Love, Basketball and Demons

Chapter 22: Winter is Coming

At the UWP residence building, the common room hummed with soft chatter and laughter as Kenzie carefully mended Zack's pants, the needle glinting under the dim light. "Are you sure you should be sneaking into the dance?" she asked, her fingers deftly working the fabric. "I mean I love, love as much as the next girl, but is it really worth the risk of getting kicked off the team?"

"I just want to one dance with Deb, I will slip in and out before anyone notices," Zack replied, his voice tense with anticipation as he watched her work. Kenzie nodded along with Zack's plan and hoped for the best. Once the pants were repaired, he quickly got dressed and headed right for the dance.

He knew he wasn't supposed to go but he needed to be seen by a few people if his plan was going to work, if they could pull off their plan then Ethel would be free and Gluttony would be gone by the end of the night. As Zack strolled towards the dance, he couldn't help but smile at the thought he could be human again.

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Inside the venue, an array of fairy lights twinkled like stars over the dance floor as students swayed to the music. Boon had already pre-gamed, downing the last drops of the questionable contents of his flask just outside the entrance, while Leona tried not to let her disappointment show over Boon taking Deb to the dance instead of her. Rob entered the dance and made his way around back, to prop a door open for Zack around back. Zack entered the hall an hour late, his heart pounding as he skulked around, searching for Deb and trying to avoid his coach's watchful gaze.

As he scanned the crowd, someone else caught his eye - Kyle was at the Winter Formal too, Zack held his breath. He felt a shiver run down his spine, his instincts screaming for him to run and he felt the sins aura suffocating him from across the room.

Over by the punch bowl, Rob observed Ahmed feigning interest in Leona's complaints about Boon taking Deb to the dance instead of her. He approached, his nerves tangling in knots as he awkwardly asked Ahmed to dance.

"Um, hey Ahmed... would you like to dance?"

"Sure, Rob" Ahmed agreed, a curious smile on his face. "Anything to get me....." His eyes caught Leona's "I mean that sounds nice." He followed Rob out to the dance floor leaving Leona behind.

As they moved to the rhythm of the music, Rob finally mustered the courage to confess. "You look really good tonight." His cheeks reddened, but he pressed on. "I mean you always look good, obviously. I just um... I think you are great."

Ahmed stared at Rob, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Listen," Rob continued, his voice soft yet earnest. "I think you are really smart too, like give me a run for my money smart. One day, you'll move on and get a Nobel Prize for some miracle cure for cancer."

"Thank you, Rob," Ahmed replied, touched by Rob's heartfelt words. "That's really sweet of you. You know you are full of surprises."

Rob beamed, delighted that his feelings had been acknowledged, if not reciprocated. He hadn't expected Ahmed to just fall for him on the spot but step one of his two hundred-and-thirty-seven-step plan had finally been crossed off his list. As the music picked up, Rob remained in awe of his dance partner.

-----

As Zack weaved through the throngs of students on the dance floor, his eyes scanned the room for any sign of Deb, he wanted to surprise her after saying he wouldn't be able to go. The music thumped in time with his heartbeat when he noticed the coach making a B-line straight for him.

"Zack!" Coach barked from across the room, his eyes narrowed and locked onto him. Panic flooded Zack's veins as Coach began to push the partygoers out of his way, his face a mask of barely contained anger. Desperate, Zack stumbled into Kristian, who looked equally surprised at the sudden contact.