The Loneliest Stars || EDITING

Chapter 18

Earlier that week, Natalia had been asked to chaperone the Homecoming dance. Gabe volunteered too and then had asked her to go with him. It was incredibly sweet and she didn't deny that a big part of her wanted to impress him. While he had seen her on many different occasions, he'd never seen her fully dressed up.

She was a little nervous but excited, he had explained that their duties would be to supervise the hormone-ridden little adults through the night, sneak in some dancing of their own and, and get buzzed on the secret teacher's supply of alcohol. It sounded more interesting than any other high school event she had been to, including her own end of year-11 formal many moons ago.

Her formerly curly hair, hung down in smooth waves down her back with a side parting. She had done her makeup, after watching a dozen YouTube tutorials and settling on a soft glam look. Smoky eyes, subtle false lashes and her pouty lips outlined in a nude taupe coloured lipstick and liner; finished with a clear lip gloss.

She dressed in a midi length bodycon dress with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Lima has designed it when she had wanted to practice on fuller figures and it had become a staple in her collections, in many different colours and fabrics. The cut and construction of the dress skimmed Natalia's insecurities and highlighted her favourite parts of her body.

The neckline showed off her long neck, the subtle ruching on the sides emphasised her rounded hips and capacious behind. Satisfied, Natalia put on gold hoops for earrings. You could take the girl out of North London but you couldn't take North London out of a girl.

She texted Gabe to let him know she was done getting dressed and waited for him by her porch swing. He came out of his front door moments later.

She hadn't seen him in a couple of days, they'd been in touch via text but it wasn't the same. Nothing beat seeing him in the flesh and her heart somersaulted in her chest several times, at the sight of him.

He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, with no tie, the collar undone, black slim cut trousers and shiny shoes. He looked devilishly handsome, his hair had been coerced into a style that made her weak at the knees with some gel and the scruff on his face had been reduced to a designer stubble.

He took her in slowly, taking his time, his green eyes full of appreciation. "I think you should give me a twirl," he said finally, a smile in his voice.

"Yeah?" Natalia said slowly twisting on the spot so he could see her entire body, somewhere in their interactions she had forgotten to feel self-conscious. He simultaneously made her feel like the only and the most beautiful woman in the world. It was kind of scary how much of an effect he had on her.

"Mmm, I don't want to share you with those horn-dogs. Should we blow this altogether?"

"No, Gabe!" Natalia hit him on the arm but laughed in amusement despite herself.

"What? You look beautiful and I have no trouble admitting that I'm a selfish bastard."

"Keep talking and you might persuade me." Natalia smiled coyly at him through thick lashes.

"And if I do this..." He pulled her close, until not even a subatomic particle could pass between them and pressed his lips to hers.

If Natalia closed her eyes, she could maybe hear a chorus of angels, sing in relief, that's what waiting days for him to kiss her had felt like.

Her eyes fluttered open, "I - Umm...what was the question?" She asked, entirely flustered.

"Shoot, I can't remember either," Gabe told her, pulling her back in for another, deeper kiss that told her he'd missed her as much as she had missed him. Maybe it was true what they said about absences and fondness but she wasn't that keen on proving it true.