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Chapter 22: True Colors

Finn's POV

After the Lancaster Spring Festival, the classes went on. Assignments, projects and the finals week. After the finals week, it was the gala. I feel like the school really set up that important event to be right after a hard week so that the students attending would be all stressed out, and probably lacking of sleep. 

One thing I was excited about is that Oliver and I were going as dates, he had been making sure that I was alright all week, making sure that I wasn't stressing out and he did a great job if I would say so, he didn't need to do all of that. He was still pretty guilty about 'not being able to protect me from Bella' despite me forgiving him numerous times already.

Bella was invited in the gala along with her minions which I am pretty nervous about. The last event we had an interaction was in the festival and she did not hold back. Oliver was attending with me, so I wouldn't have to worry about anything... if Chad wasn't also going with us.

I would've been fine with that- I think- if only people didn't put all the pressure on my shoulders. I didn't need everybody saying that the gala was a prestigious event since all the Lancaster Alums would be there. Past principal, staffs, important people, their plus ones, 'legendary' people. Just from that, I contemplated even going, I'm still perplexed how Oliver was able to convince me to come.

And it brings us into this moment. Oliver held my hand as we entered the building. His warm, large hands covering my freezing cold ones.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay, Finn? You look a little pale right now." He said as he looked at me with concern in his eyes.

I took a deep breath nervously, shaking my hands repeatedly before forcing a smile. "Yeah! I'm just so nervous." 

He raised an eyebrow at me, as if I said something suspicious. He then proceeded to pull me close enough for him to press a kiss to my cheek. I could still smell traces of his cologne as he pulled away from me, enough to calm my nerves.

"Okay, I trust you, Finn. You're gonna be okay, and if you aren't, then I'm here." He reassured before pressing his lips to mine.

I got lost in the moment and kissed him back more passionately, grabbing the back of his head so that our faces were as close as they could be. We only stopped when someone cleared their throat behind us and only then I realized that we were in the public. I grimaced in embarrassment and buried my face in my hand.

Oliver threw his head back to laugh. "I'm sure you're gonna be okay, right?"

"Uh... yeah." I reassured.

He nodded with a charming smile before we proceeded towards the ballroom.

The inside was fully decorated of expensive looking curtains, the tall windows looking into the beautiful night sky, various doors that I assume led to hallways or balconies, crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling of the room, circular tables scattered around the room, lights that pointed in different directions and a stage at the end of the room. People dressed in crisp suits and sparkly dresses milled the room, either expensive bags on their hands or a drink. Everything looked so expensive and sparkly. The whole room was probably more expensive than my whole entire existence.

I felt Oliver's hand squeeze mine as he gave me an encouraging smile, I could only smile back before my eyes wandered around the guests. An approaching familiar figure entered my field of vision and clapped Oliver's back.

"Sup, man." Chad greeted with a cool smirk but it quickly faded when his eyes landed on me. "Finn."

"Uh... I don't wanna get hate-crimed, please." I said as I subtly stepped backward so Oliver would be shielding me from him.

Chad rolled his eyes in annoyance. "You think you're worth of my attention. Come back to earth."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh really now? Well, I was 'worthy' of your attention for two years straight, how's that?" I clapped back with just as much sass he had.

He clenched his jaw and made a step towards me but obviously he didn't succeed because Oliver was there.

Chad put up a hand defensively. "Chill, man. I was just going towards him. You always assume bad things from me." 

"It's 'cause you actually do terrible things. You hurt Finn, you won't see the light of day." Oliver threatened but somewhere along those lines, I could feel that he was joking... I mean, obviously he had to be.

Oliver seemed to have remembered something. He looked at Chad and I back and forth and sighed in frustration. 

"I'm sorry, but my dad said that a colleague of his is here... and I kinda have to greet them."

"Which means...?" I asked.

"Chad. I'm actually begging you, don't do anything to Finn. Finn, I'll be back, I'll try to make it quick, I promise." Oliver said, gave me a short peck before scurrying away. 

"Oliver- wait!" I tried to call out but he was already too far away for him to hear me.

I took a deep breath before facing the music in front of me that was the infamous Chad Russo just to see him roll his eyes. 

"I've changed." He said out of the blue.

I bit my tongue to prevent me from saying anything that could put me on his bad side and provoke him to hurt me... but the temptation won over. 

"Seems like someone needs a dictionary upgrade. I don't know where you got that meaning of 'change' from." 

He looked down at me in annoyance- and what I meant by looked down is that he was so much more taller than me. He swung a heavy arm over my shoulder and started walking. He dragged me towards the buffet table where various foods lined the top.

"Don't stay out my sight." He said sternly before busying himself with whatever.

