Chapter nine ! Wow! I never thought I'd be able to continue this so far! So pretty much you guys have been slacking in the review department, but here's a new chapter regardless.
I don't own anything but my original characters!
The next day, Ella stayed home. On the day of a dance, classes were cancelled so students had more then enough time to get ready. Ella slept the morning away, and awoke in time to greet Kate and Sarah, who were dropped off by Caleb, dresses in tow. They were all going to get ready together at Ella's, while the boys hung out at Pogue's for the afternoon.
"So what are you thinking for your hair?" Sarah asked, flipping through a magazine, while they lounged in Ella's room. They still had hours to get ready. Ella shrugged.
"I don't know. I was just going to straighten it." she said, and Sarah shook her head.
"You can't have it down. Your arms are built for strapless gowns. We need your hair up to see them, and your collar bones." she said. "Will you let me do your hair?" she asked. Ella giggled.
"If you swear on your life that I won't look like a poodle, you can do whatever you like." Sarah laughed and then clapped her hands in excitement.
"We should probably start showering and stuff. My hair takes for ever to do." Kate sighed. "I'll go first." and with that she dissapeared into the bathroom with a towel.
One by one they showered, and then started getting ready. Jessica got home early from work to help with hair and make up. They hung out in bathrobes so as not to dirty their dresses. Sarah started on Kate's hair first. With her African American heritage, her hair tended to be a bit wild and unsightly. Sarah combed it out, and dried and straightened it to perfection, as was Kate's instructions. From there Jessica took over with make up.
Sarah began on Ella's hair, straightening it, and then braided it up into an elegant twist. Ella did her own make up while Jessica started on Sarah's hair. She dusted a light pink shadow over her eyelids, and lined her eye with thick, black liquid liner. She coated her lashes in mascara, and then dusted gold sparkles over her cheek bones and then her collar bones.
"Dress time, ladies?" Jessica asked, as the girls admired each others hair and make up. They nodded, and each ran to grab their garment bags containing their dresses. Sarah's dress was a strapless, shimmery, deep blue gown that touched the floor. It was cinched at the waist with a beaded sequined belt.
Kate's dress was also strapless, but it was short like Ella's, and made out of a metallic silver fabric. It contrasted nicely against her mocha skin.
Next, Ella pulled on her dress. The girls spent turns 'ooohing' and 'ahhhing' over eachother, and then Jessica decided it was time to take pictures.
They slipped on their shoes, black rounded toe pumps for Ella, and headed into the living room. They lined up and Jessica took a bunch of pictures of them posing, and goofing off.
"That's the boys!" Kate exclaimed, when the door bell rang. Jessica opened it to reveal Caleb, Pogue and Reid. They came in, a did a double take when they saw the girls.
"Holy shit!" Reid exclaimed, and then slapped a hand over his mouth sheepishly, while glancing over at Jessica. "Sorry. But the ladies are lookin' good!" he explained.
While Caleb and Pogue were dressed in classic tuxedo's, Reid wore a black button down dress shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, black dress pants and white and black converse. Around his neck was a pale pink silk tie. He had opted for once, to leave his beanie and fingerless gloves at home.
"You boy's really know how to clean up." Ella told them as they all gathered to pose for more pictures. She looked down when Reid snaked his left arm around her waist. She was surprised to see black ink against his pale skin. "How have I not noticed that before?" she asked him, tracing the tattoo with a finger. It was a black, intricate cross, that started at the crook of his arm, and went all the way down to his wrist. Tiny patterns were intertwined within it. It covered most of his forearm.
"I'm just good at concealing it." he said. Jessica took more pictures, and then sent them on their way. Kate and Sarah got into Caleb's mustang with Caleb and Pogue, and Ella followed Reid out to his black camaro.
"Nice car." she commented, sliding into the cool leather seats. The cold December air was bitter, and a few lone snowflakes drifted around. Reid smiled at her.
"I know." he answered. "We're gunna head over to Nicky's now for some food, before the formal." he told her, pulling out of the driveway.
"So many tattoo's do you have?" she asked him curiously, glancing over to sneak another peak at the one on his arm.
"Five." he told her, confused at the shocked look on her face. "What?" he asked. She shook her head.
"Five is alot. Jessica won't even let me have one. I love tattoo's." she said with a sigh. "Where are all of yours?" she asked, eyeing him up. He chuckled.
"Here." he pointed to his left shoulder, the same arm with the cross. "Here." he pointed to a spot two inches above his elbow. "Here," he pointed toward his pelvic area, a waggled his eyebrows at her, "And I have one on my back." he told her. "I'd show you them, but I'm kind of driving," he added. "Maybe another time."
She smirked. "I'm going to hold you to that." she warned him, as they pulled into the Nicky's parking lot. She noticed Tyler's hummer was there, and her smile faded.
Reid linked arms with her as they entered Nicky's and she laughed. "You're such a dork." she told him, and he stuck his tongue out at her.
They approached the table the rest of the gang was sitting at. Ella locked eyes with Tyler as she sat down between Reid and Caleb. Tyler's date, Macy was seated next to him, looking awkward and lost in the conversation Kate and Sarah were having. Ella had to admit, Macy was quite pretty. She had long dark hair, and sparkling blue eyes. But her dress was absolutely atrocious. It was a cap sleeved, burnt orange ball gown, that had white and blue embroidery throughout it. She held back a giggle.
