The Renegades

Chapter 23

Hunter pulls into the driveway of Marley's house on the night of Homecoming and immediately feels weird about doing so. For so long, he's been parking down the street and trying his hardest to hide the fact that he was picking her up. Now, he's walking right up to her front door without needing the be worried about being caught. He's worried about not being worried. He's been worried for half a year. His natural state became worried.

Coach Dickson opens the door when Hunter knocks and smiles at him. He pats him on the shoulder. "I'm sure I don't need to give you 'the talk' about treating her right. You already know I'll kill you if you don't."

The comment is meant to be good natured and even humorous, but it freaks Hunter out. Maybe Marley was actually hiding their relationship because her dad wouldn't be okay with it and all this other stuff with Coach Dickson has been a fluke.

"She should be almost ready," Coach Dickson continues. "She's been up there since she got home, so I have to hope she's almost ready. I'll never understand what takes girls so long."

Marley comes out of her room. Hunter smiles when he sees her. She looks beautiful. Coach Dickson catches Hunter smiling, and it makes him smile. All he could want is for his daughter to have someone who looks at her the way Hunter's looking at her now and treats her in a matching manner. It reminds him of the way he looked at his wife before she died.

"Well, you two have fun tonight," Coach Dickson says. "Vargas, get her home by one."

"Yessir," Hunter replies.

At the Harpers' house, Wesley and Landon sit in the living room with Mr. and Mrs. Harper. Rae and Sabina are in Sabina's room finishing getting ready. Sabina got ready in all of thirty minutes including her shower. She's been waiting for Rae and avoiding Rae's attempts to get her more dressed up. 

"Please just wear the heels," Rae pleas, looking at the black hightop Converse Sabina has on. "They'll look so much better with your dress, and I promise I'll stop asking about the makeup in return."

Rae has been trying to convince Sabina to wear more than just mascara and lip-colored lipstick all day.

Sabina looks again at the pair of silver heels and sighs. She unties her Converse and straps herself into the heels instead. Rae squeals in delight when she sees, and as much as Sabina hates it, she has to admit that Rae was right. The heels do look better.

The two girls walk downstairs, and the eyes of everyone in the living room light up. Rae all but jumps into Landon's arms for a hug, and Wesley can't stop smiling at Sabina. 

"You all look so beautiful and handsome," Mrs. Harper says.

Beautiful. That's the only word that Wesley can think of right now. With his eyes glued to Sabina, it's like no other word exists. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her cheek.

Mr. Harper sees the way Wesley's looking at Sabina and clears his throat loudly, obviously trying to get Wesley to look at him instead of his daughter.

Wesley straightens up and loosens his hold on Sabina, suddenly overly aware of the fact that he now has both Harper men watching his every move when it comes to her.

"Have fun!" Mrs. Harper chirps.

"Not too much fun," Mr. Harper adds.

Mrs. Harper slaps his arm. "Dan, stop that!"

Mr. Harper rolls his eyes. "I want both of my children home by midnight."

Now Mrs. Harper rolls her eyes. "Be home by two."

The Harper twins say goodbye to their parents and leave their house. Everyone climbs into Wesley's truck, and he drives to the school, where the dance is being held in the gym.