Chapter 17 | Homecoming

Isabella:

"I'M COMING!" I scream, rushing down the stairs and almost stumbling over in my heels.

I open the front door breathlessly and the moment I see who it is, I briskly slam it closed again.

Well, I try to but Lucas swiftly sticks his feet in between, preventing me from doing so.

"I thought you were Mia or Grace," I grumble, reluctantly opening the door again and allowing Lucas to pass through into the hallway.

For a second I think I see Lucas' eyes widen in shock as he takes me in. "Why were you excepting Mia or Grace?"

Huffing in frustration, I refuse to meet his gaze and keep my eyes latched onto the wooden floor of the hallway. "They were my escape."

"Escape?" He snorts before moving forward and standing directly in front of me. I continue to keep my gaze on the floor and on his black dress shoes. He's standing close enough for me to smell the cologne on him.

Dior sauvage = deceased Isabella.

"I told them to come pick me up so I wouldn't have to go with you," I explain, finally looking up from the floor with my eyes narrowed. The specks of gold in his iris seem even brighter under the dim lighting of the hallway and his hair is styled and tousled nicely. I press my lips together to stop my mouth gaping open at the gorgeous sight of his appearance. "I'm not going to Hoco on your motorbike," I state through gritted teeth. Even thinking about that death trap spikes my already high level of anxiety.

"Yes you are, you can't get rid of me or Gigi," he replies back simply, smirking down at me teasingly. He then outstretches his arm for me to latch onto. "C'mon we better get going."

I give him a defiant shrug, before turning around and trudging back up the stairs. "Nah, it's ok, I think I'll just wait here for Mia and Gra-OW."

"Let go of me!" I practically scream at him, swatting his hand away from the iron grip he has on my wrist.

Ignoring my protests he continues dragging me back down the stairs. "You can't back out of a bet Belly."

"Yes I can, I'm not going on that fucking bike! I don't want to di-"

My abuela peeks her head from around the kitchen door, cutting me off. "Isabella what's all that noise," she begins before her gaze falls onto Lucas standing beside me. "OH HI CARINO!" She smiles brightly before rushing towards us and grabbing Lucas by the face, promptly squishing his cheeks. "My don't you look handsome mijo! Isabella why didn't you tell us Lucas was your date!" She turns to look at me expectantly.

"Date?" I snort, spluttering out in laughter. "Please abuela what do you take me for? I lost a bet so he's driving me to school on his motorcycle."

She waves her hand dismissively, dropping her hands from Lucas' face. "Whatever, wait here you two, I want a picture of you two both! You guys look so pretty!" She hastily rushes off in search of her camera.

"I do look pretty," Lucas sighs wistfully.

I stare at him blankly. "...Okay," I say even though in my mind I am agreeing thoroughly.

My abuela is right, we did look pretty.

My hair was curled to perfection and my makeup had turned out amazing, my foundation flawless, my lips tainted a nice mauve colour and my eyes streaked with eyeliner.

If I were to be completely honest, I had been wary with the amount of skin I was showing, my legs and arms were bare for the first time in a long ass time but I violently shoved the taunting thoughts into the back of my mind. I wasn't going to let my stupid overthinking ruin this night.

The dress looked good on me. I told myself. The bodice, the skirt, the colour - everything fit perfectly and was the right length for once.

Lucas had surprisingly done a really good job.

As for him, I would be lying if I didn't admit Lucas looked good tonight. He cleaned up very nicely, his navy blue coloured suit sat nicely on his muscular body and his hair was styled and gelled perfectly. He had his signature rings on on each hand a Rolex watch decorated his wrist. He looked much older, but in a good way, he looked good.

"Okay I'm back!" My grandmother says, stumbling back into the hallway excitedly whilst waving the blue pastel coloured polaroid camera in the air, my mom and Sofia following suit behind.

Lucas places his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his chest and I smile for the picture.

"Aw don't you guys look adorable," my mom sighs, clasping her hands together, Sofia cooing from beside her as my abuela clicks the camera before waiting for the polaroid to print out.

"Okay another one!" She exclaims, after the first picture has finished printing.

"One is enough," I say sternly, briskly pulling Lucas's arm from off of my shoulder.

