Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ren

Austin Lancer is my boyfriend. Holy Cow! I can't believe it. The guy who I have been stressing about at the beginning of the school year is now my boyfriend. Huh. Totally unexpected and not called for.

I drop my jaw at the screen. "H-how?" I stutter and turn to Austin.

He smirks at me smugly. "3-0, what can I say? I'm awesome at FIFA." He shrugs.

Travis narrows his eyes at Austin. "You barely played. I scored all three goals." Austin elbows Travis and he winces. "Or you were awesome at it."

Austin grins. "That's right."

I put the controller on the ground, sighing. "I give up." I turn to Travis. "Where's Adam?"

He rolls his eyes. "On a date with Alanna," his voice so irritated. "I haven't talked to the guy in two days."

I shrug. "They're a new couple, aren't they? They need time to adjust with one another as a new couple. Just give it a week or two."

"A week?" he gapes.

"Or two," Austin adds chuckling.

Travis glares at him. "Easy for you to say. You and Ren just got together a week ago."

"What about Megan?" I cock my head at the side. "Why won't you ask her?"

Travis blush. Yes, he blushes. He rubs the back of his neck before running his hands through his hair. Austin rolls his eyes at shy Travis. "He's too much of a chicken to ask her out," he tells me.

I raise my eyebrows at Travis. "You? A chicken? No way." I tease.

He glares at me. "I'm no chicken."

I cross my arms. "Then prove it."

He sighs, "I need an idea of how to ask her."

I remember the time Austin asked me. It was at the cliff decorated with Christmas lights and roses. I smile before shaking my head, getting back to reality.

"Take her to place that means something to the both of you," I say. "Ask her there."

He nods slowly, contemplating what I suggested. "Yeah, I think I know a place."

Austin claps his hands. "Great!" he shoos Travis up to his feet. "Now go and plan, chicken."

"I'm not a chicken!"

"Bye!" Austin shuts the door in front of Travis. He turns around and looks at me. "I need to ask you something."

I gulp. What is it? "What?"

He approaches me and takes my hand in his. He brings it up top his mouth and kisses it. "My parents are inviting for dinner tonight. A tiny celebratory dinner for Amanda."

I cock my head at the side, "Do I have to wear something fancy?"

He presses his lips into a thin line and I frown. "Can I reuse what I wore to that-"

"Long dresses aren't necessary," he quickly says.

"Oh." I blink. "Then great! I'll just wear one of my casual dresses."

He shakes his head. "You need a cocktail dress."

I sigh. "Then I'll borrow Megan's."

He narrows his eyes at me. "I don't think her dresses are appropriate for fancy dinners."

He's right. Megan's dresses are more for parties, definitely not fancy dinners.

I groan in frustration. "Then what? What do I wear? I don't want to spend another dime on an expensive dress I might use only once."

"Amanda told me that she's treating you today," he says nonchalantly. "So go and spoil yourself today."

My jaw drops. "Seriously? I don't want her to, Austin."

He cups my cheek and kisses my forehead. "She wants to. And she hasn't been able to do anything she wanted for the past years. Let her do this for you, Ren. For her."

I sigh. How can I refuse? Austin's right (which is practically a first). If I was in a coma for a couple of years and one day woke up, I'd love to do whatever it was I wanted to do. And for Amanda, it's to take me shopping for a Lancer's family dinner.

I shrug. "If she really wants to, then I'm okay with it."

He grins and kisses me on the cheek, catching me off guard. My eyes widen. "Thank you," he leans back and his expression changes when he sees mine. "What?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. You just caught me off guard."

He smiles down at me and I blush. I bring my hands up to my face and cover my cheeks. He grabs my hands and drop them. "Don't cover your face. You're beautiful."

I blush tomato red and keep my head down. Austin chuckles lightly. "She'll be here in 10. I'd get ready if I were you," he says before plopping on his bed and opening a book.

I look down at my shorts and tank top. I frown. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?" I ask him.

He looks at me blankly. "It's too revealing," he says nonchalantly.

I roll my eyes. I go through my dresser and grab a hoodie. I wave it in the air. "I'm putting a hoodie on and that's it."

He narrows his eyes at me. "Don't you have leggings somewhere in there?" He wiggles his index finger at my dresser.

I bite my lip. "Nope," I lie.

He frowns. "I know when you lie, Ren. Come on. Put on some leggings."

I sigh in defeat before grabbing a pair of leggings and changing inside the bathroom. I walk out in leggings and a hoodie. I look at Austin and he's still frowning at me. "What now?" I groan in frustration.

"Why didn't you change out here?" He gestures to the dorm.

I furrow my brows. "Why would I?"

He shrugs. "We're together now so shouldn't we not be shy of ourselves?"

Where is he going with this? I shake my head. "I know what you're trying to do, Lancer."

He smirks. "And what would that be, Harper."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You want me to strip in front of you," I state.

He fake gasps. "What. I do not-"

My phone starts to ring and it's Amanda. "Save it, Lancer. Your sister's here," I jog to his side and kiss his cheek, also catching him off guard. "I'll see you later."

**

"How about this one?" Amanda raises a light blue cocktail dress. I cringe at the ruffles and shake my head. Amanda goes through the rack once more and picks out two dresses. She hands them both to me. "Try these on." She smiles before shooing me.

I walk in the fitting room and close the curtains shut. I strip out of my clothes and put on the first dress. The first dress is a bright red cocktail dress that's tight around my torso but flows from my waist to my knees. Its long sleeves are lace and a big heart-shaped hole down the middle of my chest, exposing my cleavage.

I walk out of the fitting room and find Amanda scanning one of the racks. She hears me exit and she turns to look at me. "Wow." She says.

I raise my eyebrows at her. "Too bright?" I ask.

She shakes her head and slowly pushes me back in. "More like too revealing," she says. "We have to keep those goodies hidden from my parents."

She closes the curtains and I strip out of the red dress and put on the second one. The second cocktail dress has a skin tone base color with navy blue lace all over. Its off-shoulder and its sleeves end right above my elbows and a thin navy blue belt around the waist to top it off.

I walk out and Amanda looks at me in awe. She puts her hands in her mouth as she stares at me. She twirls her hand in a circle. "Spin," she says and I do as I'm told.

"Well?"

"Well? It's perfect!" she claps her hands. She pulls out her phone and checks the time. Her eyes widen. "Go change back to your clothes. We've got to hurry. We still have to do your makeup and hair."

I furrow my brows. "What about your hair and makeup?"

She looks at me with the same look. Then she raises her eyebrows, realizing something. "By we, I meant the makeup and hair stylist I called. They're already waiting at your dorm."

My jaw drops. "Seriously?"

She chuckles lightly at my reaction before shooing me back in. "Go!"

I hastily strip out of the dress and hand it to Amanda before changing back to my clothes. Once I'm out of the fitting room, Amanda has already paid for my dress. She hands me the coat hanger that contains my dress.

I smile at her. "Thank you so much," I tell her.

She waves her hand. "It's no biggie, really."

We head back to the UNI and as expected, meet the makeup and hair stylist. They do our hair; Amanda has hers down and curled while mine is pinned up. My hair stylist made my bun look like a rose; it was beautiful. After doing our hair, they did our makeup. I kept my eyes simple but topped it off with bright red lipstick. I put on my dress and Megan's black pumps.

Amanda and I look at the mirror and at our reflections. I grin widely. The girl I see in front of me looks different, she's prettier and she looks more confident. She's me.

I look at Amanda. "Thank you for making the start of my evening wonderful."

"Always a pleasure," she smiles.