Afterschool...
Walking out of school with Lyra at my side, we walk down the street to the parade. It hasn't started yet; everyone is setting up their stations and putting on their costumes. Besides the St. Helena lights, this is the 2nd biggest event that happens here. The Mayor, Bethany Spencer, makes a speech about the success of the town and what great of a job we did on the parade. After that, the St. Helena Choir sings a song, while the band plays with them. Then the parade gets started.
In the front is the Killer Bats, the cheerleaders. Then the band, dance team, homecoming court, and finally the Batcaver's float which I and Lyra will be driving.
"Quinneth, I don't want to be in the control center." Lyra pouts turning around to me.
"Lyra, you have to. Your way smaller than me I can't fit." I tell her. She's been harassing me all day about not wanting to be in the control center. One person has to drive the float, while the other person controls it and tells the person driving what directions to turn at.
"Damn you and your hips." She scowls at me while smacking my hips.
"Ow!" I semi scream at her. "That hurt."
"It was supposed to." She gives me a wink as we walk to the main booth.
As we arrive at the booth, were faced with Tara Tang and Sara Wong, The Blondes. The funny thing about them being called 'The Blondes', neither of them is blonde. Tara has strawberry hair and Sara has Jet-black hair.
"Well, well well if it isn't Lyra and her lap dog." Tara spits out while looking us up and down. Her grey eyes shamed us from head to toe.
"Bite me," Lyra replies.
"Never in a million years," Sara says chiming in. "What are you both doing here?" Her arms cross on her chest, making her boobs bigger.
"Were driving the float," I speak.
Tara and Sara both look towards each other and laugh. "Ewe imagine." Sara chuckles out.
"I don't want to. I and Sara are on the homecoming court." Tara speaks. I look at both their outfits. Sara is wearing a long yellow dress with thin spaghetti straps. Tara is wearing a light purple dress with jewels around the waist area. I may despise them, but they both look nice.
"We have to go where important." As they walk past us, they shove our shoulders. We stumble back a little.
"God, I wish I could wring their necks." Lyra spats out while imagining herself choking them.
"Ditto," I say agreeing with her. If she did, I wouldn't stop her.
"Where have you both been?" We turn around to see Dana rushing over to us. Her hair flows in the wind while her eyes stay stuck on us.
"We've been at the booth," Lyra says pointing to the booth behind us.
"You were supposed to be at your float already. Here, take these headsets and controllers." She hands us the stuff while pushing us towards the float's direction. "Hurry, the Mayor is about to give her speech."
We both start walking through the stuffed crowd to the float.
"You sure you don't want to switch?" Lyra asked again. I point to the control center telling her to get in. "Ugh, fine." While she gets in the control center booth, I enter through the back of the bat. It's rather narrow in here, in front of me is the steering wheel and I can see out of the bat's nose. I put on my headset and turn on the float.
Looking through the bat's nose, I see everyone getting in position. In front of us, I see the homecoming court lining up with their dates. Sara's with Jason, Katherine is with Lopez, Cynthia is paired with Timothy, and lastly Tara with Myers. Wait WHAT!
I squint my eyes closed trying to make sure I saw what I think I saw. It's Myers with Tara. I haven't seen him since the bathroom incident, when did he come back? All the bruises that Alexander gave him are gone like they never happened.
Lots of questions swarm in my mind. Is he back for me? Why hasn't he tried to come to see me? If he does, who is going to protect me from him? Immediately my thoughts are put on hold once the Mayor starts talking.
"Hello, fellow St. Helenians." The crowd burst out in cheers. "Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers that have helped put everything together, it looks amazing. The parade will start right now." She says finishing up.
"You ready?" I asked Lyra.
"Yeah," I reply.
I push on the gas lightly as the float starts to move. The crowd starts to cheer as we descend the street.
"Let's shine a light on our Batcaver's Homecoming Court. We have our first couple Sara Wong and Jason Johnson. Next are Katherine York and Lopez Hope. Right next to them are Cynthia Roberts and Timothy Gilbert. The last couple is Tara Tang with Star Football Player Myer's Gibson." They all wave to the crowd with smiles on their face.
I focus my eyes on Tara and Myers. If she knew her date was going to be Myers, why wouldn't she brag to me about it? Maybe just wanted me to find it out for myself. With me thinking too much about Tara and Myers, I forgot that I was steering.
"QUINN! We're drifting to the left turn!" Lyra screams into the ear set. I look outside the bat's nose to see people's eyes widening pointing to the right. Oops.
"Sorry," I say to Lyra while turning to the right putting the car back on track. If I didn't hear Lyra in time, we maybe would have hit some people. I start to flap my arms, it's fairly hot in here. I have no idea how the kid last year who drove this could sit in here. It's like a Sauna.
