Chapter 18
COSETTE
It was the night of the homecoming dance, and Siege was frowning at me and Dex when we got back home, asking what took us so long when we just went to buy a dress.
After a quick shower—separately, much to Dex’s dismay—the three of us changed into our outfits.
I ended up getting the lavender dress that got Dex frothing at the mouth earlier in the store, and when I made my way down the stairs, I’m pretty sure Dex said to Siege, “That’s the reason we got home later than expected. ”
Siege apparently called for one of the Azul men still loyal to him to drive a Rolls Royce limo from the mansion in Beaufort, acting as our chauffeur for tonight, with Nero joining us outside the house to carpool.
“You look beautiful tonight, C. The color suits you,” Nero said as he sat beside Siege in front of Dex and me.
It took all of my willpower not to think of any inappropriate thoughts about the suit that he wore, since all three of them looked sexy as sin.
When we got to school, people were already hanging around outside, taking photos and waiting for their peers, and they turned their heads at our vehicle as we approached the drop-off spot.
I hadn’t really seen a limo before at the other dances, but fairly because I enjoyed hanging around inside, taking advantage of the tables of food, so I’m not sure if it was so unexpected that we arrived in one.
Dex was the first one to get out when the driver opened the door, and he put his hand out for me to take while his other hand guided my head to not bump against the top of the car as I exited.
Siege and Nero followed, doing it so gracefully that I’m pretty sure their suits didn’t get wrinkled one bit, and the four of us walked inside side by side.
As usual, there was a photo booth before the entrance to the gym, and the guys just walked past it, but I stopped.
“Photo booth,” I said, nodding towards it, when Dex turned back to look at me with a raised brow, wondering why I wasn’t following them.
The guys finally caught on to what I wanted to do, and so we positioned ourselves in front of the backdrop, posing for the camera.
The guy supervising the photo booth camera looked towards the entrance where we came from as if he was waiting for more people to come, but Siege was quick to say that it was just us.
I guess it is weird to have one girl come in with three men as if they were all my dates.
Only two of them are, though. Officially, if we’re being strict about technicalities.
We got our pictures taken, getting a total of six shots. Two photos of the four of us; one photo of just me, Siege, and Dex; then three of me alone with each guy.
“I’m the only one who used the props,” I muttered as I looked at the printouts, seeing that the guys looked more like they were edited in while I had on a fresh set of props for every shot.
We walked into the gym, and without hesitation, I went to the buffet table to grab something to eat, while Dex went to the big bowl of what I’m assuming is punch. I saw his hand coming underneath his blazer, and I already had a feeling of what he was about to do.
“Dex,” I called out, putting down my little plate for a while as I raised an eyebrow at him.
“What?” He asked, turning to me with a smirk, and gods, he looked so attractive I almost let him do it.
“Come on. Don’t spike it.”
He rolled his eyes at me before filling his cup with the crimson liquid, and it was only then that he discreetly added a splash from his flask.
“Pour some on mine, too,” Siege said from behind me as his hands found my waist, and I looked back at him, with a look that said ‘really?’
“And me,” Nero spoke next, and of course, I gave him the same judgmental look I gave the other two. “What? The season’s over. Let me celebrate our win a little, C.”
I didn’t want to be a pain in their asses if tonight was for fun. As long as they don’t overdo it, and they don’t act like drunk bastards, wreaking havoc at the party, then I guess it’s fine.
We’ve done more unusual acts than drinking at a high school dance by society’s standards.
If I was thankful to the alcohol for anything, it was that as the night grew, it loosened the guys up. I managed to take them out to the dance floor, and they danced along with me, a respectable distance between us that didn’t give everyone a show of our relationship.
The night was calming down from its fun start as the dances turned from silly and upbeat to ones of slower music.
“May I have this dance?” Siege asked, hand out for me to take, while Dex squeezed his shoulder and walked to the edge of the dance floor with Nero in tow.
I playfully curtsied before I placed my hand on Siege’s palm, and with one gentle tug, he was placing his arms around me while I had mine on his shoulders, my head on his chest.
Surprisingly, it was a sweet dance. No innuendos. No seductive touches.
It was just Siege and me dancing to the soft beats of the instruments until the song changed to one that I recognized.
I started to sing under my breath, unable to stop myself, and I almost froze when I heard a voice join mine.
