Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 76

Isla

I place a hand in Julian's hair, catching his attention. Sitting back on the couch, I look over at him with a smile. "So what are we doing for homecoming, babe?"

"Hm," Julian hums in answer. He shrugs then and says, "Probaby something very lowkey."

"Hey no!" I say, moving my hand down to slap his shoulder now. He chuckles, placing his hand around my wrist and moving it back into his hair. I pout, "We have to do something big for homecoming, seeing as I'm planning on wearing the shoes you got me."

"Ah, yes," Jukaim says with a grin. "The shoes that, to this day, you still yell at me for."

"Buiyng something that expensive should be illegal," I say with an abscess in my head. "Those shoes were costly, Julian."

"Yeah, well, let's just say I love you that much," he says, making me swoon. I kiss him on the cheek and then say, "But we need to do something."

Or, rather, he needed to ask me about the dance itself. He hasn't asked me yet, and I'm afraid he isn't going to. Does he expect us to just be going together while we are dating? I was new to this dating thing, but I knew that guys were supposed to do a homecoming proposal. Or girls. It could be either way, but I was waiting for him to do it. Will he not do one and make me miss the excitement of the dance?

The relationship was back on track. The first day of school—or rather, the first week—didn't go too smoothly. But after the date, we had gone back to how we were. Now it's been a month, and we were doing great. We hung out all the time, whether at his house or when he took us out. We could hang out in my house, but with the way my parents were (entirely rude for no good reason), we mostly avoided it. I mean, I guess there were times when we would go to my house for its privacy, but that part of our relationship was moving slowly. Which was good. I didn't want to rush anything, especially considering we are still young.

So the idea that Julian should propose to me shouldn't be too far-fetched. As I sit there and look at him, studying a baseball game, I wonder if I'm right. He catches me staring at him, and he very quickly kisses me. See. I wasn't too delusional to think that he would ask me out properly.

Or was I?

•

Julian stops in front of my driveway. I looked up to find that my porch lights were on as well as a few windows. That meant my parents were home. I look back at Julian and say, "Thanks for driving me home."

"Told you it's nothing countless times," he replies back as normal, but I only glare at him. He sighs, "You are welcome."

I beam at that—a smile that is very easy to do. Then I reach over and kiss him. I expect for him to at least savor the kiss a moment longer, but he pulls away. Retreating my hand back to my lap, I say, "Well, I guess this is a good night then?"

"Yeah," Julian says. Then he finally looked at me properly. Giving me a smile, he says, "I'll walk you to your door."

I pull my seat belt off, forcing a bright smile as I say, "You don't have to." I couldn't help but notice how he had seemed distant a few seconds ago. I know I shouldn't feel sad so quickly, but it was hard not to. Julian shakes his head regardless and opens his door. Stepping out, he walks to my side before I can open the door myself. Offering me a hand, he says, "Good?"

"Good," I force another smile. He gazes at me intently before looking back at my house. We walk down my driveway, and I open my door. He waits out there for me to get inside, but as I go to do my daily ritual of turning back to him to wave, my eyes catch something. The entrance to my living room is lit up with bright lights, and there is music playing. The music is called familiar, but I cannot place it.