31☽

⋆ Chapter 31 ⋆Winter Formal

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                             Once again Adaline was back to ignoring Nate. She was really getting tired of the constant fighting. She didn't understand why he always did stuff to push her away. One second he wanted her and then the next second he was a complete ass. It was almost like he was scared to let her in. Which she didn't understand. They had always told each other everything.

What Adaline didn't know was that Nate only let her see what he wanted her to see. The fact that she saw his meltdown terrified him. He didn't want her to ever see him like that. Nate was afraid that he'd scare her off if she truly knew how fucked up he was.

Sometimes it was just easier for the Jacobs boy to push her away. He knew what he was doing wasn't right but he didn't care in that moment. All he could think about was the look on her face when she saw his breakdown. So Nate was doing what he did best. He went back to ignoring the brunette except for the occasional sarcastic comment. He even went as far as to asking someone else to the winter formal.

Did Nate like the girl? Of course not. She was nice to look at but other than that he couldn't stand her. His only reason for asking her was to piss Adaline off. He figured if she saw him with someone else she'd stop trying to make up with him.

"Hey." Cal smiled opening the front door.

"You guys have such a beautiful home." Nate's date Natalie complimented as she entered the house.

"Aw, thank you." Marsha replied plastering on a fake smile. She wasn't very happy about Nate going to the formal with someone other than Adaline.

"You look beautiful." Nate spoke as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Thanks." The blonde laughed blushing.

"That's an understatement." Cal joked eyeing his sons date.

Everyone's heads turned towards the stairs at the sound of heels against the wood floor. Nate's breath caught in his throat as he watched Adaline descend the stairs. She looked fucking amazing. If he didn't regret taking someone else before he definitely did now.

"Oh my god Addie! You look stunning!" Marsha gushed as the brunette stepped into the entry way. "Doesn't she look amazing Nate?"

"Uh yeah." He stuttered out. Nate was speechless. He loved the way the purple silk material clung to her body. The dress perfectly showed off all of her curves including her baby bump. It was hard to believe that she was already around 20 weeks. She was basically halfway through her pregnancy.

"Are you riding with them?" Cal questioned.

"Oh no. I was going to ask Cassie if I could ride with her and Lexi." The brunette explained trying to ignore the feeling she got from Nate's eyes roaming her body.

"Nonsense! Nate will take you." Marsha dismissed. "Right sweetheart?"

Nate's date quietly scoffed. She wanted to be alone with Nate. The girl didn't need any competition.

"Yeah that's fine." Nate nodded. He didn't feel like arguing with his parents so he just agreed.

Adaline sighed knowing she couldn't get out of it. She silently followed Nate and the blonde to his truck, slipping into the backseat. The vibe in the truck was very tense and awkward.

The Kingston girl hadn't really spoke to Nate in a couple of weeks. She would occasionally try and ask him if he was done being an asshole but that would just end with him being an even bigger asshole. Eventually, she just stopped trying. She figured that he would talk to her when he was ready. So she was giving him his space until he decided to crawl back and ask for her forgiveness. Which she knew he would do.

"I've always, like, really been into pickup trucks." Natalie flirted putting her feet on Nate's dash.

"You can take your shoes off the dash." Nate asked with a clenched jaw. The only response he got from his date was a scoff and the roll of her eyes.

Adaline couldn't have been happier when the three pulled up to the school parking lot. She didn't waist a second before jumping out of the truck and heading into the building. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the gymnasium all decorated. It looked truly magical. She just wished she could experience it with Nate.

"Addie!" Lexi called from a table towards the back. Adaline smiled walking over to the group of her friends plus Maddy. She decided she was going to simply ignore the girl and have a good time tonight. She didn't want anymore drama.

"Hey guys! You all look beautiful." She smiled looking at their outfits. Adaline honestly felt a little self conscious. She liked her dress but she was worried that it was a little too tight.

"You look hot." Kat announced as the brunette sat down next to Lexi.

"I love that dress." Jules exclaimed. "And look at your cute little bump!"

Adaline giggled at the girls comment. All of her negative thoughts about her appearance quickly disappeared. She didn't miss the look on Cassie's face at the mention of her bump.

"I feel really good about tonight." Cassie suddenly spoke attempting to change the subject.

Lexi shot Adaline a look. Both of them caught on to what she was trying to do. Lexi and Adaline had both accompanied Cassie to her abortion appointment. Adaline held her hand the whole time and even stayed with her after it was over. She knew what the blonde was going through couldn't have been easy so she tried to be there for her as best as she could.

"Really?" Maddy and Lexi asked simultaneously.

"Yeah. I mean... I was thinking this is the first time since the beginning of high school that I haven't, like, been in love with somebody."

"Honestly, I love that for you." Maddy smiled glancing towards Adaline. She couldn't help but think of her own situation.

The girls all continued to pass around a Gatorade bottle. Skipping Adaline seeing as it had vodka mixed in with it. They were chatting about random things and having a good time.

"What if these are, like, the big moments in life? Like, my mom always talks about how high school was like this big, monumental part of her life. But I cannot imagine being 40 and looking back at this, like, Wow." Cassie wondered aloud.

