Beyond City Limits (Under Revisions)

Chapter 21: A VISIT

The night of the formal, Andrew was late. I had been getting ready with Emma, and after a few hours of waiting, I told her that Andrew messaged me that he was running late. I told her to go ahead, and I would catch up with everyone. She gave me an incredulous look before leaving my room.

I sat in my blue dress, which was ringed the soft fabric. My fingers wore against the fabric as I stared at my tablet. I had insisted to my mother that I had to get a new formal dress before tonight. I had picked one out months before, but after Andrew and I decided to go together, I couldn't picture him standing next to a bright pink ruffled dress with jewels sprinkling the waist. Thinking about wearing that dress with him felt...fake.

Or at least, that's what I reasoned when I picked out a sleek, ocean blue dress with hints of silver shimmering around the cleavage.

It was about ten minutes after Emma left that I heard a knock on my door. I shoved my tablet in my clutch and rushed down the stairs. Mother and father were gone, some work thing or something like that, but I was fine with their absence from my first formal. They had their thing, and I had mine.

I opened the door with a wide smile on my space and was met by a sheepish Andrew. He was wearing Khakis with a deep brown suit jacket. He was rubbing his head, drawing my attention to the untied, wrinkled bowtie around his neck.

I pointed at his bowtie with a question, but then I looked behind him. Standing over Andrew's shoulder was his mother and father with a camera settled in his mother's hand.

"I'm sorry if we're intruding, but we couldn't let Andrew go to his first dance without a few pictures with his date." Mrs. Caper's eyes were bright and the camera in her hands bounced in anticipation.

My mouth gaped at the camera, but I nodded with an inviting smile and opened the door wider for all of them to come in. Andrew walked over to me, his eyes begging for forgiveness, but I just shrugged with a "don't worry" smile.

Mr. Caper was tall with light brown hair and dark eyes. His beard was closely shaven to his face with each hair a perfect length, proof of the laser shaver he must use to maintain it. Andrew really took after his mother with her dark hair and round face. Their similarity was uncanny when they both smiled.

"For all these years we've know you, Cassandra," Mr. Caper said as he turned around in the foyer, "I don't think I have ever seen the inside of your house."

Mrs. Caper elbowed Mr. Caper with an annoyed look. Judging by their expressions, I realized they knew my mother didn't like Andrew. I had thought it was something only I caught onto, but I guess my mother's discomfort was hard to ignore. It was then that I started to feel uncomfortable with them in my house, like I was doing something wrong.

"You look very beautiful," Andrew whispered to me.

I felt a blush crawl up my face, but I just said, "I know," I paused before adding, "you look good too." Both of us squirmed under each other's stares before I coughed, "well expect for the bowtie."

Surprised, Andrew's hand flew to the bowtie like he had forgotten he was wearing it.

"Oh," Mrs. Caper walked over, "I thought it would be a cute picture if you pretended to put it on."

"I don't know how to put one on," I protested, but Mrs. Caper dismissed my comment.

"It's okay," Mr. Caper cut in, "I'll fix it after."

"Oh." I turned to Andrew and realized how close we would have to get. My hands started to sweat. "Okay."

Andrew and I stared at each other, and he moved to get closer when I tried to grab his bowtie. We stopped and tried again, but I stepped closer while he moved away. We did our shuffle dance until Mrs. Caper interrupted, "You both act like you haven't been best friends since you were five. Now don't be shy and get closer."