Never Say Goodbye (21 page)

Inhale
.

Exhale
.
    
"Ready?" I ask, extending a hand to Jade.
    
"You sure you're okay?" She asks lacing her fingers through mine.
    
"I'm fine, much better now." I smile softly at her.

"My date is here!" Jade yells and jumps from the couch, nearly falling over in her stilettos. She giggles and regains her balance.
    
"See you there?" She asks and bends to kiss my cheek.
    
"Yeah, text me when you get there."
    
"Okay, babe." She scurries out the door and into Mark's arms. I watch through the window as he kisses her and I feel envious watching them. My dad comes in and hands me his cell phone.
    
"For you, bear." I take it from his hand and place it to my ear.
    
"Hello?"
    
"Hi, my beautiful girl."
    
"Hi." I grin into the handset.
    
"You ready for this?" He asks.
    
"For what?"
    
"The best prom of your life."
    
"The only prom of my life." I correct. The door knocks loudly and I jump in my seat.
    
"See you soon, baby." He says and hangs up. I hand my dad back his cell phone and he shrugs at me.
    
"Go answer the door then." He says and rolls his eyes at me. I can't stop the smile from claiming my face. I open the door to a delivery guy who is chewing gum loudly.
    
"Err…hi." He says, a wide smirk spread across his lips. "Delivery for Ella?"
    
"I'm Ella." I say, raising my hand slightly. He hands me a large black box. It's tall and I have to move it to the side.
    
"Could you uh…sign here please, miss?" He asks handing me a clipboard and pen. I sign my name and hand it back to him.
    
"Have a good prom, miss!" He says and wanders back to his delivery truck. I shut the door gently and look at the black box. I rip the brown tape from the top and open the two flaps to a smell of fresh flowers. I pull the bouquet out of the box and breathe in the scent. I put them on the counter and a small corsage is at the bottom of the box, the correct color to match my dress, he remembered. I slip the corsage onto my wrist, it covers my scars slightly and I smile down at it. My phone starts to vibrate in my dress; it's down my cleavage, Jade made me, said it's the most obvious place to keep things. I pull it out and answer.
    
"First package arrived?" Luke asks as I straighten up my dress.
    
"Uh...yeah. Where are you?"
    
"You'll see, baby. You'll see." He hangs up. What the hell is he up to?
Someone knocks on the door again loudly making me jump. I walk back over to the door and open it.
    
"You've got to be kidding me." I sigh under my breath.
    
"Delivery for Ella Stone?" This time it's a delivery lady.
    
"I'm Ella." I say and she smiles softly at me. She leans to the side and passes me a cat travel box.
    
"What the hell?" I ask and she shrugs at me.
    
"Bye!" She screeches and jogs back to her car. I turn the box to see two frightened eyes staring at me.
    
"Moooooom!" I shout and she runs into the landing.
    
"What wrong, Els-" She bends to look into the box. "Oh." She whispers and looks up to me. "It's a cat."
    
"I can see it's a cat, Mom. What the hell am I supposed to do with it?"
    
"Hello, cutie." My mom coos.
    
"Mom, please!"
    
"Okay, Ella, relax. Is it from Luke?"
    
"Yes, well I’d like to hope so."
    
"Okay. Pass it here… Aw, Ella! It's just a little kitten!" She takes the box into the living room and I call Luke.
He answers on the first ring.
    
"A cat, Luke? Really?"
    
"Look outside, baby." I pull back the soft white drape that is by my front door to see Luke stood at the end of the pathway with a big bunch of white roses and a long black limo parked outside. I hang up and open the door.
He walks toward me slowly and sinks to his knees. His hair is brushed to the side gently raised on his head, some soft strands hanging loosely on his forehead. He has a black tuxedo on with a blue cummerbund to match my corsage.
    
"What are you doing?" I say through laughter.
    
"You…look…wait. What is a better word than beautiful?"
    
I blush and bite my lip. "Get up and kiss me." I whisper and he rises to his feet. Even in my 5-inch heels I'm still no match for Luke. He kisses me softly on the mouth and hands me my flowers.
    
"More?" I ask. "You're spoiling me, Mr. James." He grins at me and kisses my cheek. I walk back inside and put the flowers on the same counter as my others.
    
"Mom! I'm going!" I shout and she mumbles something back. I shrug at Luke and close the door behind me. He holds his hand out to me and I lace my fingers through his. I smile, but an overwhelming sadness takes over me, realization that I won't see him again after tomorrow.
    
"You okay?" He asks, holding the limo door open for me.
    
"I'll be fine." I lie and slide into the limo, taking my dress with me.

