Chapter 48
1193 Words
“Yes, I’ll go apologize to Sarah Lynne now,” I muttered with a sigh, getting up from my chair.
“Well, not so fast, Angel,” James grabs me by the waist and I spin around to meet his gaze.
Our height difference was not much, but it was enough for him to tower over me, and hold those jaw-dropping grins over me. I was swooning internally. His eyes held me stronger than his arms did. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.
I swear those emerald gems are going to be the death of me.
“I’ve been running around all night trying to play my cards right to not spoil our evening. I danced with the principal. The custodian. Even the damned secretary. And I admit, the guys from the basketball team were pretty cool to hang out with. But all I’ve ever really wanted was a dance with you, my lady,” he whispered so smoothly that I forgot how to breathe, almost literally.
I take a big gulp of saliva, trying to fight the speechlessness rushing over me. But the only word I could mutter was a soft ‘okay.’
“Can I have this dance, Charlotte?” As those words left his lips, the song started playing to the tune of Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You.
I admit, in other worlds, with other people, this may have been a cringe and vomiting moment. But as he led me to the dance floor and as his basketball teammates jokingly halved the room to give us an entrance, I felt giddy.
This was a swoon-worthy moment. James was a swoon-worthy guy.
Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
He takes my hand and places it over his shoulder. His arms went around my waist, clutching onto me, strongly yet softly. He starts guiding me to the beat of the music, swaying softly along the dance floor.
Some people think
That the physical things
Define what's within
And I've been there before
That life's a bore
So full of the superficial
He tilts my head up to meet his gaze. His eyes sparkled. I imagine so do mine. Everyone was looking at us. I even caught a glimpse of the principal smiling at me sheepishly. Beatrice held her date’s hand as she grinned at me. Charles held a contented look at James’ back.
I had always been intimidated by an audience. But right now, all I could think about was how I was dying to kiss James. He smiled at me, noticing the way I stared at his mouth.
Oh, fork it.
I disregarded all the inhibitions I felt and went for it. I tiptoed to reach his lips and kiss him. My hands snaked up his neck tighter. He kisses back, although only for a moment. The crowd went wild at our kiss and I was actually impressed at how well I managed my stage fright. The principal whistles to attract our attention to stop us. But no one could stop us. Not the feelings we had for each other. We laugh it off and so does the crowd.
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
We resumed swaying to the music. He was a dancer who danced the most complex dance steps. But here we were, swaying in a diamond to the music. And I saw that in his face he could not be more satisfied with where we were. Likewise, I could not have asked for more.
Some people search for a fountain
Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me
He takes my hand and brings it up to his face, kissing my palm softly. By now, everyone else had begun to join us again on the dance floor. The pounding in my chest, which I ignored and considered as background music, had slowed down.
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you
“I really, really like you, Lottie,” He whispers, bringing his head down to my shoulders. Our five-inch difference did not matter at the moment. He cozies onto the crevice of my neck and breathes down on me. His breath was hot and slow. I could hear his heart beating with the distance our bodies held.
The song ended and he lifted up his head, meeting my gaze.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to him.
“For what?”
He guides me off the dance floor and we make it back to our table where the others sat, eating. Once B sees me making my way, she screeches and hugs me.
“That was so forking cool!” She exclaims. “Tucker, I can’t believe you pulled that off. How the hell did you do that? And Charlotte, I’m telling you right now, if you break up with James, I will not allow you to date any more boys. This is the best you’re ever gonna get, and you will not let go of him. D’you hear me!?” She shrieked into my ears and I had to pull her off me to avoid bursting my eardrums.
We laugh at her outburst and I shrug it off. But I know Beatrice is right.
“So, you actually got the DJ to time your song, huh?” Charles asks.
“Yeah, and it wasn’t easy,” James chided. “I had to give his daughter a dance. His daughter’s a senior.”
“Oh, so you danced with another girl?” Charles giddily slid over to the seat next to James, looking closely at my expression.
Hearing it from James’ lips so casually, it didn’t bother me. It was a dance.
“Was it like the dance you had with Charlotte?” Sarah Lynne piped.
This bench.
“No,” James turned to me with that answer, looking at me sternly. “It was not like our dance at all. It was the typical dance. Kind of awkward, but she wasn’t mean or anything.”
“Oh, unlike Charlotte, then?” Sarah Lynne continues her conjectures.
I glare at Charles. She was his date. She needed to shut her mouth. Also, because I was scared of meeting her gaze. Charles was a better foe.
“Come on, Sarah Lynne. Let’s have one more dance before this place closes up,” Charles grabs Sarah Lynne, chuckling as they left us.
- Writer
