there properly without looking like a fool, let alone dress not looking like one.

I chewed on my thumb nail, nervous as I looked around. I had been there all of 20 minutes and had wanted to leave the second Topanga and I arrived. But let's face it, Topanga was the one who guilted me into going in the first place and I would have never heard the end of it if I had left.

Topanga looked over at me, swatted my hand away from my mouth and glared. "Don't do that. Not only is it gross but it's awful for your nails."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah." I said almost as if I was a child being told the hundredth and tenth time by their mother to do something. "So, when does this get fun?"

Topanga's eyes suddenly lit up when Cory all of the sudden appeared out of nowhere. How disgustingly cute. Cory's did the same and he was quick to come over and greet her with a quick kiss and a hug. "Hey."

Topanga grinned from ear to ear. "How long have you been here?"

Cory's normally cheery face slumped into a frown. "Long enough to know Shawn isn't here and probably won't be."

"You're worse than a worried girlfriend." Topanga teased. "Monica's parties are always big. Im sure he'll be here."

I frowned as well. The only person who had seen Shawn since the incident at Chubbie's was Cory. He was the only person he let near him, which honestly wasn't shocking at all. He stopped coming to school, he stopped hanging out with Cory, hell, he even stopped being at his trailer. It was like he was very good at disappearing into thin air when he wanted to and I hated it. I just wanted to tell him I was sorry.

Cory and Topanga continued talking and before I knew it, they had vanished into the crowd of strange kids to get refreshments, leaving me to stand alone. Wonderful. As if my anxiety hasn't been bad enough. I didn't understand why Topanga forced me to come, just to ditch me.

It wasn't too long later that a loud, familiar laugh caught my attention. Standing along side Eric surrounded by a sea of girls, was none other than Jason. You could tell the girls were mainly focused on Eric however, which was probably why he was laughing loudly; to gain someone's attention. Sure he was short and a little obnoxious, but it wasn't like he was ugly or something. For some reason, I hadn't see him the whole time I had been back to Philadelphia. Maybe it was because most of his classes were in the side of the school most kids didn't know existed, maybe it was because he was avoiding me. I wasn't sure, but I would be damned if I didn't find out. What else did I have to do with my pathetic time? I already felt weird enough standing there alone.

I shifted my dress, quickly fixed my hair, checked my breath and made my way over, as sexily as I could. Being an awkward teenage girl, it was pretty well impossible to do so, but I was going to try.

That seemed to be proven absolutely true though when just as I reached him, I was bumped into and caused to fall on my face. I had accidentally knocked another person's drink out of their hand on the way down as my arms flailed everywhere. So, not only was I lying on the ground, my dress hiked up almost exposing my underwear, but I was covered in something that smelt like peppermint gum. Everyone laughed and no one decided to be nice enough to help me up.

How great.

I'd forced be remembered as that girl at the party who fell on her face. Kind of like the incident at Chubbie's when I fell down the stairs. It appeared that Jason just seemed to have had that affect on me considering most of my klutzy moments happened around him.

I pushed myself to a sitting up position and looked around embarrassed, everyone still laughing, some pointing. I frowned and sat there embarrassed. It took forever but Jason finally noticed it was me and rushed over.

"Hey, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

My cheeks flushed a deep scarlet. I shook my head and he helped me up. "Only my pride." I mumbled.

Jason laughed and looked over at Eric who was staring over at us in concern. I gave him a weak smile that let him know I was fine, he gave me a small smile in return and his attention was once again diverted. Within seconds, Jason had disappeared and reappeared with crumpled up napkins. "It was all I could find that wasn't covered in some sort of.. Liquid substance."

I eagerly took it and wiped what I could off. I literally smelt like mouthwash, so much for the expensive perfume Topanga let me use. "Thanks."

The music seemed to get quieter, which I was thankful for; my head had started to hurt and my ears were practically throbbing.

"Just can't help but to fall for me, eh?" He asked, his lips curling into his famous smirk.

"Pft," I finished cleaning myself off the best I could and tossed the napkins at a near by table, frowning when it missed and bounced onto the floor. "You only wish."

Jason chuckled. "I don't need to wish. We both know the truth." He teased. I stuck my tongue out at him. "So, uh, I thought you went to Pittsburgh?"

"I did. Eric didn't tell you that I came back? He drove me."

Jason's eyebrows practically knitted together and he glared over towards his best friend. "No, I had no idea. And I haven't seen you around, so how could I know different?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

It then went silent between us, only the sounds of other teenagers becoming even more intoxicated; laughing loudly and talking pretty well incoherently surrounding us. I bit at my thumb nail again, slightly more anxious than I had been on my own. And Jason rubbed the back of his neck and looked around, a half full solo cup in his other. It wasn't like we were strangers or ex lovers who hadn't seen each other for years. It had only been a month, so why was it so weird?

Jason took a large gulp of his drink and then turned towards me. "Uh, this may seem random, but do you have a date to prom? Or, well, er-do you want to be mine, for my prom?"

Before I could answer, a loud crash echoed from the front door of Monica's house and the music stopped. I jumped slightly and turned my attention towards it, as did practically everyone. I couldn't really see what was going on as people began to crowd together but I was quick to try and push through to see, Jason not far behind.

After a minute of struggling, the way became clear and the sight before me made my heart practically burst. I was horrified and angry all at once.

Shawn and Harley were going at it, fists flying everywhere, blood dropping from both of their faces and no one was doing anything. Everyone was just standing around like zombies. I didn't even know Shawn had came to the stupid party. Or Harley for that matter.

Yet there they were.

And there was no way I was going to do nothing.

I lunged forward without thinking.

What did I have to lose?