Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 26: Prom Night

   The week went by rather easily. Jaxon went to school while I finished my classes online, it was mainly exams, so it was pretty easy. No one except my mom, Marie, Preston and Mark knew that I was back. Marie was so mad at me that I hadn't contacted her, but when I told her more of the truth than I had Jaxon she wasn't mad anymore, she was only mad at the people that had done that to me, and I did manage to leave that part out, there was no way I wanted her to know about Samantha and Darlene, I not only feared for my life, but the safety of my family and friends as well. 

       I told her, mom, and Preston about our plans after Saturday, they weren't happy that I had planned on not going to prom or walking across the stage for graduation, but they said they understood. Marie bought me a dress anyway and left it hanging in Jaxon's closet, she said it was a, just in case. My plan was better though, I talked Jaxon into taking Marie, that way he made an appearance, and they wouldn't think anything of it. Marie didn't like it either, but she agreed.

      Friday came before I knew it and Marie had come over for me to help her get ready, Jaxon was there too, said he wasn't leaving me until he just absolutely had too.

    "I can't believe you talked me into this." Marie grumbled as I was zipping her dress. "And why do we have to go early?"

      "Because, Jaxon needs to make an appearance, pretty sure he is in the running for prom king, and you deserve to go to your senior prom, and who else better than Jax to take you." I winked at her in the mirror as she looked herself over. "You look stunning," I gushed over her.

     "Skyla, you should get this opportunity too, and we can both go with Jaxon, one on each arm." I couldn't help but laugh at her. "I am serious."

     "She's right baby," Jaxon cooed in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his chin on my shoulder. "I don't want to do this without you, no offense Marie."

     "None taken, now I am going to get my wrap and clutch, maybe you can talk some sense into her." Marie rolled her eyes as she basically stomped out of the bathroom.

     Jaxon turned me around in his arms and I gasped looking at this handsome man in front of me, he was in a black tux with a baby blue shirt underneath that matched the dress that Marie had bought me. His hair was combed perfectly to the side and his face was flawless with a fresh shave. "How did I get so lucky?" I gently placed a kiss on his cheek. "Now you guys go, I will have the packing done when you get back."

      "Baby, please." He stuck his bottom lip out and tried to give me those puppy dog eyes that I loved so often. "I want you on my arm, by my side, I promise I will take care of you."

     "Honey, I promise when we get out of here. I will let you take me anywhere you want on your arm; I will dress up and everything, but we have to do it this way. People can't know I am back."

     "Yea, you keep saying that, but you won't tell me why." He grumbled and I couldn't help but laugh. No, I hadn't told him, I didn't want any more problems, and I couldn't take anymore, right now my body was still healing.

     "When we leave here, I promise I will tell you everything." It was true, I had been thinking about it for awhile now. When we left and the threat was no longer evident, then I could tell him everything, and I think that he would leave it where it was, I don't think he would risk me coming back here and opening up old wounds.

     "Promise?" For the first time tonight, I could tell he was happy about at least this.

     "Promise." I kissed his lips before turning him around and slapping his butt shoving him out the door. "Now go."

     "Fine." He turned around kissing me deeply, I swear when that boy kissed me my whole world melted away into his hands. "I love you Skyla."

     "I love you too Jax."

      I watched as they left and apart of me felt guilty making him do this, I knew how badly he wanted me to go, but I just couldn't. Instead, I cranked up the music on my ear buds and began dancing my way around the room packing our things that we were taking with us. We were only taking the basics, clothes, electronics, a few mementos, toiletries, etc.

      I was so lost in what I was doing I hadn't even realized someone had entered the room with me until I felt a cold hand on my arm, and I screamed so loud I probably woke up the whole neighborhood. I turned around so fast ready to punch someone's lights out, when I stopped dead in my tracks at a frantic looking Rosa.

     I jerked the ear buds out, "Rosa, what are doing here? And you just scared the living tar out of me."

     "I had to come warn you. Honestly, I thought you would have taken me up on my offer before now, but now it is a real threat, and you have to leave."

     "Rosa, I have been hidden for six weeks now, and we are leaving as soon as Jax walks across the stage tomorrow and gets his diploma."

    "No, you don't understand, they know you are here. They knew exactly when you got here. And you have to leave tonight, without him. Now get your stuff I am taking you out of here."

   "No, I can't leave him, I can't leave without telling him goodbye. And if I try to tell him goodbye, he won't let me leave. I can't just leave. Don't you understand?"

   Rosa took my hands and wiped the tears I didn't even realizing were falling, "I do, trust me, but you have to leave." She pulled me into a hug, I just hoped she could feel how my heart was breaking. "Skyla this is life or death here, you will find each other again I promise, but for now, you have to go."

     "I have to at least tell him goodbye."

     "Okay, I will make a deal with you. Go get dressed and I will pack your stuff. I already have an untraceable car for you so I will throw it all in there. You can go say goodbye but then you have to promise you will get out of there without him. I have a burner phone already in the car so you can contact me as soon as you are clear or if you need me, but you have to leave all your electronics here so they can't trace you." I only nodded my head and ran to the bathroom.

     Looks like I am going to prom, anyway, might as well do it in style. I grabbed the dress Marie had bought and was in awe, it was the same color as Jaxon's shirt, with silver beading that ran along the seams, the bottom was a light material that flowed like water around my legs and the top was a simple halter top. I love that my friend knew my style, elegant but simple. I didn't have time to do much, so I put a light bit of makeup on and spritzed my hair just a bit letting it flow down my back freely in beautiful curls. Taking one last look in the mirror I fought with everything I had to hold the tears back.

