Stained, p.4
Stained, page 4
Harper walked into the house and smiled at Tessa and Collin, and she ran up the stairs and changed.
“Going for a run,” she smiled as she ran past them.
She took out her phone and sent him a message.
KICK BUTT TODAY MADDOX! Be safe please…HA
Thank you, I will try to keep my face free from bruises…MH’
You better…HA
Why are you accepting my request to escort you to prom?…MH
We will see…still thinking it over…send me a picture after your fight. I want to make sure any date I may or may not accept is presentable…HA
Will do…MH
Harper showered and ate dinner and she watched her phone all night. She went to bed worried that he had been hurt.
She closed her book and reached for her phone. A text popped up, and it was him. Holy cow!
Harper stared at the picture of Maddox covered in sweat. His arms lifted in the air, and his smile was amazing. His hair was shorter, and his body had definitely changed. He wasn’t just lean muscles anymore-- he had a six pack, and pecks, and oh my, my, my, the V. His arms were bulky and his jaw appeared even squarer than she remembered. The lips, she thought as she ran her fingers gently across hers remembering how they felt. That dimple damn, damn, damn.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!…HA
Her phone rang, and she answered.
“So, Harper, I have had a great night. I won my first fight,” Maddox had a smile in his voice.
“Congratulations,” her voice was a whisper.
“Make it even better, say yes you want me to take you to prom,” Maddox voice was unchanged, still a smile.
“Do you still have those shorts on?” Harper asked.
Maddox laughed, “Still at the gym, so yes.”
“Good send me a video of you asking me to prom and then call me and ask me again,” Harper said softly.
“What?” Maddox laughed.
“You heard me,” Harper said and hung up.
She started to get nervous that he was annoyed, and the video came. He had a white robe on, and a hood over his head, “Harper may I please take you to prom?”
Harper texted him back.
Loose the robe and try again…HA
Seriously?!?!...MH
Please…HA
Why?...MH
You are beautiful…HA
“And I sent it what the hell was I thinking sending that?”
She got just what she asked for and watched it three times before he called.
“Anything else, Harper?” Maddox asked,
“No,” she smiled.
“Are you telling me no after all that?” Maddox groaned.
“No, nothing else. I would be honored to go to prom with you. Thank you, Maddox,” Harper blushed. Even though he could not see her, he could tell.
“Harper, do you think I am beautiful?” Maddox whispered.
“Well, yes-- I always have,” Harper whispered.
“Hmm. I want a picture send me one,” he said softly.
“Nope, you can see me on prom night,” Harper laughed, “Ivory Tux.”
She hung up and giggled as she looked at the picture and watched the videos over and over again.
Harper looked in the mirror and felt sick to her stomach. She looked great and knew it, but just different. Her hair was beautiful, yet unrecognizable to her. She wore makeup and heels that she knew would be long gone when she danced (if she danced), and she thought to herself: Did Maddox dance…oh God I am going to throw up all over him. She looked away from the mirror. Her dress was a champagne color with a pale blue underlay covering the important parts. Her father was shocked when he saw it. His face turned red, and he scowled at Tessa and she laughed. He looked back at Harper.
“You are stunning, Harper Ann, too stunning. Beautiful, too damn beautiful. Look at my baby girl, Tessa,” he squeezed his eyes shut and let out an angry, frustrated breath, scowled at Tessa and walked out of the room.
“Is he mad, Mom?”
“Not at you, maybe at me,” Tessa smiled, “You look amazing…it’s just hard to see you all grown up.”
“It’s hard for me too-- my lord, look at my boobs, Mom! They have gotten huge,” Harper pushed them in trying to make them smaller, and Tessa laughed.
“You ready? They are waiting in the family room,” Tessa grinned.
“Sure,” Harper whispered.
They walked in, and Maddox stood, swallowed hard and looked at the ground. He looked up and his eyes widened.
