A New Chapter

Chapter 19

It's been a week of Ethan coming in through my window every night with the same pillow and lying on the floor in the makeshift bed; made from blankets and various cushions.

I'm getting used to him being around more and more every night. Last Saturday night we watched a movie with an earphone in an ear each, shoulder to shoulder on my bed.

The fear of being close to him gets less each time he's near me. Somehow, he makes me feel safe.

But he isn't a miracle worker. My nightmares are as bad as ever, repeating the same event night after night.

I wake up with a fright, my heart thumping rapidly against my rib cage and a layer of sweat coating my forehead.

"It's okay it was just a dream." Ethan whispers as he gently rubs my back; so gently I can barely feel it.

"It wasn't real." He murmurs.

Little does he know that it was real, it is real. Even when I wake up the nightmare doesn't end; because the nightmare is my life and I can't escape it, even with my eyes open.

I check my phone to see it's already 6am and there's no point in going back to sleep, so I decide to get a shower. To my surprise Ethan is still in my room when I return.

"Hey, I wanted to talk to you before school." He gives me a shy smile that doesn't quite meet his eyes.

"Sure." I take a seat near him on the end of my bed with my legs crossed.

He stands and goes over to his backpack, taking something out and hiding it behind his back.

He clears his throat before looking me in the eyes, his swimming with different emotions I can't decipher. "Homecoming is this Friday." He states.

"Yeah..." I furrow my brows, the whole school already knows that.

He lets out a breath before bringing his hand towards me; a beautiful single red rose sits in his grasp. "Come with me?" His voice cracks with nerves and I get a warm feeling in my chest.

I take a moment just staring at the stunning rose, each petal radiating the deep, enchanting red. My eyes travel to his and I see his entire face is the image of nervousness and possibly fear.

"Yes." I breath out then break into smile, he follows quickly behind with a smile of his own and hesitantly opens his arms for a hug, I don't even think about it; I just stand up and let myself get engulfed by his 6' 2" muscular frame.

~~

"Oh my god!" Sophie screams in the girls bathroom, making a junior swirl around clutching her chest in fright.

"He asked you to homecoming!" She continues with such a bright smile her teeth could shatter any second.

"Yeah." I sigh, I still can't believe it happened. I can't believe I said yes.

"Awe Ashley, I'm so happy for you." Soph coos and pulls me in for a tight embrace.

"It's this Friday and I've got nothing to wear." I grumble and jut out my bottom lip making her chuckle loudly.

"We can go shopping after school." She grins.

"I don't have the money to buy an expensive dress Soph." I bow my head.

"So? Have you ever heard of a secondhand store! Most people bring their clothes in there with the tags still on, never worn." She smiles and I can't help but smile too.

"Great! It's a date." She squeals with excitement before grabbing my hand and dragging me to class.

~~

"This one?" Sophie holds up a red body con dress and I make a face of disgust, making her laugh; "I guess that's a no." She chuckles.

"Can I help you two lovely ladies." The elderly woman comes over from stacking shoe boxes.

"I'm looking for a homecoming dress, nothing too crazy though." I smile at the grey haired lady; whose name is Lucinda, I see on the name tag on her chest.

"We just got a donation last week and I haven't got the chance to put them out in the rails, I'll run into the back and grab a few dresses for you to have a look at." She scurries through a beaded curtain into the back of the secondhand store.

I take a seat on the old chaise lounge until she returns with four dresses stacked in her arms.

"Here you go honey, you can take these and try them on." She gives us one last smile before helping another customer.

I go behind the purple curtained changing room and try on the first dress; it's a light blue skater dress with pearls along the neckline and a lace outline at the bottom.

"Wow, I like that one!" Sophie cheers when I step out. I do a small twirl in front of the large mirror, my face scrunched up in thought. "I'm not sure." I mutter as I pull out the bottom of it. "Try on the rest." Soph ushers me back into the changing room.

I try the rest of the dresses and unfortunately none of them really stand out to me. I let out a sigh of defeat as I sit back on the chaise lounge, tired and sweaty from changing in and out of clothes.

"Sorry we couldn't find anything Ash." Sophie says as she plops down beside me.

"It's fine, I've still got time." A monstrous yawn escapes my lips and I lay my tired head against her shoulder.

"Pardon me girls, but I think I might have the perfect thing for you." A middle aged woman says from in front of us.

"Yeah?" Sophie questions as I sit up straight.

"I couldn't help overhear your conversation and I just donated my daughters homecoming dress to the store, she only wore in once; maybe you would like it." The woman points to the counter where Lucinda his inspecting a pale salmon coloured dress with a layer of the same coloured organza over it; with some barely visible flower patterns.

"Wow. It's beautiful." I murmur in awe at the dress.

Sophie and I thank the woman before going over to the counter and requesting to try it on.

It was as if the dress was made for me. It sits perfectly on my bust and complements my petit waist, flowing dreamily down to above my knees; the organza straps sitting just at my elbows.

"You look beautiful Ashley." Sophie chokes out from behind me and I turn to face my best friend, tears in her eyes. I pull her into a tight hug. "I think this might be the one." I joke and we both let out small giggles.

"I think so too." She smiles and I go change into my normal clothes before thanking and paying Lucinda.

All of a sudden, I'm a lot more excited about going to the dance.

Author's Note:
I cannot wait for you guys to read the next chapter! Some cuteness coming up! Xx