The limo is laced with neon lights along its roof, the floor sparkling beneath my feet. Luke sits next to me and gently smiles at me. The limo begins to move and I relax slightly.
    
"Nervous?" He asks pulling me into his side.
    
"Sort of, I guess. People have never seen me like this, y'know…confident."
    
"You'll be fine, baby. You have me, and Jade, and my friends got your back too."
    
"Thanks." I smile at him and kiss his cheek. He turns his face so his mouth skims against mine. I kiss his lips softly, letting mine work against his. He pulls me harder so I lean over and straddle his lap. I cup his face and kiss him with such passion and desire.
    
"Drink?" He asks and I move off him.
    
"Sure." I shrug and he laughs gently. He presses a button on the console to the side and a cooler appears with a bottle of champagne and a bowl of strawberries to the side. He pops the cork and pours me a small glass.
    
"Don't tell my dad." He whispers. "This is his limo." I laugh gently and he drops a small strawberry into my glass. I take a sip and groan at the taste. It tastes amazing. I move over to grab another strawberry and Luke stops me half way.
    
"What are those?" He questions, pointing to my feet.
    
"Shoes?" I say with a grin. I put my hand to his forehead and he swats me away.
    
"They're the sexiest fucking things I've ever seen, Ella." I pull my dress up slightly to show him more of the shoe and he moans.
    
"You and me later, with those shoes. It has to happen." I slap his arm and giggle at him.
    
"I'll miss you." He murmurs and takes a remote control from the console somewhere.
Justin Timberlake's 'My Love' starts to play and he puts his hand across the back of the seat so his
fingers gently caress my shoulder.

Luke

I hold my hand out so Ella's tiny fingers can fit mine perfectly.
Like they should.
One more night Luke, that's it.
One more fucking night. She climbs out of the limo delicately, her sexy as sin shoes showing slightly before she stands and straightens her dress. She really does look amazing.
    
Her figure is defined by the shape of her dress. Her beautiful brown hair gently flowing down her back. Small butterflies possess her hair giving a new meaning to the word beautiful.
    
"See you at midnight." I say to the driver and he nods his head in agreement and drives away. I pull her closer to me as we reach the school entrance. People stare and gasp as we walk past them and I can't help but smirk slightly. They're all jealous that Ella is on my arm and not theirs.
    
"Very nervous." She whispers and I notice goose pimples across her pale skin. The scars aren't noticeable to me now. She's just beautiful. My Ellie.
    
"Don't be nervous, baby." I whisper into her hair and breathe her in. She smells like vanilla. Always so sweet. Her fingers grip my arm harder as we walk through the school main doors. Her chest is rising and falling harshly, I'm sure it's the anxiety.
    
"Hey." I stop her and kiss her mouth softly. "Stop, you're okay. You're with me, baby girl. Me, Ellie, okay?" She nods and kisses me back, her soft full lips kissing mine. She bites my bottom lip and pulls it back softly with her teeth.
    
"I want you." She whispers against my neck. I moan under her words and feel my cock harden.
How does she do that?
    
"Ella, not here, later, okay?" She grins at me and shrugs her shoulders.
I'm really going to miss you.

Ella

Luke and I stop to have our prom photo then move to the gym. His hand never leaves mine and he keeps his thumb skimming my knuckles gently.
    
A welcome gesture that makes me feel safe. We walk into the gym and it's been transformed. The ceiling is flooded with balloons held in a thin net, most likely for releasing at the end of the night. The tables are lined with girls dressed and looking better than they ever have, looking at the guys smiling softly, hoping one would look over. I roll my eyes at them and Luke pulls me flush against him.
    
"Forever and always." He kisses me softly and lets me go. "Go find Jade." He murmurs and smiles at me. He kisses my hand and lets it go.
The feel of his fingers against mine won't be there tomorrow. The butterflies will disappear into thin air with hope of him coming to see me, or me to him.
    
I curse at the tears that come fallen to my eyes and breathe in deeply. I exhale and open my eyes to a high school prom. I am here at my own prom. Three weeks ago, I couldn't even walk the school halls without my hood hiding my face. Most people here probably don't know who I am. My demons are hiding; they're disappearing from my existence. They're still there, lurking in the dark corners, but I'm stronger than they are. I am not weak anymore. I pull my cell from my cleavage and see a text from Jade telling me she's here. I scan the hall for Jade and smile when I see her adding some alcoholic beverage to the punch.
    
"Jade!" I scream at her and she jumps out of her skin.

Luke

The guys don't pay attention to the little things that I try to find in life. Why did I spend time with these jackasses?
    
"So when I got there, she was already in her underwear and spread for me on the bed. I couldn't believe the shit I was seeing. Fucking Jenna Roberts!" I turn to the voice that's talking so badly about someone whom I used to care about and stride over to the group.
    
