Between You and I

Chapter Thirteen

December 14, 2010: Two Years Before

Proms. I didn't get the use of proms and dances. It just made the people who didn't have dates aware that no one wanted them. And that was a pretty negative thing for a school event. The only other thing you did was dance like an idiot while waiting for the announcements about Prom King and Queen (which was really just one big popularity contest). In conclusion, I was stuck in a room filled with artificial kids, airhead Barbie dolls, and emotional wrecks. I didn't know why, but those things just got me so... nasty.

Oh, and there was a small negative party. A really, really, really, small negative party. AKA: Me. Seriously, if I had the choice, I would be home, gaming away, but my mom- being an overly positive and scary woman- would have sent me to a socialization doctor or something if I didn't go. So there I was, in a suit I borrowed from my dad, swallowing the punch bit by bit as I watched everyone else in their zones.

The Goths were off to one side, totally going all out with the black. Yearbookers: busied themselves with all the photo- taking. Hipsters: had all the out- there and eccentric outfits. Plus, the popular girls in fancy dresses and their dates in complementary suits talked about how they loved each other's outfits, when in reality, they hated each other's guts. Yet another thing that made absolutely no sense in the mind of Dan.

"Are you just going to stand there the whole night?" Charlie's face landed on the gym wall next to me as he tried to catch his breath.

"Basically, yeah." I took another swig out of the paper cup in my hand.

"Ew. You're drinking that shit?" He gasped, taking a peek at the red- supposedly fruit filled- liquid that tasted all sour and absolutely zero strawberries. Well, if anyone had to know, I took a pleasure to seeing his face scrunch up in disgust.

"Well..." I might as well have taken advantage of the situation, right?

"Someone did sneak vodka into the bowl." Charlie. Freaked. Out.

"Brb dude!" And in a flash, he was gone, giving me the needed privacy I craved in order to laugh my fucking head off at how gullible he was. Was he going to throw a fit? Yeah, probably.

But the satisfaction of him having handed out multiple cups of punch- like an alcoholic Santa to the girls he wanted drunk without even thinking to smell the nasty liquid- was way worth it. I meant, extremely worth it. And just my luck, the DJ of the night decided to start the loud dubstep music which drowned out my laughter. Therefore delayed Charlie's fit when he figured out that I lied.

"You look like you're having fun!" Perfect. Just perfect.

"God, is it that obvious!?" I say, sarcastic shock falling through my teeth. Valentine leaned next to me, letting her tiny giggle be heard as silence due to the incredibly loud music. Her hair was up in a messy bun: like she didn't bother to do much with it. Or much with anything actually.

Her feet were in her knee high dark blue Converse lace ups and her face wasn't caked with make- up. My mind started to slip back into thinking thoughts like, wow, she's amazing and she hasn't changed one bit after all, but my common sense kicked in and said, "Avoid eye contact and maybe you can survive this one."

"Why aren't you dancing!?" I yelled, the dubstep being played almost made it impossible for us to hear each other, and I knew Valentine wasn't here alone. Being the girl she was, the supposed guy- every- girl- wants- to- sleep- with cock head Liem Parker asked her to this stupid fling.

"What!?" She nearly screamed back.

"Where's your date!?" Her face scrunched up as she peered into the crowd.

"Um... I dumped him, sort of! Not like we were ever dating!"

"What!?"

"I dumped him since he's currently sucking the soul out of Leah through her mouth!" The words left her lips, emphasizing 'sucking the soul' with her wild and frustrated hands. It took a moment, but I managed to seek out the bastard and his cheating ways.

"Well...!" I paused, turning to look back at her.

"Sucks for him!" We shared a laugh as the dubstep finally dropped its last beat.

"Alright, next song up..." The DJ checked the long list of song titles.

"Hm... It's time to pull out a partner because the song up next is Mayday Parade's 'I'll Be the Wings that Keeps Your Heart In the Clouds'." A gasp escaped Val's throat, her eyes shining bright.

"I love this song!" My common sense. Freaked. Out. Without asking, she gripped my hand and pulled me out onto the dance floor.

Before my mind could even process it, she was leaning into me, head on my shoulder, arms around my neck, and she held me tight and close. Her hair tickled my nose, but I couldn't bring my hands to do anything about it.

The only thing going through my mind was ohgodohgodohgodohgod while my common sense went holyshitholyshit- what are you doing let go of her, AKA: that bitch who tore your heart apart and- As if there was an off switch somewhere, my common sense tuned out. Or the uncommon sense side of my head kicked it in the groin and it was busy crying tears of pain.

Ever so slowly, the feeling in my arms went back to normal as they wrapped around her, and my body started to follow her slow swaying. By this time, common sense was thrown out of the fucking window because a small voice inside me whispered, "Maybe, just maybe, proms aren't as bad as you thought they were."

And as if we were sucked into some sort of cliche fairytale; Valentine, the girl of my dreams, danced the night away with me, sucking me back into that little pit called 'hope'. Hope that maybe one day, she would wake up and finally realize that I see her. That I actually see her.

That I still do through all her faults and perfections.