13 Dances (A Seventeen Fanfiction)

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Sabrina led me to a rose arch that I quite liked. I had attempted to draw it with the supplies I found on my desk, but I once again had to admit that I wasn't that much of an artist when it came down to it. However, trying something new was better than just sitting around doing nothing all day. Sabrina picked a rose from the arch and seemed to whisper something to it before handing it to me. The moment I touched it, the arch lit up and I jumped back. "What the...", I mumbled after recovering and looked at Sabrina. She just motioned me to go towards it. I raised an eyebrow. Gently, but firmly she now grabbed my arm, leading me closer and I saw some kind of liquid within the arch, like the one you find in soap bubble jars. I was very suspicious and tried to protest but I didn't know how or rather where to even start. Sabrina stood next to me, waiting for me to obviously do something. I reached out and poked the liquid. Circles spread from where I had touched it like a stone dropping into water. I looked back at Sabrina. She still waited. I sighed. "This is like all of those fantasy movies combined into one", I tried to start a conversation. She simply motioned me to go through the arch. "But I-", I started, yet she once again held up her finger. I groaned. No discussion. So, I closed my eyes and took a big step forward.

I felt a slight breeze brushing over my skin but nothing else. Nothing wet or something, only the air. I carefully glimpsed through my lashes, only to open my eyes wide in surprise. I was in a room. But not just a normal room. This was a weird one. I mean, it was beautiful, like one of the big ball rooms you could see in every fairy tale but there was nobody around. It felt empty and I felt lost. Suddenly a door opened and I saw somebody coming in. A young man, both handsome and elegant. He looked familiar but for now, I couldn't recognize him. Without a word, he bowed before me and offered me a hand. Unsure of what to do, I simply took it and just as I wanted to say something, I got interrupted by sudden music. I was too confused to form words and just let him lead me into a dance.

And then something even stranger happened. The chandeliers started giving off some of their golden layer that now swirled around us, forming patterns. Vague at first, they grew into something recognizable and dancing within their middle I somehow found myself watching them like a movie, a fragment of someone's memory. And I remembered. It was my memory.

"Leave me alone", a 14-year-old version of me whimpered, faced with three of my classmates that snickered at my pleading. "Will you finally give us your homework?", one of them said impatiently. "No, I am not allowed to", I sniffed, frightened enough to not look into their faces. "What if we beat you up then?", another one said. "But... But that is against the rules", I tried to argue, my voice trailing off at the end. I pressed myself closer to the wall as if it could give me some kind of support. "Do we look like we care? Now give us your homework, be a good girl", the first one said. I didn't know what to do.

"Hey", someone else suddenly shouted and I glimpsed up through my hair. A young boy came over and courageously positioned himself between me and the others. He was of small frame, not very intimidating. But I knew him. He was in another class. My friends suspected him to have a crush on me since he often was exceptionally nice to me whenever we crossed paths, holding doors open for me or complimenting me. But at that age I wasn't even interested in relationships. That would come to me early enough. "Seungkwan, no", I said nervously. I didn't want him to get in trouble because of me. "It's okay", he smiled at me. I saw fear in his eyes. "Get out of our way", one of the bullies growled. "No", Seungkwan said firmly. I admired him for this, but I was pretty sure the others were thinking differently. "Will you now", another one said loudly, holding up a fist. "Leave her be", Seungkwan said again, trying to look bigger.

I screamed when he got hit the first time. "Get away from him", I heard myself shout as I ran towards them, hopelessly trying to do at least something to protect Seungkwan. I wasn't strong enough; however, my screams drew a teacher's attention to us and even though Seungkwan looked quite miserable, nothing serious happened. The bullies got expelled and Seungkwan's wounds healed. Only a month later though my family moved to another town. I haven't seen or heard Seungkwan since then.

Until now. I looked in Seungkwan's eyes, wanted to say something, but the music stopped as suddenly as it began and he bowed, kissed my hand and left before I could do anything. I looked around confused. But just when I decided to go after him, I passed out.

After the first dance I understood that love means to stand up for each other even when you're scared.