I tilted my head so that I was facing him head-on. I attempted to avoid the feeling that came along with being so close to him or even thinking about him. I was starting to think it was inescapable.

I said the next sentence slowly so that I did not stutter a word and make it clear that I was flustered "What makes you think I would let you take me to a school dance?"

His eyes darkened immediately as he gnarled "Well there is no way you are going with some other fucker."

"Oh, am I not?"

"No." He growled.

I rolled my eyes at his antics before I felt my mouth go up in a smile. I had visions of him dragging me out of the gym hall by throwing me over his shoulder.

It had become a signature Stone move.

"I don't want to go to the dance." I said, "It is not really my scene."

"Then it is settled." He affirmed "Brennan and Lana can go. We will stay home and watch Addams Family."

"That is great. Perfect almost." I spoke, my tone sarcastic "Only one tiny problem."

"What?"

"You are never setting foot in my house again." I stated as I voiced what I was thinking quietly so the others could not hear "I have just realised that my Edgar Allan Poe book disappeared after I left you to go with Lana. You stole it!"

All he did was release a dark chuckle from the bottom of his throat.

"I only have so many books for you to steal. You will never enter my apartment again." I told him.

"You have a lot of books, Drizella." He teased "If I was only taking one each time, I was over, then it would take me five years to steal your collection. My tiny nerd."

At the mention of my full name, I made a mental reminder to ask one of his parents for his name.

The anticipation to know his name was eating at me. I wanted to know his name more than I wanted to know the secrets of Area Fifty-One and that was a lot.

Mrs Lewis glanced at Lana and then at me before she asked "I know the meeting stories for everyone else but you two. How long have you been friends?"

"Ella and I have been best friends for ten years." Lana replied.

"Did you two meet at school?"

Lana nodded "Yes. I was really shy at school, and I would not talk to anyone because I did not have the confidence to start a conversation. Ella was..."

She trailed off when she realised what she was about to say. She looked at me and she appeared apologetic.

"I was bullied in middle school." I continued for her "We met, and we stuck together."

Nodding, Lana sent a smile my way.

"That is awful!" Mrs Lewis gasped "How could anyone bully such a sweet girl?"