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When I walk into the building with Shawn right beside me, I'm stunned. I had no idea how much decor changed a place. There are new chandeliers dangling from above us, along with all kinds of art work on the walls. Sculptures block people's paths so that they look at them before maneuvering around them. Servers in formal attire walk around with trays of food and trays of champagne. It's all much more extravagant than I ever imagined. There are speakers hanging on the walls so that music is everywhere you go.

I turn to Shawn, "This is really nice." I say in astonishment.

"Your parents are very good at their job." He reminds me.

We continue to walk further inside the building. There are so many people here that look as if they could afford anything they wanted. I have no doubt that Dianne will get the investors she wants tonight.

I look up and see my parents talking it up with a group of middle aged people. The way they talk is natural and not at all forced, even though they're probably promoting their business.

I watch them for a moment before noticing a waiter with a tray of champagne. I grab two drinks and hand one to Shawn, who hasn't left my side. He smirks at me as he takes the glass, "You're not twenty-one." He says.

"I don't think anyone is going to care." I say as I bring the glass to my lips and tilt my head back to drink. Champagne is disgusting but I force it down and pretend I like it.

Dianne makes eye contact with me and excuses herself from the people she was talking to. "Livia, Shawn, you two look amazing." She hugs the both of us and then smoothes out her navy blue dress. "How are you liking the opening?"

"It's beautiful, I can't believe it was put together so fast." I tell her, knowing Shawn won't say much on the matter. He seems to resent his mother a lot more than I realized. Even though she's been sweet to me, it's like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Dianne nods, "Well it's all thanks to your parents. I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves but I have to get back to business. Excuse me." She reaches up and kisses Shawn's cheek before leaving to greet someone else.

"I feel like she's really come around since we first met."

Shawn tenses beside me, "Just because she has money now doesn't mean she's changed."

"Right." I say, "Sorry." I finish my champagne and place it on an empty tray.

Shawn relaxes, turning to me and moving my hair behind my ear. "Would you like to dance?" He asks, dismissing my apology.

I look around wearily, "What about our parents?"

Shawn waves me off, "They're not even paying attention. Plus we can move out of sight." He takes my hand and leads me to the corner of the room where my parents won't be able to see us. Then he puts one arm around my waist and pulls me in close. Electricity shoots through me immediately as we begin to move slowly. His right hand is holding mine up so that he's the lead. I let my body be moved by him as we turn and dance. I start laughing when he twirls me around a couple of times before bringing me back in. Our eyes meet and we become serious, I want to live in this moment forever. "Do you feel it?" He whispers so that I'm the only one that can hear him. I shake my head, not sure what he's talking about. Shawn lifts my chin, our lips are so close. I feel like we're both magnets, wanting so badly to be close but can never actually touch. "The heat, the energy?" He elaborates.

"I feel it." I breathe. "I think that's why we can never stay away from each other." The feeling is too intense, too good to pass up.

I've always wondered if he felt it too, now I know he does. "Maybe you're right." He thinks out loud.
I look around to make sure that my parents aren't watching us and then bring my eyes back to Shawn.

"Do you believe in fate?" I ask, hoping he doesn't think I'm weird for believing in it.

Shawn twirls me again, this time when he brings me in I'm turned around. My back is flush against him and his hands are on my hips. Shawn brings his lips to my ear, "To be honest I've never really thought about it before."

He turns me back around, his face is just inches away from mine. I'm having a really hard time keeping my composure but I do it, "I feel like we've had too many coincidences for it to not be fate."

"Then I hope fate will always bring us back together."

The song is about to end so he places his hand in my lower back and dips me. "Me too." I admit. He has to know that he has the job by now right? Has he checked his email and chosen not to tell me? I guess it's better if I don't know where he's going. That way I won't get desperate and track him down after I graduate.

Shawn brings me back up and I notice the people around us watching. My face blushes in embarrassment but I'm glad to see none of them being my parents. "I'm going to get some air." I say, needing the crowd's eyes off of me and my teacher.

Shawn takes off his suit jacket and hands it to me, "It's cold, take this." I hesitantly take the jacket and dismiss myself, walking through the crowd and away from Shawn.

When I get outside, I put the jacket on and carefully sit on the stairs so that I'm not getting my dress dirty. Tomorrow we're supposed to leave and go back home but the truth is that I love it here. I've learned more about Shawn in the past two weeks than I have all year. Leaving will just be another reminder that our fling will end in just a few short months. Maybe sooner considering our track record. We're not exactly the most stable couple but he makes me feel like there's no one else.

"Am I interrupting?" I look up to see a man in a black suit and deep green eyes right in front of me. He smiles and holds out his hand, "I'm sorry, I'm Jack Briers. I was going to ask you if you know the host, but you seemed so lost in thought."

After a second I shake his hand and continue to stare at him. He seems to be in his late twenties or early thirties, dark brown hair and a lean figure. "My name is Livia Gardner, my parents are working with Dianne so I know her."

He smiles at me again, "Oh, I just came here to see if she was a good investment opportunity. I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet."

I turn my head to look at the entrance before looking back, "She's very busy. What kind of business do you work for?"

