As Emma walked into the school gym, her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs. The air thrummed with loud, pulsing music, punctuated by the roar of hundreds of conversations. Glittering disco lights spun across the crowded floor, illuminating a chaotic kaleidoscope of dancing bodies, colorful dresses, and slick suits. She saw so many other kids, some of whom immediately seemed to lock onto her, whispering behind their hands, their gazes making her feel very self-conscious. She instinctively tugged at the sleeve of her simple black dress, her head dropping slightly.
A short distance away, Blake watched her from where he leaned against a wall, his expression unreadable.
"Um, would you like to dance with me?" A brunette girl with an aggressive pout and a bright red dress that seemed barely decent, walked up to him. Blake glanced at her for a moment. He had no clue how they let her into the school looking like this, and her makeup was so caked on, not delicately applied like Emma's was. He didn't want to be rude, but he was certainly not about to dance with her. He simply shook his head, a curt, definitive refusal that seemed to instantly offend her.
She planted her hands on her boney hips, her voice rising. "What, you think you're too good for me or something? Fuck you, Blake!" she yelled before stomping away, disappearing into the crowd. Blake rolled his eyes, a familiar weariness in his gaze, and moved his eyes back around the room, trying to find Emma again.
Emma was walking around, her eyes scanning the faces, searching for Chan. She deserved some type of explanation from him. Her heart gave a sudden lurch as she spotted him in the middle of the crowd, standing with his group of friends, all laughing loudly. A surge of sudden, desperate confidence propelled her forward. She marched right up to him and poked him firmly in the shoulder.
Chan turned, his smile still wide, but a flicker of something cruel in his eyes. "Um, remember me?" Emma asked, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in her hands. "The girl you asked on a date here?" Reina, her hair falling around her face, stood beside Chan, laughing openly. Chan looked down at Emma, his lips twitching as he struggled to hold back his own laughter for a brief second before it burst out. "Sorry, Emma, I thought you knew that was a joke! Why would I come to the dance with you? I mean, you're a total nerd."
Emma gasped, her heart plummeting to the ground, shattering into a million pieces.
An icy wave of shame washed over her. She had been an idiot to think he would ever want her "Yeah, have you even seen yourself?" Reina chimed in, her voice dripping with venom. "What even is that fucking dress? Did you get it from the Target trash can?" Reina and the rest of their friends dissolved into another fit of laughter.
Emma could instantly feel thousands of eyes on her, burning into her skin, waiting for her to bust into tears. The music seemed to fade, replaced by a roaring silence in her ears. She wished the ground could just open up and swallow her whole.
Blake didn't hear what was said, but he could practically see her shoulders shaking from where he was standing, whether from sadness or anger, he didn't know. A fierce protectiveness surged through him. He pushed off the wall, a determined set to his jaw, and began to make his way towards her. To him, it seemed like people instinctively parted, forming a path as he moved through the crowd, their whispers dying down.
Emma's eyes started to water as she looked down, everyone was laughing and pointing at her. "Let's get out of here," she heard a deep voice say in front of her. She looked up and saw Blake standing there, his full black outfit contrasting sharply with the colorful, glittering crowd, his black hair falling across his forehead, almost obscuring his shining green eyes.
"Huh?" she said softly, slightly confused, still reeling from the shock. The onlookers around them, previously mocking her, now stopped laughing, watching their interaction, whispering amongst themselves. No one had ever seen Blake talk to anyone else before, let alone her.
He rolled his eyes, a hint of impatience, but his hand was steady as he held it out to her, his nails painted black, fingers covered with different silver rings. "Let's get the hell out of here, Emma." All she could do is stare up at him in shock for a few moments, the gravity of his offer slowly sinking in, before she hesitantly took his outstretched hand. He grasped her hand firmly, his fingers intertwining with hers, and led her out through the gym doors.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the gymnasium filled once more with a cacophony of conversation, buzzing with speculation about what had just happened. Outside, the cold night air hit her skin, a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the gym, and tears, already brimming, instantly began to roll down her face "God, how could I be so stupid?" she grumbled, scolding herself, her voice thick with self-loathing.
Blake shook his head, releasing her hand to face her fully. "You're not stupid, Emma. He's just a dick that likes to use people," he whispered, his voice surprisingly gentle, watching her as she started to pace around in the empty parking lot. She stopped pacing abruptly and pointed a finger at him, her eyes blazing with fresh anger. "You knew this would happen, didn't you? Oh my god, that's why you were acting weird in the car! How long did you know about this? Why didn't you tell me?" She walked closer, poking her finger against his chest with each accusation.
He sighed, pushing her hand away, his own frustration mounting. "I found out a few days ago that they were pulling a prank on some girl. I didn't know it would be you. When I found out you were going to the dance, I knew it was you and I tried to convince you not to go in, but you wouldn't listen to me. I didn't tell you because...." He paused for a minute, looking at her face, which was now filled with a mix of profound sadness and anger. "I didn't want to see you sad and angry."
She let out a dramatic huff and stomped away down the sidewalk, putting distance between them. He followed closely behind her. She quickly turned, facing him again, her voice sharp with suspicion. "Were you in on it? To make a fool of me in front of everyone? You didn't even know me or talk to me until a few days ago! Now you're acting so interested in me—this must be part of the joke too, right?" Suddenly thinking the worst, she wrapped her arms around herself, the cold breeze nipping at her exposed skin.
He took off his black leather jacket, the worn leather soft in his hands, and held it out to her. "Listen, I just think you're a cool girl. You didn't deserve how they treated you tonight. I'm sorry I didn't tell you... I should have." She hesitantly took his leather jacket, clutching it, and wiped her tears away with the back of her other hand. He pushed his hair out of his face. "Honestly, you're the one who's out of his league. You could do so much better than that walking STD."
She laughed softly, a wet, shaky sound, looking at the jacket in her hands before sliding her arms into it.
The oversized jacket wrapped her in its warmth, engulfing her in his distinct, masculine scent—a mix of leather, cologne, and something faintly metallic. He put his hands into his pockets, a slight grin touching his lips. "Hey, you know what... let's get the hell out of here." He turned, walking back towards his car, completely over this dance and dealing with all the stuck-up kids inside.
She stood for a moment in the middle of the sidewalk, watching him go. "And go where?" she questioned, before quickly following after him.
He shrugged as he reached his car, opening the passenger door for her. "Anywhere we want. Forget everything else and let's have fun tonight," he said with a slight grin, looking at her over the top of the door. A spark ignited within her. Maybe it was time for them both to put themselves first and have one night of complete freedom.
She gave him a shy smile, pulling her phone out of her dress pocket. She already saw a dozen texts from her parents, but before she could even process them, she pressed the Do Not Disturb button, silencing the world, and climbed into the car. "Let's get the hell out of here," she said, her voice bolder than she expected. He laughed softly at her unexpected fire, closing her door gently before walking around the car and climbing into the driver's seat.
In his rearview mirror, he could see some of the kids from the dance stepping out of the school, watching them in shock and awe. He put his hand out the window, giving them a clear middle finger, making her laugh loud and genuine as he slammed his foot on the gas pedal and they sped off into the night together.
(Mia note- Did anyone else want to punch Reina in the face liiike girl I hate her lol)
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It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
