Chapter 22

When Friday rolls around, C gets a message from Micah. Micah invites C over to get ready with her group of friends before homecoming. C agrees, a bit nervous to meet the rest of Micah's friends. C informs Foster that the group will be taking photos at the wooden park before getting dinner together and heading to homecoming. Fortunately, this year, teachers have a teacher in-service day, so the students have all day to prepare for the dance.

Micah arrives at C's place. She forces her older brother to drive. Foster and C carry their stuff out and crawl into the back seat. Foster holds C's hand the entire drive to Micah's house (not that it was a long drive at all). He reluctantly separates from her so she can get ready with the girls and so he can get ready with the guys.

"So, C. I've seen you hanging around Foster a lot. What's your guys' status?" An older brunette questions, wrapping a section of her hair around a curling iron.

"Oh, uh. He was the first friend I made at Weller. Now he's more than that. I'm really thankful to have him in my life." C smiles shyly. C takes some of the hair on the sides of her head and braids them, gathering them together at the back. She separates a few curls from the rest of the bunch, so they can frame her round face.

"Oh, more than friends?" A redhead pitches in.

"Y-yeah. He asked me out on Wednesday. He's going to be my date for homecoming too."

"Ooh, you managed to hook the Weller High bad boy. Do you know why he's called that?" C shakes her head no in response to this question. "I heard that his freshman year he broke a girl's heart. She had been pining after him for a whole semester. When she popped the question, he refused her. She was probably one of the most attractive girls at the school."

"Was?" C listened closely.

"Yeah, I guess she took her life after he rejected her. Ever since then, he has refused every other girl that has shown any interest in him." The redhead giggles before returning to her makeup. C shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

"Don't listen to them C. We don't know what actually happened to her. She just stopped coming to school shortly after and no one ever figured out the exact reason why." Micah reassures C.

"So how many girls has he dated?" C messes with the clasp of her necklace, pretending not to be interested in the gossip.

"I mean I don't think he has actually dated anyone. I have heard that he has had a lot of one-night flings with the girls in our grade. They say it's huge," The brunette stares at C, trying to get some response. C ignores her and continues working on her hair. "Have you guys done anything?" the brunette urges the conversation along.

"I don't think that's any of your business." C shuts it down confidently. These girls are just petty.

"Ooh, Claudia Jones. I didn't realize you had a bitchy side." The redhead snickers.

"I don't. I just don't think I have to share any of our personal stuff with you guys." C ends the conversation there, refusing to participate any further. The redhead and brunette continue their gossiping, moving on to the topic of other girls in the grade. Micah rubs C's shoulder, proud of the small girl for sticking up for herself.

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Foster attempts to adjust his tie. Unfortunately, he has never had anyone to show him how to do this. 'This looks like shit,' he thinks to himself. He unties the tie and tosses it into his jacket pocket. It's getting chillier in the evenings, so he wore his black leather jacket. It suits him. He runs his hands through his hair impatiently, worried about how C is holding up.

"Foster, who is that small chick with the nice tits?" some dude named Joe asks.

"First of all, she has a name. It's Claudia. Second of all, you wish you knew what they looked like." Foster shoots an irritated glance in Joe's direction.

"Oh, so you have?" Joe tests. "If she were my date, I would be all over her. She's small but I bet she's so tight." Foster clenches his fist, really not wanting to talk to this douchebag.

"Shut the fuck up dude, no wonder you are single. No girl wants to spend time with a dickhole like you, let alone be seen with you." Foster waits for a response, prepared to deck this guy if he utters any more bullshit.

"Dude chill, I was just testing you." Joe backs off, hands in the air to show he didn't mean anything by it.

"Whatever," Foster huffs, leaning against the wall by the front door, ready to get out of there as soon as he can. This is why he hates dances. All these guys want is to suck up to some girls so that they will suck them later. It's annoying.

"For real Foster, how do you know that girl? I haven't seen her around. Micah said you two came out of the same house together. Do you guys like, live together?" One of the twins, Blake asks.

"Right now, I am living with them while my mom is across the country. Claudia is new here, so I'm not surprised you haven't noticed her. She is actually in your calc class dude. We sit right behind you," Foster sighs, tapping his foot, trying to get some of his pent-up anger out.

"Oh okay, yeah I haven't noticed her. Is she single? Or like are you two together?" Blake rubs the back of his neck.

"Aren't you dating that red-head upstairs dude?"

"Does that matter? She is just a sidepiece. We aren't exclusive or anything."

"That's cruel man. Does she know that? And yes, C is my girlfriend so don't even bother." Blake shrugs in response, feeling defeated that the small hottie with the jet-black curls is taken by this kid.

"Sorry about these idiots Foster. They don't think with their brains if you get what I mean." Foster chuckles at the comment that the other twin, Jake, makes.

"Fortunately, Julia and I don't spend too much time with these idiots." Jake laughs, standing next to Foster, waiting for the girls to hurry up. The two of them continue their discussion for a while longer before they hear a bedroom door upstairs creak open. It must be the girls.

Micah descends the stairs first. Her short blonde hair in loose curls, pinned away from her face with a light blue hair piece. Her dress is floor-length. Despite this, it hugs her figure in all the right spots. Once she is down the stairs, she stands by Joe. She takes the arm he offers, suddenly acting like some sort of gentleman.

Next to make her way down is the redhead. Her name is Angela. She is wearing a short bodycon dress. It shows off everything she has to offer. Her hair is in braids that are wrapped into a bun at the base of her neck. She stands next to Blake, puffing her chest out so that her large breasts are pushing into his bicep.

Julia is next. She is wearing a long gold dress. It drapes over her curvy body nicely. Not too much is shown, but just enough is accentuated that one can see why guys go for her. Julia smiles at Foster as she passes but he pays no mind. His attention is focused on the last person to make it down the stairs.

Claudia cascades down each step gracefully. The black gown cinches in at her waist, showing her figure beautifully. The high-low skirt shows just enough leg without being scandalous. Her bare shoulders are covered by her long black curls. She looks stunning. Foster notices that C's hair is covering the side of her neck that he has been marking up this past week. When she gets to him, he brushes her hair away from her shoulders, making the hickeys visible to the group. C doesn't realize what he is doing so she just smiles and reaches for his hand. He kisses the top of her head.

"You look amazing. I know I was there when you got the dress and it looked incredible then, but how you look now, the confidence suits you. I'm glad you are feeling good." Foster whispers into her ear. She blushes, causing the two assholes of the group to glare at them.

"Alright Romeo, let's get this show on the road." Micah gathers everyone outside. She positions everyone how she thinks they will look best and then her mom snaps the photos.

"I'll send these to your parents so that you can see them all later." Micah's mom smiles and heads back into the house. Foster and C share a car with Micah and Joe. The other four take another car to the dance. Butterflies fill C's stomach. She is nervous but also super excited to be spending tonight with her friend and her boyfriend. She hasn't experienced something like this before. Foster places his hand on her thigh protectively while they drive towards the school. It's going to be an interesting night.