Hey guys! 
So here I am with another early update...*pats myself on the back* I just wanted to request you all to go and Vote for my book in the Reader's Choice Award in Primrose Awards by @gemelli_corp . You can find the link in the external links of this chapter...If you don't, you'll always find it on my profile....Thanks!! 
Enjoy the chapter.....*not edited so there might be many mistakes (or not)!!

Why did I ever agree to going to the Winter Formal with Anthony? This is the worst school dance I have ever attended. My plan of faking to be sick was perfect. Yet here I was, sitting on the benches outside school, with a post-crying mascara smudged face, shivering in the cold. 

If anyone is confused then let me start from the beginning...

**********

"Where's Stefan?" I asked Lena. "He and Ryan are outside." She informed. I nodded and made my way outside. As I neared, I heard both of them talking. "Dude, she is your girlfriend. Of course she will say yes." Ryan told Stefan. They were talking about me. I stepped out and asked, "Yes for what?" "I am going to go." Ryan smirked as he walked back into the house. "Yes for what?" I repeated my question.

"To go to the Winter Formal with me." He answered. Oh no. Why did he had to ask this question? "So...? You are coming with me right?" Stefan nervously asked. I don't want to let him down but what can I do? "Stefan. I can't." 

"Great- Wait. What do you mean you can't?" He asked. "I can't go to the Winter Formal with you." I sighed. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you not going to the Winter Formal at all? I'll stay with you if you want. I was only going because of you." He suggested. My heart melted at his sweetness. How could I crush his heart? I took a deep breath and said, "I am going to the Formal with someone else." 

"What? Why? What that's supposed to mean? Why are you going to the Winter Formal with someone else?" He furiously stared right into my eyes, searching for an answer. I just sighed. "You don't underst-" "Who are you going with?" Stefan cut me off. "Anthony." I stared at the ground, too ashamed to look into his eyes.

"What! That f*cker cheated on you. And now you are cheating on me with him?" He shouted. I was first time thankful for the high volume noise inside the house so that no one could hear us. "Why? Why are you doing this?" He sighed. I stayed quiet, not knowing what to answer. "Stef-" "You never got over him, did you?" He asked. "It's not like that-" I tried to explain but he cut me off. "Then what's it like? Tell me." I squirmed against his intense stare.

"It's just one dance-" "It's not about just a dance. I saw you flirting with him in the morning at the gym. And this dance was going to be my first dance with my girlfriend. And I was really looking forward to it. But Anthony was right about you. You are a slut." He said that and turned around and walked away, leaving me all by myself to think what sin I had just committed. I had just broken the heart of the person I really liked. 

**********

I haven't seen or heard from Stefan since the party. And it was all my fault. He had missed school and I was pretty sure he would not be attending the Winter Formal. I tried calling him but it just went to voicemail. But how was I going to explain the reason of me going to the dance with Anthony? I was snapped back to reality when I felt pain shooting through palm.

I looked down to see a bleeding cut on my palm. I looked around me to see broken glass pieces around me. I was so lost in my thought that I didn't even realize that the plate in my hand had fallen out, on the floor. "Hey girl! Are you okay?" Selena asked me. I snapped my head towards her with a blank look. "Yeah! I am sorry. I'll clean this up." I said as I turned around and was about to pick up the glass when Lena held my hand.

"You are not okay. Let's get you cleaned up." She suggested. "I am sorry. I am just distracted." I sighed as we both made our way to my room. Selena had been staying with me and Ash after her parents went to Australia. "Yeah! You have been very distracted ever since the party. And Stefan is MIA. What happened between you guys?" She asked.

"Stefan asked me to go the Winter Formal with him. I told him that I was going with Anthony." "What?" Selena screamed, making my ears bleed. "Why would you do that? And Anthony? Why?" She asked. "Because-" "I heard a scream. What happened? Did someone die?" I was interrupted by Ash.

"Worse. Nessa here, said no to Stefan for the Winter Formal to go with Anthony!" Selena glared at me. "Cupcake, are you out of your mind? Are you feeling feverish?" Ash asked. "No?" I shrugged. "And what the heck happened to your palm?" Ash rolled his eyes. "Thank you for your concern Ashy." I glared at him.

"Back to the main topic. Why are you going to the Winter Formal with Anthony?" Selena asked. "He knows about the Elites and me." As soon as I said that, both of their eyes went wide. "What? How?" Selena asked. "I don't know. But he threatened to tell everyone and he also said he would hurt Ethan. Rather than taking any violent steps, I thought it's just one dance. But turns out Stefan was really looking forward to it." I sighed. 