"Looks like the Batcaver's float is trying to fly off." The Mayor chuckles out trying to ease the situation. "Now, coming up is the Killer Bats, look at them cheer, such beautiful girls. Behind them is The Band, and our football players sitting in the bed of the truck. In the middle is our star quarterback and Captain, Jack Thompson." I can't see Jack's whole body just his hand waving.
"Damn, I can't see Jack. What does he look like Quinn?" Lyra asked.
"I can't see him either, just his hand waving," I tell her. She grunts into the headset mumbling things under her breath I would rather not want to repeat.
The parade went on for 30 more minutes. I turn to the side to park the float. Walking out the back of the bat, I was greeted by cool air. God, it should be illegal for us to be in that bat for that long. As soon as I get home, I'm taking a long bath. Jumping down from the float, I see Lyra climbing out of the control room.
"We are never doing that again." She said stretching her arms and legs.
"Agreed, tickets next year," I speak.
"Tickets." We go to sit on the curb. While we sit there and try to catch our breath Dana comes over to us enraged.
"What the hell what that!" She screamed to us. Her pale face starts to turn red.
"Sorry, Dana I couldn't hear through the headset," I mutter out.
"Mhm. Next year you two will not be driving the float, you almost killed innocent civilians." She points to me and Lyra. Huffing she walks off in haste.
"Never thought Dana could get angry," Lyra says.
"Me either." In the distance I see Lyle walking over to us.
"Hey, what was that out there you almost killed some people." He says chuckling while combing back his hair with his fingers.
"Lack of communication," I utter out sticking my hands in my pockets.
"Hey, Lyle," Lyra says poking her head out behind me.
"Hi." He responds to her.
"You alright here Quinn? I'm about to go find Jack."
"Yeah, I'm fine. See you later." She ruffles my hair while running off. Once she leaves, I turn my head back to Lyle. Behind him I see Myers standing with Tara, he looks over to me, his beady eyes staring in mines. Lyle follows my gaze to him.
"Who's that?" He asked.
"Myers, ex-boyfriend." I awkwardly say.
"Wait... the guy in the diner isn't your boyfriend?"
"Nope, just a friend," I respond.
"Why did you guys break up?" He asked awaiting my answer. "I don't mean to be intrusive."
"No, it's alright. He thought that I wanted Alexander and I didn't."
"And did you?" He asked.
"Did I what?" I looked at him with a confused expression on my face.
"Did you want Alexander?" That's very bold of him to ask such a question.
"I didn't." I blink.
"Yes, you did."
I scoff at his boldness. He knows nothing of me and Alexander's relationship. If I liked him when I was with Myers or not. Still, I was intrigued by what he would have to say. "How do you know?"
"I saw the way you looked at him. Like you couldn't go another day without being in his presence. Longing for the most delicate touch." He says in a whisper. My breath hitches in my throat, we barely know each other how does he know all this?
"That's only from one point of view. Also, looks can be deceiving."
"I guess."
The Next Day...
Tying my curly hair into a ponytail, I walk into the living room to see Irene and Grandpa snuggled up on the couch watching TV. Every day they have been hanging out, her being here or him being over her house. It's nice that he has someone to talk to and have dinner with. With me working at Ida's shop, school, and the internship I've been swapped.
"Hey, Quinn honey where you going?" Grandpa asked readjusting his arm around Irene.
"To the mall. I and the girls are going to get our homecoming dress." With me saying this, Irene's eyes light up.
"Homecoming! I forgot that was this week. What type of dress are you trying to get?" She asked.
I've given it thought, but I have no idea exactly what I want. Maybe something with light colors and puffy sleeves, almost like an 80's homecoming dress, but not too much 80's in it.
"I've thought about it, but I'm not set on anything," I say shrugging.
"Do you have a date?" She asked intrigued.
I thought Myer's would be my date, but that didn't work out. It's been 4 days and still no answer from Alexander. It's like he just vanished from the face of the earth. Every day I've been sneaking looks out the living room window hoping he would stride down the walkway and whisk me away. At this point, it's just a fantasy than a reality.
"No, I'll be third-wheeling with Lyra... again." I sadly say.
"There's nothing wrong with going to homecoming single." My Grandfather chimes in.
"Did you ever go by yourself?" I smirk crossing my arms.
His eyes frantically move around trying to find the right words to say. "No." I laugh at his response and roll my eyes. Back in the day, my Grandpa was considered a 'lady's man'. No woman could resist the charms of Milo Worthingshire. At least that's what he says.
"Milo honey could you go to the kitchen and fetch me some water?" She asked him patting his leg. He lets out a grunt as he gets up from the couch, heading to the kitchen.
