In the evening, Carmen, Banks, and Cohen came to us. The boys carried guitars with them, which they leaned against the caravan. Carmen put the bags of food on the table.

"Fried chicken wings, breaded chicken thighs, French fries, Spicy potatoes," she said as she brought out the boxes one by one. "And, especially for Savi—two servings of onion rings!"

"You're great, Carmen!" I exclaimed and instantly lifted the lid and took one ring. "Mm!"

I heard giggles from around me as I chewed loudly. "Hey, don't laugh at me," I said, swallowing. "Do you know how delicious they are?"

"We know," Cohen confirmed. "It's kind of a specialty here." He finished with a chuckle.

"Then eat before I eat them all!" 

I reached into the box again and took out another ring, but this time I turned to Jayden and held it to his mouth. He bit off half, and I ate the other half. I licked my fingers afterward.

"Aww, look how cute they are," Carmen exclaimed.

I turned back to her with a slightly uncomfortable look while Jayden wrapped his arms around my waist. "Don't be jealous, Carmen," he told her jokingly.

"I'm not envious at all. Well, maybe..." She held her forefinger just above her thumb "...just a little bit."

We all laughed. Meanwhile, Banks, who had gone into the caravan, returned with five beers and handed one to each person.

"For Evelyn," we all said in unison, raising bottles aloft.

Cohen nodded to Jayden. "Let's light a fire."

The two of them went to the side of the caravan, stacked sticks on top of each other, and after around a few minutes, small flames were playfully bouncing and scattering orange light.

"Come on, girls." Banks picked up the two guitars, and we joined Jayden and Cohen.

They all sat down on the ground by the fire. I stood upright for a few seconds, contemplating whether to join the others on the grass. But I had already eaten with my fingers, hadn't I? Why not sit on the ground?

Jayden pulled me close, brushed my hair aside, and rested his chin on my shoulder. His arms encircled me.

"This was Evelyn's favorite song," Banks said, slinging the guitar strap over his shoulder.

The skin on my arms tingled when his fingers touched the strings. Every chord told a story. It created life. A whole world. A melody of fear. Melody of hope. A memory of the past, longing for the future.

A spark of love.

Under the endless night sky, a shower of stars. Shadows in the dark, defeated by the light. A tale told without words—a tenderness, out of reality.

A sound carrying a soul within itself.

A few minutes with goosebumps.

The guitar's tears continued to flow long after it fell silent.

"For Evelyn!" Jayden whispered.

"For Evelyn," we all repeated after him.

"Banks, that was amazing!" I said, still feeling like I was floating in the world his music had transported me to.

"Thanks, Savi," he replied.

"And this one is for Jayden and his girl," Cohen said as he slung his guitar over his shoulder too.

Jayden started laughing, resting his forehead on my shoulder.

"Dance! Dance! Dance!" Carmen and the boys began to shout as the music resumed.

"Well, how about a dance, stranger," Jayden whispered to my ear.

I turned to look at him, "I would love to."

He stood up and gave me his hand. As I stood up, I staggered, and we both nearly fell to the ground again. But Jayden held me back and wrapped his arms around me again. "Got you."

"And don't let me go," I told him.

We started dancing. Floating. The boys played, and Carmen sang along to the tune.

The booing around us was undoubtedly amusing—a little awkward, yet fun.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

"Are they always like this?" I asked Jayden, giggling.

"Almost always. Wait until you see them after four or five beers," he replied, looking at the empty bottles on the ground. "Let's please them, huh?"

I looked into his eyes, already craving the touch of his lips on mine.

We shared a long, beer-scented kiss.

"You're going to eat each other!" Cohen shouted at us.

Midnight came and went imperceptibly.

Then 1 a.m.

Then 2.

The hours flew by, and our emotions echoed in the courtyard. Laughter alternated with tears, which turned into laughter again.

Before I knew it, I had drunk three beers. The loss of coordination began to become apparent.

"I must have gotten dizzy with that beer," I whispered to Jayden, and we sat down on the ground again.

"Do you want to go to bed?"

"No. I'm fine."