I crossed my arms, huffing in annoyance. I busied myself by watching everyone mingle around, greeting each other with waves, hellos and kisses. Everyone was so collected and elegant, not just because of what they wore but because of how they carried themselves, I felt like I didn't belong here.

"Come with me, let's get a table." Chad said and walked away, not even looking to see if I followed but regardless, I still did.

We seated ourselves into an empty table where I just sat silently, still observing my surroundings like a little child while Chad started eating out of his plate.

"Are you dumb or are you just annoying?" A voice startled me. 

I looked to see Chad frowning at me, his thick brows furrowed. 

"What did I do?"

He rolled his eyes again before pointing at something in front of me. I looked down to see that he had pushed a plate of food towards me. 

"Just eat, damn."

"Wow... Uh, thank you." I said in surprise, grateful but still surprised, and I started eating. I was just wishing to the stars that he didn't poison my food.

As we were eating peacefully, the chair near me was pulled and I looked up to see Oliver there, an inscrutable look on his face.

"How'd it go?" I asked him.

"Oh well, I greeted them, and talked about my dad, you know, the normal." He explained before smiling at me. "Anyway. Are you alright now? You have color back on your face now." 

"Yeah, I guess being in the hiding was better than I thought." 

He grabbed my hand across the table, he smiled at me affectionately which made Chad clear his throat.

"Can you stop with the PDA?" 

"Just say you're jealous and move on." Oliver teased with a smirk. Chad rolled his eyes and looked away. I was about to say more when someone behind me spoke.

"Mr. Hunt." 

Oliver and I looked up to see a man and a woman dressed in expensive work clothes. Oliver stood up and greeted the two of them with a polite smile and a hand shake.

"Good Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Castro."

"Good Evening to you too, and you're friends." The man, who I assumed was the Mr. Castro, gestured to us with a warm smile.

"Oh, Uh, Good evening." I said, matching his smile as much as I could. I stood up beside Oliver, giving his hand a subtle squeeze. I felt that he had been tense, his hands were colder, and he held onto my hand for dear life.

"We've skimmed through your email and your paper and we're very glad to let you know that you're one of our lead students at the moment and we are expecting consistency from you."

Oliver's jaw dropped in surprise before he composed himself with a charming smile. "Thank you, sir, ma'am. I won't fail you and I'll be consistent in the next few weeks." 

"We're very glad to hear that and if you will, we would like to talk to you for a few more minutes?" 

"Of course!" Oliver said but before they could proceed, he gave me a peck on the cheek and then walked away.

I could only smile at his retreating figure as I sat back down just to see Chad looking at me, an eyebrow raised in amusement.

"You look stupid as hell... but I'll admit, you and Oliver look good together." 

I gasped in shock. "Holy- Was that an actual compliment from you?" 

"Yes, dumbass. You're alright, I guess."

I leaned on the table to really look at him in the eye. "How hard is it for you to be nice?" 

"Hard enough for me to not care about it."

"I know you like me, Chad. Just admit you actually don't hate me." I teased which made him roll his eyes for the hundredth time tonight alone.

"Do you want to go home with a bruise on your face?" He said as sternly as he could but he couldn't fight the smile appearing on his face.

"You can't do it, Chad, I grew on you." 

"Oh my God, you're fucking annoying, how does Oliver deal with you?" 

I laughed at that and it somehow didn't offend me in one bit. Months ago, I would've been hurt but I guess, character development.

"He loves me. That's why." I said with a satisfied smirk.

I expected Chad to have a savage rebuttal but he just cleared his throat awkwardly.

. . .

The night went on, with me, Oliver and Chad just hanging out, talking to people, making them like me 'cause why not.

I was by the buffet table, alone, looking out the window and at the night sky with all the stars twinkling.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see Talia, one of Bella's minion.

"Hey, Finn. This is so random but I just want to say sorry for all the terrible things that Bella has done to you. I realize how bad they were and how I let it all happen and sometimes, I'm even a part of them, so I hope you can forgive me."

My brows furrowed on their own, I looked around us and when I was sure there wasn't anything suspicious, I looked at Talia again. "Oh wow. That is random. Why are you apologizing to me right now?"

"Because Bella's been treating me like garbage all night, making me bring her her food, making me remove her shoes every time she gets tired, so basically just treating me like a servant."

"Oh. I'm sorry you went through that." 

She stopped me with a shake of her head. "No, I'm sorry. You don't deserve the things she put you through." 

I raised an eyebrow as I silently waited for her to continue but she just kept standing there.

I sighed after a few more moments. "It's fine. You didn't do anything bad to me, it's Bella that needs to apologize. Where is she?"

She grimaced before looking across the room and I followed where she looked just to see Bella going around the room, greeting people in her extravagant, pink gown. 

