“
I’m not sure. I’ll let
you know. I love you.” We walk out the door.
On the way, my stomach is in knots. I feel
nauseous. I want to go back home but I know I can’t. I turn on the
radio and try to drown out all of my miserable thoughts. Brooke
turns down the music and looks at me.
“
Are you okay
Abby?”
“
Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” I
lie. She doesn’t buy it.
“
I know it’s hard. I’m
sorry Lucas is being unfair. I’ll make sure that Brady and I aren’t
all mushy during the dance. I don’t want to make you
uncomfortable.” I shake my head. “No, that’s crazy. Don’t do that.
I’ll be fine.”
We pull up to the parking lot of Falcon
High. The lot is full of students milling around.
“
Hey guys! Whoa, you
ladies look hot!” Brady greets us at my car, opening the door for
Brooke. He gives her a kiss and I pretend not to look. I’m not
going to cry. My heart constricts and I wish Lucas was here with
me.
“
You look handsome,
Brady.” I tell him. And he does. He’s wearing a black tux with a
white dress shirt and a silk tie. He gives Brooke a pink corsage.
Oh how I wish Lucas was here. I went to prom with Brady last year
and it was a blast. But I know I will have ten times as much fun
with Lucas. I look away from them and hear Brooke whispering to
Brady.
He looks at me apologetically. Then he gives
me a hug. “I’m sorry Lucas isn’t coming. But I think he still loves
you. It’s probably just hard for him to see you right now. And if
he were to see you looking like that, oh my he’d probably take you
into the bathroom and have his way.” Brooke smacks him in the
chest. “That’s enough. And don’t you take his side. He’s being a
real jerk.” He shuts up and we all quietly walk inside.
“
Damn, this place is
amazing.” We are all amazed by the gym and how it’s decorated. The
committee really went all out this year. The theme is Starry Night.
There are twinkling lights everywhere. There are full and
crescent-shaped moons. Strands of white lights are strewn all
across the floor and against the baseboards, with streamers, bows
and ribbons. There are silver, black, gold and blue stars hanging
from the ceiling. There’s also a mirror ball. It’s almost magical.
Music is blaring and people are dancing.
“
Hey, let’s take our
picture.” Brooke says to Brady. They walk over to the backdrop of a
moon with stars surrounding them and pose for a picture. I watch
them in awe. They both smile and I can’t help but smile with them.
I take my phone out of my purse and stupidly text Lucas.
Please talk to me.
I put my phone away as Brooke and Brady join
me again. Brooke gives me a disapproving look. “Abby, please tell
me you did not just text Lucas.” I look away so she can’t see the
truth in my face.
“
Leave her alone Brooke.”
She glares at him.
“
I need some punch.” I
walk over to the table and serve myself some red punch, then grab
some snacks too.
“
You guys go dance. I’ll
be fine.” Brooke looks like she’s going to say something but Brady
pulls her on the dance floor. I sit down and sip on my punch,
watching everyone else have fun.
I can
handle this. I can do it.
Brooke and Brady
dance in the crowd but she watches me every few seconds, frowning.
I know I’m only bringing her down. Maybe I can’t handle this. I
check my phone. Nothing. My heart sinks.
“
Wow, you look hot!”
Chelsea creeps up on me. I look up at her and give her a sidelong
glance. She looks gorgeous. She is wearing a short strapless
sparkling, sequined gold dress that flairs out in a dramatic
fashion. It looks like it was made for her.
“
You look beautiful.” She
sits down next to me.
“
Thanks. What happened
between you and Lucas?”
“
I don’t want to talk
about it.” She raises her eyebrow at me. “Seriously.”
“
Okay. Well, our sisters
are spending the night together. I hope they don’t cause too much
mischief.” I laugh.
“
Yeah, good luck with
that. Sarah thrives on mischief.” Brooke and Brady come over to sit
with us. And we all talk for awhile.
“
You doing okay?” Brooke
nudges me. Chelsea leaves as Brooke asks. “No, I need to do
something.” I stand up. Brooke is next to me. “What are you going
to do?”
