One of the best things about not living with her mother and father anymore, one of the only true benefits, was being able to where exactly what she wanted when she wanted to. No one cared to criticize her clothing, no one wanted her to stop dressing like a boy. There was no one who cared anymore about stupid little nitpicky things like that. Her step-mother hadn't sent her a dress for the dance at all, though she knew Sera had gotten one, and that suited her just fine. But the more she had thought about it, she realize that she had sort of wanted to get dressed up a little bit to go to her first Valentines dance with her girlfriend, but that only led to a panic attack as she realized that she had nothing to wear and she also couldn't really dance.

Except for the old dresses her mother had sent over the years, of course, all lurking far in the back of her dormitory closet like frilly pink relics. They were there. She felt more than a little stupid wearing the red and lacy monstrosity that Mack had picked out for her. That she had allowed Mack to convince her looked good. She was sure that it looked awful, that had to be why people were giving her weird looks, but at least she had found good sneakers to go with it. There was that much.

Self-conscious as ever, Tatum was fidgeting with the flower tucked behind her ear as she stood with Jules near the refreshment table, glad to just be against the wall and away from the crowd. Mack had gone to get a drink earlier and she hadn't come back, so Tatum had found Julian on her walk around the hall and decided to stick with him instead. She mostly assumed Mack and Hunter had run off to scheme something, she had seen Michi by herself earlier as well, so it wasn't really a big deal. They would turn up.

"So l-like I was saying," the redhead went on, as there was a momentarily lull in the music. They had poured drinks of punch a few minutes ago, but so far Tatum had just stared into her cup. "I really only wore this s-stupid fucking dress because," she paused for a moment, clearing her throat awkwardly before finally taking a big gulp of her drink. Suddenly, she seemed to forget what she was saying or why she had worn the dress at all. Actually, all of a sudden she did remember why she wore the dress, it was so clear to her now.

"Because I w-wanted you to notice me!" the redhead finished breathlessly, reaching over and grabbing the front of Julian's shirt as she stared up at him. He was so handsome, like really handsome. She had never really noticed it before, but now that she was looking into his eyes.. wow, he was really something. He was even more beautiful than Frankie had ever been. It was no way to think of the dead, but there doubt where the good looks had gone in that family.

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Julian had been listening to Tatum with the half attention he reserved for chicks talking about their dresses at dances, and wondering if it was too late to find Erica and hook up for the night. He jumped nearly half a mile when Tatum suddenly grabbed his shirt with that crazy look in her eye.

"What the fuck, let go of my shirt Tate" she grumbled, prising her hands away and shaking his head. He sipped at his drink and was suddenly overcome with desire. "I did notice you!" he suddenly yelled excitedly, spilling a little drink down her front and nearly dying. "Oh! I am so sorry, je suis desole!" Would she ever be able to forgive him for such a heinous act? "I would never do anything to hurt you" he said desperately, staring into her sparkling eyes. "I only want to protect you!"

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"No!" Tatum had protested immediately, fighting desperately against him removing her hands, and pouting up at him with a trembling lip until he took a sip, and seemingly came to his senses! She couldn't have been happier, seizing the front of him once again and pulling him closer. He was so tall, she loved tall men, of course! How had she forgotten about that? Jules had always been so tall and just.. dashing.

"Oh thank god! I thought you wouldn't w-want me!" she cried back, seeming to not even notice the now soaked front of her dress. "I could never n-never ever stay mad at you, don't w-worry! Seriously! I just-- d-don't leave me, don't ever leave me!"

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"I've always wanted you!" Of course he had, why hadn't he seen it before? Her hair was such a lovely shade of red. Forget those girls who wore proper clothes or cheerleading outfits, this is what he had wanted all along. Frankie wanted this, he could feel it.

He dragged her into a embrace, resting his chin on her head and hugging her tightly. "I'll never let you go! We'll be together forever, Tate! Just you and me."

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"Really?!" Tatum gasped, looking positively elated as her cheeks flushed a little. "Me too! You're l-like.. like the c-cutest boy ever," she admitted. Normally she didn't even care how boys looked, did she? But this was different, this was Jules. Just one look at him was enough to reassure her that she adored him.

Snuggling happily into the hug, she pressed her face against his chest, still grinning. "R-Right? We're just.. w-we're totally awesome together. Y-You're always so nice to me! E-Even though me and F-Frankie.. but l-like whatever, y'know, that's the past! We're s-so meant to be together. Aren't w-we?" she finished slowly, looking up at him suddenly and looking as if her heart might break if he said they weren't meant to be. Who could think that they weren't practically made for each other!?

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