28. Waltz + Withdraw

Part 2/2 for this update! Go back and read 27 if you haven't yet!

~

Presley had nearly crapped herself when I told her.

"You're going to homecoming with Jayce Solis?!" She screeched the next night, dancing around my room while I sat on my bed, still a bit shell shocked that he'd even asked me.

"Guess so," I muttered, clutching the white fabric in my hands.

The night after the Founder's Council dinner, I had finally gotten home around 9pm, after appearing as Belle for a birthday party... only to find a box, pristinely wrapped in pearlescent white paper and a white ribbon, sitting on the doorstep.

Another Jayce Solis dress, this one much simpler, but just as stunning as the first, had awaited me in the package. A handwritten note accompanied it, reading, "Fallon, you slayed the night in gold, which mom tells me is a symbol of courage, passion and magic. Can't wait to see you in white, which represents brilliance, beginnings... and perfection. - Jayce"

Pres and I spent all day this Saturday at her house, catching up and getting ready.

I put metallic gold shadow on my lids, dusted my décolletage with golden shimmer and placed a plumping gloss on my lips. With my fading tan, gold strappy heels, arm band, long curls and dangly earrings, I felt like a goddess.

Presley was in blue, and I, obviously, was in the Grecian-inspired white dress Jayce had chosen for me.

Her hair was pin straight and shining; mine was styled into loose, messy curls.

"Just a reminder that you absolutely do not have to spend any time with me tonight," Presley winked at me as she searched for her coat. "You need to spend as much time as you can on that goalie, you hear me?"

I scoff, rolling my eyes at her advice. "Trust me, Pres, he doesn't want me 'on him.'"

"I think you're full of shit!" She chortles from the back of her closet.

"He flat out rejected me when I told him I wanted to have sex last weekend," I flop onto her bed, belly first, lifting my heeled feet into the air behind my head. "So, you know. There's that."

"You just need to keep driving him crazy," she instructs, emerging from her closet in a black pea coat.

"I don't think he's like that," I mumble, rolling my eyes.

"Trust me, Fal," Presley gives herself a final once over in her full-length mirror, flipping her extensions over her shoulder. "All men are wired exactly the same. Just keep workin' it and he'll come around," she winks.

"Jayce is supposed to be picking me up in five minutes, so I'd better head home," I tell her, rolling off her bed.

As I stand up and straighten my dress, Presley looks me up and down, nodding in approval. "You look hella bang-able, babe."

She wraps me in an excited hug before walking downstairs with me.

"See you at the dance!" She sing-songs as we duck into our cars, me heading home and her heading to school.

Three minutes later, I'm pulling into my driveway and clicking up the steps to sit on the front porch swing, grateful that I'd only have to be in the increasing chilly air for a few more minutes before Jayce picked me up.

I check the time on my phone. 6:59pm. Jayce should be here any minute now.

Seconds ticked past and I began thinking about how wild this year has been. How unconventional, especially for me.

Just a couple months ago, I was certain I'd be avoiding the homecoming dance at all cost. I'd imagined my junior year being packed full of studying, working and occasional meet ups with Leo... but I never could've imagine everything that's happened as a direct result of me slamming into Jayce Solis on the first day of the school year.

Glancing at my phone again, I read 7:05pm.

I consider texting Jayce but decide that I don't want to seem clingy, especially when he's only five minutes late. I wander back inside, figuring it'd be worth it to wait somewhere that I wouldn't be nipping by the time he picked me up.

My nerves continue growing as minutes continue to pass.

By 7:30pm, I'm starting to get annoyed. Why hadn't he called? Or even texted me? I check my phone for the thousandth time, hoping to see a notification bubble. But there's nothing.

After an hour of waiting, I'm getting pissed. Getting off the couch, I storm to my car, pull out of the driveway with furious speed and drive myself to the homecoming dance, swearing up and down that I will never do anything even semi-romantic with Jayce ever again.