"But I'm sleepy," Carmen interjected into our conversation, yawning. "Come on, guys, let's go."

Like soldiers obeying a command, Cohen and Banks rose and said goodbye. The three of them gradually merged with the darkness.

"Let's go to sleep, too," Jayden suggested, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I still feel like dancing," I replied.

I took a few steps back, looking into his eyes. I began to move slowly, removing my t-shirt. My body swayed from side to side.

The fire smoldered beside me, and the soft crackling of the sticks sang their song.

I placed a finger under my bra strap and slid it down my arm. Then the other one. "Will you join my dance, stranger?"

After discreetly unbuttoning my bra, it slid down my body until it hit the ground.

Jayden came close to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I arched back, resting my entire body on his arms. He held me with one hand and slid the other palm open from my stomach up to my neck. Warm lips kissed my chest.

I clamped my arms around his back, slowly standing up. There was no smile on his face; there was a fire in his eyes.

Continuing to move slowly, I turned my back, pressing it tightly against Jayden's body. One of his hands slipped under my jeans and began to rub between my thighs. The other grabbed my hair, slightly pulling my head back against his chest. His mouth traversed my neck.

"What are you doing to me, stranger?" he whispered hoarsely.

I undid my buttons, making more room for his hand, and placed a palm over it. "I want you."

His fingers slid into me.

I curled my arms behind my back, unbuttoning his jeans as well. My fingertips ran gently along his entire length.

"Savi." He turned me toward him, his movements growing wilder inside me.

We descended slowly to the grass, removing clothes on the way there.

***

May the 30th

Jayden and I didn't wake up until noon the next day when a knock on the door startled us awake.

"Charlie!" we shouted in unison.

We quickly put on clothes and opened the door.

The prom day had come. And we had promises to keep.

While Jayden made coffee, Charlie and I got to work.

She was so beautiful and didn't even need makeup or a fancy hairstyle. But my old self unleashed her skills to transform the girl from a shy Cinderella to an unseen beautiful princess.

"I so wish Evelyn could see me too!" Charlie mumbled softly, looking at herself in the mirror.

"She's looking at you, honey," I told her. "I'm sure she's watching you from heaven."

"Savi, I can't explain how much what you are doing means to me."

"I haven't done anything, Charlie. You are amazing, even without this dress. And if the boy you're in love with doesn't see it, then the loss is his." I stood behind her and put my hands on her shoulders. "But if this makeover gives you the confidence you need, then show everyone how much they underestimated you!"

She turned to me and hugged me tightly. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Now go and have fun! The evening is yours!"

We both walked out of the bathroom. Charlie spun around and kept looking at her dress.

I walked up to Jayden. "You look great!" I told him as I started to button up the white shirt that I'd made him buy. "Well, you're both done! Get going so you won't be late!"

After Charlie and Jayden took off, I went to see Carmen at the motel.

"Did Jayden and Charlie go?" she asked.

"Yes. You should have seen her. Literally a princess!"

"I am so happy for her!"

"Me too! Well, they are already on their way to school. After Jayden drives her, he will come back here."

"Great. So, if you're going to wait for him here anyway, do you mind filling in for me for a while? The boys and I will come straight to the caravan tonight."

"Okay, no problem. See you later."

After Carmen left, I looked at the clock—it was still 5 p.m. Two hours had been set aside for a photo shoot, after which the prom would start at 7 p.m.

So, I expected Jayden to be back soon.

I found an old newspaper on the desk and started doing a crossword puzzle while I waited.

After about an hour, I heard a motorcycle engine and ran outside.

"Where's your car?" I asked Jayden, laughing. "And the shirt?"

"I couldn't stand that shirt. I went through the caravan to change and get the bike."

"Okay. Wait for me to lock the door, and I'm coming."

I went back inside and locked the storage room. 

But as I stepped out onto the street again, a black SUV stopped in front of me.

My heart sank.

It was a Range Rover.

My Range Rover.

The driver got out and stood in front of me.

"Emilio?" I exclaimed, unable to believe my own eyes.

❤️ A/N ❤️

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