Chapter 7

                When Max brought me home, my mother was already asleep in bed. Max escorted me upstairs to my room, passing my mom’s by the way. She was sprawled out on her bed, snoring lightly from all the glasses of wine she had when Mr. Rosenfeld was over earlier tonight. My guess was that the only reason why she drank so much was to get her mind off of Colette.

                “How’s your knee?” Max finally asked me, as he sat me down on my bed, turning the lamp on my nightstand to get a better view of the deep, red gash below my kneecap.

                Max went over to grab a tissue, drying up the blood as I winced. “Still hurts.” I muttered.

                Cursing under his breath, Max left my room to go find a first aid kit. When he came back, he was already taking out cotton balls and dabbing them in some antiseptic. “This is going to sting.” He mumbled, before lightly cleaning my cut. I bit down on my lower lip from screaming at the immense pain, digging my nails into my palms. Once Max finished, he took out a bandage, wrapping it all over my knee.

                “Wear shorts so that you don’t put any pressure on the cut.” Max said, packing up the first aid kid.

                I frowned. “Shorts? What am I supposed to tell my mom if she asks why there is a huge gash on my knee?”

                Max groaned, as he ran a hand through his curly blonde locks. “Tell her the truth that you tripped over a tree branch while walking.”

                I raised an eyebrow, giving him a small smile. “You left out the part where we were running from the cops, in the woods.”

                That got Max to lighten up a bit, as a childish grin spread across his face. He got up on his feet, as he gave me a light peck on my forehead. “I’ve got to go now, okay?” he whispered, as he turned off the lights. “If you need anything, call me.”

                I gave him a light smile, but I was pretty sure he couldn’t see it in my dark room. I heard footsteps going down the stairs, and the front door to my house opening and closing. I sat up to look out the window, just to see Max pull out of my driveway. When I was sure he was gone, I laid back down on my bed, trying to get some sleep.

                But, the harder I tried to go to bed, the harder it was to fall asleep. I kept wondering if Everett had gotten caught by the police or not. My fingers were itching to call him, because I still had his number on my phone, memorized and on speed dial. But, every time I got up to reach for my phone, I ultimately chickened out, and tried to go back to sleep.

                At three in the morning, I was so close to falling asleep. But, before I could go off into a dreamless sleep, there was a soft thud pounding against my windows. I jolted awake, thinking it was a burglar at first. I quietly peered over to my window, just as another rock hit against the glass. I finally found a dark figure standing on my front lawn.

                When I looked closer, I noticed that it wasn’t just any random stranger; it was Everett.

                I let out a breath of relief, as I got up to go downstairs. As I walked, I couldn’t help but feel a jolt of pain in my knee, but I kept walking for Everett.

                When I opened the front door, Everett was already standing there. He was wearing the same clothes he had on a few hours ago, but his hair was disheveled and his eyes looked weak and tired.

                “What are you doing here?” I asked, closing the front door behind me, as I stepped out onto the front porch with Everett.

                “I was looking to see if you got locked up by the cops or not!” Everett snapped. “I spent two hours looking for you. Why didn’t you stick by me at the party? Where the hell did you even go?!”

                I stared up at Everett’s features, noticing that he was beyond pissed. What irritated me most was that he was putting all the blame on me. Clenching my fists by my sides, I glared up at him accusingly. “Weren’t you the one who told me that you wanted nothing to do with me?” I gritted through my teeth in a voice so low, I wasn’t sure if he could heard me correctly.

                Everett clenched his jaw, before he bit on his lower lip. His eyes glared into mine, as they finally made their way down to my bare legs. His eyes stopped at my bandaged left knee, as his features softened up. “How long have you had that?” he asked quietly.

                I shifted my weight onto my right leg, because the pressure I was putting on the other leg was hurting my knee. I sucked in a deep breath of air, before letting it all out with defeat. “Just a few hours ago.” I whispered.

                Everett blinked, as his face turned blank with no emotion. I stared at his face, mesmerized at how innocent he looked. For the past two years, I was so used to seeing that same scowl he had on his face, but tonight, for the first time, it was all gone. “What happened?”