Siege.
Siege was singing as I felt his lips touch my ear, his voice low.
He was fulfilling his promise. That when he sings for me, it will be for me, and my ears only.
I could feel my heart racing as he continued to sing the lyrics of finding a girl who painted his black and white life to one full of colors he’s never seen.
He sang about a girl who painted the walls he’s built up, seeing them as canvases instead of an obstacle.
He sang about thanking God every day for how she was made.
And all of it was for me.
I pulled away after the song ended, enough to look up at him, as I asked, “Did you plan that?”
Siege only smirked, giving me a wink before he was twirling me around where Dex was waiting for me to dance with him next.
Making a mental note to grill Siege about it later, I let thoughts of Siege go to the back of my mind so I can focus on Dex.
He took my hand, and everything that made up Siege and I’s dance was the complete opposite for Dex.
He showered my ear with suggestive whispers, and his touch on my back would grow dangerously close to my butt every now and then, that I’m sure I had my cheeks a red shade the whole time we were dancing.
Dex didn’t prepare a surprise song for me, unlike his best friend, but our time on the dance floor was nothing short of perfect in its own style, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The current music was coming to an end, and after four songs danced with my guys, I was ready to retreat and grab another plate of snacks. I see Nero walking towards us, eyes on me as if to say something, but the speakers started to blast an upbeat song again.
“What is it?” I asked Nero with a smile, but he was looking away, making me follow his gaze to the stage where Principal Jackson was coming up and tapping the mic, making it feedback.
“Uh, nothing,” Nero said as Principal Jackson’s stern voice silenced the music and the movement on the dance floor.
“Good evening, Fallen Oaks High!”
Siege joined us on the dance floor, and the students’ cheers were so loud that I chimed in, clapping along with everyone else.
“The votes are in, and it is now time for us to meet our homecoming king and queen.”
Miss Sunshine, the librarian, walked to the edge of the stage, her high heels clicking on the gym floor, as he made her way to hand Principal Jackson the envelope.
I looked at the three boys, questioning them silently about their votes, since I didn’t even know there was an election underway.
“There was a table in the corner where people were writing things. I thought they were taking bets or something,” Dex said, shrugging.
Amused at his cluelessness, I laughed softly and leaned back against him as I watched Principal Jackson open the envelope.
“Everyone, give it up for our homecoming queen,” she trailed off with a drumroll playing over the speakers as she pulled the card out and flipped it open. “Miss Andy Tittsworth!”
Well, that’s no surprise.
I clapped with everyone else as Andy came up on the stage, and I realized it was the first time I’d seen her tonight.
She was dressed in a sparkly red dress, and it matched the sash and crown that Principal Jackson placed on her, making her every bit of the homecoming queen she was clearly destined to be.
Turning to Nero, I let out a teasing smirk. “Good luck,” I sing-songed, knowing for sure where all of this was heading.
“And now, our homecoming king,” Principal Jackson said as she pulled out another card from the envelope, and she barely had it open before she was announcing, “Nero Combs!”
The cheers for Nero were louder than Andy’s, and that’s partly because the football team shouted for him, while I let out a loud laugh from my chest, much to Nero’s displeasure.
He groaned past us as he made his way towards the stage, and soon enough, it was his turn to be crowned on stage by Principal Jackson, getting his own crown and sash.
I watched as Andy tried to hook her arm awkwardly around Nero’s, but he wasn’t having any of it, that he pulled away before she could succeed.
Principal Jackson turned back toward the mic as she said, “Now. Please make space on the dance floor for our homecoming king and queen’s—“
Nero politely interrupted Principal Jackson, requesting permission to speak into the microphone, and when she nodded and stepped away from the mic, he began.
“Uh, hi. I’m not going to make a speech,” he started, and I heard a few giggles and chuckles in the crowd. “But as some of you are aware, Andy and I are broken up, so there’s no way in hel— I mean, I’m not dancing with her.”
The crowd booed at that, and Andy’s smile faltered, but she kept the facade on, forcing her lips to stay curled as she tried to talk to Nero, but he wasn’t budging.
“I don’t want to disappoint, though, so how about I… uh—“
His gaze then drifted towards me—not at me, though. Is he looking at Siege and Dex?—before he continued.
“How about I sing for you guys, instead?”