Entering the gymnasium with angry haste, I quickly make my way to Presley in the middle of the dance floor. "Jayce stood me up!" I shout over the music.

"What a dick! Fuck him." She looks even more annoyed than me and glances around before pulling a flask out of her leg holster. "Drink up!"

She offers it to me and I take it gladly, chugging back a couple shots worth of burning liquid.

"Taki Taki" blasts through the gymnasium as Presley and I dance like wild women, flinging our hair around and not caring what we look like or how sweaty we get. There's something so therapeutic about going crazy on the dance floor and honestly not giving a fuck.

I hate it, but somehow I still catch myself glancing at the entrance between verses.

After several songs of letting loose and dancing on whoever happened to be nearby, I leave the dance floor, totally dizzy and in search of the refreshment table. I haven't had anything to eat today and shots on an empty stomach followed by dancing was clearly not the best idea. Reaching the beverage table, I grab a cup of punch and tip it back, savoring the chilly liquid on my throat.

A girl suddenly appears next to me, also getting a drink.

"Shay?" I ask as I recognize her height, shiny black hair and perfect figure.

Her head swivels and she glares at me. "Hi."

My mouth goes dry as I realize that if I'm ever going to tell Shay the truth about her "friend" Layla... that now is probably the time.

"I-uh," I readjust my grip on my cup, not sure how to have this conversation. "I have something to tell you. You probably won't believe me, but it's up to you."

She eyes me curiously, though her expression is still one of distaste. "Why would I care about anything you have to say? I should be slapping you across the face for what you did to Layla."

"I don't think Layla would care if you slapped me or not," I tell her honestly, unable to stop fidgeting. "You think she's your best friend, right?"

Her eyes narrow at me, clearly offended at my question. "She is my best friend."

"Right," I nod slowly, taking a step closer to her and dropping my voice so any eavesdroppers can't overhear. "Shay, I'm just gonna be honest with you. I know what you did to me and Haven's tests, and I know you still have a video of the footage."

"How would you–I don't know what you're talking about, I–" Shay lies, a little too quickly.

"–Stop," I command, holding my hand up. "Don't try to deny it. The reason I'm saying anything is that this past week, I confronted Layla about it. I told her I had a copy of the footage. She basically told me that since it was you changing the tests in the video, not her, that she didn't care what could happen to you if the video ever got out. She doesn't care if you're caught. If you ask me, that doesn't sound like something a friend would say."

"I don't believe you," Shay looks like she just might slap me. "Why would you tell me this?"

I actually feel really bad for her. I can't imagine how hurt I'd be if someone told me that Presley said those things about me. "Layla is nasty and devious. And you seem like a good person. I figured you should know the truth about her." I offer a genuine smile.

"She wouldn't do that to me," Shay shakes her head back and forth, looking like she's trying to convince herself more than anything.

"Why are you friends with her anyway?"

She glances up at me hesitantly. "We've been friends for a long time, since middle school. Layla's always been there for me, always helped me do things to further my future."

"What do you mean?"

"I want to be a model, and her mom is a world-famous one, Fallon," Shay rolls her eyes like she wishes I'd keep up. "Layla would always tell me that if I did favors for her, she'd get me time with her mom, even get her mom to take me to shoots and show me the ropes."

"And has Layla ever delivered on her side of the deal?"

Shay's expression drops as she studies her shoes.

"Shay..." I take another step toward her, placing a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "That's manipulation. Not friendship."

"You're lying."

"Layla is literally the queen of getting her way," I remind her, starting to feel increasingly bad for this girl. "C'mon, Shay. Deep down, you know I'm telling the truth. You know what she's like. You know what she'll do to get what she wants."

Shay takes a long, slow breath, still looking at the ground. Suddenly a single tear rolls down her cheek. She shakes her head and looks up with anguish in her eyes, "She... She wouldn't... She told me she loves me. She kissed me..."

Oh.

Well.

Damn.

Okay.