"Mine." He says, "I got lucky in college." Jack looks at his watch and sighs, "I guess the investment just wasn't meant to be. I have to go, thanks for your help Livia," He shakes my hand once more, "It was very nice to meet you."

"You too." Jack walks to the street where a car is waiting for him and gets in the back. I can't help but wonder exactly how lucky he must've gotten in college for him to already own his own company.

I hear the front doors open behind me and heels clicking on the stairs where I am. "Are you not enjoying the party?" I turn to see Dianne beside me.
"I am, I just needed some air."

Dianne nods, taking a seat on the stairs. She surprises me when she pulls out a cigarette and lights it. I haven't seen her smoke this entire trip. "Can I tell you something?" She looks at me with a serious expression, "I really messed up with Kevin when he was younger. I got into drugs and started dating terrible men. They paid the bills for me because I could barely hold a job. I used to be a mess and for the longest time, I couldn't even look at Kevin." I know she's only calling him Kevin again because it's just me but it still sounds so foreign. "He has a right to be angry at me, and so do you." I give her a questioning look so she explains, "When I first met you I was angry at him for dating another student. I took that anger out on you because I had no right to be mad at him after everything I had done." She takes a hit from her cigarette and breathes it in. I see her tense face relax once the nicotine hits. "That comment I made about your bruise was a cheap shot and I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I say.

She takes another hit and flicks the excess ash off, "It's not, abuse is a serious problem that women and men go through every day. You're only eighteen and I'm so sorry that happened to you. I saw you and exploited it, it was wrong. I want you to know that I'm glad my son could help you out of that situation." This whole time I was thinking that she's been pretending to like me. I never thought that she might actually like me. Dianne finishes her cigarette, "I guess I just needed you to know that. We should get back inside." I nod, standing up with her. She disposes of the cigarette and opens the door for me to go in first.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the conversation we just had. It gives me a better understanding of her as a person and maybe one day I can help her and Shawn get their relationship back.

We walk through the entrance and I immediately lose Dianne to some other people. It doesn't take me long to find Shawn so I give him his jacket back. He's staring straight ahead at someone. I follow his gaze, "'What is she doing here?" I question.

Katherine Dyer is wearing a black bodycon dress with perfect jet black hair and her baby on her hip. "I thought she was in rehab." I say more to myself.
Shawn's eyes are still on her, "She was, her parents are the ones who gave Dianne a chunk of their business. It's no surprise that they would be here, I just didn't expect her to come."

Just as he finishes, Katherine looks up at Shawn and I. She hands Matthew over to the middle aged women beside her, I'm assuming her mom. Then she makes her way back to us. "Hello Kevin, and...Livia?" I'm beginning to think that this party is going to end badly too.

"My parents designed the building." I explain my presence.

"I see." She sighs, "Well it was nice seeing you two." Katherine begins to turn but stops and brings her attention back to the two of us. "Actually, I wanted to apologize for how I've acted in the past. I guess I just wanted what I clearly couldn't have." I can't help but look up at Shawn because sometimes I feel like that's where we're at. "Anyway, I know that my parents giving this to Dianne doesn't make up for it but, maybe one day you can forgive me?" I can't believe that Katherine is right in front of me, apologizing to the both of us.

Shawn is tense beside me but I appreciate her taking the time to say she's sorry. "Thank you." I accept her apology, even if Shawn doesn't.

To my surprise he says, "It's okay." I watch as Katherine takes in a deep breath.

"Good," Her dark eyes flicker to her mom with her baby, he's getting fussy in her arms. "I should get him to bed, it's getting late. I'll see you two around." Shawn and I wave her off and despite what she says, I have a feeling I won't see her again for a very long time.

"Did that really just happen?"

Shawn nods, "Yeah, I think so." The corner of his mouth lifts into a smile, "Maybe all of our drama is over?" With Dean being in California and Katherine apologizing, he might actually be right. Now the only thing we have to deal with is our feelings for each other. Even then we still have until May to do that.

I notice my mom walking up to us in her long white dress. "Livia this is a celebration! We should dance!"
I lightly laugh when I notice the red in her face.

"Mom are you drunk?"

"Shhh, I'm an adult, let's go!" She takes my hand and leads me away from Shawn in order to dance with me.

She seems a little unbalanced so I hold onto her and just sway. "Where's dad?" I ask, looking around her.

"Talking with Dianne and some potential future clients. Enough business though, how has your trip been? I feel like we still barely see each other." Her feeling is right, with her working all day, I've spent most of my time with Shawn.

I take her hand to steady her further, "It's okay mom, I've actually had a lot of fun." When Shawn and I were allowed to go roam around we visited the city and time square, it was amazing.

She clicks her tongue and nods, "Good. You know your father and I are really proud of you. You're so strong." I know she's talking about Dean and to be honest my parents probably never worked through their own issues with it. They had to leave a few days after they found out and even though it was hard on me, it was also hard on them.

Aside from that, it warms my heart to hear that they're proud of me. It only took my mom a few glasses of champagne to say it. I know they love me and try their best with me but, I think they forget to tell me the little things like that. "Thanks mom." I say, bringing her in for a hug. "I love you."

"I love you too."

I smile, so far this party has actually been a lot of fun. For once there are no disasters that involve my life. I hope that's what New York next year will be like for me.

Void of any disasters that involve my life.