Finding You

Chapter 18

Saturday came pretty quickly.

My mom had a brilliant idea of having the family dress in matching costumes. I was Alice, my sister was the white queen, my mom was the queen of hearts and Rich was the mad hatter.

My sister helped curl my hair. They tried to convince me to wear a wig but every time I wear one I start itching.

I put on my Alice costume and headed downstairs. "Adorable" my sister said when she saw me. "I think Reed would like" she whispered as she walked passed me to put on her lipstick, in the mirror. Rich was supposed to pick us up at around 6:30 and it's now 6:54.

"Where is he?" my mom asked while looking at the clock in the kitchen. I shrugged. "You should have left Reed just pick us up" I whispered. She glared at me and I sat on the couch.

After 15 more minutes of waiting, Rich finally showed up. "Where were you?" my mom asked, in a child's voice, while punching Rich in the arm. "Traffic" he winked, while pulling out roses from behind him. He pulled my mom in close and kissed her. I gagged. Which reminded me about Joel and I. I rolled my eyes and got off the couch heading toward my sister. I sighed and we walked over to the door. "We'll be outside" Elisa told our mom. She nodded while taking the roses into the kitchen, to put in a vase.

Elisa and I sat on the porch stairs. "Reed will not be able to resist you" Elisa broke the silence. "Sure" I said, rolling my eyes. She pushed me forward. "What was that?" I asked. "For being insecure" she whispered yelled. I frowned. "How do ya-" I was cut off my mothers laughter. "Ready to go?" Rich asked. I nodded as I looked back at my mother and her boyfriend. I glanced at my sister who was glaring at me. I sighed and walked over to Rich's car.

I sat in the back with Elisa. She looked angry. Oh well. I also looked out the window. "Where does this kid live?" Rich asked. I rolled my eyes. "This kid has a name and you just take a right when you get out of this neighborhood and on the third light you take a left" I informed him. Rich nodded and did as instructed. I returned to look at the sights of Texas. When we reached the entrance of Joel's neighborhood I informed Rich of what house to pull up to.

"Let's go" my mother opened the back door so Elisa and I could get out. I followed behind her. She knocked on the door of Joel's house. I hid behind her. "Why are you hiding behind me?" my mother asked. I shrugged. "He's your friend" she scowled. I groaned and slightly move to the side. My sister stared at me, angrily.

Why does she care if I'm 'insecure'?

The door swung open soon after. "Oh hey Ellie" I weakly smiled as I saw Joel standing at the door way. My mother looked over her shoulder at me. I shrugged and walked pass her into his house. "Your kind of early" He informed me. "I know" I said. He shrugged and introduced everyone.

There was faint music playing. "When does the party begin?" I asked. "In 15 minutes" Joel informed me. I nodded and sat down on the couch next to him. My mother and Rich started conversing with Joel's parents.

Joel and I sat there in silence not saying a word or looking in each others direction. His sister came downstairs and greeted us. She whispered something into Joel's ear. I ignored it as she sat next to Elisa. They started talking and I felt as if we were the only ones not making any communication. "Ellie?" Joel said. I sighed. "Yes?" He scooted in closer. "Want to talk, in private?" He asked. I shrugged. He got up and extended his hand out for me to take it. I kindly took it and followed him upstairs to his room, out to his balcony.

"Listen I am so sorry about what I've done and what you did to Liana" He said, taking my hands. I pulled out of his grip. "Whatever" I said,ready to walk away. "Wait" he held on to my shoulder, making me face him. "What" I pushed him off of me and crossed my arms. He pulled me in close and looked into my eyes. "She deserved it" He smiled stroking my cheek. I laughed and pushed him back.

When I got back downstairs my mother glared at me. She had her arms crossed and Reed was at the door. I gave him a friendly smile.

I continued down the stairs and hugged him. "I see I wasn't the first one here" He said. I laughed. He slid his mask down and growled. "Like my costume?" He asked while following me to the kitchen. "Yup" I said. "I like yours" He said. I could see the smirk under his mask. I twirled in a circle as my dress flowed with. "You look amazing" He whispered so only I could hear. I blushed. Not knowing what to say. I saw my sister staring at us. She gave me a smile.

***

More people started showing up. Two certain someones caught my eyes. "Why are they here?" I asked Reed, who had a Sprite in his hands. "I think Joel invited them" He answered. I glanced over at Joel who was now holding Liana's hand. She kissed him and they walk upstairs. "It's okay, she can't do anything to you" Reed squeezed my hand. I took a deep breath and Reed pulled me into the living room to dance. He picked up is right leg and put his left arm behind his head. He started hop-dancing. I laughed and threw my arms in the air waving them around.

We danced around and sang along to almost every song. I heard the beat drop to one of my used to favorite songs, Everybody Talks, I shook my head and sat back down. Reed knew what I was thinking and grabbed my arm, pulling me outside, to the backyard. "Why?" I asked. He laughed.

He opened the back door letting me walk passed him. He closed the back door and followed me to the center of the backyard. There was a fire place in front of us. I heard some soft music start playing. "Secrets" I whispered, smiling to myself. "It's one of my favorites" Reed added. "Mine too" I informed him. He smiled.

We stood in silence for a few minutes. Reed took my hand into his. It didn't feel like other times before it felt, beautiful, as if he was waiting for the right moment to hold my hand but not as a friend. I smiled. He turned on his toes and faced me. "Ellie" He said. I gulped. "Reed" I whispered. "You look beautiful in your Alice costume" He said. I blushed. "That was cheesy" I answered. We laughed. "I know." He took my other hand and put it on his shoulder. "I want to create a moment that you will never forget" He whispered. I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder. "Thank you, for everything" I whispered. I felt him nod. He started silently singing in my ear.

When the song secrets ended I looked into his eyes and he did the same. I wanted to lean in but he did it instead.

He kissed me. He actually kissed me!

I felt myself get warmer. I closed my eyes and put my hands on his shoulders while he wrapped his arms around my waist. We pulled away after a few seconds. I didn't say it was a long kiss. "That was the best kiss I have had" I whispered. He pulled back a part of my hair behind my ear. "It was the first kiss I have ever had" He smiled. I blushed. "I'll count you as my first too" He smiled and mouthed, thank you. He took my hand but I let go. "What's wrong?" He asked. I sighed and told him about my mom. He nodded. "I guess she can't find out can she" He said. I smiled as we walked back inside to join everyone else at the party.

AT HOME

My sister came in my room and hopped into bed with me. "What are you doing?" I asked her. She smiled. "I saw you kiss Reed?" she whisper-yelled. I laughed. "It seemed as if he meant it" she quoted. I blushed. She squealed and covered her face with my covers." I laughed at her. She could be such a girl. "Okay I'll leave you alone" She said getting out of my room. I rolled my eyes, thinking about what happened today. Before Elisa left she said, "I knew he would fall for you" She winked. I squealed into my covers as she did and fell asleep.