"She's just greeting people."

I started walking towards her when Mia, one of other Bella's minion, ran towards Talia and I, followed by Talia's phone going off but before she could check it, Mia's gripped her arm urgently. Mia looked like she ran a whole marathon or two. Her hair was a mess, her makeup was a mess, she was a whole mess. I was about to say something when I heard my phone beep with a notification, but I ignored it and focused on the two.

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh. Talia. This is bad, very bad, ohmygosh. Look." Mia shoved her phone towards her.

Talia's eyes widened and she took the phone from Mia's hands and started scrolling and that's when she gasped. She looked up at me before wordlessly showing me the phone. I was confused at what I was looking at until my vision cleared.

It was the leaderboard chart... with me on the #1 spot.

"Holy- how did that happen?" I asked more to myself than to the two.

"I think it's because of the gala, I overheard a couple in the buffet table saying some good things about you. I think people like you a lot." Talia said and before I could respond, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned around to see Oliver and Chad there. 

"Did you see the leaderboard, Finn?" 

My heart started to beat faster in my chest. "Yeah." I nodded as a smile slowly made its way onto my face.

"I'm so happy for you but we don't have time for celebration right now. I'm pretty sure the Lancaster Blog sent a notification to everyone in the school, including Bella and once she finds out about that, she's gonna go livid-"

"FINN VASCO!" A voice pierced through the air from somewhere and I was able to instantly recognize the voice but that didn't give me the time that I needed because just a split second after that, a rushing figure entered my field of vision.

I didn't have the time to dodge but thankfully, I didn't have to do that, as Oliver and Chad stopped Bella from getting anywhere near me, I was unscathed.

"YOU USELESS RAT. YOU RUINED EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED SO HARD ON. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE MESSED WITH ME- LET. ME. GO!" Bella continued to struggle against Chad who was trying to calm her down as she screamed at me from a distant, pointing her finger like a lunatic. 

I looked around as my heart continued to pound rapidly in my ribcage. The conversations that was once alive between the guests were now replaced with silence as they looked on at Bella screaming at me. Wide eyes, disappointed stares and scared glances were just the gist of what I could decipher on their faces.

"Enough! What is your problem, Ms. Lee-Evans?!" Mrs. Ponds, the principal, said which thankfully made Bella stop.

Bella took a deep breath as the redness drained from her face, but she still had a scowl on. She glared at me across the room.

"Finn! He thinks he's amazing like he thinks he is. Stealing the guy that I like, stealing just everything I worked hard on and now he takes my #1 spot?! I'VE BEEN ON THAT POSITION FOR TWO YEARS AND HE RUINS IT?!" Her face turned red again and once again, attempted to go for me, screaming all kinds of roasts, calling me a useless rat and doing the usual, making herself look like a fool.

"Ms. Lee-Evans! You are embarrassing yourself! You've caused so much inconvenience already and only because of a leaderboard placement?! Look around you!" Mrs. Ponds screamed at her and only then she realized that she was in a room that was full of important people.

Bella looked around and what met her eyes was what I could just describe was her biggest nightmare. Everyone whispering among themselves, staring at her like she was some crazy person and probably thinking that she was a bad person, attacking me right then and there. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp as she realized what happened. 

She had fucked up. 

In just a span of a few minutes, she had just revealed her true colors to all the upper echelons in the room and made herself look like a fool and someone who attacks people for no valid reason.

"Because of this behavior. You will no longer be attending Prom! You're suspended for the rest of the year!" Mrs. Ponds said which seemed to have sealed Bella's final binding. Everyone would hate her, in the school and probably in this town.

"N-No- I'm sorry! I-I need to attend- I need to win Prom Queen! This is unfair!" Bella stuttered as she fell to the floor dramatically. The hem of her dress was torn to pieces same with her sleeves, the gold tiara that once sat on her head was on the floor which, I will admit, pretty much symbolized what had happened to her. The crown wasn't hers anymore and it really does suck for her but I had taken it already.

"What's done is done, Ms. Lee-Evans. I'll be calling your parents to pick you up." Mrs. Ponds said with a shake of her head... before whipping out her phone and walking away, talking to who I assumed were Bella's parents.

I was still shaken but at least I wasn't injured. Sure mentally. Yeah. Bella's screams will forever be haunting my nightmares. 

I didn't even notice Talia and Mia there standing as they whispered among themselves.

"I really hope you're fine, Finn. That was crazy." Talia said and I nodded gratefully to reassure her before she and Mia walked away. 

Just when I thought that everything was fine, a collective gasp sounded from the crowd followed by a loud screech. 

