The Cliche Gone Wrong

Chapter Fifty-five

Once I'm at the top of the stairs I take the hallway on the left to head to his bedroom, but he's not inside like I expected. Instead Chi is laying on the bed, licking her little grey and white paw. She has an oversized, sparkly silver bow tied loosely around her neck, making her bright blue eyes pop even more.

"Well hello my little Chiyu!" I say excitedly, holding my arms out as I wait for her to jump off the bed and run up to me. And she does just that, barking happily as she jumps on my feet until I scoop her up.

"You look so cute in that bow, baby girl," I coo at her, looking around the room to see if Shills is hiding in a corner or something.

She barks again, trying to lick at my face as she wiggles excitedly. I can't help giggling at her happiness as I look at the spot on the bed she just lying on. I see another white envelope, this time slightly crumpled since Chi was lying on it. I walk up and grab it, pulling out the cardstock to read my next clue.

"Our happily ever after is almost here. Ask Chi to lead you to me."

I look from the note, down to Chi, and then back. Can she even do that? I shrug my shoulders at the request before I put her down on the ground, hoping Shills plan doesn't go to shit this close to the ending. 

"Chi baby," I snap my fingers to get her attention. "Take me to Jude. Go to Papa!"

Surprisingly Chi hops into motion, taking off at a jog out the bedroom door and down the hallway. I jog to keep up with her, following her back down the stairs and down the main hallway that leads to the back of the house. Chi stops in front of the double doors that lead to the back yard, barking at me to open them. I scoop her up into my arms again before I open the doors, stepping outside and looking around.

My eyes lock on Shills immediately. He's standing about 10 feet away in a black suit, his hair slicked back away from his face and another bouquet of flowers in his hand. But the flowers don't stop there, because there are literally dozens of flower arrangements placed around the backyard, along with tiny candles flickering sporadically.

I laugh loudly at the scene, unable to hold onto Chi as she jumps from my arms and starts running around the large grass lawn. So this is where all the flowers and candles were hiding! The smile on my face is so wide it hurts my cheeks, but I don't try to contain it as I watch Shills gather his courage to start talking.

"Kene—" Shills voice cracks in the middle of the word, forcing him to start over, "Kenedi, I know this is kind of late, but will you go to Senior Ball with me?"

I can't contain my glee any longer, throwing myself across the space between us and into his arms. He just barely catches me, managing to stay on his own two feet as I bury my face into his neck.

"It took you long enough to ask me!" I murmur into his neck.

I lean back just far enough so I can press my lips lightly against his. He kisses me back hesitantly, trying to mumble apologies in the millimeter of space that appears between our lips every few seconds.

I finally pull back so we can hold an actual conversation. "Do you know how impossible it is to find a Ball gown the week before the fucking dance? You couldn't have dropped me a hint a couple weeks ago or something?"

"I'm sorry," he apologizes, sheepishly although his eyes flicker down and to the left.

I kiss him again quickly to sooth his worries. "It's okay. I'm just happy you asked me at all."

Shills nods nervously grabbing my hand and leading me over to sit on the patio set under the awning a few feet away. He pulls an extra-large gift bag from underneath the table and shoves it into my lap, encouraging me to open it. I look at him curiously as I struggle to reach inside, wondering what else he could have possibly gotten me. My hand connects with fabric and jewels, and my mouth drops open again.