"How are you feeling, princess?" Matt asked, placing a folder on my lap.

I smiled at him, "Good but lonely."

"Aw." He moved around the bed, kicked off his shoes, and slid under the cover with me, "Does your head hurt?"

"Not too badly." I slipped under his arm and his lips grazed my forehead. I hissed, "Your lip ring is cold."

"Sorry, baby. Um, has your mom been up here lately?" He ran broad fingers through my hair.

Two nights ago, Matt had carried me into my bedroom from the hospital under Mom's watchful eye. She believed me more about Rodney after confront him at the hospital about the beer bottle-everyone said that was an interesting conversation- and she'd relented to me being friends with Matt, but nothing more. What she didn't know didn't hurt her but she was giving us loads of opportunities to be couplish.

"Right before you came up so we're okay for a while. How was school?" I leaned into his shoulder.

"Let's just say that it's obvious to all our teachers that I don't pay attention and you're the reason my notes get done and I pass." he sighed.

"Aw, did they bust your balls over it?" Matt wasn't a bad student;he was smart and learned quick. He just didn't pay attention.

"Yes. I thought Mathers was going to give me detention!" He pushed out his bottom lip.

I reached up to pull him down to bite and kiss it. He mooaned but pushed me away lightly, "We need to talk about the other night."

"O . . .kay?"

"I felt like I pressured you. Did I? If I did, I'm sorry and I'll try to take it slow-" I placed my finger over his lips.

"Matt. You didn't pressure me. You heard and felt my reactions." I shook my head, smiling softly. He was a good boyfriend and a sweet guy.

He sighed, "Yeah, I just . . .we've only been together a little while, I don't want to fuck it up."

"You won't, love. You're amazing." We kissed again but backed up when something hit my window. Matt crossed to it and opened it. A moment later, Johnny sprang through.

He came over and hugged me gingerly, "You look good compared to yesterday. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Thanks." I smiled at him, but tentatively. Why? Because Matt was looking from the window to Johnny and back again, his expression less than pleased. I reached for his hand and he took mine, sitting stiffly on the edge of my bed.

Johnny sighed, "Look, I hate this awkwardness. Matt, I'm still sorry. Okay?"

"Yeah. But, uh, do you always climb in the window like that?"

"Only when I'm too lazy to walk around." He shrugged.

Matt frowned. I ran my hand down his back and across his shoulder. Something told me that if Matt ever lost his temper, we'd be in a shit load of trouble. That was the reason I always tried to soothe him.

After a moment, Johnny bounced on his toes, "'Ella, guess what?! Guess what?!"

"What? What?" Even Matt chuckled at his oddly childlike behavior.

"I have a girlfriend!"

At this statement, Matt cheered. I laughed and clapped. "Good! Who is she and when do we meet her?"

"Her name's Victoria and when we go to the winter formal together." He grinned.

Matt and I both groaned. The Winter Formal was in two weeks. Neither of us wanted to go but Lorrie had begged and Zacky claimed if he had to look like a goof-ball so did Matt.

Johnny shook his head, "You two are impossible. What would you rather be doing?"

"Anything else?" I suggested.

"Preferrably in private-hands on." Matt added.

I nudged him, rolling my eyes. H epoked me and playfully kissed on me. The kisses were tickling and light causing me to giggle. Johnny's eyes met mine; he winked and headed out the window. Matt murmured near my ear, "i'm sorry I got mad and jealous."

I snuggled into him, "It's understandable. You just need to learn to trust Johnny again, Matt."

"I know. And I'm trying. Alright, about this formal thing . . .do I need to take you to the mall?" He asked.

"Mom will want to take me. First dance and all that." I sighed.

"Ah. Girly stuff, okay. My mom said if you needed her to she'd take you too. So I'll tell her it's cool." He gave me a squeeze but let go when we heard someone pause outside the bedroom door.

A second later, it opened. Mom peeked in, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Mom." I held up the folder, "Going over some homework."

"It was sweet of you to bring her that, Matthew." Mom sent him a tight smile that Matt returned just as tight. While she was just trying to get use to being nice to him, he was holding a grudge against her for hitting me. That and she refused to call him Matt.

I looped our fingers together under the edge of my blanket, causing his smile to be more genuine, "Umhum, it was. Mom, has anyone called today?"

That was our code for "has Dad called?" and she shook her head, "Afraid not, sweetie. Now, when was the last time you talked to Johnny?"