"Okay. You had the right intentions. If that helps?" Ash nervously shrugged. "Yeah. But I broke Stefan's heart. And he called me a slut. Turns out Anthony was back-b*tching about me to him. And I had just proved him right." I threw up my hands in frustration. "Hey it's okay. Stefan will understand." Lena sighed. 

**********

"Lets get this over with." I sighed as I stepped out of the apartment. Anthony stood there, right in front of me. "Hello Sweetheart!" He smirked. I just rolled my eyes and walked ahead of him. "Hey! Wait up! I brought this for you." Anthony called me from behind. I turned around and saw him holding flowers. Okay... This is weird. "Um...Thank you?" I said as I took the flowers from his hand. "No problem, Sweetheart." He smirked. 

"You seriously have to stop calling me that." I rolled my eyes. "Calling you what, Sweetheart?" He asked in a fake-innocent accent. I just rolled my eyes and stepped inside the elevator. 

"You hired a limo?" I asked as soon as I stepped out of the elevator and saw a limo standing in front of me. "Yep. Let's get in." Anthony smirked as he opened the door. I expected him to just sit inside but he held the door open. "Ladies first." He said.

I got inside and sat there with a totally blank expression. "You look beautiful. Just like I remember." He smiled. Like literally smiled. "I would say the same thing but unfortunately I forgot about you." I glared at him.

He was acting really nice. And Anthony and nice don't go together. I had learned that the hard way. So, I was not falling for his trap again. I was snapped back to reality when I heard a small laugh. "You still have the humor in you sweetheart." He smirked. I just rolled my eyes and stared out of the window.

**********

I stepped out of the car, closely followed by Anthony. I took a deep breath and walked inside the school, clearly ignoring Anthony. "Yeah. She looks very bad. I pity her." I heard someone whisper as I stepped inside the gym. "She is a b*tch for cheating on him. But look at that. Her new boyfriend looks hot." I heard more whispers and I was getting a very bad feeling that they were talking about me. But why? It's not like anyone knows what happened at the party. And I was keeping my distance from Anthony.

I got my answer at the next moment when I saw Stefan standing in front of me, his arm wrapped around none other than Sarah. I felt my blood boiling and tears forming in my eyes at the same time. How can someone be angry and sad at the same time. But I knew I had no right to be either of them.

I can't expect him to not come with a different date when I was here with Anthony. But it still hurt. I just went and sat on one of the tables. "Sweetheart? You okay?" I heard Anthony ask as he sat beside me. I just stood up to walk away from him but he held my hand and pulled me  back down. "What's your problem?" He asked.

 "Oh. You want to know what my problem is? You. That's my problem. Weren't you happy when you destroyed me the first time? Why did you have to come back again? What do you want from me? Look, I told you I am not interested in you. There many girls- or in your words fishes in the sea who would love your attention. And I am not one of them. So for God's sake, leave me alone!" I stated and turned on my heel and walked away.

But hardly had I walked few steps away when an arm wrapped itself around my waist. I tensed at first, but then relaxed thinking it was Stefan. Then the image of Stefan's arm around Sarah's waist popped in my mind and I quickly removed his arms and turned around only to see Anthony smirking.

"You really didn't think that I would let you go after what you said to me, you b-" Anthony was not allowed to finish his sentence as he was punched by someone in the face. And that someone happened to Stefan. I was really glad he had taken his hand off Sarah and used it to much Anthony. Unfortunately, the momentary satisfaction was destroyed as Stefan punched him again. And again. And again.

Anthony was no less. He gripped Stefan's collar and punched him in the stomach. Stefan stumbled back and glared at Anthony. I charged towards him and kicked him hard in the stomach making him fall down. Stefan climbed over him and started punching him. Again.

"I" punch "told" punch "you" punch "not" punch "to" punch "touch" punch "her" punch "and" punch "to" punch "leave" punch "her" punch "alone." There was blood everywhere on Anthony's face. I was shocked to see that he had not passed out yet. Instead he raised his hands and grabbed Stefan's neck, trying to choke him. Stefan did the same. I had to stop them before they kill each other.

"Stop it!" I shouted. Both of their attentions momentarily turned towards me but they went back to killing each other. "I said stop!" I shouted again as I walked towards them and pulled Stefan apart. Anthony stood up, dusting his suit, and wiped his face with a handkerchief. I glared at both of them.

Anthony just smirked and winked at me. I knew he was just trying to get to Stefan. And he succeeded as Stefan charged at him again. But I gambled my life and stood between them. "Calm down!" I stated. He just looked at me I had grown two heads. Then he just glared at me and turned around and walked away.

"So, Sweetheart. Shall we continue where we left off?" Anthony smugly asked. Without doubting, I walked up to him and punched him in the face. "F*ck off." I glared at him and walked in the direction where Stefan had went, making my way through the crowd that we had attracted. 

