CHAPTER TEN!

"I'm actually going with Luke," Eliza admitted to Nini and Kourtney when they came up with the idea of anti-homecoming homecoming. "I'm sorry."

"I knew there was something still there during the duet," Nini stated. "I really think Miss Jenn did the wrong thing casting Ricky as Troy. It should have definitely went to Luke."

"Nini!" Eliza exclaimed. "I don't think— he asked me to homecoming and it's like a tradition at this point. We went together in freshman and sophomore year." Eliza stopped. "I need a dress— I haven't even looked for a dress." Eliza's eyes had glanced to the wet dress in Nini's hand that was just in the toilet.

"Were you even planning on going to the dance?" Kourtney asked. "We can go after school and find a dress for you. No worries. You're going to be the best looking girl at the dance and Luke's definitely going to be your boyfriend again by the end of the dance."

"You really think so?" Eliza questioned.

"Yes! We're coming over to help you get ready before our anti-homecoming homecoming," Nini said as they walked out of the bathroom.

🏀

The light blue of Eliza's dress complimented her skin tone. Kourtney finished curling her hair and Nini was busy scrolling through her Instagram.

"Luke's going to pass out on how good you look!" Kourtney squealed. "You know CPR, right?"

"I actually do, but that's beside the point," Eliza mumbled before standing in the mirror, turning around to look at her entire outfit. Then she looked down at her feet, covered in wool socks.

Her mother had a thing for shoes, so Eliza had a thing for shoes. So now Eliza was looking at the bottom of her closet digging through all her shoes looking for her heels. Any heels.

"Definitely those," Nini added when Eliza grabbed one sparkly heel. "They go really well with your dress. And you're going to need all the height you can get for the pictures."

"This isn't my first time going to homecoming with Luke," Eliza said. "But I haven't worn these shoes at all, so they may hurt— but beauty is pain. And I have slippers in my locker if they get too annoying."

🏀

"Good evening, Mr Mazzara," Eliza smiled walking up to the table. "Luke Nelson."

"I know who you are with, Miss Parks," Mr Mazzara stated looking for both names on the paper. "Looks like you're sitting with your football bros."

"Actually, there should be room with the theater kids," Eliza stated. Looking at Luke for support. Eliza has always sat with the football boys at these dances, and she'd rather sit with the theater kids than the cheerleaders who would fawn over all the hot guys— Luke being one of them. "Please, Mr Mazzara. I'm a good student, and I just want to enjoy this homecoming with my friends and not a group of jocks who have dates and won't even dance with them."

"It does look like there's two extra seats at table ten," Mr Mazzara stated. "Don't forget to snap a picture," he said as Eliza grabbed the tickets and Luke's hand walking into the gym.

"My mom wants a picture of us," Luke said leading Eliza to the line for pictures. "Thanks for agreeing to coming with me. I hope this is a step in the right direction."

"Luke, let's just take it slow this time. I only said yes because— well, we're trying to be friends, right?" Eliza asked. "And friends shouldn't let other friends go stag." Eliza lightly punched Luke in the shoulder. He faked being hurt.

"Well, my mom was happy that you agreed," Luke stated. "I am, too."

"Next!" The photographer called out.

Eliza stepped in front of the camera, and let go of Luke's hand when she realized she was still holding it. Luke stepped behind Eliza and wrapped his arm around her in the basic prom pose. After that picture, Eliza turned around and face him. Pictures were still being taken as she rested her hands on his chest. His brown eyes were always comforting— Eliza always loved brown eyes. They both leaned in, until Eliza leaned back.

"That should be enough for your mom," Eliza said. "We should probably get to our table. I'm parched." Eliza walked off while Luke got the details for the photo downloads.

Eliza quickly found the table, and took the seat next to Ricky. "You sure clean up nice, Ricky. What's the special occasion?"

"It's homecoming?" Ricky responded, "I don't believe this. This dude steals my girlfriend and twelve seconds after they break up, he's already playin' the field," Ricky said showing the picture of EJ and Gina to Big Red and then to Eliza.

"Woah, correction. Nini is not a thing to be stolen," Eliza corrected. "And besides, EJ is a little bi— you know— for even coming to homecoming and with a new girl. But right now would be the best time for you to— you know," Eliza stopped talking when she felt Luke sit beside her. He set a cup of punch in front of her, and leaned back in his chair, with his arm on the back of Eliza's chair. He took a sip of his cup while glancing at Ricky.

🏀

The table had grown quiet when Eliza sat back down in her chair. Luke had wandered off to sit with his football team, like usual, but he and Eliza were able to dance to a few songs together. Their tradition.

"My feet are killing me," Eliza mumbled, but looked around. Some of the theater kids were gone, and it's not like she didn't like Ashlyn or Carlos. She never really spoke to them until this year. She wanted to check in on Ricky and that's what she did.

"Big Red is an underrated style legend!" Big Red had finished saying when Eliza walked up to them.

"Dude. You're an idiot," Ricky chuckled. "Liza back me up on this—"

"Hey, I may call other people names every once in awhile, but he does look very stylish tonight," Eliza smiled.

"Thank you," Big Red responded.

"Of course, now, I know Nini isn't here but I did send a text earlier and it seems like she wished she came here. I told you to ask her," Eliza said.

"It was last minute and she had just broken up with EJ. And we had that moment. I thought I should give her some time," Ricky explained. "But it seems that he didn't need time to move on from Nini." Ricky motioned to EJ and Gina who were arguing. Eliza's eyes followed his hands, except it wasn't EJ and Gina she saw, it was Andrea and Luke talking; standing closer than two friends would be standing. Andrea laughed as she reached out and touched his forearm. Then Luke had moved some hair behind her ear.

Without saying anything, Eliza walked away. She was fully willing to give Luke another chance, it was her plan that's she'd had since the beginning of the school year. And Luke just ruined it.

Finally updating with a NEW chapter <3