Sterling's POV:
I smiled at Hunter, nodding as I carefully took Eden's arm. "Of course. I'm sure my mother would love to see them as well if you would send them to her," I suggested, wrapping an arm around my girlfriend's waist to pose.
Ashley's POV:
I smiled against Lucas' lips as I kissed him back. He was being cautious, I could tell. But why? It didn't matter to me how hard he kissed me, just as long as he did, though, so this was perfectly okay…
"What was that for?" I murmured, pulling back just a bit to smile at him gently.
Eden's POV:
After about five minutes of taking pictures (and me being tingly all over to the close proximity between me and Sterling. Which, might I add, involved his arm around my waist), dad finally decided to let us go. He hoped these pictures were enough for mom, and I hoped the same thing.
"I'll see you later, dad," I stood on my toes and tried to kiss my dad on the cheek, but due to the height difference, I barely reached his chin. Dad chuckled and kissed me on the head instead. "Tell grandpa I said thank you. And that I miss him, a lot. Tell him I'll call him when I get home."
Dad nodded. My dad's relationship with grandpa wasn't that great. We (Luke and I) could tell with the way they interacted with each other during family meetings. I didn't understand why because no one would fill us in, but I had heard bits and pieces. Grandpa was a horrible person. But I only took notice of the was. Grandpa wasn't terrible anymore. He was trying and that's what mattered. Plus, I knew he loved all of us.
"Don't accept drinks from strangers," Dad warned. I wondered how long he had to wait to say that. "And remember, always keep your phone on you. If someone tries touching you–"
"Break their hand," I finished for him. "Anyway, we'll get going now."
I grabbed Sterling's hand before my dad started trolling me. We argue back and forth, and dad's made it his mission to make me flustered, especially now that he knows I have a boyfriend.
Before I could drag Sterling away so my dad wouldn't embarrass me any further, dad spoke again.
"Be home by nine!"
I scowled.
Sterling’s POV:
I chuckled a bit at the interaction between the father and daughter. “Yes, sir. I’ll make sure to have her home by then,” I assured him as I took Eden’s hand.
After walking her out to my car, I gently took her face in my hands, kissing her hard. “You look so… dang… gorgeous…” I murmured against her lips.
(I forgot to reply in Lucas's part! :o)
Lucas's POV:
I smiled back at Ashley, softly rubbing her cheeks with my thumb.
"I don't want to smudge your lipstick," I replied with a chuckle. "I do assume I've got lipstick on my lips, don't I?"
Eden's POV:
The second Sterling's lips pressed against mine, my stomach exploded. Tingles ran through my body to my toes, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. Although Sterling had my face cupped gently, his kiss wasn't gentle. It was hard, deep, and passionate, and it was enough to make me shake.
I smiled at his compliment.
"You don't look bad yourself," I murmured, taking his lower lip in between my teeth. "Watch the makeup, Sterling. Luke would be upset if he saw it smudged."
(Lol.)
Ashley’s POV:
I chuckled a bit. “Actually, you mom gave my mom a tip for unsmudging lipstick, so you’re safe. My other makeup, on the other hand, is still able to be messed up, so I would be careful if I were you. At least until after the dance,” I teased, reaching up to kiss him gently.
Sterling’s POV:
I pulled my lip from her teeth, biting down on hers after. “Well, I’ll be sure to be careful,” I chuckled against her lips before pulling away. “And I’m sure I’ve been marked now, haven’t I? Are my lips as red as your lipstick?”
Lucas’s POV:
I grinned before kissing my girlfriend back, wrapping an arm around her. I know I shouldn’t be kissing her in front of her house, but it wasn’t as if anything was going to stop me. She looked extremely beautiful in that dress that it made it incredibly hard for me to look at her and not do anything.
“I guess we should take the kissing to a minimum, hm?”
Eden’s POV:
I hummed in delight as Sterling bit down on my lip in retaliation, and when he pulled away, I gave him a look of disappointment. It was when I looked at him carefully that I broke into chuckles, and although I knew my condition would probably be the same, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You look hilarious,” I laughed, my toes starting to hurt from standing on them as I reached up to carefully wipe the lipstick smudges off of his mouth, only to fail. “I think you’ll have to go to the party with that still very prominent on your features.”
Even though I said that, I searched for the wipes I kept in my bag. I didn’t want him going to the party looking like this. It could ruin his image. I didn’t want that.
Ashley's POV:
I giggled a bit when he kissed me back, pulling away gently. I opened my eyes to look at him softly, my head cocked to the side as I studied him with a small smile. "Unfortunately, I would have to say yes. But, like I said, only until after the party. Then, you can kiss me all you like," I said with a wink.
Sterling's POV:
"Well, at least the girls will finally know that I'm officially taken," I chuckled, my lips still tingling from her running her fingers over them. Reaching up, I rubbed at the places I might have lipstick left over. "So I don't really mind, honestly. Unless you do?"
Lucas's POV
I shook my head, laughing slightly. Grabbing her head, I lead her over to my car.
"Stop being such a flirt, Ash,"
Eden's POV:
I shook my head, curling my toes as Sterling touched his mouth to rub the lipstick off. I finally found my wipes and I reached up to softly dab his mouth, smiling in satisfaction when it started to get off.
"I don't mind," I mumbled, still trying to wipe off the red from his mouth. "But you look ridiculous, so we have to."