“Wow, Harper you look --wow!” London ran and hugged her, “Your boobs are enormous! Are mine going to get that big?”
Harper laughed, “I hope not, for your sake.”
Tessa laughed and covered her mouth.
Harper looked around, hoping no one else heard London—and it appeared no one had.
“You’re sure about not wanting to ride in the limo with your friends?” Collin asked.
“No, I think it’ll be fine if Tomas takes us, Dad,” Harper smiled, “Is that all right with you Maddox?”
He nodded in agreement, “Yeah that sounds great. You look outstanding, Harper.”
“Thanks, Maddox, you’re looking pretty great yourself,” Harper smiled broadly.
“Harper, why don't you invite some people back here after the prom? I will cook-- you guys can hang out, listen to music, or swim if you want,” Tessa smiled.
“Okay,” Harper smiled back and hugged her, “You ready to go?”
“Yeah,” Maddox’s eyes were bright blue.
“WAIT pictures!!!” London laughed.
They sat in the back of the black SUV quietly, not a word was said.
“You are very quiet, are you sure you…” Harper began.
“I want to be here with you, Harper,” Maddox looked down and tried to figure out what to say as he laughed nervously, “You have certainly changed in the past eight months.”
Harper didn’t know how to respond she felt the heat rise from her neck to her face. Oh…. please don’t break out in hives, she pleaded with herself.
She began rubbing her neck, oh no, no, no.
“You okay?”
“No, damn it,” Harper tapped on the security glass and Tomas rolled in down, “Can you pull over for a minute please?”
Tomas pulled over and Harper jumped out. She started to walk down the road, calm down calm down, she breathed in and out slowly as she walked.
“Harper, what the hell is going on?” Maddox ran up to her and grabbed her hand.
“I just need a minute,” She pulled her hand away and he walked in front of her, blocking her from going any further.
“Seriously, what is going on Harper?” he lifted her chin up and looked at her.
“Am I a mess: my neck, my face…?”
“Your chest,” Maddox said and quickly looked up at her eyes, “Did you eat something? Is this an allergic reaction? Do you need to get to a doctor?”
Harpers lip quivered, “Its hives, it has not happened in a while but it use to happen when I got nervous. Please just go back, don’t look at me, I promise it will go away soon.”
“Why are you nervous?”
“Why are you?” Harper scowled at the ground.
“You look beautiful, Harper.”
“Well, so do you.”
“Now that we have that out in the open do you think we can head back to Tomas?” Maddox smiled and took her hand.
“Yeah, I don’t want things to be weird tonight, Maddox.”
“I think we just got weird out of the way,” he squeezed her hand, “That being said could we talk about any awkward thing that may come up, you know, so you don’t bust out in hives?”
“Sure,” she pushed him with her shoulder and laughed.
“You really do look beautiful, Harper,” Maddox opened the door for her.
“You really need to stop saying that,” Harper giggled as she sat down.
“Hives?”
“Possibly,” Harper looked into his eyes and smiled, “I forgot how blue your eyes were.”
Maddox smiled and grabbed her hand, “So tonight, who am I?”
“Who do you want to be?”
“I am a bit concerned with people knowing who I am… it may cause issues for you,” Maddox looked at her with sincerity in his beautiful blue eyes “Does anyone know I am coming with you?”
“No, I haven’t been all that social lately.”
“Why?” Maddox rubbed her hand gently.
“Well my date is going with Ava,” Harper laughed.
Maddox didn’t respond for a while. “Was he your boyfriend?”
Harper could tell he was upset, “No, not at all.”
“Good,” Maddox sat back against the leather seat, “So you’re mad at her, why?”
“Your ‘best friend,’” Harper used air quotes, “Falls for a guy who just so happens to be your prom date and then being left dateless, kind of sucks, Maddox.”
“So you liked him?” Maddox whispered.
“No,” Harper laughed, “I liked that he was not related to me, and that he liked me enough to ask me to my prom.”