"Oh god, Shay, I'm so sorry," I can't help but pull her into a hug. I feel really fucking bad that I told her, and that's she hurting so much right now. But... I'm glad that she at least knows the truth, and that she doesn't have to keep living under Layla's command. I still feel bad for being the one to break it to her, though. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

I hear her sniffle as I release her and she wipes at her eyes, shaking her head. "No, you did the right thing... I just don't want to believe it. I need to talk to her."

Tears fill Shay's eyes again as another bout of sadness rolls over her and she begins to walk away.

"Wait! I'll go with you!" I chase after her, not wanting her to have to face the beast both heartbroken and alone.

Shay shakes her head. "Please, don't. But take out your phone," she instructs as she pulls hers out of her bag.

"Okay?" I'm confused, but follow instructions anyway.

Seconds later my phone is dinging with an Airdrop request from Shay, which I accept.

"There," she nods slowly as a video finishes transferring. "Now you have a copy of the footage. Do whatever you want with it, I don't care. I'll even tell the truth about Layla if you want," she eyes me, curious yet sad. "Thank you, Fallon. For being honest with me," she flashes me a distraught smile before elegantly making her way through the crowd and out the gym doors.

I exhale loudly, Shay's secondhand-sadness filling my thoughts. That was easy. Did I do the right thing?

Then, suddenly my hand is being enveloped in warmth and I spin around, coming face to face with the last person I want to see.

Jayce.

"That was amazing," he smiles down at me, his eyes running over my appearance as he takes a sharp breath in, his eyes widening. "Wow, you... You look fucking perfect."

I rip my hand out of his and scowl up at him, doing my best to look indignant. "Welcome, Jayce. We're so glad you managed to make it this evening," I spit sarcastically.

"I know, I know," his face falls as he runs his fingers through his curls. "I'm so sorr–"

"–Save it," I glower. "I've been having a perfectly good evening without you, thank you very much."

"Fallon, I swear, the last thing I wanted was to stand you up. Please let me explain."

I look up into his brown eyes, hating how easy I fold to his requests. "Fine."

"Dance with me?" He smiles charmingly, extending a hand to me as the rhythm of Ed Sheeran's "Dive" begins playing over the speakers.

I raise an inquisitive eyebrow but take his hand nonetheless. He leads us to the middle of the gym and spins me before pulling me into his chest, placing one hand between my shoulder blades while using the other to grab my hand and hold it in the air as he leads us in a waltz.

Who the hell is this dude? I mean, I guess going out with high society has it's perks... Like, ya know, waltzing in the middle of your fucking homecoming dance while everyone else just sways around you.

My cheeks flush as I feel more and more pairs of eyes land on us.

"Maybe we should just dance like everyone else," I whisper, my heart picking up as I think of everyone watching us.

Jayce smiles down at me cheekily. "Why the hell would we do that?"

"Everyone's staring," I mutter, glancing around.

"Of course they are," he grins. "They're staring at you."

I roll my eyes. "They're staring because we're dancing like freaks."

Jayce feigns hurt. "No, we are actually dancing. They are the ones who don't know what they're doing. Besides, I like showing you off," he grins before spinning me again, bringing me back to his chest and dipping me, then pulling me up and resuming our waltz.

Flustered, and quite honestly swept off my fucking feet right now, I ask breathily, "Where did you learn to do this?"

"When Duende started going international, my dad wanted me to be able to dance with the daughters of the dignitaries we'd dine with," he says like it's no big deal. "He had me take a few lessons, claiming it'd help him be able to close deals."

"I should've known," I roll my eyes. "Of course, your dad would see you as pawn he can use to get more business."

Jayce shrugs, looking into my eyes intently. "In this case, I don't mind."

I change the subject before I can blush from his flirtatious words. "I believe this dance was so you could explain why you blew me off and didn't even call?"

"Right," he looks sad. "My parents got home a few hours ago. My dad and I, we uh... Got in a really big argument," his expression darkens and I feel his grip on me tighten. "He tried to get me to get back with Layla, but he eventually got the message that there was no way in hell I'd ever do that again," he smirks down at me before sadness takes over his face again." When I realized what time it was, I rushed out immediately and forgot to grab my phone. But, right as I was leaving, he said that me, him and mom are all going to France... for the next two and a half months."

