A/N: Kind of having a really bad night, so I thought I'd give you guys part two because it might make someone elses night.
Caleb stood in front of the mirror in Lucas's room, staring at his reflection. He was wearing a suit. An actual suit. He'd borrowed it from Lucas's dad because he didn't really have much of a reason to ever wear a suit and so he didn't own one. As for the Lucas's Dad part...well...there was no way in hell anything Lucas had would fit him. Against his better judgement he'd tried...and it hadn't been pretty. He'd managed to stop Lucas from taking photos of the incident and he had a feeling the memory of looking in the mirror and seeing himself squeezed in to Lucas's too short...too small suit would haunt him. Lucas's mom had handed it over without a second thought, like she'd been waiting for the request and she probably had, she'd been hovering around the pair ever since they got back and started planning. He'd endured the most excruciatingly embarrassing few minutes of his life while she cooed over him and how handsome he'd look in the suit before Lucas managed to get them away so Caleb could get ready.
He'd opted to go without a tie in the end, so he'd still look a little like himself, and was wearing the shirt with the collar open. He figured that was fancy enough…he even had a handkerchief thing sticking out of his top pocket. When he'd objected to the fashion show he hadn't meant it how it sounded to Hanna. Of course he would do whatever it took to make it up to her, even don a monkey suit and go to a fashion show and watch Hanna strutting around in whatever outfits she had to wear. As if he would have objected to that. He just…he didn't feel like this fashion show was enough, he was being given a second chance and he wanted to go big. He'd been thinking a romantic dinner for two or something, when Hanna finally decided to give him another chance, not fashion show with a tonne of people where they couldn't be alone together. That's all he'd meant but Hanna had thought he wasn't as serious as he'd said he was. He guessed he deserved that. She probably thought he was a liar, and had no problem doing it again and again. But he wouldn't lie to her anymore, he couldn't. There'd be no more secrets. He'd be as open and honest with her as he could. Because he owed it to her and she deserved that. He tried to shove away his nerves about seeing Hanna in a matter of-
"Caleb, you're going to be late" Lucas burst in to the room and interrupted his thoughts. "….and…uuhh" Lucas trailed off with raised eyebrows.
"What Lucas?"
"Well. Don't you think you should do something with your hair?" Lucas gestured to his own hair.
"Like what!?" Caleb growled.
"Like….I don't know….brush it….maybe use some gel and slick it back, like that dude in Titanic and-" Caleb glared at Lucas in the mirror.
"I'm already wearing the damn suit. And why do you know anything about Titanic?" Caleb narrowed his eyes at Lucas, who avoided his gaze.
"Yeah. Without the tie." Lucas shuffled his feet. "And uh…my mom…my mom watches that movie all the time" Lucas mumbled. Caleb raised his eyebrows. Right. His mom.
"I look fine" Caleb defended. Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Sure you do" he said faux reassuringly. Caleb sighed.
"Okay, you're right….I'll brush my hair but that's it. I look plenty presentable and besides…Hanna likes my hair like this" Caleb said smugly, tousling it.
"Sure but….don't you want to wow Hanna?" Lucas asked.
"Trust me, she's gonna be plenty wowed I'm even there" Caleb muttered.
"Yeah because you made her think you where lying…again. You made her think…" Lucas trailed off mumbling something Caleb couldn't hear.
"What was that?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing. You should go…like..now" Caleb let it drop, and nodded. He shoved a brush through his hair pulled on the ridiculously shiny shoes Lucas had let him borrow and took one last look in the mirror. I look fine right? I look good…Hanna will be impressed. She'll….she'll love it. Before he could doubt himself he rushed out the door.
"You can borrow my car" Lucas called after him, Caleb waved to acknowledge he'd heard him and exited the house, grabbing the keys from the dish by the front door. Remain calm. It'll all be fine. Hanna will see you went to all this effort and you'll finally get her back. Or you know….she could have decided I wasn't worth it…decided I was lying and be with some…some jock or something. Caleb shuddered and sprinted to the car.