"Let me get one with Sof before we go," he tells me, before outstretching his arms for Sofia. She happily runs into his embrace and he swiftly picks her up. As he smiles for the camera, Sofia puckers her lips and places one small hand on his cheek as she kisses the other.

I bite in the inside of my mouth to stop awing out loud at the sight.

"Okay c'mon let's go," he finally tells me after he's done taking like a trillion pictures with my baby sister.

As we wave goodbye to my mom and grandma and step outside, the glint of the metal of Gigi the motorbike is enough to make me hurl.

"...You know what, I think I want to get a picture with Sofia now...I'm gonna head back insi-"

"Oh no you don't," he grabs my wrist again and tugs me towards him before I can escape.

"Let. Go," I mumble, yanking my hand from his grasp.

He ignores me once again and instead plucks the helmet from off the handlebar and hands it to me. "Safety first."

I laugh nervously. "I don't think a helmet is enough to protect me from this death machine...I should go find a protective body suit why don't you go ahead and go by yourself."

"Isabella," he says sternly, giving me a look. "Put the damn helmet on, it'll be fun, trust me."

I reluctantly place the helmet over my head, trying not to mess my hair up.

"Now prop your leg up and get on the bike like this," he demonstrates and I try to copy his movements.

It takes me a couple of tries but I manage to get on without breaking my legs.

"Now scooch your ass back so I can get on."

I do as he says and he sits in front, before grabbing my arms and making me wrap it against his torso.

I try not to react at the feeling of his taught muscles under his blazer and pull my lips into my mouth to stop from screaming. I'm so focused on the feeling of Lucas under my fingertips that i have no time to prepare myself for when Lucas abruptly starts the engine and the bike revs into life and into the darkness. A strangled scream leaves my throat and I feel Lucas vibrate in laughter. I smack his chest in response, before clinging even tighter to him.

After a few minuets have passed, I will myself to loosen my death grip around Lucas' waist and actually open my eyes. It's still terrifying as hell, as we weave in between cars on the street and Lucas almost tips the bike over to the side a couple of times but I'm pretty sure it's on purpose because every time I yelp out in horror he barks out in laughter. He's literally getting a fat smack across his absolutely ravishing face when we arrive - if we arrive that is.

I mutter a long list of prayers under breath as Lucas speeds up the pace and I return back to clinging onto him for dear life and continue staying like this until we arrive.

"Isabella," I hear him say, prying my arms off of him. "We've arrived."

I open one eye and peer around to see the looming building of our school in front of me. "Oh."

I briskly pull away from him like he is on fire and jump off the bike. Well, I attempt to jump off, forgetting that I'm wearing heels, I almost loose my balance and plummet onto the gravel beneath me but two strong arms quickly wrap around my waist steadying me.

"Thanks," I clear my throat as Lucas chuckles. I slowly pull the helmet off my head and give it to him before checking my appearance in the mirror of the bike. My hair is not ruined thank God.

I turn back after fluffing up my curls a bit and am almost startled by the audience we seem to have allured. I hear a number of hushed whispers coming from the several students huddled outside, staring curiously at the two of us, some sending me murderous glares and I quickly realise what me turning up with Lucas seems like.

"It was a bet!" I exclaim, waving my hands in the air wildly, trying to clear the air. "Like he'd be my date," I snort slapping a hand over my mouth and chuckling nervously. I then send them all a serious look trying to emphasise my point. "Gross."

From my peripheral vision I see Lucas eyeing me weirdly. "...Yeah...gross."

I nod my head vigorously and the crowd shrug, now disinterested with the two of us.

"Alright lets go inside," he tells me, before swinging his keys around his middle finger. How I have no clue, but he manages to even make that mesely gesture seem attractive.

I trail after him, well, practically run after his long, powerful strides. Damn these heels. I'm not usually this clumsy in heels but for some reason today my feet have forgotten how to walk so I almost face plant the floor like 60 million times.

We walk to the side of the building where the backdoor leading towards the huge gymnasium is and stroll through the entrance.

The hall is decorated with banners of gold and this metallic purple colour, basically a more fancier version of our school colours and a various number of fairy lights. It doesn't look tacky however and actually looks quite nice.

