this chapter will be with Josh and Avery's POV, bc why not. & I really wanted to write it in Avery's POV, yayyyy
dedicated to @hemmingssbutterfly for the amazing cover ðð
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*Josh's POV*
~*~
The day of winter formal, I was a nervous wreck. I'd never gone to a school dance before so this was pretty exciting yet nerve racking. I had an old Armani suit in my closet and I sighed in relief when I tried it on and it happened to fit. James walks into my room and raises his eyebrows. "Why do you have on the suit you wore to Ava's funeral on?" James asks me. "I'm going to the school dance with Avery." I said and began taking off my clothes. "So you're taking your current girlfriend to a school dance while wearing the suit you wore to your old girlfriend's funeral? Smart move." James says.
I glare at him and he holds his hands up in surrender. "Just saying." He says and I shake my head. "Hey, can Will come over?" James asks me and I shrug. "I guess but I'm not gonna be home." I say. "I know. That's why I'm asking." He says and I laugh. "Why are you laughing? I'm dead serious." James says. "Sure, he can come over." I say, giving in. "Yes!" James exclaims, finally sounding like the 12 year old boy that he is.
I shake my head and text Marco and Ryder, asking if they're going to the dance.
Marcoð - dunno yet, since i got no girl.
Ryderð- hellllllllllllllllllllllllllll yes. i finally got Kendell to give me a chance.
Joshð- bout time ð & c'mon Mo, please come.
Marcoð - fine, fine. I'll go with my single self. you owe me for this.
Joshð - can we go out to eat first?
Ryderð - sure, where tho?
Marcoð - Texas Roadhouse ? Applebee's ? Red Robin ? McDonald's ? ðð
Ryderð - chill kid, i wanna make a good impression on Kendell.
Joshð - lmao same, what's Texas Roadhouse ?
Ryderð - its this steakhouse , its really good and try serve other things besides steak
Joshð - sold, what time? & where.
Marcoð - google it and 6:30?
Ryderð - I'll text you the address later and yeah, sounds good to me.
I throw my fist in the air like at the end of the Breakfast Club and walk into the kitchen. "I want some food!" I exclaim and James comes inside the house, followed by a boy just a little taller than him with brown eyes and brown hair flopped to the side. "Josh, Will. Will, Josh. Okay, bye." James said and Will stayed back. "I like your shirt." He says simply and then follows James up the stairs. I looked down at my Nirvana t-shirt and smiled slightly.
Around 5:30, I finally decide to jump into the shower and start getting ready. The formal would start around 7 and us guys wanted to go out to eat with our dates... Or with Marco's case, just with friends. Since I had taken out my lip ring a while ago, the hole was finally closed up. My phone buzzes and it's a text from Avery.
Averyð - cutieeeeee, i'm at Alexia's house getting ready so come pick me up here.
Joshieð - kayy, bet you look amazing, as always.
I grab my car keys and walk out, to see a brand new black Mercedes Benz. I stare in shock and try to contain my excitement. My phone buzzes and I unlock it.
Marcoð - come scoop, kid.
Joshð - don't you have a whip ?
Marcoð - yeah, but there's an after party and i don't wanna drink and drive. I just wanna drink.
Joshð - fine, i'll let Avery know.
I don't want to be a rude friend to Marco since he's the reason why I have any friends in the first place. And, I did beg him to go to the dance. After texting Avery that Marco's basically third-wheeling, I get inside my car and drive to Marco's house.
~*~
I ring the door bell on my aunt's door and wait. "I swear, it doesn't even feel like winter." Marco whines. "Really? I feel like this is pretty cold." I say, as I try to warm up my hands. "That's because you lived in California, where it's basically summer all the time." Marco points out. "True, true." I say. The door swings open to reveal my cousin, Jessica, who's scowling. I bite back my smile. "Hey, Jess." I say and she scowls even further. "I told you not to call me that." she snaps. "Someone's in a bad mood." I tease.
"Don't test me Josh. I'm really not in the mood. I have a project and an essay due the day we get back and I haven't started on either." she says and walks away. "Jesus, I don't remember middle school being that hard." Marco says. "I was high all the time so it's not like I could remember." I say, shrugging. I step inside the house, with Marco following me and I close the door behind me. I hear giggling and then Avery appears, me barely recognizing her. My eyes widen as I take in Avery is a short, black dress that shows off her legs and lace covering her chest.
Her brown hair was curled to perfection and her make up was flawless, with perfect winged eyeliner and a soft shade of pink lips. Her height was now somewhat taller than usual but she still wasn't as tall as me. I then noticed that my eyes were widen, as was my mouth so I imagine I must look like the shocked emoji. I like to think that I looked like the heart-eyed cat emoji, just because it was what I was feeling in this moment. "Someone cleans up nice." Avery says nervously. I'm at loss of words because of her beauty at this moment.
"Earth to Josh... helloo?" She says and waves her perfectly manicured hand on front of my face. "Uhh, hey." I finally choke out and Marco elbows me in the ribs. For a moment, I forgot he was even here. "You look, breath takingly beautiful." I say and Avery blushes. "I knew you wouldn't need blush!" Alexia exclaims. I turn around to find my cousin, wearing an almost all white, short dress with a black flower printed strap. "Okay, okay cousinnn." I say and she laughs. "Thanks, kid." She says and then she smirks. "Got room for two more in that new car of yours?"
