What the hell was going on?
I was aware of the entire cheerleading squad watching me as I made my way to the edge of the football field. Micah winked at me, nodding behind him. Then Avery burst through it, coming to a stop in front of me.
Everyone started cheering: his teammates, most of the cheer squad, Lily and Ashleigh in the bleachers. Even Coach Ford was clapping.
“So, will you?” Avery took my hands in his.
“I…”
He leaned in, brushing the hair away from my face. “The answer is yes, Miley.”
“Yes,” it spilled out on a soft sigh. “Yes, I’ll go to Homecoming with you.”
How could I deny him after this?
“She said yes!” He roared, and the applause got louder.
“Oh my God, stop.” I buried my face in his chest. But Avery cupped the back of my neck and gently lifted my face to his.
“I’ve never been to a school dance,” I confessed, feeling my cheeks turn pink.
“Good,” he said around a smile. “I want all your firsts, Miley. Every single one.”
Avery captured my lips in a bruising kiss, one I felt all the way down to the tips of my toes.
My hands wound into his jersey. “Everyone’s looking,” I breathed.
“Good, let them watch. You’re mine, Miley. And I’m never letting you go.”
Epilogue
Miley
I was at Homecoming… Homecoming.
I’d never been to a school dance before. But it was everything I expected a school dance to be. Loud, rowdy, and full of kids all looking to let loose, hook up, and make mistakes.
“Oh my God, you look amazing,” Ashleigh and Lily found me while Avery was off getting us some drinks. Drinks he assured me would be alcohol-free. But I didn’t trust Micah not to try and spike the punch.
“Thanks, my mom chose it.” She’d insisted on taking me dress shopping. The Raiders-blue skater dress wasn’t over the top or a showstopper, but I felt comfortable and Avery’s eyes had lit up when he’d seen me. So I figured it was a winner.
“Well, you look great.”
“So do you. Both of you.” I winked at Lily. She looked completely out of her depth, eyes wide and full of fear. I still didn’t know her whole story, but Lily Ford was a girl afraid of the world and it was such a freaking shame because she was all kinds of awesome.
“Here you go.” Avery slipped his arm around my waist and handed me my drink.
“You clean up good, Ave,” Ashleigh said, with a proud smile.
“I try.”
“The game was incredible by the way. If Notre Dame don’t want you, they’re idiots.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, brat.” He gave me a knowing look. He hadn’t told his family yet that he’d already verbally committed to them. It was a surprise.
“Wait a minute,” Ashleigh said, glancing between us. “You know something, don’t you?”
“You’re too damn smart for your own good,” he muttered.
“So… did you?”
“Did I what?” Avery smirked, and I buried my face against his shoulder, smothering my laughter.
“Oh my God, they want you, don’t they?” Ashleigh shrieked. “Notre Dame totally wants you.”
“Yeah, they do.”
“Avery!” Ashleigh flung herself at her brother, almost knocking me out of the way. I stepped aside, letting them have this moment. “I’m so freaking proud of you. Mom and Dad are going to kill you when you tell them.”
“I just wanted some time to process.”
“Congratulations, Avery, that’s amazing news,” Lily said.
“Thanks. But I’d appreciate it if you let me tell Mom and Dad.”
“I can keep a secret.” Ashleigh zipped her lips. His brow went up and we all chuckled.
“Uh oh, here comes Principal Kiln.”
My stomach lurched. I was dreading this part.
“Relax,” Avery whispered against the shell of my ear. “Even if she wins,”—which we all knew she would—“I’m here with you, not Kendall.”
“I know.”
Kendall had spent all week trying to intimidate me. I tried to ignore her, but it wasn’t always easy. She was great at playing on every insecurity I had about myself and my relationship with Avery.
“Students, teachers, and friends,” Principal Kiln’s voice echoed through the room, “welcome to Homecoming.” Cheers exploded around us, everyone chanting Raiders, Raiders. Avery gave the crowd a small salute but didn’t let go of my hand as we stood there, surrounded by his teammates and friends. Ashleigh cast me a reassuring smile, and I managed a small one in return. I never imagined I’d find myself here, but I didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’ll keep this brief as I’m sure you all want to enjoy your evening. Please give it up for this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, Mr. Avery Chase and Miss Kendall Novak.”
Even though I knew it was going to happen my heart still sank.
Avery cupped my face and stared at me intently. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Okay. Congratulations.”
His lip quirked. “You say that like this means anything. It doesn’t.”
Ashleigh slid her hand into mine and squeezed gently.
“Go,” I said to Avery. “They’re waiting.”
He hesitated but then melted into the crowd. Kendall was first on stage, eagerly accepting her tiara. She smiled like the cat who got the cream, especially when Avery reached the stage and accepted his crown. Lacing her arm through his, she beamed.
“What a deluded bitch,” Ashleigh hissed.
But there was no denying how good they looked together.
“It’s customary for the King and Queen to have one dance together,” Principal Kiln added, “if you would like to make your way to the dance floor.”
“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” I whispered, trying to untangle myself from Ashleigh. But she tightened her grip on me.
“No, you are not.”
“Ashleigh, please. I just need to—”
“Actually, Principal Kiln, I’m afraid that’s not going to work for me.”
I froze at the sound of Avery’s voice.
“I-it’s not?” The principal stuttered.
“No. You see, there’s only one girl I’ll be dancing with tonight, and that’s my girlfriend, Miley Fuller.”
Kendall’s expression turned murderous as Avery lifted a hand to his face and searched for me in the crowd.
“I see. Well, I guess there’s nothing that says you have to dance together. Kendall, do you