Near the main door there is a photographer where people are getting their pictures takes, people are gathered around the wide floor space and there's a long table lining the wall at the back where a number of drinks and snacks are held, a chocolate fountain included. This is where I finally spot Mia and Grace shoving through the crowd to get to the fountain.

Concluding that I don't want to die, I decide to avoid approaching Mia and Grace and continue following Lucas through the crowd. He looks over his shoulder as I weave through the crowd, stumbling in my heels to check that he hasn't lost me as we walk towards a corner of the hall where Aidan and Dylan's tall figures are situated.

Both boys look impeccably handsome. Whilst Dylan is wearing a simple black suit, a white dress shirt with the top buttons popped open and no tie, Aidan is a bit more dressed up. His red velvet suit jacket match his shoes and he has paired his outfit with with a black silky durag on his head. I try not to drool at the sight.

"Bella God damn," Dylan gushes the moment he spots me approaching him. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks babe," I smile, a warm blush tainting my cheeks. "So do you!"

"Where's my compliment Dyl," Lucas gasps, placing a hand over his heart in mock hurt causing Dylan to roll his eyes.

"You don't need your ego to inflate even further my dear brother."

Lucas grins cheekily. "That's true."

"Guyth," Aidan finaly intervenes, his mouth full, after having been stuffing his face with the snacks loaded high on his plate. "Don't have the punch it tastes like feet."

Lucas raises his eyebrows. "And you know how feet tastes like because?"

"Because he sucks Grace's toes," I answer for him causing Aidan to narrow his eyes at me.

"Thut up no I don't!"

"Ew who sucks toes?"

We all turn to see Ivy staring disgustedly at us. I'm about to raise my finger to point at Aidan when he promptly smacks my hand away.

Dylan rolls his eyes and groans in fustration. "Ugh basic bitch ass vanilla is here." He glares at Ivy who glares back at him with equal intensity.

"And what do you mean by that mean exactly Dylan?"

"You know what I mean sweetie," he replies, smiling fakely. "Does missionary not get boring for you babe?"

"Hey my sex life is none of your business!" She exclaims.

"Your sex life is everybodies business hun."

"Are you calling me a whore!"

"Hey man don't call my girlfriend a whore!"

"I didn't! It's not my fault thats how she interpreted it as!"

"Oh shut up Dylan! I'd rather do missionary than take it up the ass!"

"Hey, is this you being homophobic?!"

"No! I'm just saying I don't like anal!"

"Well Ms girl for the record, I think you are in dire need of dick up your ass to replace the fucking STICK THAT'S IN THERE!"

I flit my eyes across the three of them as their argument continues and back to Aidan who seems to be preoccupied with stuffing his face again. Discussing Ivy's sex life is making me queasy, I need to escape. "Um guys, I'm gonna go to the chocolate fountain."

This causes Ivy to snap her attention on to me. "Oh fuck me." She groans. "You're still alive?" She grumbles in disbelief after raking her eyes up and down my body. "You don't even have a fucking scratch on you or even have helmet hair!" She exclaims before turning back to her boyfriend with a snarl on her face. "I thought I said be dangerous!"

Damn I was wondering why Ivy hadn't come to burn down my house. And here I thought she stopped being a controlling bitch but now I find out she wanted me to die tragically in a motorcycle accident? Damn.

Lucas shakes his head and laughs, taking his girlfriends exclaimation as a joke when I'm 99% sure she was genuinely being serious.

I ignore Ivy's remark and stalk off to the chocolate fountain where I find my two best friends indulging on several strawberries and mini donuts covered in chocolate. If I thought discussing Ivy's sex life was making me queasy, then looking at all the chocolate was making me feel worse.

"Want some?" Mia offers, her eyes lighting up as she spots me approaching her. She outstretches the stick loaded with the strawberries and dangerously close to dribbling chocolate all over her dress.

I shake my head and try not to let my disgust show through. "No thank you."

She shrugs. "Okay, more for me then."

We spend the next couple minutes talking whilst both Grace and Mia finish up their food and then head towards the dance floor where most people are situated by now.

It's slight cramped and crowded down here but the vibe is nice so I don't mind. Whoever is in charge of the music seriously has a thing for throwbacks as 'I want it that way' is currently blasting through the speakers - which I don't mind at all, I love me some backstreet boys.

