The Favor (BOOK 1 & BOOK 2 INCLUDED)

30. Here's To Growing Up

I looked in the body mirror, beaming at myself. A month ago I never would have worn this out in public with the fear of people seeing my body and the ugly bruises and scars that came along with it. The long, peach sundress went to my feet and tied around my neck, showing a lot of my bare back.

My arms were back to their natural olive shade, as well as the rest of my body. All of the bruises had finally healed, and the wound on my abdomen was days away from just being a scar. The brand had done nothing, obviously. But I felt like my body was finally beautiful again, and I was proud of myself for getting through what Trevor did to me.

"What are you doing, Lilypad?" Brendon asked me, coming into the twins' room.

I didn't reply to him, because I assumed he'd understand. Being able to show my skin again was a breakthrough for me, and it gave me so much more confidence than it did before everything happened.

"I know what you're thinking, and I don't agree. I don't see a difference in your body, it's still beautiful, and it always was, even after Trevor did those horrible things to you." He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head in the crook of my neck.

With every sweet remark he told me, it took everything in me to not tell him I loved him. I wanted to tell him, and it's been a month of feeling this way and I love him even more now. But I wanted to look back on the first time I told him, imagining a priceless moment. And minutes before the graduation party started was not the time to tell him.

He'd been telling me sweet things like that all month. The beautiful person he was at heart inspired me to be like him, so kind and loving. I felt lucky to have a man like him to love.

"Come on, people are probably starting to arrive." I grab his hand to lead him downstairs, where people were coming in. Most of the party was outside, but we were supposed to greet everyone as they walked inside.

There was a food bar on the island table in the kitchen, and people were lining up to grab food. Floods of people were coming in, and I'd socialize with every one of them since they all came up to me so quickly. The rumors had died down at school, but people still had questions and only sometimes would I answer.

I went outside where it wasn't as humid and busy, feeling the light breeze on my skin. It was such a wonderful feeling, and definitely something I took advantage of.

I saw Denton out on the porch, putting CD's into a disc player for the music. I wondered how he was, but whenever I talked to him, he was very shy. I don't blame him, but I wish I could connect with him a bit more.

I strolled up to him, trying to think of things to say until I saw that he was wearing a Flume t-shirt. People wouldn't know who it was unless they listened to Flume, because the album cover was just a pattern. But only big fans bought shirts with album covers on them.

"So, I see you like Flume too?" I ask him.

He's taken aback by the fact that I spoke to him, but then he looks down at his shirt.

"You like him?"

"Of course I do. What's your favorite track?" I ask him, engaging more into the conversation.

"Holdin On, how about you?"

Yes, it's working! I chant in my head.

"Ezra."

"How do you know who he is?"

"Hey, not to toot my own horn but I have a pretty good taste in music." I smirk.

"Lilypad, is my brother annoying you?" Brendon comes up behind me.

"No, actually. We were talking about music." I looked up at him.