Chapter 40: Good Days

·Grace's POV·

And so the months went by and everything went back to normal again.

Well, as normal as it could get.

I mean, I don't categorize dating a resurrected boy as ordinary, truth be told. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that this could be real:a future by his side. Anyway, Archer and I's unique relationship is getting a little bit stronger each day that passes. We sure have our little arguments - being the truly passionate couple that we are requires keeping the flame alive.

And what better way to do so than going to prom together, don't you think?

That's right, today is prom day and I couldn't be any more excited. Remembering how Archer asked me to be his date brings me joy, seriously.

*Flashback*

"I won!" I did my victory dance around Noah's living room. Archer and I were currently babysitting Archer Jr., who was sound asleep upstairs. After telling his parents the truth about what happened to him, his brother offered himself to become his legal tutor and a spare bedroom at home. It wouldn't be weird that a forty-seven year old man had a seventeen year old 'son', would it? That's why I'm here with him. Noah and his family live fifteen minutes from my house, which makes it easier for me and Archer to visit each other. To kill time we both decided to play some board games. First, we played Monopoly and he, with his businessman-to-be self, won me. Then came the cards, which I defeated him on. We had just finished playing Trivial and may I tell you, I'd crushed him.

"Okay, okay. Trivial is not my thing. You know what is? Chess." He stated proudly.

"We'll see about that."

"Go ahead and bring the chess pieces. They are inside the second drawer."

Doing as I was told, I started opening the aforementioned drawer while saying:

"Fair enough, but I take the black on-" I stopped mid sentence when I noticed what was really in there. A small note tied with a navy blue ribbon laid next to a single red rose. I then took the note and read it.

'Roses are red,

violets are blue,

you need a date for prom,

if it isn't me, then who?'

I started laughing at his creation and turned around. There he was, approaching me. When he did, Archer took my hand in his and asked me himself:

'Will you go to prom with me?'

I don't think it was even necessary for me to answer, so I just made a little sound of pure happiness and kissed the life out of him.

"Uncle Archer, why are you trying to eat Gracie?" A groggy Archer Jr. asked from the stairway.

*End of flashback*

I really think the kid has inherited Archer's goofiness, I swear. He's like a mini version of my boyfriend. They are both completely cute until they prank me, joining forces.

Talking about Archer, it's almost half past seven. He should arrive any second now. I'm ready for him to pick me up too.

I'm wearing a rose gold gown with some fine jewelry on the top part of the dress. The skirt flows until it reaches the floor, creating a pink aura around me.

I wear it with a pair of delicate, nude strappy shoes. My hair and make up are simple, nothing too striking. Just a loose bun as hairstyle and soft smokey eye, highlight and pinkish shade of lipstick as my makeup choice. The only thing I had in mind while looking for the perfect dress was to make sure that I still looked like myself in it, but in a bit more glamorous way.

As I was touching up before the arrival when the door bell rang.

"Coming!" My dad shouted.

Oh boy. Poor Archer.

My father and my boyfriend get along pretty well, but that doesn't mean that dad threatens him once in a while.

Today I have a feeling that it's one of those days, so I ran to the staircase. My grandfather was also downstairs, waiting for Archer. You may be wondering what happened between the two of them. Well, grandad made amends with Archer. What surprised was when Archer accepted his apology and reassured him, telling him it wasn't his fault and that he was alive again after all. Too beautiful and emotional for my body to bear. I knew how much it meant to my grandfather, apologizing for the terrible mistake he once committed. The fact that Archer was willing to forgive him without any kind of resentment meant everything to him. And to me.

After running as fast as I could to save my boyfriend from my relatives, I spotted him.

Sweet. Mother. Of. Jesus.

He stood at the entrance wearing a pitch black tuxedo, his hair perfectly in place, and let me tell you: that view was my guilty pleasure.

Okay, stop drooling Grace.

Archer was being instructed by my grandad about tonight when our eyes finally connected while I was walking down the steps. His mouth suddenly dropped a bit and he looked astonished.

"Breathtaking" He whispered, wide eyed. "Literally. Are you planning on killing me?"

Grandad started coughing uncontrollably at the mention of the word 'killing'. Laughing it off, I took a step closer to him and put my hands on his chest.

"Not today at least. We have a ball to attend to." I approached my lips to his ear and whispered. "You don't look so bad yourself. I can get used to this."

"Personal space!" My dad raised his voice.

"Never will I be tired of staring at you Grace. You always look gorgeous, but today? Today you look angelic. Heaven sent. "

"Stop being so cheesy. You're making me blush..." I looked the other way and a flash blinded me for a moment.

"I need some photos!" Mum exclaimed.

So, after what felt like a million of photographs, we were good to go.

"We are here." Archer said, parking outside high school.

"And there they are too." I replied.

