Stage Fright

Chapter 24 ~ Homecoming

Heather

This isn't what I pictured for my senior year homecoming. I almost couldn't wear my dress thanks to Zeke, but I'd looked up a trick to make the bruises fade faster. My dad was coming home today and I didn't want him to see anything. The only one that was sticking around was the one on the back of my neck. But I decided to just wear my hair down so it would be covered.

After the week I'd had this was the last thing I wanted to be doing. But I'd avoided my friends all week, everyone thought I'd done something awful and that I was too weak to face up to it. I wanted to prove that wasn't who I was, that this break-up hadn't broken me. 

I quietly do up my other heel and sigh, stressing over my hair. I did my make up a touch more dramatic than I usually do. My dress was dark blue satin, backless and completely simple. At the time I thought buying something simple would be good, I didn't want any attention. But now it seemed a little plain. The skirt was a short a-line style, thin straps on my shoulders, the neckline was a loose, scoop-neck style often used with slip dresses. 

I tried to make it exciting with a good pair of earrings, a silver clutch and matching shoes. I was supposed to go with my friends in twenty minutes and my dad wasn't home yet. The only, and I stress only, good thing that would come from tonight was that Zeke wasn't allowed to attend. Apparently, now that the assault had been verified, he'd been banned from homecoming.

I hear the door open downstairs and I know it's my dad. I quickly put my phone in my clutch and head downstairs. I wanted to see him so badly.

"Hey dad." I say with a smile and he smiles back.

"Honey, you look great." He says and I feel my smile get bigger. After the week I'd had it was nice to see my dad.

"Thanks." I whisper and he nods.

"So, I heard the good news from Eleanor." He says excitedly. "Please tell me he's gone." He begs and I nod quietly, looking at the floor.

"Yeah, he is." I mumble and he sighs in relief and gives me a hug that I'm not expecting. 

"Thank god." He whispers and I nod. Thank god indeed. "Well I have a feel-better present." He says and I raise my eyebrows. "It's also a senior year gift." He reaches into his briefcase and quietly pulls out a jewelry box. I know it before I even see the words on the front, teal blue. 

"Dad, didn't we have a talk about stuff like this?" I wince. The last two necklaces he got me were way too expensive, they were both Tiffany and Co. and they were too nice. The first was the heart tag one that every rich girl has, the second I wear sometimes, it's a thicker chain. I just get anxious knowing what people see and what they'll think of me.

"I know, I learned my lesson with the heart one." He says raising his hands. "Can't I spoil my only daughter?" He teases and I sigh. "I know you'll like it." He insists and I uncomfortably take the box from him. 

Inside was a thin silver chain and in the centre sat a tiny stone. It was so minimal and simple, he was right I did love it. I didn't even want to imagine what he had paid for it.

"Wear it tonight." He whispers and I smile. He carefully takes it out of the box and helps me do it up. Despite it being a little over the top, it made me happy. Dad just made my week and he didn't even know it.

"Thanks dad." I whisper and he gives me another hug.

"Eleanor also said you and Josh had been spending a lot of time together." He says and I nod.

"We have been, he's really helped me through this." I admit and he chuckles a bit.

"I like Josh, he's a good person." He says and I couldn't help but agree Josh was the best kind of person there was. "So, is he taking you tonight?" He asks and I sigh, I would have loved that. But I know if we went together everyone would have talked.