Chapter Twenty-Three | Talia

It's been one week since I broke up with Nick. A part of me can't believe I walked away from him. But I knew it was what I had to do. We were fooling ourselves thinking that we could actually make this work.

A relationship couldn't prevail if it was built in a parameter of secrets and stolen moments.

That first day after the restaurant I will admit that like a chicken, I skipped school so I wouldn't have to face Nick. I didn't trust myself not to run into his arms in front of the whole class and tell him to forget last night happened.

But it wasn't like Nick came after me either. A part of me expected him to show up at the beach house and demand we fix things like he did with the misunderstanding of Josslyn.

But he never showed. I didn't get a call or text either, so maybe deep down Nick knew that we were on borrowed time.

I don't know why I thought he'd be absent when I finally talked myself up to go to school. Like he was some teenager who couldn't face their ex and needed time to do whatever it is that guys do to get over a break-up. But I should've known that Nick wasn't like other guys because there he was behind his desk looking as if he didn't have my heart in his hands.

He didn't look at me and I kept my head down as much as possible just praying for the bell to ring, and when it finally did I practically ran out of the classroom.

I tried not to think about him but it's hard when he's literally the first person I see when I get to school, see him in the halls, or when I went to go home to the beach house and remember that's not my home anymore.

And Rhonda has been great. Her daughter and her nephew have been kind to me and I'm grateful to have a roof over my head and be anywhere besides my mom's place with Otis, but sometimes it was hard not to miss having my own place.

There was only three more weeks of school and I couldn't wait to put my small town behind me and head off to New York for college. I got my acceptance letter for Pace University last week for their summer semester so now I was just counting down the days until I could leave.

But before I could put my high school behind me there was one last thing I had to battle: Prom.

I wasn't going to go for obvious reasons, but after a lot of begging and puppy dog eyes from Simone, I caved. She was my best-friend and if it hadn't been for her I would've spent these last few months alone and miserable. So the least I could do for her was put on a pretty dress and dance for a few hours.

"Thank you for being here." I cleared my throat. "I always imagined my mom helping me get ready for my senior prom." I confess.

Caitlin gives me a pity smile. "Well, she's definitely missing out on how absolutely beautiful you look tonight."

For tonight I wore a long satin gold dress with thin gold straps. My hair was piled up on top of my head in a cute updo and my makeup was simple.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"If it makes you feel better, Nick won't be there... so you don't have to worry about him ruining your night." Caitlin tells me.

"I knew he wouldn't be. I can't imagine Nick signing up to a chaperone." I half smile.

"Me either." Caitlin giggled.

"I know you can't wait to get out of here. But promise me you'll take a moment to enjoy yourself. Tonight is a night you'll always look back on."

"I promise."

***

The theme for prom this year was Under The Sea. Different shades of blue and silver and sea related decorations decorated the room transforming the high school gym into an underwater masterpiece.

Everyone looked really good tonight and seemed to be having the time of their lives as one of the latest hip-hop songs boomed over the room.

I scanned the room, looking over heads and past shoulders hoping to find Simone. We were supposed to meet each other here but so far there was no sign of her.

"You look beautiful."

I whip around to see Jackson standing behind me, looking handsome as ever in a classic white tux. His blonde hair was sleeked back and his eyes looked especially brighter tonight.

"And you look like you should be on the cover of a magazine." I admit, which makes Jackson blush.

I smile when I see his flushed cheeks.

"Thank you."

"So, where's your date?" I look around the room for the mysterious girl who Jackson deemed lucky enough to be his prom date.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Addison.

"I'm looking at her."

I blink. "What...?"

"Am I too late? I didn't see you come in with anyone or should I expect to see your boyfriend pulling up?" Jackson asks.

"My boyfriend will not being pulling up because we broke up." I confess.

"Damn. I'm sorry."

"No you're not." He's been after me since my first day at Kerrington.

"I'm not." Jackson admits with a chuckle and I can't help but laugh along with him.

"So, Talia- will you be my date for prom?"

I suck in a breath. Nick and I are over and Jackson is a good guy, not to mention he's my age.

"Yes."

Jackson's smile was so bright in that moment that it rivaled the sun.

"Talia! Oh My God, you look fucking amazing!" Simone squeals as she approaches me.

"Are you kidding me? Look at you! You're so hot!" She left her hair its natural state so that it cascaded down her back and around her shoulders and wore a sexy silver dress with a low cut and back completely exposed.

"Why, thank you." She shimmed her hips and puckered her lips, making me giggle. Liam greeted me with a quick hug to which I use the opportunity to wink at Simone.

She finally got her man.

"Alright ladies and gentleman, time to turn the fuck up!" Jackson announces.

The next two hours go by in a blur. Simone and I have the night of our lives as we sing, dance, and take pictures and videos that we'll laugh and probably question later. But for now, we were capturing every moment.

It wasn't until the king and queen, Addison and Jackson, were announced and dancing that I decided to sneak away to use the bathroom and get some fresh air.

"Ms. Davis."

I freeze in place when I hear his voice. My stupid heart starts to beat like a sledgehammer inside my chest and my pulse quickens. There's only one person who can stir a reaction out of me like that...

"Mr. Cross." I look around the bathroom nervously, afraid to be caught together.

"You look like perfection." He tells me as one hand reaches out to caress my face.

My eyes close briefly at his touch. "Nick..."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too." I admit.

"Then why did you end us?"

"I don't want to be a secret anymore."

"You knew what this relationship was going to have to be hidden if it was going to work." Nick tells me.

"You're right, I did. But that doesn't mean I'm okay with it still. This was never going to last. Who were we trying to kid? You're rich and have your whole life figured out. And you know the real reason I started designing clothes? Was because I could barely afford to buy myself new ones. So no, this was not going to work out no matter how much we want it to." I yell at him.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Talia, but I wasn't with you because I thought it would help my ego. I wanted- I want to be with you because you're beautiful, you're smart, you're driven and passionate and taste like heaven."

I suck in a breath and Nick takes that opportunity to erase the distance between us and lower his mouth until his lips brush against mine.

I melt into his kiss because it's him. He's the one that covers my body in delicious goosebumps. He's the one who makes my heart beat slower and faster at the same time. It's him who my heart calls out to whenever he's far away.

I bring my arms up his back, never wanting to let him go.

A moan escapes my lips as his grip on my hips tighten and I have all but a second before he growls, trapping my bottom lip between his teeth before he's lifting me from the ground like I weight nothing at all and placing me ontop of the sink.

"Nick..." Someone could walk in any minute and-

"Oh-" someone gasped.

Shit.

Addison stops by the door, her brown eyes bright with surprise before her lips turn down in satisfied smirk.

"Addison-" I start, though between you and me, I had no idea how I was going to explain making out with our English teacher in the middle of the girls room.

"Now it all makes sense." She says. "You didn't want me because you already had one student on your roster." She's looking at Nick. "Wait til everyone hears about this."

My stomach lurched. "Addison please-"

She holds up her hand to stop me. "Save your breath." She tells me. "I told you you'd regret not choosing me." Addison tells Nick. "Enjoy the rest your night." Addison tells us before she strolls out the room.

Caitlin was right; I would never forget tonight and whatever the hell Nick and I just set in motion.