Getting out of the car, Archer took my hand and went where our friends stood.

I saw Roland with a hand around Katie's waist and talking to Isaac's date. They stole lovingly glances every now and then, smiling timidly when they were caught doing so. Katie has never looked happier than she is now. My friend here looked absolutely gorgeous, with her strapless red gown with frills at the bottom.

She had styled her wavy short hair and wore edgy makeup: black liquid eyeliner, smokey eye and gloss. Katie decided to wear red stilettos too. I'll pray for the sake of her feet.

Roland, Isaac and Daniel (Isaac's date), they all wore tuxedos too. While the first and the latter's ones were classy, Isaac's wasn't. It was made with a rich burgundy fabric that shone under the lights.

Once a diva, always a diva.

"Look who's here! If it isn't the school's weirdest couple." Isaac greeted us.

"Oh my God! You both look so good together." Katie shrieked, jumping up and down like a good fangirl.

"That dress is to die for Grace!" Toli complimented me.

"What about yours? It's lovely!"

And it was true. Toli wore a pretty off the shoulder black lace dress with some black pumps. Her hair was done in messy blonde waves that reached her middle back. She decided to use just black eyeliner and bold red lips. A classy look.

"Where's your date, by the way?" Archer asked her. She's been talking about the boy ever since she met him in an advanced Physics course. Toli wouldn't share his name, she wanted to keep it a surprise until prom.

"I just received a text from him. He's around the corner... Look, here he is!"

Archer's face turned as white as it once was when he was a ghost.

"Callaghan?" He asked the boy.

Wait. Callaghan was the surname of... one of his old friends.

"Sorry. Do we know each other?" The boy looked confused. He was certainly a catch. Tall, lean and blonde with blue eyes behind a pair of glasses. He had the looks and as far as I'm concerned, the personality. But what concerned me was the fact that he was exactly like Caleb Callaghan.

"I-I'm A-Archer. Is y-your name Caleb by any ch-chance?"

I hated to see him like this, so impotent. That's not his style, by any means.

"No, that's my father. My name's Logan Callaghan."

No way! This was Caleb's son!

With a sad smile on his face, Archer extended his hand for Logan to shake and said:

"My bad. It's a pleasure to meet you Logan. Something tells me you and I are going to be great friends."

"I really hope so." His sight focused on Toli while mine was getting blurry because of the unshed tears because of the previous encounter. "Wow."

"What?"

Letting go of Archer's hand, Logan answered:

"You look ravishing babe."

"Thank you, you do too."

I swear I've never seen Toli blush until now.

We entered the school's gym, which was decorated with chandeliers and fabric hanging from the ceiling. I must admit this looks pretty nice.

The most beautiful song ever heard started to sound then.

"May I have this dance?" Archer bowed in front of me.

"You may, but outside. I want us to have a moment for each other."

"Your wish is my command, my lady." He took my hand once again and lead me to the garden, which was decorated too.

We started to slow dance as we practiced some months ago. He was leading our pace, as well as dipping me and spinning me around. The adoration in his eyes was clear, just as mine was.

"I love you."

"I love you too. More than you'll ever be able to imagine." I confessed.

"Remember when I taught you how to dance properly? We were imagining how this-" Archer pointed at us. "-would feel."

"How could I forget? It felt like a dream back then. You and me, dancing and holding the one 'nother in public. Don't you feel so much has happened since then?"

"It's true, but the most important thing is that that dream of ours has come true. Right here, right now. I feel like I can do anything, as long as I am with you."

"Love to hear my feelings are mutual."

"I'm serious. Grace, I know I don't deserve a girl like you. Ever since I met you, I've been trying to show you my worth (even when the idea of being together felt impossible). Now that I'm putting my thoughts into words, I promise to love you like no man on Earth is capable of doing. I promise to follow you wherever you go and fight for this, fight for you. You've become my end and my beginning, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I'll forever be with you, if you take me."

My eyes started to shine like a thousand stars when such engaging speech left his mouth.

"I do take you and you do deserve me. We deserve each other. We have gone through our ups and downs, but who cares? You were the one who put me back to my feet when I felt like giving up, with all that has happened during this past months. You're not the ordinary partner I always wished I could have. So what? Being with you makes me see things in a different, better perspective and you, Archer, you make me the happiest girl on Earth. I won't let you go. Not now, not ever. So you better get the idea, you're stuck with me. 'Till death do us part?" I joked at the end of my ramble.

" 'Till death do us part once again." He replied smiling at my joke attempt next to my lips before crashing them to his sweetly.

This is it. He's taken my heart away.

And he won't be returning it anytime soon. Not that I'll let him.

*****

A.N: Okay, this one was so fun to write. I think it's the longest chapter so far! Hope you like it as much as I do!

P. S: Callaghan' son... WHAAAAT?

Love,

M³