"What the hell?" I trip over my heel, but he steadies me as my heart sinks. "Two and a half months? Why?"

"Apparently he's closer than ever to signing a deal that will allow us to expand our vineyards over there. He says that if I'm working with À La Mode and doing school from Paris, that it'll show our commitment to them, and the deal will happen faster. Something about being 'fully immersed,' in the French culture."

"So, that's it? Seriously?" I scoff, annoyed by how subject he is to his dad's decrees. "Your dad says something must happen, and you just do whatever he says? You didn't even stand up for yourself?"

"I did, Tink," he says gently, but I can tell my words upset him. "You have no idea how much I had to negotiate with him to make him back off the idea of me dating Layla. But I agreed to go to Paris. I wanted to go." He looks almost confused as he gazes at me. "I've told you that's what I want... I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I am happy for you, Jayce," I try to give him a smile, though right now I feel like my stomach just landed between my feet. Why the hell do I feel like this? He's right, I should be happy for him. But... I don't want him to go. And that annoys me. "When do you leave?"

"Monday."

"Monday?" I feel like the room is spinning.

He nods solemnly, but smiles. "I'll be gone for almost ten weeks, but even if this hadn't happened, I still wanted to ask you something tonight."

Oh god.

No.

He stops our waltz and takes my face in his hands, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he smiles down at me with something completely enchanting in his eyes. "I know this might be difficult since we'll be 5,500 miles apart, but I'm willing to take the risk if you are..."

"Jayce, don't..." I whisper, not wanting to hear what he's about to ask.

"Fallon Rhodes, will you be my girlfriend?" Jayce's smile is huge, brilliant and trusting.

...But I can't do it.

"Jayce, how did you ever think I'd actually say yes to that?" My voice is small. I don't know if I've ever been more conflicted that I am right now.

He drops his hands and steps back, looking extremely confused. "Wha... What do you mean?"

"Even if I did relationships, I would never do a long distance one," I shake my head, wishing this situation would end. "I'm really proud of you for getting to make a move toward the future that you want, but right now... it just feels like you're leaving me. With there still being so much to figure out about what happened between our parents, how you could just pack up and go?"

I can't hide my hurt. He's leaving. And he doesn't even care how it makes me feel. The fact that I even think he should care how I feel makes me mad. That's couple shit. And, despite what he just asked me, we are not a couple. Maybe after I get into college, but definitely not now.

"I'm not leaving you, Fallon," he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. "I wanted to put a label on things specifically so you wouldn't feel that way," he places a necklace in my palm.

It's a simple, golden chain with two birds and a heart. And knowing Jayce, it's real gold. Half of me wants to follow my heart, jump into his arms, scream, "Yes!" And be his girlfriend... But the half of me that says to follow logic wins. Logic says that long distance relationships don't work out, and that I really should be focusing on my future. Jayce is focusing on his by going to Paris, after all.

"I can't get into a relationship, Jayce," I tell him, tears welling in my eyes as I study his beautiful gift. "Not like this."

"I don't understand," he says slowly, his brown eyes looking wounded.

There's no way you ever could.

"Have fun in Paris," I say with finality, stepping around him and making my way out of the gym, wiping tears from my eyes as Jayce's pleading voice and the ending notes of our waltz echo behind me.

~~~

WHOOMP THERE IT ISSSS.

Poor Fal's just not gettin it, is she? 🙄

Voteee if you're enjoying ! ⭐

And not to worry lovies, Jayce won't actually be gone long, as far as "chapter time" goes. You won't have to go through two and a half months of being Jayce-less 😉 Just imagine how Fallon feels, actually having to though... Oof.

Anyways, here's our boi he's asking Fal to danceeee!

Eep. Okay. Anyway.

READ ON! xx