YOU ARE MY BLOODY VALENTINE

CHAPTER 15: THE FALL DANCE

After seven days of anticipation, it was finally the night of the fall dance. During these seven days, Barbara's phone had been buzzing with late-night calls and texts from Hina and Liam, it was fun but sometimes tiring.

As she stood in the mirror, her eyes met the reflection of the stunning dress that her mum had sacrificed more than half of her hard-earned salary to purchase. The dress, tailored to perfection, embrace Barbara's shape. Its fabric, a delicate blend of rich burgundy and gold, cascaded down in elegant layers, accentuating her every move.

Barbara admired the exquisite dress that adorned her, a pang of conflicting emotions washed over her. The dress, undeniably beautiful, held a bittersweet significance. She hated the fact that her mum used a lot of money to buy the dress,and remembered the heated argument she had with her mum when she saw the "little gift" her mum gave her. Barbara couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, knowing that her mom had sacrificed so much to make this moment possible. With a heavy sigh, she paced back and forth in her room, her footsteps echoing with each step. The anticipation of Liam's arrival only heightened her mixed feelings. The room seemed to hold its breath, time ticked by slowly, each passing second amplifying her restlessness. She glanced at the clock, her heart racing in sync with its ticking hands.

She heard the doorbell and ran downstairs with her "lightning speed", ran back to her room, gazed at herself in the mirror and ran back downstairs when she received a text from Liam.

"I'm here." She smiled.

"Hi."

"Hey."

"You look amazing." A blush creeped on her cheeks but she remembered that she was supposed to be angry at his tardiness.

"What took you so long?" Barbara asked as she pouted her lips and furrowed her eyebrows, demanding an explanation for Liam's tardiness.

"Nothing." Liam lied digging his hands into his hair nervously. The truth was he went to take a breather after what happened between him and Amelia, he didn't want to be consumed by thoughts of his enemy all night long. The memory of the inexplicable moment, when he had kissed Amelia's neck, lingered through his mind, 'I still don't know why or what made me kiss her neck.' He shook his head when he noticed the way Barbara's gaze bore into him.

"Is something troubling you?" Her voice trembled with concern as she peered into his eyes, desperately seeking answers. In response, he averted his gaze nervously.

"Non, nothing's wrong. You just look so belle tonight." He answered and nervously raked his hands into his hair and at that moment Barbara figured he does that when he is nervous, she noticed how his vulnerability only added to his charm, causing her cheeks to flush.

Liam extended his arm, a gentle gesture inviting Barbara into his car. With a touch of elegance, she gracefully settled into the plush seat and waited for Liam to start the car. The soft purr of the engine filled the air and the car hummed to life, with how fast the car was, they got to the school in no time.

Two hefty men took them to a place in the school Liam and Barbara had never been to before. As they stepped into the luxurious hall for the fall dance, they were greeted by a stunning display of autumn colours. The wall are adorned with rich, warm hues of red, orange, and gold, reminiscent of the changing leaves outside. The ceiling is draped with elegant fabrics, creating a cosy and intimate atmosphere. Soft, flickering candlelight casts a warm glow throughout the hall, which Barbara thought was romantic. The dance floor polished to perfection, reflecting the soft twinkle of fairy lights handing above. Beautiful arranged bouquets of fresh flowers, featuring vibrant autumn blooms like sunflower and dahlias, are scattered around the hall, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.