Justin had been suspended for the rest of the year. After people learned why he was suspended, some people were shocked and were more shocked when Christina admitted Justin had hit her several times.

Justin would return to school next year to repeat the few classes he needed to graduate.

“What do you think about this color?” Christina asked Lila. The two girls were at the mall shopping for a dress for the prom.

Joey and the guys were somewhere around the mall just looking around, probably in record stores.

“Blue is nice on you. I think you'd look perfect in it and I know Joey would love it.” Lila grinned.

Christina went into the changing room to try it on. She came out, thinking she wasn’t sure she liked the way it looked on her. “What do you think?” she asked Lila.

“It's gorgeous on you.”

She hadn’t asked his opinion, but she was glad to have it. She turned from Lila, to where all the different dressed were hanging and saw Joey leaning up against the mirror.

“Joey.” She smiled at him not being mad he had snuck in when she said she wanted to surprise him of what she was going to where with him to the prom. They had now been together for a few months and neither had ever been happier.

“Sorry, I couldn't resist.” He kissed her softly.

Lila felt a pair of arms around her from behind. She knew it was the moment those arms held her. She’d know those arms anywhere.

“That one isn't your style,” Lance said, referring to the black dress Lila had tried on. It was hanging on the hanger on the chair.

Lila picked it up and hung it back with the rest of the dresses. “How about this one?” Lila asked, holding up a light blue one that had a few sparkles.

He thought for a minute, trying to imagine in his mind what it would look like on her. “That one I love and would look amazing on you,” he replied with a smile.

Lila gave him a quick kiss, then disappeared into the changing room to try it on. She hadn’t tried it on before. It was at the back of her list for dresses to try one.

Lance rolled his eyes when he turned around and found Christina and Joey kissing. “Will you two quit it?” He didn’t really mind, not one bit. It was cute, but it was hard getting used to Joey having a steady girlfriend.

“No,” Joey and Christina replied at the same time.

They spend way too much time together, Lance thought. They’re getting to sound like each other.

“So, you gonna get that one?” Lance asked Christina looking at the dress she had on.

“Yeah, I think so,” she said.

“I love it a lot,” Joey told her. “But not as much as I love you.” Then they were back kissing in the middle of the store.

“Oh guys, come on.” Lance groaned. Lila came out with the dress on. Lance turned around and his eyes grew wide as he saw her. “You look amazing, baby.”

Right then, seeing the look in Lance’s eyes, Lila knew she had to buy this dress. She hurried back into the change room to take it off.

“I suppose you should take that off now,” Joey said. He didn’t want to let go of her, but knew he had to or else they would never get out of this store. And being in a woman’s clothing store wasn’t exactly his idea of a fun time.

Lila and Christina both bought and paid for their dressed, then the four headed out of the store. The first thing they heard the moment they got out of the door was Chris’ squeaky voice.

“Hey!” Chris came running up to them with an ice cream cone in his hand. A big grin plastered on his face. “I got a date for the prom!”

“Oh yeah? Who did you pay to date you?” Lila asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Oh shut up Lila! Missy asked me to the prom.” They all stared at Chris like he had two heads. “Yeah yeah whatever, she'll be over Justin in time.”

Christina and Joey were so wrapped up in each other they didn’t hear the good news. All they heard was that Chris got a date.

That was enough to get Joey’s attention. “You got a date? With who?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you hear me? I just told you.”

“But Joey was lost in his own little world,” Lance snickered. “His secret fantasy land.”

Joey ran after Lance down to the ice cream parlor, down the escalator and through five different stores.

All was forgotten about Chris’ date.

Chris groaned and followed Christina and Lila down the stairs to where Joey and Lance were now laughing, enjoying a cup of coffee.

“Is anyone going to ever have any interest in anything I say?” Chris demanded.

“We listen to what you have to say,” Joey said, pulling Christina onto his lap. “We’ll believe that you’re going to the prom with Missy when we see it.”

And they saw it.

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