18Hi guys, don't know how many of you are actually still reading, if anybody actually is, but an update is here! Enjoy :)
The next morning it was rightfully raining making it even harder for Anastasia to get up because she was so comfortable and the rain was lulling her back to sleep. She woke up anyway, and she woke up unpleasantly, because last night's scene replayed in her head accompanied by a fresh wave of emotion. Jules helped her shake it off and before she knew it Stas was outside wondering if Darren would come. After a couple of minutes she decided to not be pathetic so she got into her own car. Jules stayed silent the whole ride over while she played DJ with Stas' IPod, strategically playing songs by Stas' favorite boys. It seemed to help a little bit.
In class, Darren attempted to get her attention, but thankfully the teacher kept the class occupied until the end of the period. During break they sat somewhere else. In Chemistry, Stas was sure to sit next to Jules. At lunch, Jules had Mike Tyler, her not-boyfriend, sit with them and an added perk Jonathan sat with them too. The two athletes attracted a few others, almost completely filling the table. Darren took the hint; she did not want to talk so in their last period he stayed silent and did not try to attract her attention.
His absence was taking a toll on Stas though and she knew it. She could not stop second guessing herself and she found herself questioning everything she did and thought. Darren's words had come out of left field to her; they completely contradicted everything he ever was to her. She knew that they should really talk, but she did even know what about. She spent her time focusing on school and work with Jules and Jonathan adding a welcomed distraction.
"So let me get this straight: Mike won't have sex with you because you won't admit he's your boyfriend." Stas called from outside of the dressing room.
The girls were shopping for the Winter Formal next weekend.
"Yes!" Jules huffed, exasperated as she stepped out of the room and stood in the three way mirror.
Jules' dress was knee length and black. The skirt was tool with the edges of each layer slightly ruffled. The middle right under her breast and leading up the back was fitted and a deep hot pink with a cluster design of black stones slightly shifted from her center. The very top was a ruched slight sweetheart cut.
"Way cute." Stas commented, "Why don't you just admit he's your boyfriend. It's so obvious Jesus Christ. Jules I know how you are when it comes to relationships and I am telling you to get the fuck over it and commit officially. Your heart already has."
Jules sighed in response, "this is the one, this is my dress."
"So, are you saying yes to the dress," Stas giggled at her joke.
"Yes!" Jules played along then ambled back into the dressing room. "I just don't know Stas. This thing with Mike and I is different. It's weird."
"It's called a relationship." Stas informed her. "He's your other half, just let him know it. You aren't the only one with insecurities. Mike just wants to know that you are in this thing as much as he is. No one wants to be the only one in a relationship that cares."
Jules came back out with the dress in her hand. "Yeah, yeah." She said nonchalantly, but Stas could see the slightly panicked look in her eyes.
And Stas thought that she had commitment issues. At least Stas tried. Jules was flat out horrified of the thought of actually putting her feelings in someone else's hands, but she did not realize that it is not something that one can control.
"So glad that is over," Stas plopped down in a chair at the food court immediately reaching for a fry.
"Agreed." Jules placed her shopping bags on the floor next to her friend's
They sat in silence for a few minutes indulging in their much needed food. Finally Jules asked:
"So what's up with you and Darren?" She took a sip of her drink glancing up sheepishly.
"We broke up." Stas deadpanned flatly.
"Stas-," Jules began with a worried tone.
"Don't Jules, it's fine. There's nothing to talk about anymore."
Jules assessed her friend worriedly then finally nodded her head and let it go, moving onto a lighter subject.
Jonathan turned the cafeteria chair around and straddled it as he shouldered off his backpack onto the ground. Stas turned her attention to him and smiled leaning in as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a quick hug. Jules was across from them with Mike sitting next to her, not as secretly as they thought, holding each other's hands under the table. Everyone had noticed a change in Jonathan in the last week. He was his old self again. He always smiled and the bounce in his step returned. Everyone knew why too. It was no mystery.
Darren kept to the sidelines not interested in stirring up trouble, especially for Stas. Anyway, it was safer if they were apart. If sacrificing them saved her then everything would be okay. He could not help but feel sadness at the situation. With the dance coming up it worsened while he watched all the couples pairing up for the school event. He was supposed to be one of those people: a normal guy who could take his girlfriend to a simple school dance and give her the night of her life to the best of his advantage. Instead, he was sitting in the cafeteria watching the love of his life scan the room looking for him even though she did not realize it. Old habits die hard, right?
She finally found what she was searching for and as their eyes connected his held such longing, anguish, and desperation it made her heart skip a beat. Good, she thought contrary to what she was feeling. Every time their eyes met that is what happened. It only confused her further. How could he have said what he said and look that way? She knew she was not being completely rational. She knew she should hear him out, but she was stubborn and hurt. And even if they made up would anything change? It was not like they were on the best terms beforehand. Maybe it really was for the best and this was just the hard part where they had to get over each other, but in the end they would be happy because it was what was best for them. And maybe she should stop thinking.
Jules watched her friend searching and when her eyes filled with relief and disappointment she knew she had found him. She knew every day when it happened. Jonathan was sitting next to her bright as a light oblivious to what she was going through and talking to Mike. Stas never broke contact with his eyes across the room, only answering when someone called upon her. Mike kept Jonathan busy talking about surprise, surprise, sports. At one point Mike gave Jules' hand a slight squeeze, the pressure grabbing her attention. He looked over at her briefly with a smile. She enjoyed little things like that. If he was talking to someone else or doing something that did not have the attention on her he would give her a little squeeze or a nice brush of his fingertips accompanied by his winning boyish smile just to let her know that he was thinking about her or that he had not forgotten about her. The way he would catch her analyzing herself and sneak up behind her to place a little kiss on her shoulder or at the base of her neck. Or how they could sit quietly for long stretches of time, but still communicate through touches and glances. She just really enjoyed Mike Tyler.