Matt rolled his eye sas I lied, "Yesterday." Mom adored Johnny but she'd freak if she knew he came through my bedroom window.

"Oh. Well, dinner's almost done and Rodney's not home. You need to get up and come wait on him." She motioned to the door.

"Alright, Mom, I'll be down in a minute." I swung my legs off the bed and stood up. Matt grabbed my arm as I almost fell and steadied me. Mom just nodded and left the room. After a second I made a face, "Two-faced."

Matt sighed, "Come here. I want to give you kisses before I go."

I edged around the bed, looping my arms around his neck, "Kisses as in more than one?"

"As in as many as I can get in before she comes back." He grinned a bit and lowered his head to crash our lips together. I savored his long, close-mouthed kisses and revelled in the roaming, hot ones that involved very thorough explorations of each other's mouths. He pulled back with a sweet peck, "Umm. You think you'll be at school tomorrow?"

I nodded, "If I have to sneak out of my mom's care to get there. One more day of her and I'll snap."

He chuckled, "Yeah, well, one more day without you there, I'll snap."

I smiled and let go of him hastily as I heard someone in the hall again. It was Rodney.

"Blubber, Mom said to tell Matt to go home and get in the kitchen."

I sighed, "Talk to you later, Matt."

"Okay." He dropped a quick, hard kiss to my mouth and left the room ahead of me.

At the table, Rodney announced that he was going to the Winter Formal with Jenna Fowler. I tried not to giggle but decided I could get in a snarky remark, "Did she ever get her nose fixed back right?"

He shot me an evil look, "And anyway, Mom, I was thinking since the dance isn't over until like two we could go get a hotel and stay there instead of waking everyone up when we come home."

Dear god, if she buys that-

"How considerate, Rodney. I'll make sure to get the money for it as well as Daniellea's dress from Lester this weekend." She smiled at him.

I avoided speaking at all in hopes Rodney wouldn't bring up the subject of me going to the dance and who I was going with. He didn't, thankfully. He was too preoccupied with sucking up to Mom. Before I could retreat to my room, Mom told me we were going shopping for my dress the next day after school. Joy, joy! Sarcasm.

********************************************************

"How about this one?" Mom asked, holding up a dark green velvet gown.

I stared at it and then her, "How about some no?"

"Why not? You look so good in green." She smiled.

Yeah if good equals a giant booger. "No thanks, Mom. Let's try something else." I had set specifications when I came in the mall with her-no pink, no white, no yellow of any shade. Basically, I'd have been happy with a tattered skirt and shirt if I couldn't wear jeans.

She scooped up a long, long, long dress that I was sure had a train as well as long sleeves. It was lavendar. I guess the color was nice, and the material but the style of the dress screamed bridesmaid not 'high-school dance.' Before she said anything, I took it from her hand, placing it back. Looking around the store, I really didn't see anything I liked.

Countless of rejections later, the sales person walked over, "M'am, I've been watching you and your daughter. I have to say, nothing you've picked up suits her. We get a lot of girls in here, but most of them are very different from her and find something within ten minutes. You've been in here three hours . . .and the store is about to close."

I smirked at Mom, "See, told you."

She rolled her eyes, "Really, why couldn't you find something here?"

"Because, and no offense, lady, " I turned to the sales woman, "but they're all ugly. If I'm only going to once dance in all of my high-school career, I don't want to look like a poofball and make my date look stupid."

Mom cocked her head, "Who is your date?"

"No one you know." I shook my head.

"Well what color will he be wearing?"

"Powder blue with ruffles." I joked. The mental image of Matt dressed like that had me laughing.

Mom stuck her tongue out, laughing too. There for a minute it felt like I was doing something fun and almost bondish with her. "No seriously, how will he be dressed?"

"Basic black. Maybe some gray." I shrugged.

Mom groaned, "Is it one of those boys?"

I bit my lip, "You'll see the night of the dance."

"Okay." She nodded, "So black or red."

"How about both?" The sales woman smiled, "We have something new that I haven't put out yet. Come back here."

We followed her back and the dress was beautiful. Full length, it was red with a black lacey layer that had a rose design that fell almost all the way down the strapless top, allowing red to peek out at the top and bottom. Needless to say, I couldn't help but fawn over it and Mom was pleased. The shopping trip ended well, except for now I had to stress over a couple of things. What would Matt think about it? And how was Mom going react to Matt being my date?