Chapter 45

**Nerissa POV**

Alex stood there next to me, silent as he looked from Jennet and Tonia, back to me.
I could see he was a little reluctant to leave as his eyes were inspecting my face, trying to see if I was ok with my decision, so I did the only thing I could to reassure him that it was ok, I gave him a smile.
He nodded his head, leaning down closer to me as he kissed my forehead. He looked at Jennet and Tonia with a smile as he walked towards the door, stopping there as he turned around and said, “You girls have fun.”
We gave him a smile as he looked at me and added, “If you will need me, I will be here in a second.” 
I smiled at his cuteness as I knew and could feel his hesitation to leave, but I was not feeling threatened.
Soon as the door closed behind Alex, Jennet and Tonia turned to me, looking at me with uncertainty as Jennet said, “Nerissa, I know we started off in a wrong way and we both are truly sorry about our behavior that day, and yes you have no reason to trust either one of us but all we are asking is to give us a chance, please.”
I looked at them both, feeling their nervousness coming out in waves out from both of them, so I walked closer to them both as they watched my movement, I grabbed one bag from Jennet and one from Tonia, saying, “Then let’s start fresh.” 
I smiled at them, adding, “So what are we waiting for? Let’s get to know each other and get ready for the party.”
They both squealed as they jumped excitedly, rambling about what we are to do first.
The time passed by and I can’t deny I was not having fun.
Jennet and Tonia turned out to be really sweet and the more we got to learn about each other, the closer we became.
We did each other’s hair and make-up and helped with our dresses. 
I was really grateful to gain two new friends that I have never even dreamt of, but the only one I wished was here to complete this girl's time, and I was hoping I will get to see her soon again.
Jennet had her long, blond hair up in a bun, leaving just a few locks to fly out of her hair and give her a sweet but not too strict look. Her dress was silver with glitter, following the curves of her body perfectly as the same pumps with spikes were adding to her look.
You couldn’t miss her even if you tried. She was eye-catching, while Tonia wore a black and red tight dress that reached a little above her knees, styled with red pumps and a high ponytail that left her brown hair waves to fall down freely.
Their make-up was a little more highlighted than mine as I went for a lighter version that matched my midnight blue dress that crossed fell on the side, ending a little above my knee on one side. Black pumps with light glitter were added to my look as well as other accessories that Jennet and Tonia found it was a must-have.
My hair was down, just curled a little more, falling freely over my shoulders and down my back.
The three of us stood in front of a mirror when Tonia whistled out seeing us making Jennet and me chuckle at her silliness.
“We look hot,” Jennet said as we were posing, making Tonia, and I agreed with her.
“O Alpha Alexander will be speechless when he sees you, Nerissa. He won’t know what hit him.” Tonia said, making me laugh out imagining Alex as they were jokingly describing.
Jennet took a deep breath a moment later, exhaling deeply as she tossed herself down on the edge of my bed, looking down under the weather.
Tonia and I turned and looked at her with worry when I heard Tonia exhale a heavy breath and whisper, “Oh no, not again.”
She hurried towards Jennet and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, comforting her as slowly she rubbed her back.
I stood there confused as I watched the scene develop before my eyes, glancing at Tonia to Jennet when Tonia nudged me to join them.
Slowly I made my way towards them, taking a seat on the other side of Jennet, when Tonia said, “She is just worried that she won’t be noticed by a guy she has a crush on for as long as I remember.”
“Oh…” I said, asking as at the same time, I took Jennet’s hand in mine, trying to give her comfort, “I doubt he will not notice you, especially when you are looking so breathtaking tonight.”
Jennet sniffled as she looked at Tonia and me, saying in a hushed voice, “I think he hates me, and even more since that day when Tonia and I did you wrong. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
I had no idea about who we were talking about but I didn’t wish to pry in, so I refrain from asking about the mystery guy.
“Just yesterday he barely greeted me back when we ran into each other in the hallway,” Jennet said with a deep exhale.
Reluctantly, I slowly asked the question as I didn’t know how to help if at least that fact I wasn’t aware of, so I asked, “I-is he y-your mate?”
Tonia looked at Jennet, who turned her head and looked at me when I asked that question, shaking off her head, sniffling as she said, “No, but damn this destiny I always wished he was.”