“
I want to go and find
Lucas. I want to talk to him. I don’t want to sit here anymore and
mope. I want to get him back.” That’s when I made up my mind to do
just that. I take a deep breath.
“
Good luck Abby.” Brady
says pulling Brooke away from me. “Let her go.” She turns to him
and nods feeling defeated.
“
Good luck. Call or text
if you need me.” I hug her and escape the prom scene.
Chapter 28
My nerves are all over the place, as I make
my over to Lucas’s. I feel sick, worried, overwhelmed, but most of
all I’m angry. He didn’t show up for prom and he won’t return my
texts, or calls. What Hell is wrong with him? Has he really given
up on us, like that? All those years of friendship, gone? I thought
being honest was encouraged in a relationship of all kinds. And
just because I’m honest with my feelings, he doesn’t like it and
wants to end it? Well screw that, I’m not giving him that chance
and say it’s over. He’s always been a big part of my life and I
won’t give up without a fight. A million thoughts consume my brain.
What if he slams the door in my face when he sees me? What would I
do, could I do? I grab my phone off the passenger seat to make a
call. One. Two. Three.
“
Hello?”
“
Tell me I’m stupid for
doing this. Tell me to turn around and come back.”
“
Oh, Abby, you’re not
stupid at all. You love him and even if he’s being a giant ass
right now, we all know he still loves you. Maybe you just need to
be the bigger person and show him that you’re not giving up. Maybe
he’s the one that needs saving this time.” At that last comment it
dawns on me that Brooke has never been more right. After all the
saving he’s done for me, it looks like he might need the saving
tonight. After a minute of silence I say, “Brooke I love
you.”
“
I love you too Abby. Now
go get your prince.” I smile and hang up the phone. I knew calling
Brooke would calm my nerves. She was always good about telling the
truth, when I was doing something stupid, dangerous or in this
case, when I was doing something right. I needed her reassurance at
this moment. And for the first time I feel like it will be okay.
I’m determined to prove my love and devotion to the boy I always
hoped and dreamed I would come back to. Past aside, future ahead…my
heart knows no bounds.
Back to you Lucas, that’s
where I’m gonna be
.
As soon as I pull up, I
take one long deep breath and kill the engine. Quietly getting out
and shutting the door, I saunter up the steps to his house. Before
I can knock, the door swings open and Ashton flinches, surprised to
see me. I look at the driveway and notice his truck sitting
there.
Must have missed it when I drove
up.
Of course I parked on the curb so I
guess it makes sense I didn’t see it. He looks out at the road then
looks back at me.
“
Are you lost?” Then he
grins and closes the door behind him, heading to his
truck.
“
No, actually I was
looking for Lucas. Is he home?”
“
Wow, you do, I mean that
dress is…well.” I raise my hand to shut him up. “Hot. I get it.
I’ve been told one too many times tonight. But the one person I
really want to hear it from didn’t show up for prom. So is he
home?” He gets in and shuts his door, ignoring me.
“
Ashton please.” He
finally looks at me then at the front door.
“
He’s here. No one else is
home so you have the house to yourselves. But try not to kill each
other if you fight, okay?” I resign and drop my head in a dramatic
fashion, sighing loudly for the added effect.
“
Okay, we’ll try not to.
At least I will. I can’t say the same for him.” He smiles and
squeezes my left cheek.
“
Okay, you kids have fun,
but stay protected.” I slap his arm away in mock fury. “Just go
already.” I scoff, jokingly. He laughs, as he backs out of the
driveway and onto the street. I wait until he’s completely out of
sight and take one long look at the front of his house, and then
back to the front door.
I knock three times and wait. My stomach is
in knots and my head feels like it’s about to explode. Finally,
before I knock again, the door swings open. He’s standing there;
very casually in black Nike shorts and a white t shirt. I suddenly
feel a little overdressed. He gazes over my appearance, before he
looks away. For a moment I think I see a flicker of a smile creep
up on his face, but then it’s gone.
“
Hey.” My voice is
strained, almost a whisper.
“
Hi.” He doesn’t look at
me.
