The next day after school Nat, Maru and I go to the mall.

"What do you guys think about this one?" I ask as I go out.

Nat and Maru give me a look.

"What?" I ask.

"No offense but these dresses you're picking kind of look like nun clothing," says Maru.

I groan as I look at myself in the mirror, studying the dress.

"I just don't want people to get the wrong idea when they see us together."

"Why not?" asks Nat.

"What do you mean why not? We're talking about Aaron Reeves here," I point out.

"Hm," comments Maru. She stands up from the chair she was sitting on and begin looking through the rack of dresses on the side.

"I think Nat has point though," Maru says, not turning to look at us but rather continues to look through the dresses. "Aaron Reeves has a plan, now so do you."

She grabs a dress and brings it over to me.

Cautiously I take the dress.

"What's my plan?"

Maru smiles. "You're going to homecoming hot as hell. And before you object, no its not to impress Aaron Reeves. Its to show him what he missed out on the moment he fell for your 'bad boys aren't romantic' trap. And its to show Giana that you're not scared of no puta. Besides I know her kind. My sister is her age. That girl says she hates Aaron Reeves but I bet you the moment she sees you two together she'll come crawling back, and not only that she'll feel more intimidated by you than ever. And eventually she'll quit her Instagram posting shit."

"Damn Maru, that's some plan. I didn't even get that far in mine," says Nat impressed.

Maru shrugs with a smile. "I've been watching too many novelas recently. Gotta use them to my benefit somehow. Now try that on," she tells me.

I nod and take the dress with me back to the dressing room.

I end up getting the dress, Maru complimenting me while at it. Nat and Maru also look for dresses for them but Nat decides she'll wear a dress she already has. Maru on the other hand buys three dresses, all of which she loved too much, giving her a dilemma because she cannot decide which one to wear.

When I get home my mom in sitting in the living room. She's on the couch facing the television. Her hand is clicking continuously on the remote as she goes through Netflix.

"Hi," I say to her as I enter the living room and set down my bag.

"Oh hi," she says glancing at me briefly, "where's Sage?"

"Dad's," I tell her.

My mom and dad got divorced five years ago. It was something that Sage and I could sense would happen even before it did. The reality of it is that they stopped loving each other; simple as that.

As bad as it sounds I think it was for the best. My parents weren't good together, maybe once they were but they haven't been in a while.

"Oh," she says, "That's right."

Mom hasn't been the same since the divorce. She's not love sick nor is her heart aching. She's just lonely. I often feel bad for her.

"Do you have any homework?" She asks me.

"Just a few," I respond whilst nodding my head.

"Okay, finish it and then I'll order some Chinese, deal?"

"Sounds good," I tell her and get up and grab my bag before making my way to my room.

I plop myself on my bed and lay there for a while--procrastinating--before finally getting up to start my homework.

While finishing my physics homework I can't help but grab my phone and go into Instagram. I search for Giana and click on her latest posts. I let out a sigh, annoyed, knowing this all started because of me.

I turn my head and stare at the bag in which the homecoming dress I bought is in.

"This better be worth it," I mutter to myself before putting down my phone and grabbing my pencil.

"Homecoming is only two days away, don't forget to get your tickets."

It is lunchtime, I am currently going through my locker, searching for my English notebook. In front of the entrance of the cafeteria are three girls seated in front of a table, selling homecoming tickets.

"Hurry I'm hungry," whines Nat.

"I don't know where I left it," I admit annoyed.

"Seriously?" Maru says.

"I swear I had it with me a couple days ago," I say.

"Lux," says Nat urgently.

"I know," I say, "You're hungry. Just give me a second, I know I had it."

"Had what?"

I look away from my locker and turn my attention to the one and only Aaron Reeves.

"What are you doing here?" I question defensively.

He gives me a knowing smile and holds up one finger as if telling me to wait. He opens his bag and takes out the notebook I was looking for.

"It was in Bianca's car," he tells me and hands it out.

I take my hand out to grab it but he pulls it away immediately. The action itself has caused my mood to go sour almost instantly.

"Do you ever smile?" he asks me.

"I'm not in the mood," I tell him, "can I please have my notebook now?"

He raises and eyebrow at me.

"It seems to me like your never in the mood lately."

"Not since the moment you've started bothering me," I retort but he only laughs.

"Here," he says and grabs my hand without warning and places my notebook in my hand.

"Thanks," I respond sarcastically.

"You're welcome," he says, ignoring my tone and grins at me.

I roll my eyes at him.

"Lux," he says.

"What?"

"Don't forget to buy your homecoming ticket, I hear they're kinda pricey."

"Buy it?"

"Yeah," he says, "you agreed to go with me."

"Yes," I say, "and the whole point of asking someone to homecoming is that you get to buy my ticket as well."

"Says who?"

"Seriously?"

"I only asked you to go with me. Not once did I say I would buy your ticket."

"Then I'm not going."

"You already agreed."

"I know I did," I reply, "and I will go with you but you must buy my ticket."

"Must?" He questions with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes," I say, "you want to prove you're not an asshole but are romantic or whatever shit, then buy my ticket."

"How does that prove--"

"It shows you're a gentlemen. Now go do it."

Aaron frowns.

"Fine," he mutters.

He struts over to the girls with the tickets.

"Two tickets," I hear him say and then his voice gets louder. "One for me and one for my beautiful date Lux Callaghan."

The fact that he had to make buying our tickets something as dramatic as that makes me roll my eyes. Lately he's all about grand gestures and getting everyone's attention. I know exactly why he's doing. It's not because he's changed; it's because he wants others to think he has.

The girls give him the tickets and walks over to me with a smirk on his face.

"For you," he says and hands me the ticket.

"Thanks, bye."

I turn away from him and motion for Nat and Maru to walk with me.

"Hold up," says Aaron.

"What?" I bellow and look at him.

"What time should I pick you up on Saturday?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Be ready at seven. And don't be late. Nothing pisses me off more than people who can't be on time."

I give him a look before walking away from him.

Seven it is.

"Damn," says Maru from behind me, "that boy is bien necio."

Nat gives her a questioning look.

"Sorry," replies Maru after seeing our confused looks, "the Spanglish comes out of me so frequently it's hard to stop. What I'm saying is that I don't think this is a joke for him. He won't stop until he gets what he wants. Are you sure you're prepared for that Lux?"

"I hope," I respond and then sigh, "let's just get lunch, okay?"

They both nod and we make our way to the cafeteria.

I have a feeling Homecoming is just the beginning of my problems rather than the end.

Hey guys. I'm so so so SO sorry this is taking longer than expected to update. I've been really busy lately. But fear not, I have not forgotten about this story. Thank you all for reading this and giving it the amazing support you have. It means so much to me. I love you all so much 💗

Update coming asap, I swear.