When Caleb arrived the ticket had been on the door just like Hanna had said it would be, he'd collected it and taken a breath before entering the venue. He'd walked rather nervously in to the room, feeling incredibly uncomfortable and out of place as he looked around at all the people in their fancy clothes, talking and chatting around the runway. He'd spotted Hanna's mom and dad sitting near the front, deep in conversation…he had no idea what was going on with that but it went a long way to explaining some of Hanna's mental process. He headed towards them. Perfect. I'll stand behind them, then when Hanna looks over at them…she'll see me. See that I'm here. Because I don't think Mona's gonna let me anywhere near backstage and I don't want to try to ask… he thought as he watched Mona shrieking at some poor girl. Caleb would do whatever it took to win Hanna back…but he wasn't stupid enough to risk the wrath of Mona. Besides. This way it'll be a surprise. Hanna loves surprises. Right? She won't think I didn't come? Caleb was so busy having his inner debate that he didn't spot Spencer catch sight of him as she went backstage. Before he could change his mind, the lights dimmed and thumping music started. Too late now. Caleb settled back against the surface behind him, and waited to see Hanna.
Hanna had dropped Caleb's ticket, which had been her dads original ticket, off at the door under the guise of grabbing some champagne. Well…she had actually been going to grab some because she had some serious nerves going on about the show and being in front of all those people in these very…revealing clothes, and you know…the possibility that Caleb wouldn't show..and she'd thought some alcohol might take the edge off but she'd been blind sided by her parents and had just wanted to get backstage and away from them. She was trying really hard not to think about her parents…how they'd looked together. Dancing. Smiling. Talking. She hadn't seen them like that in such a long time and she really didn't want to get her hopes up. She was convinced what she'd seen was why her dad was still here. Much as he wanted to deny it. But at the same time….he always left and unlike Caleb…he rarely came back. In fact her dad only made appearances when her mom called him to tell him she'd been in trouble. Caleb had just come back because…because….Hanna shook her head. She was also trying really hard not to think about Caleb and if he didn't come to the show because it made her even more nervous and that made her feel nauseous and she really needed to not barf on the middle of the runway. She was hoping he would come..because if he wasn't there when she walked out…she might lose it in front of everyone.
She'd told the others she didn't have a date, and it wasn't technically a lie…she didn't….that she knew of. Hanna wanted to believe Caleb would come she really did, but she'd been let down by so many people that the pessimistic side of her wondered why he would be any different. Hanna had just finished the finishing touches to her makeup when Spencer finally made her way backstage to get ready with a shrieking Mona. She had minutes to get her dress on and fix her makeup. Being the good friend that she was Hanna decided to ease Spencer's stress level and fix her makeup for her, because Spencer looked like she might snap at any possible moment.
"I'll do touch ups!" Hanna said coming at her with a brush.
"I think I saw Caleb out there" Spencer told her. Hanna forced herself not to react. Spencer had said she thought she saw Caleb. Not that she had.
"Caleb? Did you change your mind?" Emily questioned. She wouldn't admit to the girls that she'd asked him….because if she told them and he wasn't actually here…if the guy Spencer saw wasn't Caleb…then she'd be humiliated and there's only so much pity one person can take. She felt bad for lying to them but at the same time…she needed to do it right now. She channelled Ali.
"I didn't ask him to come" Well….at the end she kinda hadn't asked, she'd more…commanded. So it wasn't technically a lie…right? "Open" she focused on Spencer and her makeup but she could feel all three of them staring at her.
"So he just showed up?" Aria exclaimed. Hanna knew Aria's inner romantic was squealing, it was probably like something out of one of her books or whatever.
"Looking really hot" Spencer added. Hanna ignored the stab of jealousy.
"Didn't notice." Which was true. She hadn't seen him after all…yet. If it was him. And not just some guy who looked like him. "Blot" Spencer's been wrong before. She must have been. Although…Hanna did see that guy who could have been Caleb from the back but…she hadn't seen his face so it probably wasn't him…right? Hanna felt her nerves increase at the thought of Caleb out there…watching her. Of what it meant that he'd come. If he'd come. She stubbornly clung on to her doubts.
"Hanna. He wants you back. You want him back. What's the problem?" Good question. There wasn't really a problem...she just…she was scared he'd hurt her again. That's what it all came down to. Trust issues could be overcome. But she was terrified he would break her heart again.
"We are not going to be angry at you if you give him a second chance" Hanna knew they wouldn't be because they where her friends and they wanted her to be happy. She couldn't think about all of this right now, she was about to go and flaunt herself in front of a tonne of people who would be staring and whispering about her being Ali's friend and how she'd been 'hefty Hanna'.
"You need more mascara" Hanna ignored the comment and then went to get her first outfit on to get away from all the questions. She decided she wasn't going to look for Caleb in the audience. This whole fashion show thingy was enough pressure without watching him watch her. She was just going to have fun and…and she'd see Caleb after. If he really was there.