                I licked my lips, shrugging. “I was running with Max in the woods, trying to get away from the cops. I ended up tripping on one of the logs.”

                Everything was so quiet, and the only thing I could hear was the sound of Everett’s breathing, rising and falling. “You’ve always been clumsy.” He finally said, without a hint of emotion.

                I stared up at him with surprise, obviously shocked that he remembered something about me. I couldn’t help but feel an ounce of hope. I snapped out of trance once Everett cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably by his feet. “I should go now.” Everett muttered.

                I bit my lips, nodding slowly. “Right.”

                Everett stared at me for a moment longer, before turning on his back. I watched as his figure went inside his car, driving off down the street. I didn’t know how fast my heart was beating until Everett was gone, as I held in my breath. I turned around, twisting the doorknob to go inside. When the doorknob wouldn’t budge, my eyes went wide.

                I locked myself out.

*

                All of the different colors of homecoming dresses were making my eyes sore.

                “Oh my gosh, look at this one!” one of Cassandra’s friends, Ginger, screeched. She held up a hideous magenta pink dress that was overly bejeweled. I scrunched my nose up in disgust at the ugly dress, but everyone else seemed to think that it was God’s creation.

                I groaned, leaning my head against the wall as I watched all of the girls run around the store with piles of dresses in their arms. I still couldn’t believe that Cassandra managed to convince me to come dress shopping with her and her friends.

                “Riley, cooperate!” Cassandra hissed, examining a mint green dress that was on a rack nearby me. “You’re going to need a dress for homecoming, too.”

                “What? You mean I can’t show up in jeans?” I asked sarcastically. Cassandra shot me a look, before grabbing my arm. She dragged me towards a rack of pastel colored dresses, making me cringe.

My knee had gotten better over the weekend, and I was able to walk without limping anymore. Surprisingly, my mother believed the lie I told her about my knee when she asked.

                “What about cherry red?” Cassandra wiggled her eyebrows, holding up a short and tight red dress.

                I gagged, as I shook my head. Cassandra rolled her eyes, looking through the rack, until she pulled out a light, creamy pink dress. “What about this?” she asked.

                I held the dress in my hands, actually considering it. The dress wasn’t too dramatic of a color, and it wasn’t skinny mini tight, either. “It’s actually,” I paused, thinking of the perfect word to describe the dress, “decent.”

                Cassandra gave me a bland stare, before she let out a chuckle. “Come on, you.” She muttered, pulling me into the dressing rooms. “Let’s try on our dresses!”

                When I got into the dressing room, I stripped out of my clothes to try on my dress. When I finally zipped it up, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the sight of my reflection.

                The neutral pink made my skin look smooth, and gave me an innocent aura in contrast with my brown locks. It had a sweetheart neckline, and the tight bust was decorated with an array of sequins. Below the waist, the chiffon material of the dress flowed down just above my knees.

                I would be lying if I said I didn’t love the dress.

                “Riley? Are you finished?” Cassandra asked from outside of my dressing room. “Let me see!”

                I hesitantly stepped out, as I spotted Cassandra, already in her violet purple dress. I gawked when I saw how beautiful she was in her dress, that was strapless with crystal detailing on the chest, and cinched at the waist. The bottom was puffed in a bubble styled skirt, and went a few inches above the knees.

                “That’s the dress for you!” Cassandra gasped. “It’s perfect!”

                My eyes widened, as the two of us turned in front of the full length mirror. “Do you see yourself?” I asked. “You look so good!”

                Cassandra turned to me, as a grin spread across her rosy pink lips. “Do you think these are our dresses?”

                “Yes.” I said, never so sure about something in my life. “Remind me to tell Max to wear a purple tie to match your dress at homecoming!”

                Cassandra’s eyes widened, as her cheeks turned bright red. “How did you know-“

                “Because he has a thing for you, too.” I cut her off, nudging her elbow. Cassandra blushed, as she bit on her lower lip from smiling.

                Suddenly, one of the dressing room doors swung open. One of Cassandra’s friends pushed us out of the way, as she admired herself in the mirror. “Don’t you think I look totally fabulous?” Ginger asked, twirled around in her fuchsia pink dress that barely covered her butt.