"So…" I ask, my punch circling my red solo cup. The guy immediately drops his smile and looks to his feet and back up again.
    
"You had Jenna, huh?" I ask, a smirk forming on my lips.
    
"Yeah, well sorta."
    
"Sorta? That's not an answer, dude." I say, scanning the crowd for Jenna.
    
"I fucked her, yeah." He says rolling his eyes and the guys surrounding him laugh. I nod my head in agreement and spot Jenna.
    
"Hey! JENNA!" I shout, she waves and comes over.
    
"Hey, babe, what's up?" She asks and I put an arm around her shoulders. The guy's face drains of blood and looks completely lost. I smile at him and pull her tight against my shoulder.
    
"So, Jenna, apparently you slept with this guy." I say, gesturing to him with my cup of punch.
    
"Really?" She asks, her eyebrow raised. Her brown eyes filled with humor. "I don't remember, couldn't have been that good." She says shrugging her shoulders. I laugh loudly and the guy goes a deep red. I stop laughing and walk over so we're inches from each-others face.
    
"Don't talk down about girls, because dude, without them, you wouldn't be here today. So stop trying to be a big man, you just sound like a jackass. Come on, Jenna." I pull on her arm and pull her to the side.
    
"So..." She says, her eyes searching mine. The intrusion is unwelcome. "What's up?" She asks, smacking her lips together.
    
"Nothing, having a good night?" I ask, taking a drink of my punch.
    
"It's good, yeah." She says, a grin spread all the way across her mouth. "Want to dance?" She asks.
    
"Not right now. I need to find, Ella." I say and she scoffs at me. "Hey, you know she's my girlfriend, and right now, I miss
her
pretty face."
    
"Whatever, Luke. We could have been amazing y'know." She says with her arms crossed over her chest. I scan the hall and she walks away in a stress.

******

Who the fuck is this? Some random girl is grinding up my suit, getting up in my business. I push her away gently, a fake smile playing on my lips. She spills her drink and scoffs at me.

Well, fuck off then little lady.

I wander to the back of the gym, scanning constantly for Ella. I check the watch on my wrist and sigh. What is my girl playing at?
    
"Hey man."
    
"Yo, Jamie, you seen Ella?"
    
"Nah man, we’re all going to mine after this shit gig, weed, y'know, girls." He raises his eyebrow at me, the piercing on it supposing to make him look more masculine.
    
"No thanks, man. I'm not that guy anymore. Sorry."
    
"Pussy." He mutters and I grab his shoulder and turn his sorry face back round.
    
"What did you say?" I ask, squaring my shoulders up to him, my nose inches from his.
    
"Puss….ay…." He says, his head tilted to the side for each syllable. I push his shoulders hard and he falls down to the floor. "Fuck you, Luke! You're no fucking fun anymore man."
    
"Yeah, well some of us grow up you dick."
    
"Whatever, man." He gets up and scurries back to his chosen girl for the evening.
The microphone screeches and 'Numb' by Gary Clark Jr begins to play. Warm arms circle my waist.
    
"Dance with me or fuck me, it's up to you?" She whispers in my ear, causing a combination of twinges in my trousers. I turn to face her and her lips meet mine, desperation clinging through me.
    
"I missed you." I purr against her mouth, cup her head, and bring her harder against me. Her hair is soft through my fingers, her lips swollen. The taste of her could never fucking leave me. My tongue fights hers, desperate to keep her hands searching me.
    
"So…" She says pulling away. "Dance? Or me?"
    
"Ella…. Don’t give me this shit, you know I want you all day every freaking day." She grins at me, her eyebrows rising as she smiles and I touch her cheek, softly bringing her mouth back for one swift kiss.
"Dance." I say against her mouth and she moans.
    
"Tease..." She groans and pulls me to the dance floor. I can taste a twinge of alcohol on my tongue, so she must have had some of that poisonous punch. She locks her arms around my back and looks up at me, her beautiful blue eyes delving into my soul.
    
"No, baby, no dancing like teenagers." I pull her against me hard and she gasps at the contact. Her breasts are flush against my chest and I can feel her rapid heartbeat through my shirt. I lift her dress
so my knee can go between her legs and lift her gently. "I'm going to grind you now, baby, and if you come, you tell me." She nods as we work to the music. She grinds against my leg and tilts her head back as I drop her low. My hand is at her lower back, our breaths mixing together. She pulls my face close to hers as our bodies work each other. I'm as hard as a fucking rock. Maybe sex would’ve been better. She moans into my ear, my name breathless whispers.
    
