Tonight is winter formal. Carter and his friend Dane, one of the linemen on the football team, picked up me and Shea in a limo. It was wonderful. I thought for sure there'd be awkwardness, but there hasn't been. Not during dinner or on the way to the dance.

When we step into the ballroom, I gasp. "This is so beautiful."

"It really is," Shea agrees.

Carter and Dane are standing right behind us. Maybe the awkwardness will begin now?

"There are a lot of people here already," Carter says.

"There really are," I agree.

The room is filled with fairy lights and white garland. There's even fake snow in areas. I look at the stage where the DJ is working his magic, and there are two huge big screens on either side.

"What are the big screens for?" I ask, looking at Carter.

He just shrugs.

I look to Shea. "I don't know. I never pay attention to details. You know this."

"Dane?"

He shrugs. "No idea."

I narrow my eyes. He's a bad liar.

"Would you like to dance?" Carter asks.

"I would love to."

We dance and dance and dance while sharing some gossip then talking about Carter's football. I tell him about the contest Shea and I are entering and he smiles so big.

"That's fantastic, Tera. You're going to win," he says with all the confidence I'm lacking when it comes to my work.

"I'm glad you think so because I'm doubting it."

"Stop. You know your paintings are beautiful. They're so different from anything I've ever seen. Uniquely you," he tells me.

"Unique isn't always good," I remind him.

"In this case it is." He looks down at me. "Trust me."

I nod. "I do. Thanks for being so supportive. Thanks for offering to bring me here. I don't know why you'd want to do that after I broke your heart."

He smiles softly. "I'd do anything for you. You're the nicest girl I know. Sure, you broke my heart, but that doesn't mean we're not friends, right? We were best friends, Tera. I can't stand to see you unhappy."

"This, right here, is how I know you're going to find your girl and when you do, you're going to realize she is your one. She's going to steal your heart with just one kiss," I tell him.

One side of his mouth kicks up in a small grin. "Like you did?"

I give him a look. "Carter."

"It was just that easy."

I nod. I'm not sure what to say, so I rest my head on his chest while we dance.

The song ends and the DJ taps his mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a special surprise for you all!"

There are shouts and hoots of excitement.

"Are you ready?" the DJ asks.

Everyone yells that we are.

"Are you sure?"

A yelled, "Yes!" is the last we hear because when the lights begin to go down, the big screens come on and everyone quiets down.

"Is that Jesse?" I ask, incredulously. "Is that Falling Down?!" I nearly shout.

Carter nods. "He wanted to surprise you."

"Oh wow. Thank you, Carter."

He nods again.

The music is deafening as it comes through the speakers.

"I guess they want it to feel like the real deal," I say with a laugh.

Carter laughs with me. "I guess so. My ears are gonna be ringing for days, but it'll be worth it."

"Hey, Kansas City," Jesse begins, his smile pure and infectious. "You see that camera right there?"

The crowd screams.

"That's giving a live feed to a winter formal back home where Linc's twin sister is. Hell, she's our sister too," Jesse admits.

"Not mine," Xander shouts and I laugh.

"Yeah, she's not Xander's sister. She's his girlfriend!" Jesse teases.

There are boos mixed in with the cheers.

"Hey now," Xander begins, "I've been in love with this girl since I was eight. Be kind to my girl."

Now the cheers are genuine.

"Tera, we'd love to be there with you tonight, but we're a little busy. We thought we'd bring you all with us tonight," Jesse shouts. "What do you all think about that?"

Their crowd screams and shouts as does this room full of people.

"Let's get this party started!"

They rock us out for a good hour before they have to say goodbye.

Xan gets up from his drums and walks over in front of the camera, his face right there.

"Remember, Winters, watch those hands."

Carter chuckles.

"I love you, Tera. I'll see you soon."

Blank screen.

"That was fucking incredible!" Shea screams at me. Dane's all smiles and happiness, as is Carter.

"Thank you, guys, so much, for this. It's exactly what I needed."

Shea shakes her head. "It was all Carter and Xan—well, and the band."

Xander made it to winter formal after all.