Chapter 56

Amazing cover by NightmarexDaydreamx

Everyone finished their food,some smalltalk going on between my mom and Alex on how cute we are and my dad and Nathan, both of them huge Ice Hockey fans. I guess he just scored big times with him. Now, he'll probably be invited over to watch the games with him, poor him. We helped my mother doing the dishes before heading upstairs to "catch some breath".

"See, I told you everything is going to be okay.", he pecked my lips as we both sat down on my bed, facing each other. "I know, I'm glad I finally told them.",I intertwined our fingers, playing with his thumb a little. "Do you know what your mother said when you were chasing Alex? Your mom said that she had almost forgotten the last time she saw you this happy. She had watery eyes and hugged me saying 'Thank you for making him happy again'.", I couldn't help but burst into tears after he had said that. It's true, I've never really felt happiness, joy, fun quite like this. And I've found something new.

I kissed him while the tears were running down my face.

Nathan slept at my place, for the first time ever. We were cuddled up underneath my blanket, our arms wrapped around each other and pulling us closer together. His finger was playing with my hair, tugging at a few strands, which caused a few shivers running down my spine. I could still smell his intoxicating scent, taking deep breathes of it with my eyes closed. Soon after, I feel asleep, into something warm and comfortable, just like the embrace I was laying in.

I wake up to a warm, soft, yet kinda rough sensation tracing from my lips over my whole face. I didn't really want to open my eyes, but didn't have much of a choice I guess. Looking up at Nathan, who was placing light kisses all over me, grinning as soon as he noticed me being awake. "Good morning.", he smiles at me, his hair looking all messy on top of his head. "Good morning to you too.", I reach up, touching his cheeks, like I couldn't believe this boy was really mine, that I just woke up from his lips touching my skin.

"Your sister made sure we actually get up for school.", he places his hand over mine, leaning back down to kiss me. What a wonderful way to wake up and get started for the day. "We should get ready.", I sit up straight,stretching my arms over my head. "You're right.", he pecks my lips one last time before jumping out of my bed. "I'll come pick you up in half an hour if that's okay for you.", he pushes his hand through his hair, putting on his pants which were placed over the chair at my desk. "Sure, I'll be ready.", I manage to get out from under the warm blanket, walking over to him and throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him.

"Since when are you so kissy?",he smiles, his hands on my hips with a shirt in one of them. "I have no idea what you're talking about.", I grin before releasing him from my grip and walking over to my closet to pick some clothes for today. Nathan, ruffled through my hair and left with a quick peck and a "See you later.". I was already anticipating the moment I could hug him again. Gathering some things to wear, I head over to the bathroom to get ready for today. I put more effort into the way I looked, styling my hair a little and, of course, covering the hockey that started to shine through the cover of makeup.

I didn't even bother to pack a bag for school, since we're not actually doing anything anymore, so might as well, just go without. My phone vibrated and a message appeared on the black device that was sitting on the cramped up blanket on my unmade bed. To my surprise, it was my father. I wonder why he didn't just come up to my room.

Good morning Sky, I hope you slept well. I have a meeting in a few minutes, so I had to leave earlier today. I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you. Your mother and I are both happy to finally see you enjoy something,or someone in this case. We could see how good Nathan is for you and we will support you with all your choices.

Yup that's all I wanted to tell you. Have a nice day at school and I'll see you this evening.

I never realized how worried my parents were about my social and mental state, I always thought it was nothing important, or at least nothing for others to worry about. My fathers message felt good, it was nice reading something like this, when the doubts and struggles are still weighing you down day by day. But the others are right, Nathan is someone that helped me through all this, I may not be over it completely. Come to think of it, the reason Nathan and I even started to talk was because of Claire. She is the reason I found the happiness, I have been denying yet still searching for.

Thank you dad, this really means so much to me! Yes, Nathan is wonderful, he is more than I even deserve!

I hit send with a smile on my face before starting to head downstairs towards the kitchen where both my mom and Alex are sitting at the counter, eating cereal and drinking coffee. I mean, my sister is eating cereal and my mother is drinking coffee. "Good morning baby, Nathan left quite early didn't he?", she put her cup down, smiling at me with a delighted expression on her face, her wrinkles seemed to have decreased slightly. "Yeah, he still had to get ready at his place.", I grab a bowl, adding some milk and cheerios before turning back to the two"girls".

