❝ Why do I feel like I'm just a chapter in your book while you're my entire story? ❞
❝ Well, you're obviously wrong, because you're my entire novel, cover to cover. ❞
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
A blank canvas. That's how my life was. Until she took my hand...
19. chapter nineteen: don't ever take yours truly to a dance stage! it's a warning!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Let's welcome Serena and Ash for the freestyle!"
I froze mid-step. I felt Serena tug at my hand and lead me to the stage. She was gritting her teeth to force a smile.
I couldn’t make out what was happening, except for Calem calling out to me desperately through the air pod and the tight grip of Serena’s hand. "Ash, follow my lead," she whispered as we slowly trotted towards the center of the stage.
"I-I don’t know how to dance!" I hissed back, not bothering to smile as she was.
"Please. Just follow my lead."
I nodded very slowly. My body was shrieking in rebellion, the right side already giving up to pain.
We were handed two portable microphones, which we fitted into our outfits. When we reached the center of the stage, the crowd roared. The students from Anistar High were smirking, some even booing, but Serena’s grip forced me to bite back insults.
She suddenly left my side and stepped forward. "Good evening, crowd!" she shouted, and at once, the boisterous chatter died down.
I caught Misty and Gary looking at me incredulously. I glanced at Drew on the podium above the dais; he looked furious but forced a smile when he saw me looking.
"We are here to perform our freestyle dance to War of Hearts by Ruelle!" she screamed the song’s name, and I faintly heard Calem asking the others if they knew the tune. However, there wasn’t much time.
The crowd gave an encouraging cheer, mostly from our students. My eyes scanned the audience; they were all looking at us, hope in their eyes—wishing on an already fallen star.
Dread filled my heart, but Serena turned on her heel and walked around me, taking hold of my hand and rotating me 180 degrees so my back was now facing the crowd.
Looking me in the eye, she whispered, "The dance signs. Kneel when the beat drops and stay put." Without warning, she fumbled with my jacket and unzipped it so the flaps blew around me. The instrumental started, booming in my ears.
We separated, and she took charge once again. She started with a soft hum to the tune. Serena held her hand out to me, and I tried to take it, but she backed away, singing the lyrics. "Come to me in the night hours, I’ll wait for you." She nodded with a smile, and I raced forward to grab her palm. I managed, but she let go the next instant, and I was left rocking on my heel.
"And I can’t sleep 'cause thoughts devour. Thoughts of you consume." She twirled around me, poking my chest at the end. "Chorus," she whispered before parting. I smiled and obliged, humming to the tune. How had fate played this? Three days ago, we were discussing this very song, and now we’re swaying to it.
