Its homecoming day, October 20th the day I've been waiting for and the only thing I can think about is my parents. I was starting to drive Henry mad with all the theories, "We've got dead end after dead end when are we going to give up?" Thats not the spirit.

"I'm not a quitter."

"Have you ever thought to ask Jasmine?" He asked putting his suit up next to my dress.

I looked up at him and frowned, "Why would I ask my ex's mom dirty little secrets about my family?"

He shrugged plopping down next to me, "You two are close right? She might just tell you if you ask."

"Its not that easy," I sighed staring at my dress still on a clothing rack, Vera, Ava and Isabell will be here soon so we could all get ready together and have Raegan do our hair.

"Wouldn't hurt to try."

"How would I even bring it up?"

"You are so awkward," he groaned. "Just talk to her like how you talk to me."

"Its not that easy."

"All I'm hearing is complaining," he scolded me.

"Fine I'll ask her tomorrow are you happy?" What made things worse was that I left she said she understood but that she'd miss me.

"Ecstatic," he gave me a mocking smile. "Now can we put this behind us tonight and actually have some fun?" He raised a brow getting up and holding out his hand, "I dont go to dances for just anyone," he pursed his lips.

"Of course," I gave him a weary smile putting my hand in his as he pulled me forward and twirled me around. "Fare warning I step on toes," I warned as we heard Ava, Isabell and Vera talking with Raegan. It's show time.

I dont often take the time to stare in the mirror (mostly because the longer I look the worse my complexion gets) but I was breath taken. Ava had put on mink lashes and a beautiful nude lip, Raegan curled my hair and stuck tiny pearls in them to match my white lace trims on the dress.

Ava wore a beautiful red strapless gown and Isabelle and Vera decided to dress in black sleek short dresses, we looked amazing but Henry looked even better. "Put a guy in a suit and he looks a like a dream boat," Vera said which meant a lot because Vera was never one to blush over boys.

"Looks are deceiving," Ava said bitterly as we looked out of the shop window at Erin and Henry.

"Okay Ava I love you and all but you need to get over this grudge he's our friend and things would be much smoother if you let loose on him," Isabell said. Usually she never spoke up to Ava none of us did except for Vera and when she yelled at us we listened.

"I still like him," we all knew that. "I guess thats just my way of dealing with my feelings."

We all huddled up to Ava, "Just talk to him," I said. "You two could always be friends look at how well that worked out for us, started a bit rough but we found our footing."

Ava eyed me, "Something tells me theres always been more then just friendship there," the girls all nodded in agreement. "But I know you dont like him," she smiled.

"Right," I put on a smile, didnt I like him though? even though I didnt get nervous around him anymore the attraction was there and it grew in secret day by day. I didnt know how much longer I could push it away but I knew I had to not just for Ava but for Lucas and myself. I had to stop falling and start soaring.

Before we got ready to get into the limo Avas parents rented, Dixie was waiting for me on the corner in her usual black attire and snarky smile, "You look like a princess," Dixie grinned as she scanned me. "So different," she said touching my curled hair, "You look so dainty."

I did a twirl picking up my light blue dress as it spun around me the white lace underneath the dress peaking through at the bottom. "I figured I'd go out with a bang plus I'm on the ballot for home coming queen, Lucas and I were running together before he left..." and there was that ball of sadness tugging at my heart.

"That's what I came to talk about," she said crossing her arms unable to look at me now. "You should know the real reason Lucas left."

I took a step back trying to gain my balance, "What are you talking about?" More secrets more lies when will it be enough?

"Your mom found him walking around the streets at night all pilled out, she told him he was basically a piece of shit and he was holding you back. That night he came to the bar and he couldn't stop talking about it, how much he loved you," she said meeting my eyes he's never said that to me. He never said Marisol I am in love with you, why? "You should know if I didnt care I wouldn't have told you this but I think you deserve the full truth, with him at least. He was doing what he thought was best for everyone, classic Luc," I left almost disturbed.

"Why didnt he just come to me?"

"So you could hate your mom even more?" She had a point, "I'm worried about him its been two weeks he should have been back by now right?"

I just shook my head feeling a bit sick of course my mother would run him away she couldn't stand that we were together for her own selfish reasons. "I have to go," I said clearing my throat and turning away.

"He could be dead in a ditch, dont you care?" She called out but I kept walking to the limo blocking out the entire conversation, he still left that didnt change what happened. There was nothing we could do at least not until he comes back and even then how could I ever trust him again? When troubles rise your first thought shouldn't be flight it should be to fight and I want to feel special to at least one person and I was nothing close to that, not to him. I couldnt waist my heart and energy on a guy who wouldnt accept it not when there was someone out there who would. He would always have my heart though and thats where I might fall.

........................................................................................................................................................

