SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Thirteen
Looking around, I try to see if I can spot Lori’s car anywhere as I pull into the school parking lot. We had agreed to meet at eight p.m. and enter the gymnasium where the dance is held, together. I send her a text asking where she might be and then, I wait. After ten minutes I give up, she must be inside and unable to hear her phone.
With an aggravated sigh, I fling my car door open and very carefully, remove myself and high-heeled shoes out of my vehicle. This is the second time in my entire life that I have worn high heels. The first time was just last year when my cousin forced me to dress up and be a bridesmaid in her wedding. If you are wondering, I look like a drunk chick stumbling around as I slowly make my way to the front of the school.
Entering the gym, I look at all of the decorations. The room has been completely transformed to look like an enchanted forest. I stare in awe at the moon hanging from the ceiling and then my attention drifts towards the trees that have been strategically placed around the gymnasium, from there my eyes come to rest upon a magical pond that is shimmering from the light of the moon up above and I stand frozen where I am, feeling completely at home in this magical oasis!
Lost in my own little world, I jump a mile when I feel someone behind me, tapping me on my shoulder. I spin around so quickly that I could have given myself whiplash! Instead, I go all wobbly on my heels, nearly losing my balance. I am laughing at myself before I realize I have placed my hand on the shoulder of the person who had tapped me.
I hear Ash ask; “are you okay?”
Nodding my head yes, I reply saying yes as well. “HI!”, I squeak out in a high-pitched voice, very unlike me I might add. After finding a little composure, I ask, “what are you doing here?”
This causes Ash to chuckle and then smirk before responding; “uh, this is a school dance... everybody is here, I think?” I roll my eyes at his comment. I look around the now crowded room, shocked at how many people have managed to crowd into the open space of the gym.
“I meant how did you find me in this sea of humans?” Ash sweeps his eyes around the gym before giving his shoulders a shrug.
“Huh, must be your magnetic personality. I was drawn right to you.” There is a twinkle in his eyes, and he smiles widely at me. Unfortunately, before I can think of a witty response, I hear two voices whom I rather would have wished I hadn’t.
“There she is my beautiful girl!” Blake states loudly as he comes to stand by me, throwing his heavy arm around my waist as though stating his claim on me. But Lori comes bouncing up to me just then, throwing her arms around me in a hug which causes Blake’s grip on me to loosen.
“Oh my gosh,” Lori exclaims; “Look how beautiful you look, Sofia. Boys, doesn’t Sofie look beautiful?”
Ash and Blake both speak at the same time; “hell yeah, of course my girl looks stunning!”
I hear Blake but my attention is focused on Ash and his words; “you look absolutely amazing.” My heart flutters and Ash and I share a brief smile. And then, Blake takes my hand and drags me out to the dance floor before anything else can be said.
I glance over my shoulder as I’m being pulled through the crowd to see Ash watching me walk away but just before I am swallowed up in the abyss of students, I see Lori start to chat with him and my blood begins to boil.
After the haze of red goes from my eyes, I see Blake high fiving some of his buddies who were already on the floor dancing with girls. Suddenly I’m spun out and then back into Blakes arms. Laughing, I let the moment consume me.
I’m not sure how long I had been on the floor, but I know at this exact second, I’m dying of thirst. I try to shout to Blake that I’m going over to get myself a drink but just give up and go to the table. Blake is fully surrounded by people, and I highly doubt he will even notice that I’m not next to him.
The first glass of punch I chug. It tastes watery but I’m so dehydrated that I don’t even notice the lack of flavor. My second glass I drink much slower and look around at all the students gathered, having fun, dancing and all just getting along. My eyes land on Blake off on the right side of the gym surrounded by his buddies and then I notice someone slinking up to him. Why in the world is his ex, Ashley standing so close and looking very cozy with him?
I watch as she runs her hand up and down his arm, he in turn smiling at her. Honestly, I know I should be super pissed off at the scene unfolding before me but I’m not. Instead, I release a breath, a sigh of relief that Blake isn’t glued to my side at the moment, and I decide to find Lori and see what she’s up to.
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I’ve got to do something soon! I know Charlie said I shouldn’t, but I can’t stand watching her talk to other guys. My heart flipped over itself when I spotted her standing there on the floor, lost in thought. She is standing there in that dress, wow. She truly looks like fire. It took all of myself control not to run right up to her and wrap her in my arms. Wanting nothing more than to protect her from this crazy world.