Song of a Sophomore: a novel

CHAPTER 28 - I Could Fall in Love

After the brawl breaks out, the DJ's comes to his senses and cuts the music. "Time to slow things down."

A dreamy pop ballad washes over us, and the Spanish guitar riffs and romantic female vocals soothe the ruckus crowd. The gentle melody nudges me toward Zach as he stands motionless on the dance floor bathed in sparkling indigo light, like he is walking right out of one of my daydreams. My feet are unconsciously gliding toward him and there is nothing the shy, scared girl can do to stop it. An unstoppable force is pushing me forward. Fate. 

I come face to face with Zach and hold my breath. The trembling crescendo of the music and crashing symbols are a sign from the heavens. When his gaze meets mine from behind the formidable mask, the skin on my forearms breaks out under the chill of goosebumps. 

It's now or never. 

I open my mouth--ready to give a comforting word or confess my love--I don't know which, but Zach holds his hand out for me before I can even move my lips to speak. As I slide my eager palm into his, a warm, tingling sensation spreads through my arm, into my chest and floods my heart with endorphins. Zach hands press onto the small of my back, pulling me closer. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and rest my head gently on his shoulder. Breathing in the sweet smell of sandalwood, I whisper thank you to God, Cupid or whatever divine being conjured up this perfectly serene moment.

My eyes close and the delicate lyrics seem to spill from my soul. I can't imagine a more perfect song playing at this moment because I really could fall in love tonight. What was once a hopeless wish could manifest right here on the dance floor. Sure, Zach and Katelyn just broke up, but I can plant the seed for our future together.

Should I tell him how I feel?

If I take the chance and confess my feelings, will he say that he wants me, too? The small, still voice inside speaks loudly.

Take the chance. Tell him everything. Tell him how you felt the first time you saw him gazing at you over his sunglasses at the pool. Tell him how your heart broke into pieces when you learned he was with Katelyn. Tell him you lay awake at night remembering that ride home after the first football game., how your mind cannot let go of the memory of his hands on the steering wheel, the warm scent of his skin, the soft fall of his hair, or the swirl of smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth. Tell him how you can't forget the way he touched your neck, guided you to the podium and carried you to safety when you fell. Tell him.

Confessing my love is not an option, at least not right now. Katelyn broke up with him minutes ago. I will have to wait for the perfect moment. For now, I am content to sway in step to the music with my body sweetly resting against his, desperately hoping this moment will last for an eternity. 

The song plays out to the final chorus, but I am frozen in time in pure bliss. Except for one thing: a sharp tap on my shoulder.

"You mind if I cut in?" Leo Goodwin asks.

He puffs his chest and flexes his arms at his sides like a bird challenging another male for a mate. Leo is the smaller, weaker of the species. I am hoping for a battle of beaks and talons thrashing as Zach defends me against the invader, but with a simple nod, Zach hands me off to Leo.

The warmth of Zach's body and his enthralling scent disappears into the crowd. Disappointment stabs at my heart. My perfect moment is ruined. I want to reverse time, but Leo drops his hands onto my waist and anchors me to the present. I search for his eyes through the slits on his silver wolf mask, which looks more like a Halloween costume than a masquerade accessory. Sharp fangs cover the perfect bow in his upper lip. The menacing features of snarling teeth and an angry snout culminated in two pointy ears.

I lift the mask off of his face. "That's better."

"What? You don't like my mask?"

"I feel like Little Red Riding Hood and you're the Big Bad Wolf."

"You say it like it's a bad thing." He smirks. "Then it's only fair yours comes off, too." He gently tugs my mask over my head and holds it in his hand. "That's better."

"Okay." I nearly forget about Zach when Leo smiles slyly at me. "Shall we?"

I rest my forearms on his shoulders as the synthesized 1980s beat of the masquerade ball theme song "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel reverberated through the gym. Leo sways with more gusto than Zach and my hips rock in time to the beat. Dozens of couples come from all directions to join in the final slow dance, moving in time together like a heart beat.

"So are you coming with us to the bonfire tonight?" Leo raises his eyebrows in a hopeful expression.

"Bonfire?" I wonder why Katelyn and Bethany never mentioned it.

"A group of us are heading out to Zach's grandpa's farm to roast marshmallows and hang out. You should come."

I sigh. "Is this the same place where the drunken debauchery takes place?" 

"Maybe." Leo smiles like a sly fox.

Jordan's salacious tales from geometry class may be true after all. "Do I need a secret password?"

His dimples seem to wink at me. "Maybe." 

"What is it?" I bite my bottom lip in curiosity.

"Carpe Diem!" Leo throws his head back and shouts into the rafters.

"Seize the day?" 

"Or night. Whatever. Why don't you come have a drink? You know, 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.'" Leo's eyes darken and I the hidden meaning of his words is not lost on me.

I recall the line from a poem in my English textbook called "To the Virgins, Make Much of Time" Uh oh. I doubt they're just roasting marshmallows tonight. "Do you read poetry?"

"Not really. I heard it in the movie Dead Poets Society," Leo confesses, "but you were impressed for a second, right?"

"I guess." I toss my hair off my sticky shoulders, longing to pull it all into a messy bun on the top of my head. Maybe the slow dance with Leo is making me impatient and irritated, or maybe it's the thought of being at a party where people were drinking alcohol underage. "Well, I have to be home at midnight and it must be after ten o'clock already. Plus, my ankle is aching."

"We'll take you home at midnight, I promise."

"I don't know..." Anxiety creeps up my spine.

"Zach is going to be there. Mr. Dreamboat," Leo taunts me in a high-pitched voice and pretends to faint like those crazy teenage girls from the sixties did when they saw the Beatles or Elvis. "Don't look all surprised. It's obvious."

I stare at the floor, embarrassed. Is it that obvious?  

"So what do you say?" Leo challenges me with his penetrating stare.

My face scrunches in fatigue at the mental gymnastics going on in my head as try to make a smart decision. "Hmm..."

Tonight, I actually have a chance to get to know Zach and get in with his friends. However, going to a party in the woods without my parents permission would break all the rules. BUT, Katelyn is out of the picture for the time being and going to the bonfire is my best chance to talk to Zach. Maybe I can tell him how I feel and he will give me chance? Or maybe I should just go back home and listen to love songs in my room, waiting for the next perfect opportunity.

No! I can't do that again.

The dance with Zach was no accident. The universe conspired to put us together, yet again. Zach and I are meant to be, and the first step is to become part of his mysterious world. If it means breaking a couple of rules, then so be it.

"Okay. I'm in."

I'm all in.

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Wow, Katlyn and Zach broke up! Do you think it will last?

Should Rose go to the party? 

What do we think about that magical dance with Zach? And Leo cutting in?

Stay tuned for a wild night!!