[the ball]

[l0nely_boy]

The ball wasn't turning out to be such a great idea after all. Really, Dan had known it wouldn't be. Even with the date that Serena had organised for him - and Lyla was pretty and sweet, just like she'd said - he just wasn't having a good time

Comments

[neededproof]

It wasn't so much that Ryan had expected the ball to go badly as it was that he hadn't really expected to enjoy something like this as much as he had so far. As pretentious and Newport as a masked ball sounded, it had turned out to be fun. He'd taken his mask off early in the evening, though. It kept slipping down and he hadn't really seen the point.

Masks hardly mattered anyway when Lucy kissed him, and he wasn't paying much attention to anyone around them when he felt a hand on his shoulder that couldn't have been Lucy's. In the next moment, he staggered back under the weight of the punch, recognizing the name Serena but not the guy who'd done the punching. That didn't make a difference to him, and as the other guy shook out his hand, Ryan took the moment to return the favor. "What is your problem?"

[with_diamonds]

Having a kiss interrupted only to watch her boyfriend get punched in the face was definitely not what Lucy had been expecting in attending the ball. She was stunned enough that it was a moment before she could reply, hands raising in the air reflexively as she stepped back. After both hits were thrown and she got a look at the guy who'd approached them, though, she only became more confused. Unlike Ryan, she did recognize him; Dan had seemed like a really nice guy when she met him, and she didn't see any provocation at all for him to have attacked Ryan like that.

"Woah, woah, guys, settle down," she cut in warily before the fight could escalate any further, but with a hard edge to her voice. "What the hell's going on? And who's Serena?" The name sounded familiar, but Lucy didn't know her personally, and that seemed like enough of a reason to ask. How some girl she didn't know could have had something to do with Dan's punching Ryan was beyond Lucy.

[l0nely_boy]

"Just his girlfriend," Dan's voice was low and husky, his hand rubbing at his jaw as he stepped back, eyeing Beat up. None of this was Lucy's fault, Dan knew how easily girls got pulled into ploys like Chuck's and now Beat's as well. He saved his rancorous glare for the two-timing bastard in front of him, unsure as to whether he'd throw another punch or not.

"My problem is you," he spat out the words, stepping in again, antagonistically, "cheating on my- your girlfriend."

[neededproof]

Ryan stood his ground as the other guy stepped toward him, hands curling into fists at his side, ready to move fast. "Excuse me?" he asked, brow raised and expression sharp with anger and disbelief. The guy had to be delusional. It wasn't exactly a light accusation, but it was a ridiculous one. He gestured over to Lucy. "Lucy is my girlfriend, and I would never do that." What was he doing explaining himself to some lunatic anyway? He'd met Serena all of once.