                “Isn’t it going to be hard dancing in that dress?” Cassandra asked, noticing how the dress looked like it was going to suffocate Ginger.

                Ginger snickered, rolling her eyes. “No, honey!” she placed a manicured hand on Cassandra’s shoulder. Leaning in towards us, she said in a hushed voice, “It’s not going to be hard to dance if all you’re going to do is grind.” She winked, before turning back to the mirror.

                My eyes widened, as I turned to Cassandra, who looked like she just got cursed.

*

                “Mom?” I called out once I got home from shopping with Cassandra later that day. “I’m home!”

                My mother, who was making some salad in the kitchen, turned around. She smiled when she saw the shopping bag I had in my hands. “What did you get? That’s a big bag.” She commented, washing her hands, as she made her way over to where I was.

                I pulled out my new dress, as my mother’s eyes widened. She let out a laugh of disbelief, as her fingers went over to the hem of the dress to feel the material. “This is gorgeous.”  She sighed, before she looked up at me with teary eyes. “You know Colette wore a dress like this back when we were in high school?”

                I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Didn’t you guys use to wear disco dresses and tease your hair?”

                My mother wiped her moist eyes, before staring up at me with an unimpressed face. She let out a laugh, as she rolled her eyes. “We aren’t that old, hon.”

                I smiled, as I stared at my mother. “I know, mom. I’m just messing with you.”

                My mother let out a weak laugh, before she held the dress up in front of me. “Colette won prom queen in her senior year wearing a dress very similar to this. Except, I think her dress was full length.”

                “Really?” I asked, suddenly interested. “Who was the prom king?”

                My mother snorted, giving me a bland look. “Who else, Riley?”

                I grinned, as my mother went on to admire my dress. “Mr. Rosenfeld.” I whispered under my breath, as my mother caught what I said, biting back a smile.

                My mother finally let go of my dress, stuffing it back neatly into my bag. “I’m making salad, if you want to come down later for a snack.” My mother said, as she went back to chopping those ripe tomatoes that were sitting on the cutting board.

                “Okay!” I called out. I ran up to my room, hanging my dress in the closet so it wouldn’t get any wrinkles before homecoming. Afterwards, I reached over for my phone, speed dialing Max.

 “Riley?” Max spoke through the phone. “What’s up?”

                I lay down on my bed, staring up at my ceiling. “I went dress shopping with Cassandra earlier today.”

                I could practically hear Max snorting on the other line. I laughed, as I pictured Max rolling his eyes. “Really, Riley? Tell me, did you find a satin hot pink dress?” he asked sarcastically, before letting out a chuckle. “Okay, but seriously, why do I care?”

                “I’m just calling you because I know what color dress Cassandra is going to wear.” I asked in a teasing tone.

                I heard Max clear his throat, trying his best not to sound too eager. “Oh, what color?” he asked in a suddenly low voice.

                “Cotton candy pink with orange polka dots!” I squealed, as I heard Max cringe on the other line.

                “R-really?” he stuttered. I let out a misfit of laughter, before I heard Max groaning on the other line. “Ha ha, funny Riley.”

                “Okay, but in all honesty, she is wearing a purple dress.” I told him once my laughter died down.

                “Purple.” Max repeated, as I heard the sound of Max rummaging through his drawers. “Okay, I have a purple tie.”

                “Aw, Max is going to the dance with matching colors as Cassandra?” I teased. “But you haven’t even asked her to the dance yet!”

                “I-I don’t even like her!” Max lied right through his teeth.

                I rolled my eyes, plucking a loose strand from my comforter. Even through the phone, I could tell by Max’s tone that he was lying. His voice got all high and everything he says ends up sounding like a question. “Whatever, Max.” I smirked. “I guess I won’t tell you what she said about you today.”

                “Wait, Riley!” Max called out on the other line. “Don’t hang-“

                I hit the red end button.

Thanks for all of the votes and comments!

OH AND I NEVER GOT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR GETTING ME INTO THE WATTYS FOR DON'T GIVE UP! hugs and kisses to all of you for that <3

And can we all stop calling Everett a massive dick already? Like, I know he's a jerk to Riley, but he's going to get better throughout the story. Just think about what position he's in, his mother died.