“Okay.”
Maddox opened the door and held his hand out for Harper. She smiled and took his hand.
“This place has an amazing view,” Maddox looked out over Cayuga Lake.
“Do you want to walk out back before we head in?”
Maddox smiled and nodded his head yes.
They walked into the lawn and stood hand in hand, looking over the water.
“Harper, I didn’t get you flowers. They’re nice and all, but this is a special occasion in your life, I assume,” Maddox smiled.
“Both of ours. Oh, unless you already did prom at your school,” Harper said hoping he had not.
“No, I was asked, just didn’t want to go. Harper here,” Maddox handed her a box and she opened it.
Inside was a silver bracelet with a palm tree dangling from it, “You didn’t have to, but it’s beautiful.”
Harper grabbed his arm and pulled up his sleeve looking at the friendship bracelet she had given him almost a year ago, “It’s still here,” he smiled.
“It better be,” Harper laughed.
“Should we go in?”
“I guess we should.”
“You don’t seem excited.”
“I am excited you’re here, that stuff means nothing,” Harper’s face turned red.
“Don’t start getting embarrassed Harper, you may break out. I thought we were past all that.”
Harper looked at his lips and then closed her eyes. She opened them when she heard him chuckle.
“You're heating up on me, Harper,” he smiled and squeezed her hand.
“Great,” she rolled her eyes.
“I am going to give you something else okay?” he smiled shyly, “Something I think will get us both through this extremely awkward moment.”
She looked up into his blue eyes and then at his lips. He licked his lips quickly and let out a slow, sweet, minty breath. He took her face in his hands and leaned in towards her slowly… cautiously, “This okay, Harper? I haven’t kissed you since…”
Harper stood in her tip toes and kissed him quickly. His eyes stayed fixed on her lips. “I want more,” he said softly.
“Me too,” Harper wrapped her arms around his waist beneath his jacket and pulled him into her.
He kissed her softly and rubbed his nose against hers. He tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers again and again. She felt him tense up -- his muscles felt hard under her hands. He had definitely been working out.
He reached around her and took both of her hands in his and stepped back, leaving his forehead against hers. They both opened their eyes and smiled.
“Abraham-- get your ass up here!” she heard a familiar male voice yell from behind them.
“Busted,” she smiled as he straightened up, “No big deal, it’s my cousin. You met him, one of Alex’s sons.”
“Is he going to try to kick my ass?” Maddox smiled.
“He will have to get through me first,” Harper giggled, took one of his hands and walked towards the Watch.
“Liam, this is my date, Maddox,” Harper smiled as she introduced them.
“Shit, you don’t even look the same,” Liam was tall and blonde and looked just like his father did as a senior in high school.
“Good, maybe no one here will recognize me,” Maddox smiled, and they shook hands.
“We could call you…” Liam tried to think of a name.
“Yeah that’ll work-- have you heard him speak?” Harper laughed and smiled up at Maddox.
“I bet if I put forth some effort I could pull it off,” Maddox smiled back at her.
“Whatever floats your boat,” Harper giggled and kissed his cheek.
He looked at her and then Liam, and his face turned red, “You’re heating up on me, Maddox,” Harper laughed.
“Guys don’t like PDA, Harper,” Liam laughed, “Isn’t that right, Johnny?”
“Johnny?” Harper laughed.
“Sure, why not? Right?” Liam looked at Maddox.
“Sure, I reckon I can pull that off,” Maddox chuckled using a southern accent.
“What was that?” Harper laughed.
“John Wayne,” Maddox smiled.
“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that,” Liam smiled and patted his back, “Let’s just stick with Johnny.”
“Good thing it’s a masquerade,” Harper laughed.
Tomas met them at the door and handed Harper and Maddox their masks, “If you need anything, I will be out here.”
They walked into the Watch. The building resembled a barn. They were given their table assignment at the reception table. Maddox looked around taking in the beauty of the wood and brick walls.