"Um, of course." I say, a little confused on how she knew about my new car. They probably saw me pull up. Of course, what else what it be? I ask myself. "Wait, two?" I ask. "Yeah, hey guys." Brittany says as she appears, wearing a sky blue strapless dress. "Ohhhh, okay. Well, c'mon you guys. I'm hungry." I say. "You're always hungry." Marco rolls his eyes. "Well, so are you." I point out. "Touché." Marco points and I laugh, grabbing Avery by the waist and leading her outside.
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*Avery's POV*
(After Dinner)
~*~
When we finally make it to the school, it was around 9:45, and the parking lot was almost full. "Everyone move out!" Josh exclaims and we pile out of his car. "I'm nervous." I say. "Why on Earth would you be nervous?" He asks me and he kisses my hand. "I heard through some girls on the cheer squad that I'm on the ballot to win Ice Queen." I say. "What?! That's amazing!" He exclaims and I smile but soon my stomach starts doing backwards somersaults. "Emma's on the ballot too." I say quietly. "She's also in charge of counting the votes." I add. "You're scared she might rig it?" Josh asks me and I nod my head. "Just a little." I admit. "Ave, everyone knows you'll be able to bet her. And if she wins over you, then it's a fact that she rigged it." Josh tells me.
"You're right." I say and Josh hands over our tickets and we meet our friends inside. We step into the school gym that's been completely transformed into a Winter Wonderland... or Frozen. The colors were mostly white and gray with small amounts of black. "Fancy," Josh says and I bite back a smile. From a table towards the food, Ryder waves over to us and I nudge Josh, nodding my head to point out our friends. We walk around the group of dancing teens and finally make it to Kendell and Ryder. I hug Ryder and Kendell and Josh does that weird guy hug - handshake with Ryder. "Your dress is so pretty!" I exclaim to Kendell over the music. It was a strapless, pink short dress which she paired with silver heels.
"My dress?! Yours is so much prettier." Kendell pouts. "Hey, how's the date going?" I ask her, nodding to Ryder. She grins widely and then says "So much better than I thought it would be. I'm glad I gave him a chance because I think I'm starting to like him." I hug her and she blushes. "Just don't tell him that, yet. Oh my god! Dance with me!" She says, as DNCE's 'Cake By The Ocean' starts playing. "Only because I love this song!' I exclaim as she pulls me to the dance floor.
That one song turned into many different songs and finally, a slow song started playing. Josh pulled me to him and he wrapped his arms around my waist while i wrapped my arms around his neck. "Are you having fun?" I ask him as we sway to Shawn Mendes's 'Act Like You Love Me'. "Honestly, I am. I thought that I wouldn't but I am." Josh admits. "Well, I'm glad." I say and Josh kisses me on the lips softly. The song finally ends and we pull apart. "Okay, now to announce the Ice Queen and Ice King." The DJ says. "Oh my god, I'm so nervous." I say and Josh wraps his arm around my waist. "Don't be. If you get it then, awesome. And if you don't then it won't matter because you're still awesome." He says and I laugh.
"And the winners are....... Avery Maria Hernandez and Dylan Young!" the DJ announces. "OH MY GOD! I WON!" I exclaim. Josh kisses me and then I walk up to the stage and then I see Dylan. Right, for a moment I forgot he was the Ice King. I stand on the stage and then Emma shows up, and she coronates Dylan first. I feel a pang of resentment just looking at them but I turn to the crowd and smile. I won't let them ruin my moment, I think. Emma then turns to me and walks over to me. She hands me the little crystal wand and I bend down a little so she can place the crown in my head. "Congrats." she whispers. I smile tightly.
As soon as Emma moves out the way, I can look out to the crowd much better. "A round of applause for our King and Queen of Ice." the DJ says and the room bursts with applause. From where I stand, I see a redhead looking at Josh. In a way that I don't really find comfortable, being his girlfriend and all. Suddenly, time seems to slow down and everything is in slow motion. I see as she gets closer and closer to him and she turns him around. There's a shocked look on his face but he definitely recognizes her. And then she pulls him towards her and crashes her lips into his. I can't stand to see this any longer and run down the stage and through the doors and outside.
I take the stupid crown off my head, throw it on the ground and gasp for air. I let out a sob and kick off the stupid heels and then I remember I'm still wearing the stupid necklace he gave me. I take it off and place it in the heels. And the I make a break for it. I start running, and I run all the way home. I bang the door open and fall to the ground. "Oh my God, Avery!" my mother exclaims and I cry even harder. Just what I needed, my mother being home. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asks me and I get up from the ground. I wipe my tears and walk to the bathroom. "Avery, what's wrong?" she asks me. "I don't want to talk about it." I say, locking the door. I fall to the ground and wrap my arms around my legs and cry to myself. My mothers pleads are drowned out by my sobs and I eventually end up falling asleep.
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HOPE IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT YOU GUYS! HAPPY EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT!