Stay With Me ✔

41.

Rave

Like most guys, I hadn't thought much about prom. I didn't get even get my tux until two days ago and that was only because Andy asked me to go with him to pick up his. Prom was one of those things regular teens do that I thought I would have to miss out on because of my life. That and I just wasn't that interested in school dances and social events where there was no alcohol. 

That was all before I saw Kylie walk down those stairs in the red dress. If I had known that she would look like this, take my breath away like this, I would have been thinking about prom non stop for months. I would have had my tux bought and ready weeks ago - I'm just glad I cut the mop of tangled hair on my head off, at least that gave me some chance of looking like I deserve to be her date. 

"What are you thinking about, Ravey?" 

I look down at Kylie, her hands are clasped around my neck as mine are planted firmly on her waist, just like all the other couples in the room slow dancing to the same song. "What makes you think I'm thinking of anything?"

"Because you have that look - the one you get when you're off in your own world." I can't really argue with her there, I do get lost in thought a lot, it's something I've always done. My mind is used to running a mile a minute, always needing to be ten steps ahead of everyone else and planning out covers and lies - it's still not used to just living in the moment and neither am I. I'm getting better at it though, I'm getting used to not having to take care of Ever all on my own, to sleeping in a bed, to having more than a few shirts in my closet - to having an actual closet. It's just hard, to have lived a certain way for so long, it's hard not to be hesitant and worry it could all slip away in the blink of an eye.

"You're doing it again." 

"Sorry." The song ends and I lean down to kiss my girlfriend, only to be interrupted by Erin, who is dragging Kyle along behind her. 

"Guys! You will not believe who just showed up." She turns to look towards the doors where I see Lexy standing with her date, who although he is facing the other direction, I can still tell who he is. 

In order to keep Lexy's private life private, Kylie and I didn't tell our friends about their newfound truce. After Lexy was released from the hospital though, she agreed to let us talk to Kylie's mom about the situation and ever since she has been staying with one of the nurse's that works with Ky's mom. Lexy is leaving for college in the fall, so it's only temporary, but her dad has no idea where she is and that's probably for the best. I went to help her get her things a couple of days after that night and her dad wasn't home, the house looked like he hadn't been home since that night either. There was glass shattered on the floor and empty liquor bottles on the table. 

"She's still with Cade?" Kylie asks the question with concern, and knowing what Cade had said to her the last time they spoke, I can understand why. Kylie doesn't view Lexy as a friend, but she does feel bad for the cards she's been dealt, and I know she doesn't want to see her hurt by someone like Cade. 

"Don't worry about her, she can handle herself. She's probably just using him like he's using her." In fact, I knew she was. That's just how Lexy is, and just because Kylie finally saw a different side of her, Lexy isn't going to break down that wall for the whole world, not after she spent so much time building it high and strong. 

"Worry about her? Am I missing something?" Erin looks to Kylie, waiting for an explanation or some type of insight, but Kylie just shrugs her shoulders and waves to Whitley and Audrey as they join our group.

"Hey, can you believe-"

"Kylie!" We all turn as Andy's voice cuts off Whitley's words. He's running towards us, weaving between people and losing his date to the crowd in the process. "Kylie." He comes to a halt in front of her, only looking at her as the rest of us stare at him like he's lost his mind. 

"What happened?" I know that I'm missing something between the two of them when Kylie steps forward and puts her hand on Andy's shoulder as he hunches over to catch his breath. He's sweating, maybe from all the dancing - I'd noticed his date had him on the floor all night. When I really look at my friend though, I can tell that there's another reason for his disheveled appearance and ragged breathing. 

Something happened. 

"Andy, what happened?" I ask, repeating Kylie's question and taking a step forward. 

He doesn't answer me, instead he raises his head and looks at Kylie, "My brother was shot."

His brother was shot? That explains why he's acting like this, but what does that have to do with Kylie? 

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, what happened? Is he okay?" She moves to hug him, but he stops her before she can and stands up straight, looking at me and then back to Kylie.

"He's going to be okay. He got shot, but he got him. He got him, Ky." 

"He got him? He really got him?" She repeats, a smile taking over both of their faces as Andy nods his head. 

Got who? Why did his brother get shot?

"Do you have any idea what's going on here?" Kyle asks, looking just as lost as me and the rest of our friends as we watch Kylie and Andy hug and laugh together. Just a few months ago Kylie's existence annoyed Andy, and now look at them. 

"What am I missing here?" I'm not jealous, I know it's nothing like that. I'm just confused. 

Both Kylie and Andy turn to me and the next thing I know I'm being smothered by the both of them as they pull  me into a group hug. I'm even more confused now, but I hug them back anyway. 

"The cops got your dad, Ravey!"