We split our time on the 'dance floor' and with taking pictures, both with the stationed photographer in-front of the back drop and also outside for Instagram.

As the temperature begins to drop even further and goosebumps begin to raise on our skin, we decide to head back into the hall and stay there for the remainder of the dance.

As we push the metal doors open to go back inside, there's a loud and frankly muffled announcement from the DJ stating that the next song will be a slow one for the couples dance. After hearing that Mia promptly rushes off in search for Sammy and from my peripheral vision I see Aidan begin to approach us.

Well I'm pretty sure he is coming to approach Grace.

"Um I'm gonna go get some refreshments," I quickly tell my friend, smiling slyly at her before waving at Aidan as I stroll past.

Damn I thought Lucas said homecoming was for 'friends', I think to myself as I hang around near the back table, watching couples pair up for the dance that is about to begin. It seems as if the entire school has a date and I find it's only me and a boy that eerily resembles sinjin from victorious that are not preparing for the couples dance in the 10 mile radius surrounding us.

I side glance his way to see sinjin 2.0 staring at me expectantly. I sure hope he's not planning on asking me to dance because sorry buddy I can't dance for the love of me.

I guess me standing at the back by self like a loner does somehow make me seem like I'm waiting for someone to ask me to dance so I decide to busy myself with the chocolate fountain to seem less awkward.

I've popped a strawberry that is dipped in chocolate into my mouth (despite that annoying part of my brain that's protesting against it) when I almost spit the fruit back out.

It's when the song begins to play that a wave of dread surges through me. A wave of nostalgia shoots through me but it isn't the good kind. It's the type that causes me to feel sick to my stomach, the type to cause my mind to become clouded with thoughts and the type that causes my senses to be heightened and everything around me fade away.

My stomach plummets to the ground and breathing hitches. My mind begins to reel back to three years ago. Three years ago when this fucking Ed Sheeran song used to play on every fucking radio station the year my E.D was at its peak, the year my parents finally noticed what was wrong with me and the year I finally got admitted into hospital. I used to hear that song everyday in car, everyday after school after feeling faint and dizzy for days on end. Playing in the background when I ultimately forced myself to eat dinner with my parents so they wouldn't suspect anything and playing in the backround of the fucking doctors office, waiting to be checked up on.

Part of my brain is telling that there's no reason to be reacting like this but my body is reacting other wise with my throat closing up, causing me to feel suffocated and my heart squeezing almost painfully.

I swallow, trying to will myself to regulate my breathing. Why this song is having this huge effect on me I don't know. I mean it's a fucking song, a song that I didn't even like all that well but like I have said, my brain doesn't seem to be cooperating with my body at all. However, one thing both my mind and my body are agreeing on is the fact that I need to get out of here asap.

I rush past Sinjin and into the deserted hallway, the sound of the dance in the backround, echoing eerily through the hall as I find a space to steady myself against and try and get my breathing on track.

My thoughts and these specific memories  are overwhelming and clouding every other thought my mind is processing.

I quickly find something in front of me to focus on whilst I try to steady my breathing. My eyes latch onto a framed photo of Aidan and the rest of the football team in the sports cabinet directly opposite me. I force my self to take slow, deep breaths and repeatedly tell myself that I'm ok.

Once my breathing has calmed down and the storm raging inside my head has passed I slide against the floor and lean my head against the wall with a groan. I didn't expect a fucking song to have this effect on me, this has never happened before.

I stay like this on the floor for a while, my legs vibrating from the beat of the next song that's playing and I sit listening to the cheers and laughter of everyone in the hall.

My mood has completely shifted from that little panic attack and now all I crave is to be at home and in bed so I quickly send a text to my mom asking her to pick me up and a text to Mia and Grace saying I'm going home because I feel sick.

They probably won't get the text until after the dance ends, I'm pretty sure they're choosing hoco king and queen next so I know they'll be preoccupied with that.

Once the messages have sent, I drag myself up from the floor and dust my dress off before directing myself out of the school and into the parking lot where I sit against the pavement and wait for my mother to arrive.

It's peaceful out here, pretty quiet minus the faded sound of the dance in the background. A chill surges through my body as I stare up into the night sky and I wrap my arms around myself to radiate warmth. The moon has come out of hiding tonight, it shines brightly against the darkness of the sky and I find myself thinking of how there is someone else, somewhere in a completely different place also staring up at the moon right now and that bring me peace.