“Ugh…” Tonia made a sound as she hugged Jennet tighter while I added, “If he is treating you so poorly, then he does not deserve you and maybe that is the reason why you two are not paired together and I am sure that one day you will meet your mate and forget about this guy.”
“You are right! If he approaches me good, if not well, his loss, I will make the best of this night and have fun with you girls.” Jennet said as she hugged Tonia and me tightly making us giggle.
The sound of a knock on the door made us look towards it as I said, “Come in.”
The door slowly opened as we three kept hugging each other, we could see the door appear, Ryder, as he opened his mouth to speak but closed it as he took in the scene, raising his eyebrows as he took a step inside, “Is everything ok?”
We broke the hug and smiled at him as all three of us stood up.
I said with a smile, “Yes, everything is great.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked from me to Tonia and stopped on Jennet.
In an instant, his eyes were worried as he said, “If everything is great then why were you crying, Jennet?”
She raised her hand and wiped away the lonely fallen tear, saying, “Just happy that Nerissa gave us another chance, and now Tonia and I can call her our friend.”
I gave her a gentle smile while Ryder was silent as he studied her, “Ok then. Glad to hear that.” He turned to the door but stopped, realizing he forgot to say what he came here in the first place to do, “Oh, right, I almost forgot. Everyone is down in the backyard and the party is starting, so don’t be late.” He said as he turned to leave, closing the door, but stopped as he added, “You all look stunning. Don’t be late.”
Tonia and I giggled at his reaction and words while Jennet stood there flustered with rosy cheeks making Tonia and I giggle some more.
“I guess you are being noticed, and here you were worried that he will not look at you twice,” Tonia said, making Jennet shy some more while I choked on my chuckle, realizing her words.
Coughing a little, I managed to croak out and ask them, “W-wait, you mean a moment ago we were talking about Ryder?”
Tonia grinned at me, nodding her head while Jennet gave me a shy smile, saying, “Yes, but you two are the only ones to know of my feelings for him so please don’t share this with anyone else.”
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” I said, reassuring her as she smiled widely, pulling me in a tight hug.
Jennet looked with a happy grin on her face, over at Tonia and me, asking, “So do you think he liked my dress?”
Tonia was fast to nod her head and say, “He couldn’t take his eyes off of you. Even Nerissa could see that.”
Tonia looked over at me, and I slowly nodded my head, thinking to myself of the words that Emily once told me.
‘This will end up in someone’s broken heart, and I don’t like that.’ I thought to myself when suddenly Tonia and Jennet grabbed my hands and said, “We should hurry down since the party has started and everyone is waiting for us already.”
“Plus, we can’t let our Alpha wait any longer or the next one on the door to come here will be him I bet,” Tonia said chuckling, and I had to agree.
From this time I managed to spend getting to know Alex more, I was certain that he would be coming here in the next minutes, worried if everything was ok.
Surprisingly, as days went by and we learned more about each other, I could feel our bond growing stronger every moment we were together and it felt so right.
More time we spent together, more I was enjoying those moments to the point I would wake up the next day with a big smile on my face, excited to see what today will happen but most of all the feelings I realized I had for him grew more and more, I was impatient every morning to go out of my room and find him just to see him.
We walked outside my room and joined outside the others as we could see the party was already in a full swing when one male with piercings on his ear, walked closer and extended his hand towards Tonia asking her for a dance.
She giggled and winked at us as she went, and soon in the next moment; they were swaying to the rhythm of the music.
Jennet and I stood on the side, smiling at Tonia, who was doing a goofy dance when a deep voice that made me feel goosebumps rise on my skin, whispered into my ear, saying, “Would you like to dance with me?”
I turned around, locking my eyes with beautiful emerald ones, that slowly checked me out, making me bite down on my lip as tingles followed all over my body caused by the burning intense look of his eyes.
Locking his eyes with mine once again, I could see them darkened from desire burning in them, making my breath hitch in my throat.
Coughing as I tried to clear my throat from all my intense emotions, I nodded my head and said, “I would   very much love that.”
A sexy smirk showed on his beautiful face as he took my hand and started to lead us toward the dance center when I stopped him, turning to look at Jennet.
Noticing my look, Alex was silent for a moment before he said, “Just trust me.”
I looked at him confused when I noticed Ryder walk over to Jennet, making her smile widely the moment he came closer to her.
Turning away, I followed after Alex to the dance center, casting glances at Jennet and Ryder, seeing the two walk away together in the opposite direction.