Love, Alaïa

Chapter 10- A Wildfire Of Lies

It's been two days since the Adriana incident and I'm still surprised at why Dev didn't want this crazy, paranoid stalker thrown behind bars. But right now I have bigger fish to fry. Today is Homecoming! Here I said it, homecoming. To be honest, I feel like this is actually a big waste of time. Like you dress up all fancy smancy  and get humiliated by your crush just so you can freestyle dance and take pictures. I could do that in my room if I have to. I humiliate myself everyday anyway. But obviously Stacy will win. It's all that matters to her. Makeup, making other people unhappy and stealing other girls guy's makes up that little brain of hers. But if you had to randomly ask her to identify a part of speech, watch the dumbfounded expression appear.
Anyway my mom thinks I should go get my nails done just to pamper myself. And since I solve everybody else's problem, I forget to take care of myself in the process. Homecoming is kind of a big deal to mom and Devyn. Something about some hand me down from my great grandma all through me. So when ever it's time to pass it a new generation, they switch up the style a little but use the same dress. This time, I'm going to do it my way. A plain black dress with a slit mid-thigh is what I had picked out. Nothing out of my confort zone. So I head to the nail salon and out of nowhere, I stop a tall, cheerful boy run up to me.

"Lai! Lai! Wait up", Elijah yelled.

"Damn Elijah, you looking fine in those gucci slides", I teased.

"You like them? Im thinking of wearing them to hoco tonight with a black shirt", he stroked his chin.

"Are you crazy?", I laughed at his confidence.

"You really calling me crazy? Coming from the same girl who burnt her nose while smelling a candle because she wanted to see if it was actually made of cherrys", he said.

"Okay I was 6. Do you have to bring it up every time? If I haven't told you this story, you wouldn't have a reason to make fun of me"

"Photographs don't lie Lai", we both giggled. "So I'm gonna do it"

"Huh? Get your legs waxed because I think you should. Asap", I looked down towards his legs.

"No. Tonight I'm gonna do it. Im going to admit my feelings to Keyya. I'll tell her everything. I'm sure she won't turn  me down. I mean we basically family right?", she smiled.

"What? No. You can't", I looked at him with a scared face.

"Wait, first you tell me I should have told her since day one and you, yes you almost let the whole neighborhood know a few days ago and now you say I shouldn't. Indecisive and irresponsible", he facepalmed himself. "Alaïa Grace May, you are not an easy book to read"

"But I'm being serious Eli. You can't tell Keyya right now."

"And why is that?", he question.

"You just can't okay"

"If you give me a good reason to, then maybe I'll consider", he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Because... Because.. Uhhhhh. You see the thing is.... Uhhhmm", I stuttered unsure of what to say.

"I'm waiting", he tapped his foot on the ground.

"Because I want to go to hoco with you!", I yelled. At that point we were both shocked. Omg! Why did I just say that? I'm so stupid. I had nothing else to say and I'm not a very good liar so that's the best I had. Come on Alaïa, a dozen excuses and you choose one involving yourself. Gosh, you can be so dumb at times!

"W-what? I thought you were already going with Gio. Why do you want to go with me?", he asked nearly disappointed.

"I don't know. Uh. Gio had some last minute family business to take care of and well it was quite important so I thought I could go with you"

"Look Lai, I-"

"It's cool. You don't want to go with me. I get it. It's cool, really", I played. Oh my goodness. I didn't just lie to Elijah I munipulated him too. But I'm doing it to protect him so it's not bad right?

"No please don't be upset. Come here", He pulled me into a big hug. "What time should I pick you up?"

I was shocked that he actually agreed. But Eli is sweet so he wouldn't want you to feel bad knowing that he is the reason for it. "8:30 is cool"

"Okay I have a few errands to run. I'll see you later", I waved him of and we parted ways. How was I going to get myself out of this situation?

A got home to the smell of fresh flowers. I walk upstairs and see a little white box with a pink ribbon around it. A little stick note that read 'turn around' was stuck to the side of it. I threw my jacket on the bed and turned around.

"Surprise!", Gio yelled coming out of my bathroom.

"Hey, what's all this?", I smiled standing on my tippie toes giving him a hug.

"Open it"

I gently pulled off the ribbon and opened the box. The smell of the flowers got stronger as I saw a beautiful white corsage sitting in it. I looked up at Gio who was smiling so widely.

"You got me a corsage?", I asked with almost tears in my eyes. The tears were there for realizing how sweet he could be but mainly I teared thinking how was I going to tell him that I can't go with him.

"Of course. It's a tradition right? And what's a girl's homecoming without a signature corsage?", he smiled. "Don't cry. You don't want to look all puffed and sad for tonight, do you?"

"Gio, umh I'm not going to homecoming", I lied. One lie onto the next. I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth so I just lied instead. I feel bad for lying to Eli but I hate myself for lying to Gio. He doesn't deserve this.

"What?! Why?!", he asked in extreme shock.

"I just don't feel like it", I lied.

"No you're lying. There must be some reason. Come on, you can tell me", I sat beside me.

"I think it's pointless. Plus Stacy will be throwing a fit about how gorgeous she looks in her tiara and I don't need to know all of that right? So I might as well just stay home", I say.

"Are you sure? Homecoming doesn't come everyday Lai. But if you want to stay home, we could watch movies if you like", he offered.

"Uh no thanks. Not tonight G. I just want to have a long sleep after all that's happened in these last few days. Plus I'll be all energetic for Eric's wedding tomorrow. "

"Okay I understand Lai. But if you need anything. I'm just across the street", he winked and then left.

So I had to pull this off. Lie to my close friend and then lie to the guy I.... The guy that... Gio. Why was I unable to fill in that last words? Anyway I have to pull this off.

I hear a horn outside and that's my indication that Eli was here. So we took our pictures and headed of to the dance. When we arrived there, I immediately saw Eli search the crowds for Keyya. She was standing with Natalie which was probably her date but nobody knew that except for me. He immediately left my arm and rushed to talk to her. I sat at a table alone and 'With You' by Chris Brown came on. I imagine how much of fun I would been having if I was here with Gio instead. He'd be singing along with me, making crazy snaps and he'd take pictures for me to post to my Instagram. I wish I didn't have that bad habit of putting other people's happiness before mine.
Gio would have made this so much fun and this night unforgettable. Lately my life feels incomplete without Gio. It's crazy that I feel this way because I'm super independent. I dont know why I feel this way but I think I am going to tell him since we don't keep anything from each other. Can this night end already?