"At three say cheese. One. Two. Three."

"Cheese!" Aaron says proudly as he holds me around his arm. The smile on his face couldn't possibly get any bigger.

I force a smile and when my dad puts his phone down to check the pictures I turn to Aaron and glare at him.

He catches my eye and merely smiles, knowing well enough that he's hit a nerve.

"I think that's enough pictures," I say and pull of Aaron's arm.

"You think so?" Aaron mocks. "Could I take a look at them?"

Dad looks up at us, smile on his face as he hands Aaron his phone. Aaron begins looking through the photos we just took.

"We look so good together. Don't you think?" He questions and raises his eyebrows as he faces the phone my way.

"Sure," I force out, not bothering to look at the picture. "Can we go now?"

"Okay, but first," he says and turns to my dad, "Do you mind sending these to me?"

"Of course."

I let out a groan, suddenly feeling annoyed and I wait as my dad sends the pictures to Aaron. Once he receives them he looks at them on his phone.

"Perfect," he says, "it was very nice meeting you sir."

Aaron reaches out to shake my dad's hand.

"Nice to meet you too Aaron," dad says, "take care of my daughter."

"Of course, I won't let her out of my sight."

Aaron turns around and looks at me. "Let's go?"

"Finally," I say and open the front door. Without a word Aaron walks over to me and smiles.

"No bike?" I question mockingly remembering the rumors about Aaron racing in his new motorcycle with a gang of riders.

"That's for next time," he says and walks in faster than me so that he can reach his car first. He walks over to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

I stop and cross my arms and then turn around. I notice my dad looking from the window.

"Did you ever think of being an actor? Because you sure are putting one hell of a show right now."

"I know I am," he says, "now hurry up and get in."

I roll my eyes and get in, my only wish is for the night to be over as quickly and smoothly as possible.

"You didn't have to go overboard," I tell him once inside the car and out of sight from my dad.

"Why? Was I too obvious?"

"For my dad no but I could -"

"You're not the important one. If you dad believed it then I'm content."

"Whatever," I murmur.

"Do you want to put music? Here the aux cord."

"Are you sure you're up for my music?"

"That's cute that your worried about me liking your music babe."

"Ugh of course that's how you were going to interpret this. It's all about you."

"If it isn't about me, then who else would it be about?"

"Whatever, I'm putting my music and you can't turn it off."

"Whatever," he mimics.

I grab the aux cord and connect to my phone and go into Spotify to find my Disney playlist.

I'm hot.
You're cold.

"I'm slipping into the lava, and I'm trying to keep from going under," Aaron begins to sing.

I stop singing the moment Aaron starts. I turn my head and stare at him, quiet.

"Baby you turn the temperature hotter. Cause I'm burnin' up, burnin' up," Aaron looks at me briefly and points at my direction, "For you baby."

I give him a look.

"What?" He says after he stops singing.

"Nothing, I just didn't expect you-"

"To sing? Please, I have a sister and the Jonas Brothers is all she ever listens to. So it was either to forcefully like them or get punched by Gaby."

"That's her name? Gaby."

"Yeah," he responds before humming into the song.

"Interesting."

"How is me having a sister named Gaby interesting? I'm pretty sure plenty of people out there have a sister and their sister may coincidentally be named Gaby."

"I know, geez. I just said interesting because I didn't realize you had a sister."

"Oh okay."

I sigh and stay quiet, instead focusing my attention outside until we reach the school.

"Wait here," Aaron says.

"What? Why?" I question, but it's too late and he's already gone. Annoyed because he didn't tell me where he was going, I open the door.

"Ow, fuck."

"Oh shit, did I hit you?" I question as I see Aaron massaging his head.

"No you didn't I'm just in pain because I want to," he responds sarcastically.

"Calm down, it wasn't on purpose."

"I told you to wait inside, why did you open the fucking door?"

"Maybe because I don't take fucking orders from you."

"Geez I was just trying to be a gentleman."

"Well it sure isn't working because your asshole is showing," I respond and push away from him. Angrily I begin to walk toward the entrance.

"Wait Lux. Wait. Please, I'm sorry."

I stop walking and let out a groan before turning around to look at Aaron.

"What," I deadpan.

"Look, this is our chance to prove ourselves. So let's just put our differences aside and go in there with smiling faces. What do you say?"

"I say fuck you."

"Well fuck you too."

I let out a huff and cross my arms.

"Hurry up and smile," I tell him as I grab his arm and pull him inside.

I can feel the stares. And I know that he can feel them too. Only this time they're not the longingly stares he normally gets. Instead they're stares full of judgment and confusion.

The stares that spell out: Why would she ever agree to go to Homecoming with him?

A couple days ago they would've thought the opposite, before the recording was posted. And I can't help but think about how quickly people can turn on you.

Aaron's right though, we need to put our differences away for tonight because we're here to make a point and we're not leaving until it's done.

Omar, Aaron's friend walks over to us.

"Wow you guys actually made it without any scratches made by each other, I'm impressed."

"Funny," Aaron replies sarcastically, "where's SoHo and Bianca?"

Omar shrugs. "You know how they get at these lame events, they don't just come here to dance and shit, they've got business."

"Business?" I question out loud.

Omar looks at me and nods.

"Like...drugs?"

They stay quiet before suddenly bursting into fits of laughters.

"Oh my god. You're bitchy and funny? I might like you," says Omar.

"I'm not-"

"You are," Aaron cuts me off.

"Seriously? We've only been here for a minute and you already want to start again."

"Chillax drama queen," says Omar.

I roll my eyes.

"Okay so if it's not drugs then what is it?"

"Are you dense? Why would it be drugs? Do we look like the type of people to do that. It's nothing related to that."

"Then what it is."

"They're fucking somewhere, geez."

"Oh. I didn't know they were a thing."

"They're not."

"Oh."

"Hey guys, I'm so glad you made it."

The annoying voice of Mandy sends a twitch to my eye and I force a smile.

"Lux you look so nice. It's a pity you came alone. And you two guys look absolutely dashing."

"Thanks Mandy," Aaron says smiling, "You're right about me looking very dashing. But you're wrong on Lux coming alone."

"Oh really? Lux you finally found yourself a date? I'm so glad, I knew you would find someone if you would just stop being so picky. Where is he?"

I bite my tongue so I don't yell at her and force a smile.

Aaron throws his hand around me and pulls me close to him.

"Its me. Aren't I a lucky guy?"

"You?" Mandy asks surprised. She let's out a small laugh. "Oh, I...I'm sorry that's just very surprising."

"No its okay," Aaron replies, "I know, Lux wasn't easy to catch, but I can now say I've got her right where I want her. Isn't that right babe?"

I contemplate on punching him but I force myself not to. Instead I lace my fingers onto his hand and squeeze it as tight as I can.

"Of course," I reply through gritted teeth.

I mentally scold myself for not realizing how much of hell this would be.

I'm official fucked.