As the show started, Caleb kept his eyes fixed on the entrance to the catwalk, waiting for Hanna. Hanna hadn't been avoiding him like she had been before he'd left but his entire time at school…his entire life right now…was spent eagerly awaiting his next glimpse of Hanna. Walking to class…talking to the other girls….standing by her locker. He'd take what he could get and sometimes she'd see him and she would give him that half smile and it would make his freaking day. He'd do anything to spend time with her….even go on that stupid date with Lucas, just to be near her, to see her, to show her he wasn't going anywhere. He finally saw a familiar silhouette. She appeared first with Aria, both modelling beach wear. Hanna was wearing some green cover up thingy with a red bikini top under neath, he had no idea about fashion, to be honest. Hanna could have worn a black sack and Caleb would have thought she looked gorgeous. He didn't give a damn about the clothes, he just wanted to see her. To show her he meant what he said. He grinned as he watched her strut down the catwalk looking every inch a model, laughing and smiling with Aria. Being happy. He clapped along with everyone else, threw out a cheer or two. She looked so happy and so….completely stunning. He was sure every guy in the room was thinking the same thing and he felt a swell of pride that Hanna was his. Well…she would be soon. He hoped. He saw Hanna glance to the side to smile at her mom…and then he saw her look up…look away…and do a double take. He smiled at her and gave her a little wave, she looked away, flustered. He smirked. Caleb lost interest in the show as the other girls modelled their looks. He clapped along, not really paying attention, waiting for his next glimpse of Hanna. He didn't have to wait long.
Her next outfit was…interesting. He wasn't sure what the hell you would call the look….steampunk? Urban? She looked like a pirate….an incredibly hot pirate. I wonder if she's allowed to keep the thigh holster thingy… he thought to himself as his eyes tracked her down the runway. Okay…maybe he did give a damn about the clothes. Hanna refused to look in his direction, she just focused on walking the runway with Emily, she was still enjoying herself, but he could tell she was nervous and he wasn't sure if it was him or the onlookers or both. But she did her best to act like she wasn't bothered by any of it. She looked completely breathtaking. He vowed to himself he wouldn't screw this up again. He knew how much he'd hurt her, and it hurt him to imagine how upset she'd been. The guys cheering for her hammered home the point that if he did screw up again…he'd be totally screwed. There was no way she'd give him a third chance and there where plenty of other guys out there who'd gladly take his place. He intended to hold on to her this time. He cheered for her with everything he had, attempting to drown out the calls of the other guys and he figured Hanna must have heard him at one point because she flushed very delicately on her way back down the runway.
Then it was time for the final outfits, and the tribute to Alison finally started. Caleb had heard from people talking about the show that there would be some kind of tribute to the dead girl, but he knew next to nothing about her. Only that she'd made Hanna feel awful about herself. So while he clapped, he only did it because he had to, he was clapping for Hanna. He smiled softly as he watched Hanna make her way down the runway for the final time, clutching on to Aria's hand. He wasn't sure if it was for comfort or because both girls where wearing ridiculously high heeled shoes. Hanna was smiling around at the crowd..but then she looked over at him, and she smiled the biggest, right at him. Her genuine smile. He smiled back at her, mouthing "I love you" and Hanna huffed out a laugh before looking away from him again. But then…the lights changed…they went blood red and the image started to distort, flames licking at it and the music changed right after a cackling voice rang out across the room. Something was very, very wrong. He saw Hanna look around in surprise and confusion and knew this wasn't planned. This is not good.
Caleb wanted to jump up on to that stage and grab Hanna, shield her from everyone's accusing eyes. He could hear the whispers starting….saying the girls had done this. He wanted to comfort her because she looked so distressed. She looked briefly in his direction but before he could try to communicate any message to her she'd looked away again. He couldn't push his way through all the chairs packed around the stage, there where too many people in the way. He watched helplessly as Hanna looked completely panicked but reigned it in and turned her attention to a nearby Emily who was just standing there, seemingly unable to move as she stared at what was going on on the screen behind them. He watched as Hanna rushed over to her, grabbing her hand and saying something to her, probably telling her to go, to get off the stage. To stop watching. He watched as Hanna led a shell shocked Emily briskly down the runway, turning back to say something to her, he watched until she was out of sight and then he made a dash backstage but before he could get there, the music cut off and he was blocked by gossiping people. He tried to shove his way through but had no luck and it wasn't long before security staff started to hustle everyone out. As much as he argued they wouldn't even let him stay, let alone get backstage. Caleb soon found himself outside loitering around, waiting for an opportunity to slip back in and see if Hanna was okay.