Days of the future by Megan Adams (best books to read in your 20s .txt) 📖

else, too keep from looking at him and going into the dance. He turned and faced me, grabbing my hands and holding them tightly, forcing me to look up at him. "We can do this." I took a deep breath and nodded. He pushed the doors open and pulled me inside after him. As soon as I walked through the door, everyone stared at us. Or so I thought. Suddenly, I started to feel self-concious, but my friends rushed over and crowded around us. I smiled at Layla, Whitney and Britney as I pulled them to the dance floor as the boys stood in the back, watching us and talking to each other about god knows what. As the girls and I danced, I caught Dylan's eye and smiled. He smiled back and gave me a little wave before laughing at something Andy said. When the beat sped up, the girls and I started to shimmy against each other, and soon enough all three boys had grabbed their dates and danced with each other. I didnt spot Dylan so I kept dancing. Too soon, the music slowed down and I stood there without my date. As I started to walk away, a pair of strong arms slid around my waist and pulled me back against a broad chest. I smiled and wrapped my arms around his.  I closed my eyes and swayed to the music with him. I finally found my voice. "Why did you leave the other guys?" I looked around and saw all of our friends standing in the back of the room, laughing. "Because I saw a beautiful girl dancing and had to join her before some other guy swooped in." I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Protective much?" "Very." I giggled but I knew he was serious. I buried my face in his chest. I dont know if his hold could have gotten any tighter.

Suddenly, he stiffened up and tried to turn us around so I would be behind him. That's when I caught sight of who was making their way over. Vanessa. The meanest, "Prettiest" b**** alive. As she twitched (something she did with her butt, cause she didnt walk) over to us, I narrowed my eyes at her. She was wearing a fire engine red dress that should have been illegal because of how short it was. She has EVERY boy after. And I do mean every boy. All but one, of course. She stopped infront of Dylan and ran a red fingernail suggestively down the front of his shirt. I looked into her eyes and they reflected lust.

“Hey Dylan.” She purred. I cleared my throat and narrowed my eyes at her. “Jezz.” She said with a nod. I ‘What a bi-‘my though was cut off by Dylan’s question. “What do you want Vanessa?” She smiled at him once more, before walking away. “Nothing I can’t have, of course.” I knew that tone. I’ve heard it many times before. It means wait and find out. I watched her ‘twitch’ her way over to her friends to do whatever. Then she walked out of the side door of the cafeteria. I walked away from Dylan and picked up my dress. Holding my head up, I made my way through the crowd and exited out the same door that Vanessa.

*~*~*

One minute I had Jezz behind me, next she is exiting the cafeteria. I stood there, unsure what to do. A few minutes later, Whitney runs up to me. “Go after her and help-” she never got to finish because I was already gone. I ran out the same that the other girls. Stopping in the dark hallway and trying to catch my breath so I could hear any noise to indicate where Jezz had gone. I soon heard crying further down the hallway. So I bolted down the hall. Who I found there wasn’t who I was looking for. “Vanessa.” She was standing in front of the lockers. The sad thing was, she wasn’t crying. She was smiling. She was gazing at me with such an intensity that I flinched slightly. Her smile only widened. She slowly walked forward until I was pinned against wall on the other side. She placed her hands on my chest and kissed me.

*~*~*

I looked up, my face tear-streaked, to the sound of something slamming against the wall on the other side of the bathroom door. I slowly got up and made my way to the sink and washed my face. I stood over the sink that was by the door and looked at myself. I shook my head and opened the door.

*~*~*

While trying to push Vanessa away from me, I heard the bathroom door open.

