Chapter Forty Two : Homecoming

A/N Please give Victorian Boy a read by AudreyHornesHeart ! It's a fan fiction but give it a chance :)

Ps I rewrote a portion of the last chapter. I didn't like the fact that I wrote Jane as driving. I would re-read that bit because I introduced a new character.

The following days past by in a hazy blur until the night of homecoming. Dakota and I had decided it was tonight that we would tell our parent's about our relationship. My heart pounded at the very thought of it. It terrified me and I constantly found myself second guessing the decision. As much as I tried not to care about what my mom thought of me, I did, a lot. She was my mom after all but with this new found mother Theresa image of hers, I was worried she would revert back to her old self after learning about what I'd been doing lately.

But the thought that scared me the most was being separated from Dakota.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I tied my bow with nimble fingers as a deep sigh escaped from lip, the worry was apparent on my creased face. I swung my black blazer over my shoulder and slid my arms through, flattening the lapels afterwards.

Tonight would be life changing.

"Don't you look dashing." Dakota said as he entered my room, closing the door behind him. He walked towards me, a smirk on his lip with a hand behind his back before revealing a small bouquet of red roses. A smile crept to my lips as I reached out for them, bringing them up to my nose and taking in their scent. Dakota moved closer to me before pecking the corner of my mouth tenderly, lingering for a moment as he stared at my lips.

"Our dates will be here soon." I said jokingly, stepping away from him and walking to my nightstand, setting the flowers down. I would have to wait until tonight to put them water. A bit odd for best friends to be bringing each other flowers. Dakota pouted, his bottom lip curled downward as I turned around.

"Don't worry. It won't be this way forever." I said as I walked up to him before ruffling his brown golden hair.

"Hello, date." Gemma said after I opened the front door, letting her inside with Jane trailing behind her, both stunning as ever.

"You know, Gemma you don't have to keep saying it that way." I said with a chuckle.

"I know but it's fun teasing Dakota." She said as she winked at him. He'd already had a scowl on his face as she squeezed his cheek.

"You both look lovely." My Mom said coming from the living room with a camera in her hand. I stared at it, terrified as if it would end my life.

"Pictures before you leave." She said with smiling eyes, making them crinkle at the corners. Gemma grabbed me by the arm, tugging me into the living room with Jane and Dakota awkwardly trailing along behind us.

We huddled together and I had only wished I was standing beside Dakota instead as I stole a glance at him from the corner of my eye.

I put on a fake smile as I stared into the full camera lens and wondered when it was that my mom had changed her mind on the topic of girls. It came as a shock seeing her happy about me being around Gemma.

"One more." My mom said as the camera flashed for what felt like the millionth time.

"Have fun!" She said as we walked out the front door, ushering the rest before she could take any more pictures.

Jane's father, James, was waiting outside, waving from the front seat with a smile on his face.

"I'm afraid it's a little packed." He said as he gestured to the back seat where Michael and a dark curly haired boy that I hadn't recognized, were sitting

We crammed in the back seat like a couple of clowns, squeezing into a tiny car. I was pressed between Dakota and Michael and I had never felt more uncomfortable being so close to the two of them at the same time.

The ride was quiet with not a single word spoken other than from Jane's dad, James, who would crack the occasional dad joke every now and again. I think most of us were nervous, it was our first high school dance after all.

"Have fun!" James said with a smile as we came to a stop at the school's front doors.

I could hear the music blaring down the halls as we walked down to the auditorium. My heart felt heavy as it pounded in my chest and I felt like tailing it out the door. Part of me didn't care if anyone had ill feelings about me and Dakota but like with everything else, I did care. I always cared and that's what was wrong with me. I didn't bother me that people knew, what bothered me is what they thought.

I glanced at Dakota from the corner of my eye and wondered if he was as nervous as I. He was better at hiding everything than I, and most of the time it was hard to read him.

"Let's get a real picture of you two." Jane said before we stepped into the auditorium, pulling out a camera from her black bejeweled clutch that paired with her dress perfectly.

"Right here?" I asked looking down the hall an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

"Luka, everyone knows okay? It's fine and who gives a shit what anyone else thinks." She said with a reforming grip on my shoulder, staring me in the eyes and I had never seen her so serious, it was almost scary.

I nodded firmly. "Right."

Dakota snaked his arm around my waist before pulling me close and putting on a wide smile. The flash of the camera went off blinding me momentarily.

The doors of the auditorium swung open and I could feel a wave of heat escaping, loud upbeat music was playing and we stepped in the dimly lit room.

The night went smoothly and I ignored the stares of anyone that looked at me funny. I wasn't going to let it ruin my night, it wouldn't. We lost Gemma and Jane and it was only Dakota and I, dancing side by side as the DJ pumped up the crowd.

The sudden change of music caught me off guard as it changed from face paced to a slower tempo. Dakota instantly grabbed me by the waist and pulled me closer to him. His cheeks were red from the heat of the room full of bodies but like all the other times, it suited him, making him appear even more attractive.