"Want anything?" Reid asked her, his breath tickling her neck as he leaned into her.
"I'm starving. But nothing thats going to be hard to eat and fall all over my dress," she warned him. He nodded at her, and headed to the bar with Pogue and Caleb.
"Ella, you look nice tonight." Tyler told her from across the table. She smiled wanly.
"Thank you. So do you." she told him softly.
"Ice tea and and fries for the lady," Reid said, placing a basket in front of her, accompanied by a tall glass of iced tea. "And a burger and beer for the man." he said sitting down next to her. She frowned at the sight of the beer, but dug into her fries none the less. She decided against ketchup, not wanting to take a chance at ruining her dress.
"So Ella, are you excited to see what the Spencer student body is like, outside of school?" Caleb asked her, muching on some onion rings.
"Well technically the dance is in the school. So it's not really outside of school. I'm pretty sure I saw what everyone was like at that party we went to at the Dells." she told him, and everyone went rigid at the memory. "But yeah. Excited." She added hastly. Everyone continued eating, and Reid finnished his beer.
"Alright folks. Time to go make our entrance." He said standing up, they all followed him out to the parking lot. Ella slipped past Reid, taking his keys from his hand. "What are you doing?" he demanded, trying to snatch them back.
"Driving!" she said, dangling them in front of her. "I'm sorry, but you just had a beer. That qualifies as being 'Under the influence'." she told him, while the rest of the group laughed.
"She's right Reid," Sarah called to him, climbing into Caleb's mustang.
"But no one drives the Camaro. Except me." he told her, grabbing at the keys again.
"And me apparently." she shrugged, climbing in the drivers seat. He groaned and climbed into the passengers side.
"This sucks." He growled, opening the glove box and pulling out blue pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out, and then reached around in the console for a silver zippo.
"You smoke?" she asked incredulously, as he fumbled with the lighter. He nodded.
"Only on occassion." he told her. She turned the car on and headed down the road, glancing back over at him. It took them a matter of minutes to get to the school. They got out of the camaro and Reid leaned against it to finnish his smoke.
"Smoking kills." she told him, and with that, plucked the cigarette from his lips, took a quick drag for the kill, and tossed it on the ground. She inhaled, reveling at feeling of the hot smoke in her lung, she exhaled, winked at him, and started walking toward the school. She used to smoke, back in Boston. It was a great stress reliever and helped with her anxiety, but it was a terrible habit to get into.
"Wait. What the fuck was that?" he cried, tearing after her.
"What are you shouting about, Reid?" Tyler asked, as they joined the group at the front door. Reid glanced down at Ella, who glared at him and shook her head.
"Uh..she..uh..nothing." he said finally, rubbing the back of his neck, and shaking his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Nothing at all." he repeated.
The ballroom at Spencer had been completely transformed into a winter wonderland. The color scheme was blue, silver and white. There was a DJ, and large projector screens the length of the walls had been hung up to project music videos. There was a large dancefloor space, a refreshment table, and tables to sit at.
"Let's dance!" Kate cried, grabbing Ella and Sarah and pulling them toward the already crowded dance floor. The girls stood in a circle and spun eachother around, laughing and singing along to whichever song was playing.
It wasn't long before the boys took action, tired of standing at the side lines. Reid grabbed Ella's hand and spun her around, pulling her to him. She laughed and rested a hand on his shoulder. They all danced for what felt like forever, before deciding to go sit down. They found Tyler sitting at a table, with a grumpy looking Macy. Ella hadn't seen them out on the dancefloor.
"Could this night get any better?" Sarah cried, breathless as she threw herself down into a chair.
"I don't think so," Ella answered, equally breathless. The boys went and got drinks and brought them back to the table.
"I'm going to the restroom to fix my hair," Sarah said, standing up. Kate and Ella followed suit. "Okay, I didn't want to say anything while we were with her, but what is going on with Macy's dress. It's awful!" she exclaimed. Ella and Kate nodded in agreement.
"Maybe her mom picked it out," Ella suggested, tucking a stray strand of hair back up into her twist.
"So Ella. Tyler hasn't kept his eyes off you all night." Kate said, sitting on the bathroom counter. Ella stared at her.
"I have no idea what your talking about," she told them, a small smile pulling at her lips.
"Well you look hot. Why wouldn't he be looking at you?" Sarah said, bobby pinning a piece of her curled hair back.
"Whatever. I pretty much ruined that relationship." she told them, shaking her head.
"Jus because you guys had a little disagreement, doesn't mean you can't work things out. Talk to him. Let him know you still care. Pogue and I have had our fare share of fights, but we always work it out." Kate told her encouragingly.
"I'll call him tomorrow. Let him enjoy his date tonight." she said witha giggle. The three girls linked arms and headed back into the dance.
It had been a long time since Ella had caring friends. And it felt great. She danced the night away with the girls, and Reid, and felt like she was prepared for anything.
Aha. Did I end it at a bad spot? Review!