I was in the spirits, before my chat with Dixie so I sat on a tiny table... alone. Watching my friends dance, kiss and just be young there was so much love in the air tonight but also sadness. For some this was the last homecoming, October 20th the last first dance. Soon we'll be cleaning out our lockers, throwing out our binders and saying goodbye...

"You really need to get out here," Ava said breathlessly. "You look like a damn goddess and you are acting like a peasant who lost their town village."

Havn't we lost a lot though? I looked out into the crowd and Henry was dancing with a cute little blond Ive never noticed before she seemed like a sweet girl. I almost envied the way she looked at him and I hated myself for it Henry was only here till the end of the school year he should be having crushes, flings whatever he wanted. "I'm actually going to go out and smoke a cigarette."

"You only smoke when you're drinking," she accused I raised my brows as if I was saying "you got it!"

"Ill be fast, promise," before hearing her motherly advice I scurried off into the pool of in love teens groping each other as they dance. How romantic I thought as I watched a girl slide her hands over her partners crotch giving him a sly smile.

The fresh air was nice, it was so hot and stuffy in there I was also getting irritated with the five inch clear heels Vera pressed me into wearing. "Want a hit?" A girl beside me asked handing me a joint. "Its good stuff I promise."

"You're the Adams girl right? The one with the pet rats?" I heard she let them sleep with her, I laughed to myself taking the joint.

"You're that south side rich girl right?" She said sarcastically I guess I deserved that... "Can't escape the rumors," she was right about that one though mine were more or less true. "Is your friend Isabell single?"

I handed her back the joint after taking a few hits, "You're into Izzie?" Didnt see that coming everyone knew Alice played for both teams but no on ever really noticed Isabell. "I'm not sure if she even likes girls."

"Oh she does," Dixie said the same thing... "She's always looking at me but when I talk to her she acts mute," sounded like Isabell with a crush. How could I not have known? Was I really that tangled up into my own life I couldnt tell my closest friend liked girls?

"She's on the market," I said oddly still washing the concept over and outing my cigarette.

She scribbled something down on a notepad she took out of her purse and handed me the folded up piece of paper, "Just give her this would you?" She asked. She wasnt really in a dress you'd call "formal" but I liked the body straps she added to the skater red dress and fishnet stockings, different.

"Sure, I'm actually heading back in now..." I didnt know what else to say, "Did you want to hang with us?"

She scuffed giving me a weird look, "No thanks."

I walked off back to the dance my mind still stuck in the gutters, when I got back inside of the gym I couldnt find Henry or the girls. I went back the the small circled table and sat down, we still had another hour of this dance and I was already getting tired. "Attention everybody," my head popped up to the stage where Henry stood a guitar in hand, "For the next hour I will be hosting the rest of homecoming," an eruption of applause. "The uh first song I'll be playing is for a good group of friends of mine," Vera then came into view through the crowd walking over to me with a goofy smile on her face. "We just want everyone here to know that you're loved no matter what and this is one life with countless moments, Make it count," he said looking at me as Vera held out her hand.

"Come on silly you cant not dance for a song that's dedicated to us," she beamed down at me. "I know things havnt gone as planned but we're here to show you that you mean the world to us," I watched as Ava and Isabell gave me a little wave in the background.

With tears at the edge of my eyes I watched Henry start to sing and the crowd start to jump up and down. I took Veras hand and we danced as we did at every other dance, wild and careless. "I'm sorry Ive been such a shit friend," I said.

She didnt say anything for a moment as we twirled around each other like silly kids, "Dont be mad but Ralph told me about what you guys have been doing, thats a lot Mar why would you even want to know? It'll only upset you whatever it is."

I gulped at least she wasnt mad I tried hiding it from her, "I just need to know or it'll eat me up I'm tired of being in the dark I'm going to be eighteen in a couple of weeks I have the right to know who my parents were."

"Shouldn't all that matters is who they are today?"

"Wouldn't you want answers?" She didn't say anything so I looked over to Henry who was glowing on stage as he sang a smile on his face.

"I guess you make a point," she wrinkled her button nose. Once the song ended Henry switched to something more vintage, "I'll let you go hype your boy up he's looking for ya," she teased, I kissed her on the cheek and pushed through the crowd to the front so he could see me clearly. I jumped up and down pumping my fists in the air to the song "Footloose" odd choice of song but the crowd loved it and I loved him.

Meeting Henry was one of the highlights of this year out of all the madness, he was a whole new world in the palm of my hands and he felt the same about me. We learned from each other, a day wouldnt go by that we wouldnt at least talk on the phone or see each other it was sad it tool Lucas leaving for me to discover how good we were with each other.

Vera is my main, I lover her to pieces and she carries my heart in her hands but Henry and I were Kindred Spirits. Not often do I feel okay saying what I think all the time and with Henry it all just comes out, He made me think and see things differently. Truth is I'd be at home right now crying in my bed, instead I'm here, dancing and supporting someone who means the world to me. And thats all that matters, right now.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(Song henry played for Mar)