     I wasn't sure how I got here, I wasn't sure what the real threat was and/or why it was life threatening, but Rosa's voice and panic was enough to make me believe wholeheartedly that this was it, I had to go. I hoped that what she said was true, I hoped and prayed that we would find each other again. I didn't even know where I was going from here, the only person I knew was Clare that wasn't around here, and I knew if I went there, he would find me.

     Rosa helped me leave to the garage quietly, so no one saw me, there I found a small four door, brownish colored, older modeled Toyota corolla. "Hey don't knock it. It's pretty dependable and it is unnoticeable, plus it doesn't have all the bells and whistles so nobody can track it. And the best part it's in your mom's name so all is good."

     "My mom?" I asked as I climbed in the car.

     She nodded her head, "She knows everything Skyla. And she is on board to do whatever it takes to secure your safety. Now go, you don't have much time, and remember you have to get lost." She hugged me one last time and turned to leave. I just watched her walk away into the darkness, the driveway looked like it was the longest journey I had ever seen.

     Could this all be true, could this really all be life and death. I shook the thoughts from my head and started the car, making the last drive away from there I would ever make.

     By the time I got to the school, the party was in full swing. I could hear the music blaring as soon as I got out of the car. I walked slowly up the steps to the building and stopped in my tracks as I turned to look behind me, I swear it felt as if someone was watching me, it was so bad it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. After, scanning the area slowly I saw that there was no one there so I returned to my path.

    "We can do this Skyla." I said out loud to myself. I had to.

      "Alright, everyone gather around, it's time for the crowning of this year's senior prom king and queen." The voice boomed over the speaker system as I stepped into the gym.

     The gym was decorated in purple, black and silver. There were streamers, balloons and even the chair wraps and tablecloths matched. They had made the center a dance floor and put the stage at the end of the floor under the scoreboard. The lights were low, and they had strobe lights going everywhere. People moved about around me, not even noticing I was there, but I was grateful for that. I stopped at the edge of the floor and quickly scanned the room, first I saw Marie and she saw me too, but I couldn't find Jaxon anywhere.

      Marie wasted no time to get to me and wrapped her arms around me, "I am so glad you made it. I am so tired of hearing about Skyla this and Skyla that. Let me tell you that boy has got it bad for you."

     I shook my head to shut her rambling up, "Marie, I have to leave. I only came to say goodbye."

    She took a step back, her eyes wide as saucers, "What do you mean?"

    "I can't tell you anything, other than that this is a life-or-death matter. I don't have much time, where is Jaxon?"

    "Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. This year's graduating class is one of the most intelligent students I have ever had the privilege of coming to our school." I rolled my eyes at the announcer over the PA system, Marie tried to speak, and I just held my finger up. I wanted to hear this. "And before we announce this year's king and queen, I would like to say, please everyone don't party too hard tonight. I would like to see everyone on the stage tomorrow to get your diploma's." The crowd laughed and he cleared his throat to silence them. "So, without further interruptions, I present to you this year's prom king, Jaxon and prom queen, Samantha." The crowd clapped and whooped and whistled and Marie and I only rolled our eyes.

     My eyes scanned the floor until I saw Jaxon walk away from his friends to the center of the floor, his back was to me, but I would be able to tell him in any crowd. My heart pitter pattered, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory of the night of homecoming. He had run to me and left her there, but I knew that couldn't happen tonight, I didn't need him to see me right now, I didn't need him to leave her out there again and put a target on mine or his back. Samantha sauntered to the middle of the floor with her eyes locked on him, like a tiger stalking its last meal.

     "Where are you going?" Marie finally spoke.

     "I don't know, but I promise when I get there, I will get in touch. I just know I have to go."

     Marie turned to stand beside me as we watched Jaxon and Samantha dance. Samantha was trying to get closer to him and he was trying to hold her as far away as possible. Marie laughed in my ear and leaned in, "You know, you are the love of his life."

     "I know, and he is mine." Jaxon had still not saw me, but when they turned Samantha did and I felt my stomach drop. Instead of looking shocked she just smirked at me and wrapped her arms around his neck instead of just having her hands on his shoulders. I could feel my heart trying to beat out of my chest and the oxygen in the air was starting to be sucked out as I watched her pull him closer, but then she latched on to his lips with hers and my world slipped away again, he didn't even push her away. "I have to go." That was my last words to Marie as I turned and ran from there, back to my car.

     I drove like a bat out of hell until the school was no longer in my rear-view mirror. How could he? I mean I know I was planning on leaving him, but he didn't know that; she kissed him, and he let her, he didn't even push her away. My other inner voice was shouting to shut up, it wasn't what it looked like, and I didn't even watch long enough to see what he was doing. I found a place on the side of the road to pull over and breathe. There was no way I could drive at that moment, I needed to get out a minute.

     After I made sure that the coast was clear, I jumped out and ran to the trunk to grab me a change of clothes. I grabbed the first t-shirt and pair of leggings I came to and quickly changed into them on the side of the road, leaving the dress in a heap where it fell. A car in the distance made me hide behind my car, hoping whomever it was just kept on driving, and I gave thanks to the heavens above when it turned up a road just ahead. I double checked there were no cars coming and climbed back in my car, pulling out on the road and driving like a mad man again.