Ashley’s POV:
“Me? Flirt with you? Never! I would never flirt with my boyfriend,” I giggled, squeezing his hand as I opened the car door. “That’s impossible. You must be thinking of someone else.”
Sterling’s POV:
I looked down at her softly as she tried to get the red from off my lips. She really looked amazing tonight. And I was sure that I would only think she’d look more and more beautiful every day.
“You really look breathtaking tonight, Eden,” I murmured, reaching out to squeeze her free hand.
Lucas's POV:
I rolled my eyes.
"Why should I think of someone else when I have you to think about?"
Eden's POV:
I tried not to get distracted from my task but failed as I looked up to meet Sterling's eyes, getting lost in them immediately. Luckily for me, the second he squeezed my hand, I snapped out of it.
"You should thank Lucas," I murmured in reply, squeezing his hand back. "I wasn't thinking of styling my hair or wearing makeup. And you look amazing, too, Ry."
Ashley’s POV:
I grinned, biting my lip to hold in a giggle. Before sliding into my seat, I reached up to brush my lips against his, even though I knew he would think I was teasing him from the action. And who says I wasn’t? “You’re the only one I think about, too, babe.”
Sterling’s POV:
“You would have looked amazing either way,” I said before bending down to kiss her forehead gently. I didn’t want to have to waste more time on wiping her lipstick from my lips. I could do that enough when I got home. “Are you ready to go?”
Lucas's POV:
"I'd better be," I grumbled, my cheeks turning pink. "Now let's go make a dramatic entrance."
Eden's POV:
I nodded, reaching out to touch the spot Sterling kissed. I'd read a lot about forehead kisses and just how sweet they were, but I'd never understood it from this side of love. I understood it today.
"Your lips aren't red anymore, so let's go."
Ashley’s POV:
“Oh, yes. Let’s. We can show off to the other students my amazing boyfriend’s dancing skills tonight!” I declared with a grin.
Sterling’s POV:
I smiled down at her as she touched the place I’d kissed her. She really was adorable, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
“Of course. Let’s go take the crowns of king and queen, shall we?” I chuckled as I opened her door for her.
Lucas's POV:
"Well, I will be slow dancing with you, so I'm afraid they won't see my amazing skills," I brought the engine to life, and after making sure Ashley had her seatbelt on, I drove.
Eden's POV:
I laughed, hugging myself, the cold wind blowing against my uncovered arms. Talking with Sterling made me forget the type of dress I was wearing, but the cold wind reminded me again. I rubbed my arms unconsciously before I thanked Sterling for his chivalry and sat in the passenger seat, putting on the seatbelt before waiting for him to join me in his heavenly soft car.
Ashley’s POV:
I laughed lightly and glanced over at him. “There will be other songs that aren’t slow, you know,” I reminded him with a smile.
(I forgot Sterling’s response… Hold on…)
(Actually… Let’s just skip.)
Eden’s POV:
When Sterling parked his car, I gripped the seatbelt tightly. It wasn’t that I was scared. I was just… feeling like an outsider. I’d never gone to such parties. I’d never interacted with anyone. Hell, I had never even worn such a dress before.
Yet here I am, in my boyfriend’s car outside school where I’ll be going to prom. It was really hard to imagine fitting in. I had never fit in school before and I doubted I would fit in this event.
I noticed Sterling looking at me and I realized he had finished parking.
“Oh,” I quickly removed the seatbelt and opened my door, stepping out slowly so I wouldn’t trip. I waited for Sterling to join me.
Sterling’s POV:
I smiled softly at Eden and stepped out to walk her up. Making my way to her, I offered her my arm. “Are you ready? We don’t have to go in yet if you’re not.”
Eden’s POV:
I looked at Sterling, then at the arm he was offering me before I took it without objections.
“No,” I shook my head. “It’s not that I’m not ready. People… just tend to stress me out.”
Sterling's POV:
"Well, I'll be right by your side if you need anything. Unless you need to use the bathroom. I'll let you have your privacy for that," I joked with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood as we stepped up to the school.
Eden’s POV:
Right before we entered, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.
It was going to be okay. I wasn’t going to get frustrated. We weren’t going to pick fights.
It was prom. It wasn’t a battlefield. I could do this.
I opened my eyes again after one more deep breath and felt myself turn into the Eden I was more familiar with.
We entered and almost immediately I felt eyes on me. Countless confused, shocked and fearful expressions all staring at me. And honestly, I treated their stares the same way I treated them at school.
I looked ahead and paid them no glance.
“It’s very humid in here,” I commented. “Even though the party just started.”
Sterling's POV:
I hummed and smiled over at her, ignoring the looks as much as she was; although, I was doing it because I could hardly take my eyes off of her. They didn't bother me, anyway. I was used to being in the spotlight, seeing as I happened to be one of the most popular guys in school. Ashley has told me multiple times, though, that I am probably the most popular guy, but I still didn't think so.
"It is. Would you like a drink? We could go get punch," I suggested.
Eden’s POV:
“Water’s fine for me,” I answered, hugging Sterling’s arm tighter. I looked down slowly, trying to find my brother and Ashley, but the mass of bodies blocked my view. “Er, do you see Luke and Ashley anywhere?”
Sterling's POV:
I glanced around the room, my height making it easier for me to see above heads than Eden. The couple in question were off to the side of the room, though I couldn't quite see what they were doing.
"Yeah, they're over there," I said, pointing them out to her. "But I have no idea what they're doing…"