I was about to turn around to see what had happened when Chad jumped in front of me and shielded me from another impact. Bella have tried- for the third time- to attack me... and Chad basically saved me.

"Okay- Alright, you've done enough shitty things tonight, you're gonna have to leave." Chad said but before he could drag Bella away, another voice stood above all.

"Oh my Goodness! What have you done, Bella?!" A woman, dressed in expensive looking work clothes said as she stomped over to Bella.

Bella stood up straighter, her eyes wide as she wiped the mascara that have made its way onto her cheeks.

"M-Mommy!-"

"Don't you 'mommy' me! Look what you've done! In just ten minutes, six business partners pulled out of a business deal because of your mess!" She scolded her daughter before dragging her away from her sleeve which have also ripped apart from her outburst. 

Once she was actually out of the room, everyone metaphorically, and some literally, sighed a breath of relief, the mess was finally out of the room and everything was back to normal... But I don't think anyone could forget that.

As I had expected, Oliver came rushing to me, a concerned look on his face but I had noticed that he limped a little.

"Are you okay, Finn? She didn't touch you, didn't she?"

"Yeah, I am, thanks to you and Chad." I said with a grateful smile before giving him a loose embrace which made him wince a little. "Are you okay?" I asked as I scanned his body for injury.

He chuckled in an attempt to reassure me. "Yeah. Nothing I can handle, I think Bella elbowed my gut." He said as he pasted a forced smile on his face. 

I noticed something forming on his jaw. "You have a bruise on your jaw... and also your arm. I don't think you're okay."

"I am, don't worry about me- ow." He suddenly stopped as he clutched his back.

"Nope, absolutely not. I'm taking care of you, I'll tell Chad to take us to your house, hang in there." I said.

I beckoned Chad over and he rolled his eyes before raising an eyebrow in question.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Well, um, I wanted to ask you to drive Oliver and I over to his house, if that's fine?"

"Is that all? I'll wait for you two outside then." He said and he turned to leave but I gripped his arm before he could.

"Wait."

He raised an eyebrow again.

"Uh, I wanted to also say thank you. I saw what you did, you actually protected me, multiple times tonight, so... I owe you." 

For the first time in the evening, he didn't look hostile, he actually sort of looked... worried? He stayed silent for a few moments and I almost got worried that I had said something wrong but then he shook his head.

"Nah, it's seriously fine. I've done so many shitty things to you so that was just the least of what I could do. I know I was an asshole and I'm really changing, and you were one of the people I hurt... so I'll have you know that I'll make it up to you." He said and before I could get a word in, he had turned to walk away, out of the room.

I rubbed my arm, noticing for the first time that my hands were freezing cold and shaking.

Mrs. Ponds appeared in my field of vision, a worried look on her face. "Mr. Vasco. Ms. Lee-Evans is out of the building already. I'm here to ask you if you're alright, a kid like you shouldn't have to go through that."

"Thank you Mrs. Ponds, I'm quite alright, just a little shaken, that's all. I appreciate your initiative in this situation especially since the problem was just between me and Bella."

"As the head of the school, yours and other students' safety is my first priority, and especially in this gala. And I wanted to apologize with the lack of security, we shouldn't have let that happen. If you want, we can forbid Ms. Lee-Evans from going anywhere near you for the rest of this year and the next until you graduate." She offered.

I thought about her offer before nodding. "I think I'll like that, thank you Mrs. Ponds."

"You're quite welcome. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, Mr. Vasco." 

I nodded again with a polite smile before she walked away. Just as I was about to walk away, I felt someone gently grab my wrist. I turned to see Oliver there, a smile on his face.

"Hey, my love, I think you've done enough mingling tonight." He said.

A smile of my own made its way onto my face, my eyebrows raising in amusement. "'My love', huh? Since when did we have pet names for each other now?" 

"I mean, did I lie though? I really do love you." He said, ruffling my hair in the process.

I shook my head "Nuh-uh, I think you're just distracting me. I'm still taking care of you tonight. Chad's outside, waiting for us." 

"Wow, you actually got him to drive for us?" 

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Well yeah, he actually kind of apologized earlier, y'know, about all the shitty things he did." I informed him.

His eyebrows raised in what I could decipher was sheer surprise but he quickly masked it off with a smile as he held my hand.

"I'm glad he did. But he needs to know that he still has a lot to do than just apologizing."

I wrapped an arm around him and I noticed that he winced because of it.

"Ah, sorry, I keep forgetting. Can we just get out of here so I can take care of you already?"

"Fine, you're such a bossy and adorable hamster."

"A... A Hamster?!" I asked in disbelief. 

He let out a laugh and all I could do was roll my eyes, but I couldn't help the smile on my face as we proceeded towards the exit.

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