Chapter 30: | mint and cranberry

Without you, I feel torn like a sail in a storm.

- Sad Song, We The Kings

__________________________

- L I L A -

"Can you believe I'm flying solo?" Isaac spoke, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I was thinking of asking Isabella, but someone has already asked her."

Leaning back, I laughed quietly, turning to glance at Matthew as he spoke. "I could always ask Flora if she wants to go with you."

Isaac smiled softly. "Is she as hot as I remember?"

"I don't want to answer that," Matthew grimaced, shivering for effect. "I don't even think she'll accept. College girls don't go for seniors."

"But seniors go for college girls," Isaac grinned widely, reaching for the phone that was in my outstretched hand. He hopped off the back of his pick up truck, leaving me and Matthew to our own devices.

Playing with my fingers, Matthew eased a smile on his face and rested his hand on my thigh as he began to flick through his phone with his headphones in. He took longer than most people, but before I knew it, I heard music playing in his ears.

Taking one earphone out, I captured his attention with a clear of my throat. "What colour tie are you wearing?"

He rolled his eyes playfully, smirking lightly. "Black, Lila. So it can match your dress."

"What about if you pick up a red tie instead?" I questioned, turning my body fully to face him.

He lifted my legs and draped them across his before gently tugging me closer. "I've memorised how the black tie feels, okay?" he reassured, his lips pressing against the corner of my mouth. "And besides, I only own dark ties."

I moved my lips an inch, and touched his with the gentleness he always kissed me with. I couldn't help but tremble with anticipation at the thought that I was actually going to prom with Matthew.

Haha, Gloria. Pettiness isn't a good colour.

I found it incredibly hard to not snort whenever Gloria stared at Matthew longingly, trying to intimidate me by holding my gaze for one second too long. Albeit feeling slightly hurt at the fact that she got to experience one of his kisses, I felt a tremendous sense of pride knowing I was the only one he was in love with.

"So," he whispered against my lips, smiling slightly. "Are you finally not freaking out anymore?"

Cupping his face, I huffed out a small laugh through my nose. "Will it make you feel better if I say yes?"

He shook his head softly, strands of his hair brushing against my forehead. "No, but for the next 15 minutes or so, I'm going to need me to be the only thing on your mind."

---

Prom would not be prom if it weren't for the corny yet badly wanted photos my mother pestered me and Matthew for.

He was in a similar suit like the one he was adorned in the night we went to the art gallery, and my mouth didn't fail to water as I stared at him for the umpteenth time. Like he promised, a slim, black tie complimented his white dress shirt, his hair combed in a style he had to do more often.

My dad tried futilely to appear as if Matthew's hold on me was irritating him, but I couldn't help but laugh at the smile that continued to poke at his lips.

Matthew's lips pressed to my cheek and he gave me a brief hug before reaching down to intertwine our fingers.

"Okay! Okay! I'm done now." My mom sighed, turning off her camera and leaning forward to hug the both of us. "Have a great time, but not too much-,"

"Hey! That's my line!" interfered Dad, sobering up and stepping in front of us. "Now, Matthew. I like you-I like you a lot, and I know you're a great guy, so I don't need to have that talk with you. J-just don't give Lila any more hickeys, okay?"

In that moment, my cheeks flamed to a colour deeper than my hair, a breathless squeak falling from my lips. My dad met my gaze and grimaced lightly.

"You and Yasmine aren't as slick as you think you are."

Matthew's hand squeezed mine tightly and upon glancing at him, I saw his cheeks were red too. "O-okay."

"We're going to leave now, Dad."

To escape the awkwardness, he nodded. "Enjoy your prom."

The school had surprised us with a prom on a boat since a student's dad was a governor, and he allowed us to use the boat that was made for city occasions.

"Toby literally wouldn't let me leave the house," Matthew smiled softly. "That was the only time I've ever heard him that persistent."

I squeezed his hand and blew a soft breath as I stared at him silently. He was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Before long, we were boarding the boat, Matthew momentarily releasing my hand to elongate his white cane. I couldn't help but press a kiss to his jaw.

He chuckled lightly and cupped my face to place a sweet kiss to my lips. "I love you so much."

Intertwining our hands, he brought the back of mine to his lips, smiling blissfully at me. I instantly mirrored his expression, my heart beating erratically in my chest.

God I'm so in love with you.

"I love you too."

When we had arrived, everyone was practically there already, so when the first song came on, a large amount of people were on the makeshift dance floor.

Matthew's arms enclosed around my waist and he tugged me closer. His white cane had been given to one of the chaperones and he had been using me as a guide. It warmed my heart knowing that he trusted me so much, after everything.

Gently swaying us, he glided his lips to my ear. "Out of all our dances, this has got to be the best one."

I smiled against his shoulder, feeling his fingers press against the lace part of my dress. "Not even our first one, when you asked me to be your girlfriend?"

He shook his head softly. "This is my favourite one because everything is great between us. No more misunderstandings, no more pent up feelings. All I feel for you is love."

He leaned back and accidentally kissed my chin before laughing. "It's the heels. I don't know where you are now."

I breathily laughed, cupping his cheeks and repositioning his lips up to mine. Despite the heels, he was just a little bit taller than me.

After a while of dancing, Matthew and I were sitting down with drinks in our hands. Flora, Matthew's cousin, had actually agreed to go to prom with Isaac, and it looked like they were having a good time.

Greg, however, was sitting by himself two seats down from us. He told me that he only came to prom so he could get out of the house and away from his parents, and he had practically become a social pariah.

For the first time that night, I saw Yasmine approach him with a determined look. He was trying to avoid her because he didn't want to ruin her night, but he didn't know that all Yasmine wanted to do was dance with him.

After glancing at me, she reached for his hands, smiling softly when he slowly stood up. She lead him to the dance floor and rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her.

I couldn't help but smile when he cupped her face and kissed her passionately.

For once, everything was absolutely great.

"Can we go look at the ocean?"

Raising my head off his shoulder, I sat up straighter in his lap. "Don't you get seasick?"

He laughed momentarily. "Not on a boat that's not moving very fast." He leaned forward, standing up and placing me on my feet. "It's a very cringe worthy idea, but I want to try something."

Catching onto what he was saying, I laughed loudly, grinning so hard. "You want to recreate the scene in Titanic."

A blush scattered across his cheeks and he smiled a closed lip smile. "I don't exactly know what it looks like, but Flora and Fiona love that movie."

Granting his request, I manoeuvred our way to the part of the boat that overlooked the ocean. Standing in front of him, I moved his arms to wrap around my waist. "Hold on to me."

"Always."

We both laughed as I stretched my arms out, Matthew's lips pressing to my neck. Leaning my head backwards, I almost swooned at the beautiful expression that painted his features.

"Now this," a slow grin spread across his face, "is smooth sailing."

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