We stuck to the rules set by my idiotic brother. Most of them anyways. We only held hands when we were at school. Barely touched when we were all hanging out. Never stayed together in my room. The beautiful loophole was that Finn's room was never mentioned, or any other rooms. We had been publicly dating for two weeks. I went to both of the games sporting his jersey. At the end of the night we celebrated at the field party for the victories.

The team was on a roll and homecoming was right around the corner. Heather was overjoyed when I told her I needed a dress. She dragged me into one of the shops she had claimed to carry the best dresses. Piling one after another in my arms, she pushed me into the dressing room.

"He hasn't even asked me yet," I complained as I changed into the first dress. It was knee length purple silk with gold sequins. I cringed at the sight in the mirror.

"You have to have a dress regardless, because you are going. Date or not."

"Heather," I groaned, twirling from side to side to get a better look.

"Let me see," she chirped without care. I opened the door, a frown carved into place. Her nose scrunched up as she took me in. Without a word, she pointed back to the dressing room, demanding the second dress.

Four dresses later and I left the store empty handed. Heather rambled on about the disbelief. Two hours, three stores and seven dresses. Nothing felt right, or looked right. This whole dance was beyond my comfort zone. I managed to get out of the last two homecoming dances. All night movie marathons, with a big bowl of kettle corn and a two liter of root beer.

Heather gave up on the search and I was in my car headed to Finn's. His mother greeted me at the door and invited me in. She pointed up the stairs and asked if I would be staying for dinner.

"We're having Italian."

"Sounds perfect. I'll let my brother know," I gave her a polite smile and headed upstairs. Music seeped past his closed door. I opened the door and closed it again behind me. An arm was draped over his face as he lay in his bed. Crawling up the bed beside him, I laid down beside him. He squirmed as my fingers brushed under the hem of his shirt.

"Stop," he moaned as he rolled away from my touch.

"Then wake up," I nuzzled the crook of his neck. "Please."

"Coach had us running drills all day," he rolled onto his side, wrapping his arms around me. "All I want to do is sleep."

"Okay," I kissed his cheek. "Then I'm going to go tell your mom that I won't be staying for dinner. I can probably hang with my brother, and the guys."

"I'm up," he mumbled slowly shifting again. I sat with my back resting against the headboard.

"So Coach is really worried about the game Friday?"

"You know how he is. Westerly is the toughest team in the conference."

"Yeah. So was North Lincoln, Albertson and Longton. You guys wiped the floor with them. I think you can handle these guys."

"Are you sure you weren't a cheerleader?"

"Maybe in another life," my fingers combed through his hair.

"How is Heather?"

"Psychotic."

"What else is new?"

"She's convinced that I'm going to the homecoming dance. We've been shopping since we left school."

"Aren't you going," his eyes squinted up at me as he woke a bit more.

"Haven't been asked," I shrugged one shoulder, "Besides, I have my own traditions."

"That's why I haven't asked. If you don't want to go, I'm not going to pressure you with some crazy spectacle."

"Do you want to?"

"I want to spend the evening with you. If that means trashy movies and pajamas, I'm sold." That lopsided smile made mine double. "Although, I'd pay money to see what offensive dress you pick out this time."

**~~**

This Friday there was no school. The staff claims it is a district wide team building day. For us students, we claim the teachers couldn't handle their hangovers from the opening night of our towns festival. Whatever the truth is, we were all headed to the fest Thursday night. The football team would find their way after their dinner.

I kept looking at my phone trying to time when Finn and the guys would magically show up. Heather and Cam were bickering as we walked the runway overflowing with rides. Beyond the flashing lights and mix matched music were the games. Cam wanted to do rides first, arguing that games would mean prizes which he would have to carry onto the rides. Heather wanted to win the best prizes before they were gone. I didn't care.

"How about food first," I smiled as the sweetness of cotton candy swirled around me. I stepped away from them before they could answer and got in line. I placed my order and a letterman sleeved arm slapped a five dollar bill on the metal ledge. If it had been white leather on that sleeve, I would have been fine. This one was black. The woman in the purple shirt handed me the bag of blue fluff. I couldn't bring myself to speak as I took the bag and spun away from the person who bought my cotton candy.

"That's how you're going to be," the deep voice followed me. "Lainy?"

"My friends are waiting for me," I snapped over my shoulder.

"You can spare five minutes."

"No." A hand grabbed my arm and pulled into him. "Jasper."

"Blaine," his eyes were ice cold as he stared at me.

"Back off, Jasper," Cam barked as he shoved the guy holding me in place.

"Ah," Jasper sneered, "Still playing lap dog I see."

"Get out of here." The two were inches from each other. Cam has only gotten into one fight in his entire life, and it was with the asshole currently across from him.

"Aren't you little far from home, Potter?" My head snapped to my brother. Behind him stood a flexed Joseph, an irritated Shane and an extremely pissed Finn. His gaze shifted to me expecting answers.

"Easy now, Lester," he mocked, "Just catching up with old friends."

I was ready to tell him off when more Westerly players came into view. How I missed all the black and blue earlier blows my mind. I've been proud of my observation skills. Now, here I was surrounded by faces I knew but didn't see. I reached for Cam's hand and pulled me away from Jasper.

"Let's get out of here," I looked to my brother for some help. Shane stepped up and whispered to Cam to cool off.

"Always the trouble maker, aren't you, Lainy? Good to know big brother can protect you. Ain't nobody going to protect him on the field."

"Funny," Lucas stepped forward and I got between them. Pleading with my eyes, he took a step back. Heather was at my side as we worked to corral the guys away from the invaders. When we were two blocks away, I calmed me insistent herding. Shane was giving Cam praise for stepping up. Joseph was talking my brother down and Finn was slowing his pace to join me and Heather.

"I'm going to," Heather looked for an excuse, "Go somewhere else."

"She's subtle," Finn teased. I opened the bag of cotton candy, tore a piece of fluff off and offered it to him. He shook his head.

"If it isn't loud and proud, she fails."

"Why was Jasper Potter all over you a minute ago?"

"Just like you are too blunt for your own good." I popped the piece of whispy sugar into my mouth.

"And you're deflecting."

"He has issues. You know that."

"No," he muttered, "Actually, I know nothing about him other then he's QB for Westerly."

"Then you're all caught up."

"Blaine," he grabbed my hand as I went for another piece of cotton candy, pulling me to a stop.

"We had a thing for like a month. I found out he's a tool. End of story."

"You had a thing?" His eyes were glued to me as his hand loosened its hold on mine. "You had a thing with our rival's quarterback?"

"First off, you say every team is your rival. Secondly, it was last year. Well before he was first string. And thirdly, keep your voice down."

"What were you doing not telling me?"

"Like I know all the girls you've been with out of the public eye."

"You never asked."

"Neither did you," I spat each word. "Besides, I assumed it was the past and I didn't need to go digging."

"Unbelievable," he muttered, his hand letting mine go completely.

"Finn," I asked as he stepped back. He turned his back to me and started to walk away. "Where are you going Finn?"

"Somewhere. Anywhere. Away from you. I need to think."

"What was that all about?" I jumped to find Shane behind me.

"Our first fight, I guess." My hand reached into the bag for another piece of fluff. My fingers barely grazed the surface when my hand retreated. Suddenly my sweet treat looked disgusting. I headed toward the nearest trash can when Shane snatched the bag from my hand.

"You'll want it later," he threw an arm around me and gently guided me toward the group sitting on a picnic table. He pulled me down between him and my brother.

"Where'd Finn go?"

"To cool down," I answered flatly. I crossed my arms and leaned on the table.