𝑾𝒆❜𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒓 - 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒊𝒗𝒆

"Camila?" Thomas asked as he came over, subtly slipping his fingers between Camila's as he turned toward her. She looked up at him, giving him a small smile. "You look beautiful." He said quietly, gesturing to the black cocktail dress she'd smuggled from her mother's closet.

"You clean up pretty nice yourself." Camila replied, her smile growing as she brushed an invisible speck of dust from the shoulder of his suit jacket. It matched and everything. He extended his hand to her in offering.

"Would you dance with me?" He asked. Camila felt the butterflies in her stomach ignite as a sheen of pink dusted his cheeks. She nodded, for fear of tripping over her words, as she took his hand and they moved onto the dance floor.

Camila was very conscious of his hand on her waist as they danced. She couldn't look away from his eyes, and he stared down at her intently. He cleared his throat, and Camila could see the anxiety in his face as his throat bobbed.

"I, uh, I'm sorry for being a dick." He said quietly. Camila chuckled lightly, resting her forehead against his shoulder.

"You were forgiven ages ago." She whispered in reply. A smile crept onto his lips as his other arm slid around her waist, and her arms wrapped around his torso. It was the closest they'd ever been, and neither of them wanted to move apart.

They danced like that for a few minutes more before the rumble of engines interrupted the music. The entire party moved to the front door, and Camila smiled at Javi and Lupe as they sat waiting by Javi's car. The guests applauded as Johnny and Julie walked down the pathway to the gate. Coach gave Johnny a single nod as the two of them got into the car, preparing for the small parade.

Thomas and Camila got into the car behind theirs, and the rest of the boys filed in behind them. They pulled away from the curb and waved to the party as they moved down the street. Due to lack of backseats in the car they were sitting in, Camila was perched in Thomas' lap in the passenger seat. She was nervous, feeling even closer than before, but his heartbeat against her spine was reassuring. It was nowhere near legal, but they didn't really mind.

The night was warm, and the procession was slow and steady, and everyone was smiling the whole time. Camila was happy for Julie. Neighbours waved from their houses, cheering for the birthday girl. A little girl even ran up and handed Julie a bouquet of flowers.

The remainder of the parade went smoothly, and Javi dropped Julie and Johnny back at the White's house. Javi said they would drive through town again, and drop everyone else at home, so Camila and Thomas waved as they drove away in the cars.

"Mierda." The driver in their car swore as they stopped down an empty roadway, Javi's taillights illuminating their faces. Camila and Thomas exchanged nervous looks as a white car pulled around the corner, cutting off the procession. Another car pulled in, and guys started getting out. Camila recognized the flash of switchblades, and she paled.

"Stay here." The driver instructed as he got out, bringing out a knife of his own. Javi got out of his car and the two groups started yelling, fighting, slashing, There was blood everywhere, and Camila watched as Javi nearly lost his guts with a slash to the abdomen. Thomas winced behind her.

"It's okay. It'll be-" He tried to reassure her, but he was cut off with the car's lurch. Someone from the other group had come around and slammed into the back of Javi's friend's car. The glass shattered, and Camila cried out as she was thrown through the windshield from the impact.

She felt her body slam into the road, her skin splitting open as the broken glass cut through. The ground was wet and warm with her blood, and she could taste it.