The Fate of Our Hearts

Chapter 6 - Behind The Gym

What just happened? I stand there alone for a few seconds, disappointed to lose him so quickly, wondering if what I thought just happened, actually happened. But I don't think about it long, as my friends soon whisk me off to the bright lights of the bathroom to interrogate me.

Aayla cheers. "We did it!"

"Wow, I'm amazed!" Alexis says approvingly.

"We saw you! So cute!" Kristin coos.

My eyes go wide. "What did you see?" How much have they seen?

"You and Giovanni, nearly making out on the dance floor!" Kristin gushes.

"We didn't kiss!" But god, I wish we had. The thought makes me feel dizzy again.

Aayla laughs. "You both obviously wanted to. That's practically the same thing."

"No, it's not!" I laugh back.

"You should get him to kiss you tonight." Alexis encourages. "When else are you going to get a better chance to?" This is a very valid point but also seems way unattainable.

"You guys! What just happened might be it for tonight," I say dismissively. "The dance is almost over. It's fine. Maybe things will progress at school. I don't have to try to kiss him tonight." Kissing him is all I'm currently thinking of, but I don't want to add pressure.

"This is your last dance, boys and girls. Hope you had fun tonight!" I hear the DJ announce audibly through the bathroom door.

"See!" I sigh. "It's too late."

"You have to find him!" Aayla urges as we step out of the bathroom, scanning the dance floor.

I jump as someone taps me on the shoulder, and I whip my head to the side. Giovanni has appeared right beside me, and suddenly, everything but him evaporates from my conciseness.

"Can I talk to you? Um, outside," he asks low and nervously.

"Yeeeaaah," I reply slowly. I give Kristin and Alexis the little excited, wide-eyed glance you give your girlfriends and I get wide-eyes back.

As we exit the gym, I can hear 'Crazy' by Aerosmith start to play. It's almost dark out now, nearly nine pm. Giovanni glances around, taking my hand, and when the adults aren't looking, we duck around the side of the gym.

"Hey," he says, turning to face me and reaching around with one hand to rub his neck. "Um, I, uh... had a really great time tonight, uh, with you." His shy awkwardness almost enhances how attractive he is to me right now.

"Yeah, me too," I say, trying to sound casual though my heart is throbbing in my chest.

"I..." he starts but stops and looks down, thrusting his hands in his pockets, his brow furrowed. He looks... upset.

I cock my head to the side. "What's wrong?" I ask softly.

His gaze is far off to the side, searching for something in the darkness, then finally he finds his way back to my eyes.

He fills his lungs with the biggest breath, then it all comes out in a rush. "Lauren... I really like you. I have all year, but I've just... I mean, well, Charlie—I was so mad... I should have done something sooner. I'm, I'm just—I don't know."

He's rambling, barely making sense, but I don't care—I'm currently floating up to the stars.

"Anyway, I need to tell you... I'm not coming back to school on Monday or for the rest of the last week of school."

Suddenly I'm crashing right back down to earth... Nooo!

He sees my face fall at that, so he keeps talking. "My family is moving to LA. My little sister got an acting part there, a small part in a movie. She wants to be in movies. And, uh, we leave this weekend." He pauses there, waiting for me to say something.