"Baby, I'm gonna come." She mutters into my ear and I pull her harder against my leg, her desperation and open mouth watching me in awe as I remove my leg and slide my hand under her panties.
    
"Fuck…" She growls and watches my hand for a second, but then relays her eyes on me. I slide my fingers up and down her and groan in appreciation.
    
"So wet for me." I whisper into her ear. She holds my neck tight and I'm grateful bodies surround us dancing and nobody is paying attention. Her moans are lost among the music, and as she orgasms, I slide two fingers into her and stroke her delicate muscles softly.
    
"Luke…" The song comes to a stop and I pull my fingers out of her. She grabs them and wraps her mouth around them.
    
"You want me to come in my fucking trousers?" I growl and pull my hand away. She shrugs and grins at me.
    
"Thank you, I needed that." She whispers and kisses my lips softly.

Ella

Jenna comes bouncing towards me in her pink prom dress, a cup of punch in her hand.
    
"Hey, Ella! Luke told me to tell you he's waiting for you outside. He has a surprise." She whispers the last sentence and nods at me.
    
"Okay, Jenna, thank you." I try force a smile but her breath makes me want to vomit. I’m not sure I believe her. But the limo we arrived in earlier is at the exit when I step out. The driver holds his hand out to me, takes my purse, and helps me into the back seat. The figure that was sitting on the back seat leaves through the door opposite and it slams behind them, with mine slamming straight after. I try unlocking it, but no use.
    
"Hey! LUKE!" I bang on the window but the limo speeds off, causing me to fall back against my seat.

Luke

I swirl the orange looking liquid in my red solo cup. What the fuck is this shit? I take a drink and let it run down my throat. That is not punch. It definitely has some vodka or something in it.
    
"Hey Luke."
Oh fuck off!
    
"Hey, Evie, you seen Ella?"
    
"Who?"
    
"Y'know, Ella, my girlfriend?" I raise my eyebrow at her and she goes a bright red.
    
"Um…err, no sorry." I nod at her and take another drink of the punch. She scurries off with her friend and I scan the gym for Ella. Where the fuck is she?
Jade.
    
"Hey, Jade!" I shout, my arm raised so I can wave her over. She really looks amazing.
    
"Hi, Luke." She smiles at me softly with her punch in hand.
    
"You seen Ella?" I ask in her ear, as the music has risen to deafening sounds. She leans up to my ear.
    
"No, she went looking for you about twenty minutes ago." She looks at me and a worried expression crosses her face. I nod in agreement and lean back to her ear.
    
"I'm going to go look for her, phone me if you see her please." Jade nods and walks back over to her friends. I have the worst feeling right now. I don't know why but I need to see her perfect little blue eyes, just to let my heart beat regularly again.
Right now, it's mixed, I can't catch my breath. I search among the crowd as a Linkin Park track kicks in.
Oh, I love this song, Ella loves this song, where is she?
    
"Heeeeyyyyyy, babbyy…" Jenna falls against me, her punch nearly spilling on me.
    
"Jenna." I mutter and put my hands into my trouser pockets. "You seen Ella? And have you been drinking?"
    
"Yes…and yes…." She slurs. I grab her shoulders and bend so I am level with her brown eyes. "You're so beautiful…" She mutters and I turn my face away from her alcohol infused breath.
    
"Where did you see Ella?" I scream at her.
    
"Sarah." She mouths and shrugs her shoulders. “It was always our plan Luke. Fuck this night up for you both, like you fucked us up.” She snarls.
Realization hits at 100mph.
Shit, shit, shit.
I scan the room once more; she is definitely not in here. I would
feel
her. I run outside and try figure something out. Sarah. Fucking Sarah!
I ask every single person outside, panic cursing my veins. I see Dylan and run over to him.
    
"Hey, man, what's up? I thought you left?" He asks. He's with some more of the guys. I've sort of got them used to the idea of Ella being with me.
    
"I can't find Ella. What do you mean thought I'd left?"
    
"I saw Ella leave about a half hour ago, she went in the limo you guys came in." He shrugs and looks at me.
    
"Shit…fuck…shit!"
    
"What's happened, man?"
    
"Fucking Sarah, that's what's fucking happened!" I run my hands through my hair and groan. "FUCK!"
    
"Dude, chill out, seriously!"
    
"You guys have no fucking idea do you? Sarah came into my house last year when we broke up, shredded nearly every item of clothing, and fucked up all my items made of glass. Shit. Now she's got Ella. She attacked her at the beginning of summer. I saw her a week ago, she needed a ride home. She called me, Ella and I had a fight and Sarah needed to talk to me. Fuck…She's got her, she's fucking got her."
    
"Right man, what do we do?" All the guys are looking at me, all four of my long term high school buddies here for me.