Maddox smiled at Harper, and she smiled back at him, “Shall we?” he took her hand and began walking in the direction of the other attendees.
They walked through the large archway into the room. It was decorated in gold and red. The ceiling was lit up with thousands of twinkling white lights and gold fabric hung from beam to beam. There was a second floor that opened overlooking the dance floor. The support beams that ran from floor to ceiling were wrapped in the same gold fabric. The round tables were covered with black linen and topping off the black linen, were deep red square table covers.
Harper looked for table seven and worried it would be as awkward for her as it would be for Maddox. How the hell am I going to get him through this if I feel like crap about the whole thing?
“Harper?” Maddox asked breaking her out of her thoughts, “You okay?”
She nodded her head yes, “Why? Do you want to go-- is this too much?”
“No, you're squeezing the hell out of my hand,” He smiled, “You sure you want to do this? I mean if you’re second guessing bringing me?”
“No, Maddox, it’s just been a couple of really messed up weeks. I am just…Maddox I would not want to be here with anyone else,” Harper looked up at him lovingly.
“Then let's do this,” he smiled.
They walked to their table and Harper smiled, “Hi.”
Everyone smiled and said nothing.
“Alright then,” Harper’s hand began to shake in his.
Maddox squeezed gently and let go and pulled out her chair, “Thank you.”
“Hello I’m John,” Maddox was stepping way out of his comfort zone, but what else could he do, she was being so unlike herself.
“Hi, I’m Ava,” she stood and shook his hand, “This is Trinity, Ella, Olivia, Joe, Carter and I assume you know Liam.”
“Yes, we have met,” Maddox sat down next to Harper and smiled.
“You have been hiding on us,” Ella smiled looking at Harper.
“I don’t think I was hiding, just a lot of studying,” she rolled her eyes, “Lots!”
“But why didn’t you want to ride with us?” Trinity asked.
“I just thought Madd… err, my date would be more comfortable. He doesn’t know anyone and he got into town late. I wouldn’t have wanted you all to skip the group pictures at the park, on account of my date.” Harper smiled convincingly at them.
“So where are you from, and how do you know Harper?” Ava asked sitting forward.
“My dad hired him,” Harper giggled.
“Oh yeah,” Liam laughed and Maddox chuckled.
“Yep,” Harper laughed, “Look at him, definitely worth every cent. My pictures are going to be perfect.”
Maddox laughed, and Ava gasped.
“Rentadate.com?” Liam asked.
“No, rentahotdate.com,” Harper smiled.
Everyone at the table gasped, it was truly unlike Harper to act this way. She was normally quiet and refined.
“What?”
“I don’t know,” Ava asked annoyed, “You don’t talk like…like that?”
“It’s okay for you all, but not me?” Harper smiled and her face started turning red.
“Can I have a moment?” Maddox smiled and stood up pulling her chair out.
“Sure,” Harper stood confused as he took her hand and lead her onto the patio.
“Harper, we don’t have to do this,” he lifted her mask and looked into her eyes.
“Did it offend you? I mean I’m sorry if …how stupid of course it…” Harper tried to turn away.
“I’m not offended; I do have a sense of humor. I am just confused as to who the real Harper is. They seem to think you’re acting, and I don’t want you to do that with me,” Maddox said quietly.
Harper lifted his mask and saw his brows knit together, “You know more about me than any of them, Maddox. I just don’t feel comfortable sharing my true self with them. They all say they are pretty tight, but that’s not what I see. Ella was supposed to come to the prom with Billy but he is at table four with Amber, who was Ella’s best friend until she screwed around with Billy. So they now hate each other. Amber was dating Joe who is now here with Olivia because he was going to go with Ava, who is now here with Carter, who was going to be my date. It’s all drama all the time. I’m sure it’s normal high school behavior. I guess I’m not normal.”
“Thank God,” Maddox smiled. “I am extremely grateful that you're not normal.”
