High Hopes

Twenty - Backwards?

I awake to several hushed voices. I roll over and squeeze my eyes shut. It feels as though I have only slept for an hour. The voices do not stop their chatter so I open my eyes. I reveal a room, much different than my own. Thoughts of last night come back to me. I really am oblivious as to where I fall asleep apparently. Jesse and his father are in the hallway whispering back and forth to each other. I sit up, waiting for him to come back in. Finally, he comes back, wiping his eyes.

"You're awake?" Jesse notices me.

"Yep. What time is it?" I haven't fully decided if I'm going to school today. I know I have work to make up but I'd rather be up to working rather than go dead.

"7. We're gonna be late for school." Jesse walks to his closet and flips through his clothes.

"I don't know if I'm going." I stand up, instantly regretting my choice of clothing. I was still in the dress from last night's gala.

"What do you mean? You have to it'll look suspicious."

He does have a point."Well I'll be really late because I have to go home and change."

Jesse sighs then grabs my arm. What is with him and dragging me places? We go to a room with a door that creaked so loud, it seems as though it hasn't been opened in years. It is full of paintings of the woman; his mother. There is an open closet in the back with clothes piling out. Jesse strides over and rummages through the mess, searching for something. After a few minutes, he pulls out a pink sundress. He gives it to me and we walk out of the room.

"Get dressed." Jesse points to the bathroom I found him in the night before. I nod and go in. The dress was a lot harder to get off, if possible. I had trouble zipping it up and I swear the zipper is now stuck. I groan as I walk out and back into Jesse's room.

"What?" He furrows his brows, pulling the t-shirt that was over his head to fully cover his chest.

"Can you unzip this?" I gesture to my dress and his features soften. Jesse places his hand on my lower back and unzips it all the way down. I hold the front up so it doesn't fall off. "Thanks." He nods and sits back on his bed.

I take the dress off in the bathroom and slip into the pink sundress. My make up is pretty gross now. I'm not sure why Jesse hasn't said anything. I find a wash cloth on the counter and use it to wipe the rest off. I'm going to have to go without any on. I take my hair out of the bun it was in so it cascaded down my back in waves. I'm going to have to wear the heels I had last night. I walk out and back into Jesse's room. He looks up and drops his phone.

"What?" I look down at myself, trying to find the flaw. "Did I put it on backwards?"

"God, no." Jesse stands up and walks over until he is a foot away. "That was my mother's dress and you look beautiful in it."

"Thanks." My cheeks flush a bit. I wish they didn't. I clear my throat. "Probably should get to school."

''''''''''

The ride was quiet. We hadn't said much. I swear he kept trying to hold my hand but he never did, so I couldn't be sure. I want to find Gabe but it may be too obvious if I go up to him in school.

We arrive with 20 minutes left of English. Neither of us care to stop at the office, so we just keep going to our lockers. It's a good thing I keep my bag in here or else there would've been no point in going all the way back home.

"Ready?" Jesse asks, coming to my locker. I nod. I'm not sure how people are going to react. They saw us dance last night and we both coincidentally disappeared. Now we are arriving late; together.

Jesse opens the door, allowing me to go first. I shoot him a death glare and walk in. The whole class goes silent and looks between Jesse and I.

"Nice of you to join us. Have a seat." Mr. Hendrons interrupts the stare downs happening.