🐞MTOABB🐞

I never did respond to him that night and Chloe never pushed for a conversation on that topic. I was as confused as the rest of you - why now? It just didn't make any sense. First he wanted me to be his girlfriend so suddenly then he uttered those words - he bravely uttered those words when he knew how much they mean to me.

"I love you."

He said it so effortlessly, and my body reacted to it without my consent.

"Are you ready to go shopping?" Chloe asks, popping her head in the creak of the door.

It was prom week for her so there was no way that I was going to make this about me. I jump out of bed and follow right behind her down the stairs.

"Did your father send you money?" Mom asks her. She was busy in the kitchen brewing her afternoon coffee.

"Yeah, he did. We'll see you a bit later on tonight, mom."

"Is shopping going to be that long?" She raises her eyebrow.

"We'll stop by Prinse's house for a few hours or so," Chloe tells her and mom nods in approval.

We jump into Chloe's car and drive off to the city. She didn't want to go to the boutique in our hometown because most of the girls would be shopping for their dresses there. There were probably going to be six girls at prom with the same dress but perhaps a different colour if they're lucky.

"What dress colour do you have in mind?" I ask her as she pulls up at the boutique store.

"Lavender?"

"Are you asking or telling me?" I ask her. The sign said open so we pulled the door back and entered.

"I'm unsure."

"I think lavender would look so beautiful on you," I tell her.

She tried on a few princess dresses and then some fitted ones.

"What are you thinking?" She turns to look at me.

"You look like a bombshell, exactly what we need you looking at that night. We will need to take a snap for Brody." I winked and she threw her head back in laughter.

She bought the fitted corset dress with the dangerously low back in lavender. A pricey swipe if I don't say so myself. She didn't have enough money left for the matching heels and purse. She was getting ready to whine so I took my credit card out and paid for it. It wasn't for free, nothing is so when we do get home, I will need my money returned in full.

It was already getting a bit too late so we climbed into the car and rushed to Prinse's house. I was readying myself for the awkwardness that will be in the air the moment he opens the door.

I rang the doorbell and Chloe decided to knock right after. I gave her a stare and just then the door opened. It wasn't him.

"Finally you come to visit after so long," she says, taking a step back to let us in. I'm not too sure if she was talking about me but there was no need to put too much thought on it. "You could have to visit me," Chloe answers her.

"Fair enough," Jordan admits. They go in for a bear hug and I quietly walk around them. I wasn't sure if Jordan disliked me or not but from what I have gathered, I might be her least favourite person.

I spot Cassandra sitting on the couch so I join her. "Where's Gomes?" I ask.

"Not even a 'hi' first?" She turns to me offended.

"Sorry. If it makes you better, I was asking because I don't want to see him."

"You still haven't said 'hi', Rossita," she says firmly and turns to stare at her attentively.

"Right, sorry. Hi."

"You're not forgiven for that," she says, but she couldn't hold it in as she let a smile creep from her lips.

He ended up coming downstairs and we all gathered around the firepit in the backyard.

"Anyone want to make some smores?" He asks and everyone shakes their head affirmatively. His voice was gruff - shows how much I was paying attention to everything he was doing. At one point he licked his lips and then scratched his eyebrow with his thumb.

Conversations around the firepit were going as pleasantly as any conversation should, but him and I hadn't spoken directly. Our eyes met once or twice, but I was the first to look away. I wasn't sure what game he was playing at or if he was even playing any game.

"Prinse should take Chloe as his date to the prom," Jordan says facetiously out loud. I am ready to break a wall or perhaps her face. Violence is not the answer, Rossita! Gomes turns to capture my stare but I don't give him the pleasure, not right now when I'm planning on how to get away with killing his older sister? I should perhaps use cling film plastic wrap and have her rolled in it.

I was jealous, but instead of giving him the satisfaction of reacting, I pushed it to the side. Gomes hadn't asked me to be his date and I wasn't going to push it. And it really wouldn't be that bad of an idea for him to go with my sister. Friendly fun and plus it's their night, I shouldn't try to take that away from them.

Our curfew had already passed. Chloe excused herself to the restroom and everyone stood to get inside. He grabbed me by my wrist to stay behind.

"Hi," I say, turning to look at him for the third time this evening.

"Hi?" He asks with a smirk.

"I don't know what else to say," I admit honestly. It's not as if I was getting self-conscious around him, he has practically seen me naked.

He shrugs, puts his hands in his pocket as he stands there staring at me. "I really want to see that ladybug tattoo of yours." His eyes had narrowed down my body and I squirmed in response.

He was basically saying he wanted to see my butt - naughty Gomes. That weirdly brought a smile to my face.

"You should go with Chloe to prom," I tell him after seconds of intense staring between the two of us.

"Is this a trick question?" He asked me.

"No. I was livid when Jordan mentioned it, but I gave it some thought and it doesn't sound like a bad idea at all," I say and he hums in response as if he wasn't taking me seriously.

"I'm serious," I tell him.

"Okay." He takes a step towards me with his hands still in his pocket.

"But I don't think she likes me."

"Who? Jordan?" He asks and I nod.

"You reckon?"

"Yes, the way she goes out of her way just to make me uncomfortable."

"Don't take her seriously." His hands were now wrapped around my waist. He pulled me closer and leaned in. I put my hand on his lips to stop them from touching mine. "Have you told her?" I ask him.

"Shit," he says up against my hand, and that answers everything for me.