Dakota leaned his head on my shoulder with closed eyes and I was surprised none of the chaperones had come between us yet.

"I wish it was always like this." He said against my shoulder.

"Like what?"

"Like this, me holding you."

I knew what he meant by that and it hurt to hear him say.

"After tonight, it can be." I said reassuring him that we would follow through with our plan. The thought of telling my mom and have to spit the words come out of my mouth made me nervous and scared all the same, but I was tired of having to hide from our parents, having to stay in the dark about us.

In the midst of slow dancing, I heard a commotion coming from outside. Every one else seemed not to hear except for me and Dakota.

"Did you want to check it out?" Dakota asked me with an arched brow.

"Yeah I have a feeling I know who it is." I said as a sigh escape my lips. We slipped through the doors unnoticed by any of the chaperones and walked down the hall before pushing the front doors open.

"Come on, Carina! Take a shot!"

It was coming from the football field and by the sound of the voice, I could tell it was Seth. I looked at the Dakota with a solemn face before we both jogged to the middle of the dark field, with only the fields flood lights to illuminate us.

Michael had looked tousled and dirty as Gemma stood behind him with a worry in her face, only leaving one explanation, Seth had already put in the first shot.

"What's going on?" Dakota said as we walked towards the three of them.

"Nothing I can't handle." Michael said without taking his eyes off of Seth.

"You couldn't handle a lot of things." Seth muttered with a solemn face, and his voice held a tone of momentary weakness before he quickly recovered and changed his expression. It took me a moment to realize that Seth was staggering as he stood across from Michael, he was drunk.

"Why are you here Seth?" Michael asked with furrowed brows.

"Because I want to know! I want to know why it was so easy for you to leave me. Do you know what I had to go through while you were gone? My dad..." He said with a crack in his voice, through tear welled eyes. I was taken back, and unsure of what to do. I looked at Dakota for any kind of sign but he only shrugged, as shocked as I was.

"I-I-" Michael stuttered.

"Forget it." Seth said with a sniffle as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He turned around before staggering across the field. Michael turned to glance at Gemma searching her eyes before she nodded with a knowing smile.

"Seth, wait." Michael said before chasing after him, leaving Gemma behind. Her hand slightly reached out for him before she slowly recoiled and clenched it into a fist.

"Gemma.." I said as I walked towards her.

"Looks like I lost another one." Her voice was soft as she smiled at me through tear filled eyes. I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame and squeezed her reassuringly.

"I want to join." Dakota said with a grin before swinging an arm over me and the other over Gemma. We walked across the field side by side with nothing but each other's body heat to keeps us warm against the cold breeze.

We sat on the steps of Gemma's house in silence with nothing but the sound of crickets in the grass to fill the quiet void. I wondered if Micheal's leaving meant that he would go back to Seth or if I should give him the benefit of the doubt. I chose the latter.

"It'll be okay, Gemma." I said as I patted her shoulder, not entirely sure of what to tell her.

"A little birdy told me you'd be here." Jane said as she walked up the steps and sat beside Gemma. Gemma smiled softly before her smile turned into a pour and hot streaks of tears rolled down her face as Jane pulled her into a tight embrace.

"We're going to go." I mouthed to Jane and she nodded as she stroked the top of Gemma's head.

The journey home was quiet, both knowing what the other was thinking -it was a question of whether we would go through with the plan or if tonight's events were enough excitement for the night. All the way home, I couldn't shake Seth's word's from my mind and it made me wonder what exactly happened between the two of them and if Dakota and I would end up that way, separated.

"We don't have to do it tonight." Dakota said as we came to a stop in front of his house. I nodded, partially relieved.

"Want to come inside?" He asked looking at me with a coy smile.

"I want to but my mom.." I said glancing over at my house from across the street.

"See ya tomorrow." He said before quickly pecking the apple of my cheek. My eyes widened and I only hoped none of our parents had decided that tonight they would spontaneously look out the window.

"I'm going to get you back for that." I said with a grin as I began to walk away, staring back at him. He winked at me with a smirk before opening the front door to his house and disappearing inside. I sighed as I crossed the street feeling some what disappointing in myself for not sticking to the plan but what if I was right and Dakota and I did tell our parents. They would separate us, send us away. I shook my head, no. As evil as my mom was, she wouldn't do that, right?

"How was the dance?" My mom asked from the sofa as I kicked off my shoes and loosened my tie.

"Great." I said as I walked in the living room.

"That's great hun, great." She said with a smile on her face before turning her attention back to the T.V screen. I lingered for a moment and opened my mouth to speak, all I had to do was say it, spit it out. My breathing became ragged, as if I'd just run a marathon as the words were caught in my throat. I bit my tongue and turned around, walking to my room with a heavy pounding heart. I closed the door shut behind me, pressing my back against it as I struggled to catch my breath. I brought my hands up to my face before rubbing my eyes. I couldn't do it.

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