"I see, will you two go to prom together?", my mother moved out of her chair to let me sit there while I eat. "Hm, I don't know, we haven't talked about it yet.",I'm not even sure if I want to go. Normally, couples, I mean one boy, one girl, would go there, but I've never seen two guys go there together. Well, like I'm one to talk, I've only been to one prom and back then, I didn't pay attention to the constellation of the couples that were dancing there.

"Oh, I think you should go,it's so much fun going with someone you love.", she takes a sip of her coffee, checking her watch by quickly glancing down on her wrist."I'll be getting ready now, see you after school.", mom hugs us both, before leaving the kitchen and heading up the stairs. My sister nudges my arm gently, gaining my attention. "I think you should go.", she smiled, but her eyes seem rather gloomy than usual."What's wrong? You've been acting so weird these last few days,you even cried.", I rub over her back, giving her a reassuring and worried pout, trying to convince her to tell me what's going through her head.

"It's just... there was this guy... you know... and I asked him if he wanted to go to prom with me.", Alex looked down at the bowl in front of me, making the lip-reading-thing quite challenging. "What did he say? Are you going?", I could feel her sigh heavily, before continuing what she was about to confess. "He laughed, making fun of me for even daring to ask him.", she was fighting with the tears, I could see her eyes getting slightly watery. "What a jerk, I would love to go to prom with you, if there wouldn't be this whole sibling thing. You're a wonderful person, you're beautiful, smart and funny, you're so much fun to be with so don't let some asshole guy tell you other.", I put my arms around her frame.

My sister leaned out of my embrace, an amused smile on her face while looking past me towards something behind my back. I follow her gaze, eyes widening at the black haired boy standing there with a huge sign in his hands. I know this is sudden, but will you go to prom with me? I cover my mouth, speechless at his invitation. Getting up from my chair, I walkover to him and throw my arms over the sign and around his neck."Sure, I'd love to, but...", I lean away from him, "Can we take Alex with us?" His eyes rush past me for a second, focusing back on me. "Sure, it would fun to take her with us, she's cool.",I turn back to my sister, smiling at her widely. "That's really not necessary, I can just stay-" "Stop, you'll come with us, no complaining.", I interrupt her, petting her head roughly.

A mixture of a pout and alleviation displayed on her face. "But I don't have a dress.",she starts to play with her fingers. "And I don't have a suit.",I grin, this screams for drastic shopping measurements. My boyfriend puts his arm around my shoulder, both of us smiling at the girl in front of us. "Why not just skip classes? I bet mom would understand.", soon after Alex had said that, she spins around with a startled expression. Just then I see my mother leaning against the door frame of the kitchen, a sly smirk on her face. "What would mom understand?", Alex and I look at each other before deciding to ask her if we can skip classes, since this is technically the last day of school. Tomorrow will just be the hand out of our report cards.

"Hm, I don't know.", all three of us were staring at her with puppy dog eyes, hoping she would change her mind. "Just kidding, sure, I'll drop you of downtown,if...", she raised her index finger and eyebrows, "You're in the car in two minutes." She grins, as we run out of the house, putting our shoes on and running outside. It must have been around that time,when realization hit us as soon as we looked at the black pickup standing in front of our house. "I think she played us.", Nathan laughs pointing at his car, "I can just take us." Alex and I start to burst into laughter as well. We glance back at the house,where the blonde woman waited at the entrance, smiling over to us."You forgot something.", she advanced us with her purse,fingering out a few dollars, 400 to be precise, and hands them to me."Make sure you two buy something nice.", she kissed both of our foreheads. "Thank you so much, mom.", we thank her before starting to get in the car and head out.

Nathan accelerates through out the neighborhood, lining into the traffic of the street that takes us downtown. A few school buses pass us, tired faces of students in their way to class staring out of the window and onto the many different shops that were located around this area. Most of the drive, I kept watching the people outside, wondering what their story is. What are they doing, thinking, wishing? Are they happy? I notice a large group of men wearing black suits, heading crossing the street at a traffic light we are standing at. All of them seemed rather distressed as they march over to the other side and slowly disappearing behind an Italian restaurant. I wonder what they are up to...