Not the reaction I was hoping to
get.
“
Can I come
in?”
“
We have nothing to
discuss anymore Abby.” He says right as he moves to shut the door
in my face I put my hand up to stop it. “Yes we do, now let me in.”
I almost growl and push past him. He closes the door and turns to
me but looks away quickly. Am I that repulsive that he can’t look
at me now?
“
Why aren’t you at prom?”
He asks. I purse my lips together and hold my tongue for a
moment.
“
You’re not there Lucas,
that’s why.” He sits as far from me as he can manage. And it’s all
I can do to not scream at him.
Save your
prince
I remind myself.
Be patient.
“
Oh, well I never go to
those dances anyway so why start now?” He says nonchalantly. Who
the Hell is this guy?
“
Brady had said you were
going to ask me to go with you. And even after our fight, word had
it you were still thinking of going.” He shrugs like its no big
deal.
“
Well, I had changed my
mind.”
“
Who are you?” He cocks
his head to the side, looking at me like I was crazy.
“
What do you mean who am
I?” He narrows his eyes.
“
You’ve changed. You’re
very standoffish and short with me.”
“
Why did you come here
Abby?” He asks, looking away from me again.
“
I came here to tell you,
you were right.”
“
About?” He gives me a
brief glance. I guess it’s better than no glance at all.
“
I’ve been selfish and
wrapped up in my own bull shit to notice that you may have needed
comforting too. After my father abandoned us and everything else, I
was lost and you were there and you saved me, took me away from my
troubles. But I just never stopped to think that you needed a
friend too after the crap you went through.” He stands up and
starts pacing the room, irritated of sorts.
“
Are you done?” I look at
him, tears welling up in my eyes. Is he kicking me out?
“
I’m sorry Lucas. I’m
sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for doubting you, us.” I slowly
turn toward the door to walk away. “Most of all I’m sorry that I’ve
made you hate me so much that you can’t even look at me right now.
I never wanted you to be disgusted by me.” I walk to the door and
in an instant; he’s standing in front of me blocking my
path.
“
You think I’m disgusted
by you?” His face is a mask of pain and hurt and longing. I see my
old Lucas standing before me. His eyes water just the tiniest bit
but I notice it.
“
You haven’t been able to
look at me much since I’ve been here. What else am I supposed to
think?”
“
Oh fuck it!” He walks
toward me and grabs me by the shoulders; his hands are warm on my
skin, sending electrical currents through my entire body. He stares
right into my eyes and I’m lost.
“
I have made my best
attempt not to look at you because when I do, all I want to do is
rip this dress off of you and throw you on my bed, since the moment
I opened the door and saw you.” I gasp in surprise. But in my head
I’m screaming
DO IT! DO IT!
I’m rendered speechless. I quickly compose myself
as he lets go of me, but remains in my personal space.
“
Well, that was
unexpected.” I admit. The body heat he gives off is undeniable, but
flaming hot.
He still wants me as much as
I want him.
I smile to myself and gaze
into his eyes. He looks away for a split second before meeting my
eyes again.
“
I’m sorry for being a
complete jackass. It’s been really-“ I put my first two fingers to
his lips to stop him. “Shh, don’t talk. Not right now, please.” I
say quietly.
He watches me carefully. I
grab his hand, bring it to my mouth and gently kiss his fingers,
never taking my eyes off of him. He’s stunned. My heart hammers in
my chest, and butterflies flutter in my stomach. I bring my hand up
to his face and trace his hairline all the way down to his jaw
line. He closes his eyes and a moan escapes his throat. I smile,
and when he opens his eyes, he smiles back. My heart skips a beat.
He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him. Then
our lips meet, at first softly, then with more passion,
aggressively. He backs me up against the front door; his hands are
all over my body, across my back, shoulders and down by my butt. I
grab him and pull him as close to me as I can, even though he’s as
close as he can get. He lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his
waist.
Luckily the dress has give, so I'm
able to do this. We are still lost in our kiss as our tongues dance
around each other gleefully. He stops kissing me for a moment and
I’m left panting, breathless.