27

Auriana

"I'm glad you pushed me away." Jake took my hand in his and looked at it with interest.

"Why is that?" I asked, laughing. I looked at him with curious eyes.

"Because when I saw you lying unconscious next to me, I realized that I liked you…no, in fact…I love you!" Words escaped me, I couldn't say a word simply because I didn't know what to say.

"Really?" I asked with my mouth open. Jake nodded and gently pushed my mouth shut.

"One thing is still bothering me…why did you start acting so weird?" Jake sighed. He had apparently hoped that I didn't want to know, that I would have let it go.

"Because…because I guess because my feelings for you started to grow and I didn't want to give in to them."

"You didn't have to push me aside like that, when you started acting so weird…did you ever think about how I felt?" A flash of pain flashed through my eyes as I thought back to it as I looked at him.

"Don't be mad." He immediately felt bad when he saw it.

"I'm not." I kissed him on the cheek. Jake pulled me a little closer to him.

"You know I was just using Hannah to make you jealous right?" I nodded.

"Good." He kissed me on the cheek and before I knew it he was pulling me into the locker room.

"What are you doing?" I asked giggling. Jake pulled me tight against him and wrapped me tightly in his arms. I looked up straight into Jake's eyes that were looking down. Ugh, why is he so tall? I thought to myself. Jake was a head and a half taller than me. Jake pressed his lips into my hair and I struggled to stay on my legs that felt like spaghetti. If only he knew what he was doing to me, I thought. I threw my arms around his waist.

"Jake? Promise me we won't go too fast, we're only seventeen."

"I promise, will you promise me you won't be so cute for boys anymore?" I looked at him with that all too familiar look.

"Sorry," Jake laughed. I gave him a playful punch and then walked out of the locker room. Jake followed shortly after.

"Hey, I'm thirsty, do you want some?" I asked.

"Yeah, but I'll come with you." Jake took my hand and walked with me to the table with snacks.

"Hey Taylor," I said when she saw her. She was standing at the table with Chase and had a plate full of food. Chase looked at her but she waved it away and put it off as "cravings".

"Great party A, except for that incident with your dad…you guys handled that well." She popped the piece of salmon wrap in her mouth in one go.

"Thanks, T." Jake handed me a cup of coke, after which I fished a chocolate chip cookie off the plate. Jake looked at his phone.

"We have two hours left."

"And what do you want to do in those two hours?" Taylor laughed. Chase took the plate from her before she could put anything else on it.

"We can sing another song?" I suggested.

Brooke

"Did I mention you look amazing?" Jimmy and I stood together in the corner of the gym.

"Yeah," I giggled. Jimmy kissed me. I looked around and saw five of her best friends sitting on the edge of the stage.

"Go ahead," Jimmy said. He knew I wanted to make sure my friends had a good time. I knew I was lucky to have someone who was so understanding and knew me inside and out.

"Thanks, you're the best." I gave him a quick hug and walked over to my friends.

"Michelle a dance number please!" I said before pulling my friends up one by one and walking onto the dance floor with them. Auriana ran onto the stage.

"Hey everyone, as you know a lot has happened and changed in the past two months, two months ago our friend Scarlet told us she was moving away, well we…her friends, were devastated but we also wanted her to remember these last two months at West Field High, that was of course before we found out she was staying here," this caused laughter in the room, "so we came up with a few surprises, including this party but also the performance and there are many more!" We walked onto the stage as Renee grabbed the basket and then quickly ran onto the stage as well. We all took different things out of the basket and all put on a friendship bracelet.

"Scarlet? Can you come over here?" Scarlet climbed onto the stage with tears in her eyes.

"You really didn't have to do that," she laughed. I pushed the basket into her hands.

"Just take it and don't whine." Laughter rang out again through the room as Nikki handed her the scrapbook and Renee handed her the CD.

"I love you!" A tear of joy rolled down her cheek. Michelle turned the music back on and the students started dancing again.

"The CD sales are starting now." Many students walked into the hallway to get the CDs.

"Who wants another song?" The audience cheered.

"This song is called: Bring it on!"

"Everyone has their own dreams,"

"It's time to make them come true,"

"Just watch for falling stars,"

"And make a wish when you see one,"

"Everyone has their own story,"

"You just have to find out what is,"

"Every day brings something new,"

"Cause you never know,"

"What life might bring you next,"

"Yeah, the past might not be far behind, but it's not today,"

"I'm ready, bring it on,"

"I'm ready for what life has in store, yeah,"

"Memories we made along the way,"

"Show us just how far we've come, hey, hey,"

"I'm ready, bring it on,"

"Remember, we've only just begun, yeah,"

"Memories we made along the way,"

"Show us just how far we've come, hey, hey,"

"I'm ready, bring it on,"

"When one chapter ends,"

"A new one starts,"

"That how it works in,"

"The book that's called life,"

"Yeah, everyone might have done some things,"

"That we're not so proud of,"

"Yeah, the past might not be far behind, but it's not today,"

"I'm ready, bring it on,"

"I'm ready for what life has in store, yeah,"

"Memories we made along the way,"

"Show us just how far we've come, hey, hey,"

"I'm ready, bring it on,"

"Remember, we've only just begun, yeah,"

"Memories we made along the way,"

"Show us just how far we've come, hey, hey,"

"I'm ready, bring it on."

We jumped off the stage. Chase and Taylor walked over to Brooke and Jimmy.

"Hey, we're going. Taylor needs to rest, it's been an emotional day for her and all that stress can't be good," Chase said.

"Okay bro, see you tomorrow." I gave Taylor a hug.

"Later B," Taylor said. Chase smiled and walked with his hand on Taylor's back to the exit. They stopped walking once they were just outside the door.

"Ready?" Chase asked.

"Yep, Maya and Alex are gonna be so happy," Taylor said, holding something up.