Before too long, it was Friday for the high-schoolers and Stas and Ana found themselves getting ready for their night out. Jules had already donned her dress and was sitting in front of the mirror putting the final touches of make-up on. Stas was by the closet shimming into her dress. It was a retro hollow out hook flower skirted navy blue. The dress had a high rounded neckline that was sheer and lower down a thick lace started just above her breast. The bottom half of the skirt was also covered with the thick lace. The dress was tapered to her body in just the right way to follow the outline of her body.
Once the dress was on Stas she smoothed the material down her body and made sure everything was smooth. Lately, she had been doing that a lot, making sure that everything was perfect. Maybe she was over compensating for the turmoil that was going on everywhere else. She looked up into the full length mirror on the back of the door and took herself in. Her hair was wavy and seemed brighter than usual. She opted to do her make-up first so there was a thin barely there layer of navy eye shadow and mascara along with a rose pink lip tint. She felt okay.
The mirror shivered at the knock on the bedroom door. Barely a second later, the door opened revealing Jules' mother. She lit up at her little girl all dressed up.
"Oh your mother is always so disappointed when she misses these things. You look so pretty baby girl. Both of my girls look so pretty." She crooned.
Stas' pink mouth grew into a soft smile. "Thanks mommy," she pulled the woman into a hug as Jules stood up from her chair.
"You all presentable?" Dad called from the other side of the door. When the girls answered yes he entered. "Well don't you two look gorgeous." He hugged them both as the doorbell rang making Dad clap his hands together and rub them mischievously. "Showtime!" He started down the stairs with Mom trailing after him, a smile gracing her lips.
"Be nice to him!" Jules called.
The girls finished up and joined the rest of them downstairs a couple of minutes later. Mike was at the foot of the stairs with a black suit and a hot pink bowtie. He had an adorably goofy smile on as he watched her descend, just like in the movies. She reached him and tugged lightly on his bowtie, a small smirk on her mouth and her eyebrow raised. "Cute." She muttered, trying to cover up her glee with sarcasm. Stas could still tell that Jules was internally freaking out. She was not used to couple-y things. She never did the whole matching outfits or meet the parents thing or getting happy over small details that no one else noticed nor care about. Stas gave her a little push and Jules moved into Mike's arms. He laid a chaste kiss on her forehead for the sake of her parents.
"You look wonderful." He greeted Jules. When her parents shared a look he whispered, "and downright edible," into her ear before turning his attention to Stas leaving Jules flustered.
"Tease." She griped under her breath.
"You look very classy Stas," he added.
"Thank you," she smiled and gave him a little curtsy.
"Pictures!" Mom chimed.
"No." Jules groaned. "It's Winter Formal not Prom come on." She reasoned trying to avoid the fuss.
"What if you end up not going with Mr. Tyler?" Dad added.
"Mr. Gold I fully intend on being with your daughter at Prom." He said firmly, more aimed at Jules then Dad.
Jules took in a breath and fumbled with her dress.
Dad clapped Mike on the shoulder, "alright kid."
The doorbell rang again leaving everyone confused as to who it was. Stas went to open the door herself. Upon opening it her heart stopped. Darren stood on the other side in a white button up and navy dress pants. His hair was a little messed up like he'd been running his hand through it repeatedly. His face was scarred with anxiousness. Within seconds of opening the door, Stas turned on her heel and ran up the stairs.
"Anastasia!" Darren called after her.
He was hot on her heels sidestepping around Mike agilely. Just as she was closing the door he arrived putting his hand out to stop it. She struggled to close it futilely then gave up. He quietly slipped into the dark room, only the window provided any light. Her back was turned to him her head down her long hair in her face. He closed the door softly behind him. She turned to him; her eyes were red and glassy with unshed tears. Then she flung herself at him, slapping at him and her best attempts at shoving. He let her until the force became weaker and he took hold of her wrists. Her eyes shot to his with a wild and feral look as if she was a wounded animal being cornered. Her hair was everywhere and she did not even remotely look like she was in control of herself.
"Anastasia, look I know you're mad at me, but let me explain."
"I'm not mad at you," she sighed, "I'm-I'm, how do I express this? I'm sad at you Darren if that makes any sense."
"I know and I wish I could change it. Make it all go away. And I'm trying Anastasia believe me I am trying really hard." He pleaded his case.
"I bet you still can't tell me what's going on though. I can't do these lies Darren, that is not who I am. You know that." She said exasperated pulling her wrist from his hands and taking a step back.
"I do know that. I know you. You are just as unhappy as I am."
"No! You cannot play that card. You broke up with me." She reminded him.
"I did, but I did not mean it. Not in the way that you think. Anastasia please. Just let me take you out tonight. It is risking a lot, but I made a promise. And I love you." He begged. "And I miss you," he said lower as he took a step towards her.
She let him run his hands up her arms and push her hair away from her face. She let him wipe at the few tears that had escaped. Finally, she let him hold her in his arms and they felt just like home. And eventually, she even let their lips connect since what seemed like centuries ago for both of them.
When the couple emerged from the room everyone was still in their positions downstairs waiting. Everyone took note that Ana and Darren weren't holding hands, but they were very close, a lot closer that a few minutes ago. Mama, always being the intuitive one, clapped her hands together and declared that it was time to go or they would be late. Ana looked up at Darren once before stepping down the stairs; Darren took what he could get.
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R & R