My Spy

Confessions

My feet ache, my knees throb and I am sweating in all the wrong places but I have never had so much fun. Ryan twirled and dipped me all around the dance floor and I don't think I stopped smiling once. My restrictive dress didn't stop him from getting fancy with the footwork and my overbearing brother didn't stop him from getting handsy with me either. I truly felt connected to Ryan as we danced and my stammering heart proves I am truly enamored with him.

We are now breathing heavily, hands clasped together anxiously awaiting the dance results and Annabeth and Austin look just as confident. They didn't have quite the same passion or chemistry Ryan and I had but Austin does know how to handle a lady. She moved quite effortlessly with him and he did an amazing job at being the leader- but I don't think they have anything on our two-step.

"This year's annual Founder's Day dance champions are..." Mr. Blackwood announces and then slaps his hands on his legs for a drum roll effect, "Ms. Sawyer Sweeney and her partner Mr. Ryan Hart!" I let out a light squeal and clap my hands together before Ryan pulls me in for a hug. He quickly pulls back and I tug him up to the stage. Mr. Blackwood places chinsey brass medals around our necks and I hold the small weight in my hands. I look to a congratulatory Mr. Blackwood and he shakes our hands while smiling.

I am about to walk off the stage and into the applauding crowd when Mr. Blackwood holds me back.

"Since we have you up here, we might as well announce this year's Hollis Belle. Which, you are also the recipient of tonight. Congratulations Sawyer." A genuine smile takes over my face and I look to Ryan with glee. Mr. Blackwood leads me back to the center of the stage and places a simple silk "Hollis Belle" sash over my dress. He pulls me in for a polite hug and I immediately turn to Ryan after. He hugs me again while the audience gives me an applause and right before I turn to wave to the crowd, I do the unimaginable.

Ryan and I are so caught up in the moment that when I smile at him as he says, "Congratulations," we then both go in for a kiss, right on the lips. Completely natural to us, like we've been doing it forever. The crowd continues to clap and when I pull away from him, my heart sinks and my stomach flips. We both realize we messed up at the exact same time and we turn to face the crowd.

My eyes immediately find Austin, and I no longer think his face is red from the heat. He is mad- like, steam coming out of the ears mad.

I glance to Ryan and he immediately drops my hand. I give one last small wave to the crowd and dash off the stage. Ryan is on my heels and we both beeline it to the back of the dance hall, in the opposite direction of Austin. I am about to duck into the empty coat check closet when Ryan grabs my arm to pull me back.

"Sawyer, we are going to have to face Austin at some point. There is no point in running." I glance to him and then to his grip on my arm before saying, "You have nothing to worry about. Austin will blame this on me." Ryan shakes his head.

"No he won't. I had strict instructions to stay away from you and I just absentmindedly kissed you in front of the entire town. Austin is going to punch me in the face."

"Let's just say we got caught up in the moment. That we went too far with pretending today and accidentally kissed," I suggest.

Ryan smirks at me and says, "That was no peck on the lips Sawyer. I just straight up kissed you. There's no faking that." Ryan runs his hands through his hair and I'm not ready to come down off my dancing high. I also don't want to fall off my fluffy cloud yet. My life has been blissful and fun these past few days and I am not ready for it to end. I don't want to be forced to stay away from Ryan. We just had a blast spinning around on the dance floor and now I am trying to crawl into a hole.

"This isn't fair Ryan. I literally just got everything I ever wanted. I got the dancing trophy, which I have never even been in the running for, I got the Hollis Belle sash even after my mortifying scandal and I got kissed by the hottest guy Hollis has ever hosted and it's all about to be ripped away from me because of Austin," I complain. "I haven't felt this glorious in months and now I am about to have my ass chewed out by my brother. This sucks," I immaturely complain. Ryan opens his arms to pull me into him and immediately realizes that is the wrong move. I frown at his hesitancy and he looks just as defeated.