�Ashley, what is it?�

�I need to tell you something.�

�Oh, I need to tell you something too.� He paused. �But you go first.�

�Ok.� She took a deep breath. �Look�I don�t know how to tell you this but I thought that you should before we make a big mistake.�

�What are you talking about?�

�I uh�I�ve been seeing someone behind your back.�

This was definitely not what he was expecting. He didn�t know whether to feel upset or to feel relieved.

�Who is it?�

�Alex.�

He scoffed. �My best friend? That�s great.� He paused. �How long has this been going on?�

�Almost two months now.�

�You didn�t even bother telling me this when I proposed?� Justin said, getting angrier by the minute.

�I�m sorry. I didn�t know it was going to last this long. If I knew, then I wouldn�t have accepted.� She said as her eyes started to well up with tears. Justin shot his eyes to the ground. He sighed and then spoke.

�You know what, I guess this is for the best.�

She looked at him and down to her hand. She slipped the ring off her finger and place it into his hand.

�I�ll see you around Justin.� She turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Justin closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He heard the door reopen.

�Hey, are you ok? I saw Ashley leave and she was crying. What happened man?� Lance asked. All Justin did was show him the ring.

�Oh, I�m sorry Justin.� Lance said as he sat next to him. Justin just stared at the ring lying in the palm of his hands. He clutched it and shoved it into his pocket.

�Hey do you know where Britney is?�

�Um�I think I saw her talking with Laura Lynn.�

�Thanks.�

Justin walked out the door and through the crowds, trying to get his way outside, accidentally bumping into somebody in the process.

�Oh I�m sorry��

�It�s ok. You don�t have to apologize.� Britney said as she went to join her friends dancing outside. Justin sat down in the open seat between Chris and JC. He sat there and watched her every move. Both Chris and JC noticed and tapped his shoulder.

�Justin?� JC asked. He didn�t answer. He was too caught up in his own state of mind.

�Hello? Earth to Justin.� Chris said snapping his fingers in front of Justin�s face.

�What? Sorry, did you guys say something?�

�Why don�t you just ask her to dance?� Chris asked.

�Yeah.� JC said with a monotone voice and pushed Justin off the chair. Justin just stood there not knowing what to do. He turned to look back at his two friends.

�Just go!� they both shouted.

Justin took a deep breath and headed to her. Britney was dancing with a group of friends. He walked up behind her and put his hands on her waist and started to move to along with the music. Britney turned her head and was surprised to see him there. She stopped abruptly as she tensed up.

�No, don�t stop.� He whispered into her ear. The upbeat song suddenly faded into a slow one. And while others found their partners, both Justin and Britney just stood there. He took a step closer to her and reached her hands.

�May I have this dance?�

Chapter 16