All this time, I thought she was just an older woman running a business. I didn’t realize she was so in tune with what’s been going on in her family. Living in Black Mountain isolates you from the rest of the world.
“I’m making Arabella go to the prom,” Midge tells me. “I would recommend you make an appearance, and you can show her what you feel. Telling that girl will not change her mind. She’s too fucking stubborn. But if you show her, then she may just give you a chance.”
Her advice slowly sinks in, but even as she tells me what to do, I’m still of two minds about this. Going to a senior prom isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I chose to do this, but if I’m going to get my girl, then I’m going to have to sacrifice my pride and do anything to get her back. Because I will do anything for her.
“You know, Elian,” Midge says. “When I first noticed her smiling all the time, and her excited exploits, I was worried she’d end up in the same situation she was in back home. But she’s not the same. She’s changed, grown up. It was only when she spent the past few days indoors and her friend Marleigh came to me and told me about you and her, that’s when I realized the truth.”
“What truth is that?”
“My niece is in love with you,” Midge informs me nonchalantly as if it’s normal for her to say something like that. Her words cause me to still in shock. “And I have a feeling you’re in love with her, or you wouldn’t be here.”
I nod slowly. “I am. I haven’t told her yet. I haven’t even gotten myself to believe it.” And I still don’t. Even when I told Ahren, it was merely to get him off my back, but now that I look at the older woman staring at me with a piercing gaze, I realize I’m going to have to give Arabella everything.
If she’s going to forgive me, I’m going to have to admit how I feel about her. And that means I’m going to have to say those three words to her.
“Are you ready for this?” Midge’s question lingers in my mind before she says, “Because you have to ask yourself, if you’re not willing to open up to her, you won’t get her back, and it would be best to walk away.”
That causes me to snap my gaze to hers. “I can’t walk away from Arabella.” That’s not a lie. I tried. She told me to leave, and I did, but I didn’t go far.
“Then you know what you need to do.”
I nod.
I do.
I’m going to get my little deviant back.39ArabellaI feel out of place.
But I know I belong.
For the first time in my life, I truly belong. The problem is, he’s not here. When I walked into history class and didn’t see Elian at his desk, my stomach dropping to my feet. Not that I expected him to return to Black Mountain after everything that happened, but deep down, I thought he would at least say goodbye. Even if he was angry, all I wanted was an explanation.
Why save me when all he ever wanted was to hurt me?
“Christ almighty.” Marleigh’s overexcited voice startles me. I turn to face her, giving her the first glimpse of the dress. The soft material hugs me like a second skin. Deep red, the color of wine, clings to my hips and glides down my arms. The delicate material hangs off the shoulder, giving way as the dip plunges down toward my lower back where the zipper comes together over the curve of my butt.
Black lace inches its way over the edges of the hem and neckline as the floor length offers a slit that slides all the way to my upper thigh, gifting anyone a view of my tanned leg as I take a step. I know Elian would have a coronary if he were here. He never liked others looking at me, besides Ahren of course.
“Hey,” Marleigh says, dragging my attention back to her. “He’s the asshole for leaving you.” She knows about my relationship with Elian. When he left, I told her everything, but what I didn’t admit was that I had fallen in love with him. I wanted a final kiss but he never offered it. Instead, he stole my heart and soul, and he never returned them when he spun on his heel and left me staring at his back.
“I know.” Even as I voice the words, I don’t believe them. Neither does my friend. We’ve come a long way since my first day at Black Mountain Academy. And I’m thankful she’s been by my side.
“Come on,” she says, leading me out into the hallway and down the steps until we get to the door where she has a sleek, silver Audi R8 waiting.