I saw Stefan sitting on the bench. I made my way towards him. "Hey." I slowly said. "What do you want?" He glared at me. "Okay. I deserved that. I just wanted to say that I am sorry." I sighed. 

"Sorry for what? Sorry for the fact that you cheated on me with your ex-boyfriend. Sorry for using me as your distraction? Sorry for what Nessa?" I winced at the tone of his voice. He called me Nessa. "I was never using you for anything. I really liked you and I like you even now. Will you just hear me out?" I tried to convince him.

"For God's sake, stop lying. And what's there to here you out. I get it. You were never over him. You just wanted to take your mind off him. So you used me. You know, it was wrong of me to punch him. I should just let him do whatever he wanted. And even if I stop him, I am the bad guy. And I am the one who is told to 'Calm down'." He turned around and started walking away. 

Without even noticing, I let out a shiver. When did the air around me get so cold? I knew that by now tears were streaming down my face, spoiling Selena's great work. But I didn't care. "He threatened to hurt me when he first asked me to do it. I didn't care about it so I said no. But then he threatened to hurt you. And couldn't let that happen. And that's why I agreed to come to the Winter Formal with him. But you never let me speak." I wanted to shout this out loud but it only came out as a whisper. I don't think Stefan heard it as I felt me being left alone.

But all my doubts were cleared when I felt a warm coat being wrapped around me. I thought it was Stefan. But why would he come back? Wait- Thinking it was Anthony, I quickly removed the coat, letting out a shiver as the cold air hit me again. 

"I am sorry." I heard a familiar voice. The voice I always loved to hear. "I am really sorry, Princess. I should have let you speak. But you could have just told me." Stefan shrugged as he wrapped his coat around me again. "I didn't want to. If I would have, you would have killed him. And then you would have ended up in jail." I shrugged. "You know me so well. Though I am going to kill him." He smirked as he leaned in and kissed me.

The kiss was sweet and of pure desire. It was like all the misunderstandings were forgotten and we were back to normal. "I am sorry for not telling you." I smiled. "I am sorry too. I said pretty bad-" "pretty bad?" I raised my eyebrow. "Okay. Very bad things to you. But it's that I never liked anyone. And now that I do, I just don't want it to end." He shrugged. "Aww. you are so cute!" I grinned. 

"Did we miss something?" A voice interrupted us. I turned around to see Ash, Ryan and Selena. "I think we missed a lot." Selena smirked. "Yep. You did." I shrugged. "Where were you guys?" Stefan asked. "Well, this person here," Ash said, pointing towards Lena. "Was very busy with this person here." He pointed towards Ryan. 

"Wait a minute. So when you told me that you forgot something at your house, you went to Ryan's house?" I raised my eyebrow. "Yes?" Selena furiously blushed. "Let's get to the dance. We are already late." Selena quickly said as she pulled Ryan inside. Ash followed them. "Ready Princess?" He asked. I nodded as I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm and we made our way inside. 

"May I have this dance, Princess?" Stefan asked, as he bowed down and held his hand in front. I just chuckled and placed my hand in his. He smiled and pulled me on to the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around my waist as my hands wrapped themselves around his neck. I rest my head on his shoulder and we started dancing as Think Out Loud by Ed Sheeran started playing.

"I am so glad that you left that d*ckhead and are dancing with me." Stefan smirked. "Yeah. Me too. I would have never danced with him." I shrugged. "And what happened to your palm?" He asked as he took my cut-arm in his hand. "The plate fell and broke and it cut me." I answered. "I will go kill the plate." He said in a childish voice.

"I think the plate is already dead." I chuckled. "Then do you want me to kiss it to make you feel better?" He asked in the same childish tone. I nodded, playing along with him. He took my palm and kissed it, leaving tingles behind which made me blush. Our awesome moment was unfortunately interrupted by my phone. Seeing the caller Id to be my mom's, I excused myself and accepted the call. "Hey mom!"

"Nessa, it's Hayley here!" the person responded. "Hey Hayley! What are you doing with my mom's ph-" My question was cut off by her urgent voice. "Nessa, you need to get here right now. It's your mom. She's in the ICU."

A/N:

Hey guys!
Hope you like this chapter...

So, you may or may not have noticed that I have changed the cover and the description of the story... And I need your help in choosing the best one....So comment inline on the cover you like....

1) The original

2) The current cover

3) Another available cover

Tell me which one you like!!

And please Vote for my book on the Primrose Awards...You can find the link in the external link or on my profile...

Also, I have tried a new writing format in this chapter.  Tell me what you think about it. I am planning on writing a new book after this one is over as we are getting closer to the end *sighs*

See you soon...