Irene walks over directing me to the living room window. The light from outside shines on her hazel eyes. "Honey, what about that guy that was here last week?" She asked whispering to me so Grandpa doesn't hear. He has no idea of what happened here with me and Alexander, and I don't want him to know.
"I believe that is over?" I say flatly.
"Why?" She asks clasping onto my hands.
"He hasn't called nor texted me in days. I think he just wanted to make out with me and leave." I look down as shame overcomes me.
She lifts my chin with her finger, looking me deep into my eyes. "I'm sorry that has happened to you. There is a lot of fish in the sea. I never thought I would find love again after my husband. When I met your Grandfather, I knew it was love at first sight. So, if you believe the love with his guy is real then hold onto it. Something could have happened to him, just wait." Wow, I didn't know Irene could be so.... deep.
I don't know if it was love with Alexander, but it was a good feeling I had when I was with him. Something inside of me tells me that he has a reason for not talking to me. I can't explain it in words, just a feeling. Somewhere I think he's still thinking about me, wondering what I'm doing at this precise moment.
"Thank you for that. I'm glad that you found love with my Grandpa you're good for him." I say pulling her into a hug. Taken back by my boldness, she hesitantly wraps her arms around me. I never really had a mother for a long time and my Grandmother died when I started to have 'those' questions.
Irene is like a surrogate mother and Grandmother to me. Behind us, Grandpa walks in with Irene's water. "Look at my two favorite girls." He said cooing.
She walks over to him taking the water from his hands while kissing him on the lips, they are so cute.
Outside the house, I hear a car honking. Looking out the window, I see Khadijah waving her hands for me to hurry up and come outside.
"That's Khadijah outside waiting for me. See you guys later." I walk over to Grandpa kissing him on the forehead.
"Have fun, honey." I walk out the door running over to her car. Khadijah is driving while Kate is sitting in the passenger seat. Mary and Lyra are in the backseat, I open the door sliding in next to Mary.
Khadijah starts the car up heading down the road to the mall.
"Hurry up before all the good dresses are taken!" Mary says ushering us into the mall.
"What store are we going to first?" Lyra asked.
"Let' go to Clariza's, you know she's going to have the best dresses." Khadijah chimes in.
"Then on to Clariza's," I speak.
We enter into Clariza's Dress. Looking around the store, theirs maybe 10 people in here. Since we've gone later in the day and the mall is going to close in 2 hours everyone's already gotten what they needed. I honestly thought there would be tons of people in this store, I guessed wrong.
"Oh my god, this is so cute!" Mary coos out while holding up a floral dress to her bodice.
"This would look so beautiful on you," I tell her smoothing the dress out with my hands.
"You think so?" She turns around to look at it in the mirror.
"I do. Go try it on." Mary runs off to the dressing room.
While she's trying on the dress, I walk around looking at the different types of dresses. I pick out one dress that catches my eye. It's an off-the-shoulder crimson red dress.
"Don't buy that, it'll make your shoulders look big, Lyra says coming from behind me.
"Don't be too harsh Ly," I say with a sarcastic tone.
"Hey, would you rather me lie to you?" I guess not.
She walks around me picking up a dress off the rack. "Now this would look gorgeous on you." She speaks.
The dress is a light pink Ruched dress with puffy sleeves. It's perfect, I couldn't find a more perfect dress.
"This is beautiful Lyra. I don't even have to look anywhere else I want this."
"What would you do without me?" I roll my eyes at her.
"Ok guys what do you think?" We all turn around to see Kate holding up a rather peculiar dress. "Now be honest." It's a black and purple dress with big ruffles on the end. Sparkles are all over the dress. We all look at each other not knowing what to say.
Kate has always had a... particular style. Last year at homecoming she wore a pantsuit with bats on it. Fashion is not her kryptonite.
"It's uhhh peculiar," Lyra says trying to come off as nice.
"Yeah, it has character," I speak.
"Only person that could rock that is you, Kate." Mary smiles at her giving her a thumbs up.
"Awe guys! I'm getting it." She runs over to the counter to pay for the dress.
We all look at each other with strange looks.
"If she wasn't my best friend, I'd have to tell her the truth," Khadijah mutters out.
We all walked out successfully with a dress. After we got our dresses, we went to eat at Frenzy's Fries. I had a really good time today.
"Bye Quinn," Kate says.
"Bye." Mary adds on.
"Had fun with you," Khadijah says.
"Call me later," Lyra says.
"Ok girls' bye." I shut the door while watching them drive off.
I look up at the sky seeing the moon shine bright. We were out so long we lost track of time. Clutching my dress against my chest, I walk up the driveway. Suddenly, I hear rustling in the bushes behind me.
Turning around, I see someone I didn't want to see again. Someone that made me nervous to the core.
Myers.
"Coming home late?" He says
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