Coping With Clarity

Chapter Fourteen

Cobalt eyes smiled down on her. Selena found herself enjoying the increased height difference the boy had over her. 

His gaze was rare as it didn’t hold any pre-judgement or comment on her looks. It just revealed the happiness he held to be there.

Too bad Lucas Till was Taylor’s boyfriend. Too bad Selena wished Nick had his height and maybe more of his chivalrous nature.

Lucas grinned over her shoulder and Selena saw her mother stealthily reappear with a digital camera. If she wasn’t so paranoid about prom Selena might have had a more heartwarming approach to her mom taking time off just to see her only child off to her senior prom. Of course, Mandy had expected Nick to be there. Escorting her from the house.

Selena smirked inwardly. Not that her mom didn’t think Lucas wasn’t ‘very handsome’ - another reason she needed to keep her male friends away from her house.

“Okay you two, just a few before you take off.”

They had spent the majority of the day doing two things in preparation for the night.

Selena had focused on getting to her hair and make-up appointments on time. Calling to check everyone’s rides and other details that she could do without. Keeping her dress out of harms way.

Whereas, using one of her rare vacation days, her mom attempted to make the house look more like a home, lived in. Boxes that hadn’t been touched since the move were rapidly unpacked and given a place to stay.

Several photographs in frames of Selena back in L.A. adorned the walls and flat tables. In Selena’s opinion; they didn’t give as welcoming a feeling as the ones David had taken in the meadow-like hospital garden. The thought reminding her to take the camera to prom with her. And also to ‘borrow’ some of the pictures on Demi’s walls.

“Mommm.” Selena pretended to be embarrassed but she did nothing to hide the obvious glee of having her mother fuss over her.

Selena stood slightly in front of Lucas by the staircase. Her heels did nothing to close the height difference between them. Luckily that wasn’t a factor when he was standing next to Taylor.

“Thanks for doin’ this Luc.” She leant back gently on his chest to emphasize the favour he was doing. Lucas’ strong hands came to rest on her waist. He may not have been her prom date, but he was doing a better job than some people would.

“I consider it a pleasure, Selena.” His sweet Tennessee accent filters through making the moment genuine. When Taylor had suggested meeting at her house beforehand, Selena had pictured it all a little differently. To start with she thought Taylor would actually be there - along with her own elusive, curly haired, boyfriend.

“There’s that southern hospitality I’ve been missing!” Selena joked. Her mom rolled her eyes over the camera, missing the joking nature behind her comment.

“Leave the poor boy alone, ‘Lena.”

Selena heard Lucas chuckle behind her. Vibrations passed off chest his chest to her shoulder blades. Taylor hadn’t been the only person who’d missed Lucas. He’d been out of state helping his uncle’s struggling horse shelter for weeks. And while Selena knew Taylor had fully supported him, every moment she’d had to spent away from him was another moment she spent thinking about nothing but him.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way Mrs Gomez. Selena here’s my second favourite girl.” Lucas bantered to her mom.

Selena felt herself blush at his comment, not really knowing how react to it.

“Not first?” Mandy quirked her brow, before raising the camera again. Flash. Flash.

“Mom, I don’t think Taylor would be too thrilled if Lucas called me his favourite girl.” Deadpanning the statement, Selena rolled her eyes to Lucas, who gave her a knowing smile. He leant down to whisper secretly in her ear.