"Yeah, but that's because most people peak in high school." Maddy shrugged.

"I definitely haven't peaked, so..." The short haired girl said.

"I feel like I'm not even a person yet." Adaline mumbled. Her thoughts had been a jumbled mess recently. All she could think about was how maybe she actually wasn't ready to have a baby. She really needed to get her shit together before she gave birth.

"Yeah, I'm definitely at, like, 25 percent peakness." Said the older Howard sister.

"I feel like I'm at a hundred. But I can definitely get to 150." Jules laughed.

"Honestly, I never thought I'd make it this far." Rue shrugged confusing Cassie.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just always had, like, this overwhelming anxiety that something bad would happen." Rue's statement made the Kingston girl sad. She couldn't imagine not having Rue in her life.

"In all fairness, last summer, there were, like, three weeks where I thought you were dead." Maddy said honestly.

"Okay, but she's been sober for, like, three months." Jules countered.

"Weren't you in rehab, like, six months ago?"

"Uh, yeah." Rue chuckled nervously.

"Maybe people are nostalgic about high school 'cause it's, like, the last time in their life that they get to dream. After this is just bad jobs, and bills, and bad husbands. Maybe I'm generalizing, but... I don't know. Do you guys get what I mean?" Cassie ranted.

"I don't know. I kind of feel the opposite. I feel like high school's super fucking suffocating." Adaline spoke up. She hated how judgmental everyone was and how much people cared about their appearances. Adaline just wanted to be herself and not be judged for it.

Some of the girls nodded agreeing with her statement. Jules suddenly stood saying that she would be back before heading out of the gym. Rue watched her leave with a raised brow.

"First of all, ew. Second of all, ew." Maddy scoffed catching Adaline's attention. The Kingston girl turned her head to see what her ex friend was looking at.

"Who the hell is she?" Kat asked as the table watched Nate and his date walk into the gym.

He lead her to the dance floor where he then proceeded to lift her dress up and grip her right ass cheek. Nate made sure dance right where Adaline would be able to see them. He kept his eyes on her as he continued to dance.

"Her name is Natalie and she's super fucking annoying." Adaline explained rolling her eyes. Everyone looked at Adaline curiously. "What?" She asked noticing everyone just staring at her.

"I thought you and Nate were together." Cassie was the one to break the silence.

"Oh um no not really." The girl shrugged. "I mean we were taking it slow but I guess not anymore. We got into an argument and now we're not speaking."

"Well I'm going to go dance." Maddy smiled walking over to a cute football player and pulling him onto the dance floor.

Instead of focusing on Nate, Adaline turned her attention back to her friends. She knew Nate was just trying to make her jealous. It was obviously working but she wasn't going to let him know that.

"I feel like love is super dark and no one ever talks about it." Cassie said.

"Yeah, but that might be specific to their kind of love." Lexi replied.

"You're saying some super deep stuff tonight Cas. Are you okay?" Adaline questioned her blonde friend.

"Yeah, I've just been thinking about a lot of things. I think I'm gonna do everything in my power for at least, like, the next three years to not fall in love."

The brunette had a hard time believing that Cassie was going to stick to this. Everyone in their friend group knew how easily she fell in love. Adaline didn't think Cassie would last a couple of months let alone three years. And the girl had no idea how right she would be.

"Let's go dance!" Adaline exclaimed pulling Lexi and Cassie up with her. Kat and Rue had ditched the group. Rue going to find Jules and Kat going to talk to some boy.

Adaline and the Howard sisters danced and twirled each other around. Adaline was having the time of her life. It felt good to relax and let loose. She hadn't even thought about Nate who was currently outside having a chat with Rue.

"I need a drink." Lexi announced heading back to the table.

"I'll come with." Adaline called out following her. She was working up a sweat dancing around. The two friends were sitting at the table catching their breaths for a few minutes before being interrupted.

"Adaline, get up." Spoke Nate looking down at the girl.

"No."

"Just get up." He said getting impatient.

"Why?" She questioned glancing up at him.

"Could you please just come dance with me? I want to talk."

"Fine." The girl sighed standing up and giving him her hand.

Nate led them to the dance floor wrapping an arm around her waist. Adaline leaned her head against his shoulder inhaling his scent as the two swayed. She missed the feeling of being in his arms.

"You're an assshole."

"I know." Nate sighed.

"You pushed me away because you're too scared to show anyone how fucked up you are."

"I know."

"You really fucking hurt me Nate. I hate when you act like that." She sniffled blinking away her tears. "I just wanted to be there for you."

"I'm sorry. I'm just scared. I don't want to lose you." Nate breathed out.

"You're not going to." Adaline said softly reaching up and lightly brushing away a tear that had fallen down his cheek. She was hoping things would finally start to get better. Adaline was actually excited for what the New Year would bring. Hopefully her and Nate would be happy.

______________________________I'm so excited to start writing the craziness that is season 2.

Let me know what you guys think and what you want to possibly happen in future chapters!

^ Adaline's Dress ^

^ Adaline's Makeup ^

^ Adaline's Hair ^