"What you doing out here?" A voice calls out of no where and I spin my head so fast I'm surprised it doesn't snap of my neck. Bloody hell.

"You scared me," I state, trying to regulate my breathing after that little fright. "And I'm waiting for my mom to pick me up, how about you?"

My gaze falls onto the golden plastic crown balancing on Lucas' dark locks. "You won homecoming king?"

"Yep." He grins cheekily. "And I'm calling an uber for Ivy, she's refusing to go home on my motorbike."

"I don't blame her." I snort. "Did she win queen?"

He shakes his head before taking a seat beside max and resting his arms on his knees. "Nah Mellissa Pinnet did."

"Uhoh, she is probably not happy with that."

"Nope, which is exactly why I'm calling an uber for her right now."

We sit in silence beside each other for a while before people from the party begin pouring out the hall.

Lucas glances down at his phone. "Well Ivy's uber is almost here."

I nod, rubbing my hands up and down my arms as goosebumps begin to pebble my skin.

"Hey your mom is taking an awfully long time," he states, jumping back to his feet and brushing his hands against his trousers. "Do you wanna by any chance wanna get a ride home on Gigi or something?"

I chew my lip nervously before glancing at the metal of the motorbike glistening in the dark where Lucas had parked it a couple of feet away and then back to my phone.

My mom hasn't even read my message yet.

I look back up at Lucas. "Okay."

His eyes widen. "Wait...really I was only kidding, I can call you an uber if you want." I don't blame him for thinking I wouldn't agree, especially based on the fact I practically threw a fit earlier this evening about riding on the bike.

But I need a boost of adrenaline.

"Yeah I'm sure."

***

"Why are you screaming?" Lucas' shouts at me, his body rumbling with laughter.

"BECAUSE IT'S QUITE FUN WHEN YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT DYING," I shout back, the wind whipping my skin as we fly past the town in a blur.

He laughs again and I feel like vibrations of his laughter beneath my palms. When we had left earlier on for the dance it had been day still, but now riding on the motorbike in the dark, it's such a vibe. Also because whoever it is that is driving in the car parallel to us, is blaring 'Still don't know my name' by Labyrinth, thus causing me to feel like someone straight out of a movie.

Although I'm still shit scared that Lucas will crash us and that we'll die, the rush is exactly what I need to lift my
mood so when he begins to slow down the bike as we reach our neighbourhood, I find myself feeling almost disappointed.

"Oo that was fun," I grin, once the bike has come to a halt and I jump off the motorcycle, almost face planting the ground.

Lucas chuckles. "Told you it's fun." His cheeks are tinged pink from the cold, his hair ruffled from the wind in the most adorable way and his little dimples are making a show as well. I find that the sight causes my heart to flutter and I briskly draw my eyes away.

"Thank you for the ride," I tell him, placing the helmet back on the handlebar.

"Now aren't you glad you lost the bet?" Lucas smirks, his eyebrow cocked smugly.

I cock my head to the side. "Maybe."

He grins cheekily and then does that boy thing where he pokes his tongue in his cheek and looks down at me.

That does not help the heart flutters subside at all.

"Okay well thank you, I'm gonna go inside, these heels are killing me," I tell him, throwing him an awkward meek wave before turning around and beginning to trudge back up the driveway.

"Wait Bella," he calls out and I pause, looking over my shoulder. "Here."

He moves forward and plucks the crown from off his head and pops it on mine. I raise an eyebrow.

"What's this for?"

"It's compensation because I feel bad that you lost the bet," he explains causing me to roll my eyes.

"I'll win the next one don't you worry."

"We'll see about that," he smirks. "Now good night!"

"Night," I reply, watching his retreating figure descend up his driveway. I turn around and do the same.

As I reach the front door I fumble around in my purse for my keys but have trouble finding them, I must've left them inside.

I ring the doorbell and wait for someone to answer. I shift from feet to feet, getting restless when someone has yet to open the door for me so I go to press the doorbell again, but that's when the door swings open.

I take a large intake of breath and my eyebrows draw together in both surprise and confusion as I stare up at the figure smiling down at me in the doorway.

What the hell?

"Dad?"