Garden Secrets

Chapter 1

"Come on guys! We don't want to miss the party!" Phoenix yelled, dragging Leah and Reid towards the open gym doors. Her mass of black curls bounced on her shoulder.

"You can't miss the party when you are the party," Leah laughed, her blue eyes sparkling, "you're like smoking hot. Right Reid?"

"I guess so but look at you. You are absolutely stunning!" Reid responded, rubbing his hand through her chocolate curls.

"Shut up!" Leah responded as she playfully punched his shoulder.

"Was that supposed to hurt baby," Reid grinned.

"Don't call me baby," Leah laughed.

"Guys quit flirting and come on, prom isn't gonna last all night and I better see y'all in there," Phoenix snapped. Her black dress reflected the colored light spilling from the open gym doors while Leah's dress practically glowed.

     Metal stars hung from the gym rafters, fracturing the strobe lights onto the party goers below. Blue and purple reflected off of the swirling mass of sweaty bodies. Young women clad in flowing gowns were spun gracefully around young men in sharp suits. Phoenix's body pressed closely to another girl dressed in black. In the dark, their bodies practically melted together. Off to the side, Leah and Reid stood around the refreshment table. Words lost to sound elicited laughs from Leah's full lips. Her lip gloss reflected the fractured strobe lights.

"I haven't seen either of you on the dance floor yet," Phoenix stated. She held her silver heels in her hand as she strutted towards the awkward couple. "I want to see y'all dance together at least once. There is too much chemistry!"

"Shut up!" Leah whined, "I'm just fine sitting here and talking. Plus, there's nothing going on here."

"I second that," Reid interjected, sticking his pointer finger in the air and giving it a swift flick.

"God, I'm friends with prudes," Phoenix rolled her eyes, "ten bucks each for the next slow dance."

"Deal," Leah laughed. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

"I serve the almighty dollar," Reid remarked, rising from his seat. He bowed in front of Leah and asked for her hand. Placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand,"May I have this dance my lady?"

Reid clasped his hand in hers and pulled her awkwardly towards the dance floor. The tune of a melodramatic love song floated through the air.

"I've never really danced before," Reid laughed nervously, sweat dripping down the back of his neck.

"Don't worry, my mom made me take some ballroom dance classes when I was younger," Leah smiled, "diplomats am I right?" She gingerly placed her slender hands on Reid's broad shoulders. His years of football showing. He was your boy next door. Parents were doctors and deeply rooted in the community and the church. He placed his hands on Leah's slender waist. Unlike stereotypical football players, he wasn't obsessed with bedding every girl he laid his eyes on. Leah's perfect pearly smile left him flustered in return.

"Do I need to stand on your toes?" Reid questioned.

"You troll. You're twice the size of me! I would never be able to move," Leah exclaimed, "just follow my lead."

"Aye aye captain," Reid saluted. Reid was pushed back wards and pulled forwards in beat with the slow song. Standing on her tip toes she spun him, electing a laugh from both.

"My turn," Leah pouted, sticking her hand up to be spun.

"As you wish!" Reid replied slyly. He grabbed her hand and spun her. Not a dainty spin but a spin worthy of a figure skater. Her long blond princess curls hit him in the face causing him to pull back. This sent Leah careening into his chest. Their eyes met.