*~*~*

I stepped out of the bathroom and faltered. I see Dylan and Vanessa. Kissing. He had his hands on her shoulders and she had her claws on his chest. My voice wobbled as I asked them, “What is going on here?” Vanessa, who stopped kissing him and stepped back from him, answered. “Nothing that concerns you Jezz.” She sneered. I looked over at Dylan, my eyes filling with tears again and my hand going to my chest, where the necklace lays. “Dylan…?” I take a deep, ragged breath and I turn away. I don’t look back to see if he is following me. Before I walk back into the dance, a few tears escape my eyes and I brush them away. I walked in and started to scout out one of my friends. I caught Layla’s eye when I found her dancing with Taylor. I beckoned her over to and waited. She shimmed her way over and when she got close enough to see my face, she said nothing. She pulled me into her arms and hugged me fiercely. I gently pulled away and told her, “I need to go home.” She nodded and made a sympathetic face. “Okay, but please stay with me and find out who won Prom King and Queen.” I sighed. Just then, the DJ stopped the music and tapped the microphone. “Ladies and gentleman, how is your prom?” Everyone screamed with excitement. “That’s what I though. Now is the moment you have all been waiting for. You Prom King is…” A drumroll started and then stopped. “Dylan Smith.” Cheers and applause erupted in the room as Dylan materialized at the stairs of the stage and accepted his crown when he stopped next to the DJ. “You Queen is…” Again with the drumroll. “Jezzabelle Lucas!” There were cheers. I looked over at Vanessa, who was standing next to Brad. She glowered at me and stalked away, dragging Brad with her. I slowly made my way up to the stage and over to the DJ to receive my crown. He turned to the crowed and started clapping. “Give it up for this year’s Prom King and Queen.” As I took Dylan’s arm, I didn’t look up at him. I kept my gaze on the ground. He spun me into his arms once we were in the middle of the floor for the annual ‘King and Queen dance’ which I didn’t want to do because it required me to be close to him, which is not what I wanted. I wanted to be away from him. I felt like I wanted to collapse. I glanced up at Dylan. He was watching me. I closed my eyes and looked away. ‘I can’t take this anymore.’ I thought to myself. I removed his hand from around my waist and took a step back. Not many people noticed us not dancing anymore. But the few that did, were definitely watching. “Wait…” Dylan pleaded, holding one hand outstretched towards me. “What?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Layla and Taylor stop dancing and watch. “Please let me explain earlier.” I stiffened at the thought. “There is nothing to explain.” I explained. “You were obviously trying to make a point and you did. You made it quite clear.” I looked up into his eyes, to see that they were shinning with unshed tears. I shake my head, my tears finally falling. I turned and ran out of the cafeteria, Layla and Taylor running after me.

*~*~*

When I got home that night, I was tired, my feet were killing me in these shoes, and my heart was in tatters. I fingered the necklace as I changed for bed. I yanked the necklace off my neck and chucked it across the room. I turned on my bedside lamp and laid on my bed, drawing my knees up to my chest. And sob. I scream like a banshee, scream so loud that the whole world could have heard me. I let out all of my pain and anger till I have nothing left. I fall asleep, alone and heartbroken.

Chapter 4

The next few days weren’t the best days of my life. People kept glancing at me and whispering. I falter at the school doors, unsure if I want to go in. I scuff my boots against the pavement and take a deep breath. Opening the doors, the rush of air came rushing at me. I held up my head and strode through the hallways to my locker at the other end. Just like always, I make it to my locker to meet up with my friends. But when I get there, my locker is deserted. I searched up and down the hallways to see if they were at their lockers, but to no success. So I went to class alone.

At lunch, I saw my friends at our table chatting away. I was almost there when Vanessa stepped in my path. Just looking at her made me want to punch her. “What do you want Vanessa?” I muttered. Her smile only got bigger. “Nothing, anymore.” She replied and moved out of my way, sitting back down at her table. In the end, I did sit with my friends. Only to pick at my food and feel sad for myself.

At random times of the day, I would see him. See how sad and broken he was about the situation. It wasn’t until a few days later, that I saw that he had had enough of this. Before English class, like always, I was at my locker, hanging out with my friends. I didn’t see or hear him walk up to me. He just grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him. I stumbled at first, then caught my footing and followed him silently. He had finally arrived at his destination. The window said, “Custodians Only!” he opened the door and pulled me inside, then slammed it shut. Glaring at him, I folded my arms across my chest and said, “You have no right to just drag me to whatever destination you want.” He took a deep breath and turned around and held out his hands. “Your right, I had no right to do that to you. I’m sorry.” I incline my head. “What do you want Dylan?” He took a step closer to me and I took a step back. Hurt flashed in his eyes. “I want to say I’m sorry about what happened at the dance. I want