Elena stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the delicate fabric of her deep-blue dress. It hugged her frame perfectly, flowing down to her ankles in soft waves. Her mother had been shocked when she agreed to go to prom at all, but something inside Elena told her she had to do this—for herself. It was the night she never thought she would attend, and though nerves twisted in her stomach, she was determined to enjoy it.
A week ago, she had found the invitation slipped into her locker—simple, elegant, and unsigned. But she knew it had been Kyle. There was no one else who would have taken that kind of risk, not after their recent conversations and the strange new dynamic that had developed between them. He hadn’t pushed, hadn’t asked her in person. He’d left it for her to decide.
The limo arrived, and Tom and Andrew were already inside, both beaming as she entered.
“Damn, Elena, you look so sexy!” Andrew said with a grin, while Tom nodded enthusiastically beside him. Both were dressed sharply in tuxedos, and the night seemed full of possibility.
The venue was breathtaking—a large ballroom decorated with sparkling lights and elegant chandeliers. The air was filled with laughter, the thrum of music, and a sense of celebration. Elena entered quietly, hoping to blend into the crowd. Her eyes quickly scanned the room, searching for familiar faces.
That’s when she saw Kyle.
He stood off to the side, a wine glass in his hand, looking uncharacteristically pensive. He wasn’t surrounded by his usual group of friends, and for a moment, he seemed like a stranger to her. His gaze on Drake and Prince, who were on the dance floor with their girlfriends, lost in the rhythm of the music. Drake laughed loudly as he spun his partner around, and Prince followed suit with a soft smile.
Kyle, meanwhile, stood apart, watching them with a look that Elena couldn’t quite place. Was it envy? Regret? She wasn’t sure, but it tugged at something deep inside her. She had seen so many sides of Kyle lately—the bully, the boy who tried to apologize, and now, this quiet observer.
As if sensing her eyes on him, Kyle looked up. Their gazes met across the room, and the noise around them seemed to fade. For a moment, it was just the two of them, standing on opposite sides of a crowded dance floor, worlds apart yet somehow drawn together. Kyle slowly set his glass down, straightening his jacket. Without breaking eye contact, he began to walk toward her, his steps deliberate and measured.
Elena’s heart pounded as he approached, the memories of everything between them swirling in her mind. But tonight, there was no anger in her chest. Just curiosity and the undeniable tension that had been building for months.
When Kyle reached her, he hesitated for a second before holding out his hand, his voice soft but steady. "Would you like to dance?"
Elena looked down at his hand, her heart racing. She could feel the eyes of the room on them—people had noticed Kyle Thompson asking *her* to dance. This would have been unthinkable a year ago. But things had changed. *They* had changed.
Without a word, she placed her hand in his.
Kyle led her onto the dance floor, and as soon as they stepped into the center, the music seemed to shift. The couples around them slowed, parting to make room for them, until finally, it was just Elena and Kyle in the spotlight. The ballroom fell silent, everyone’s attention focused on the unlikely pair.
The soft melody of a slow song filled the air, and Kyle gently placed one hand on Elena’s waist, while she rested hers on his shoulder. They began to move in sync, gliding across the floor as if no one else existed.
Elena could feel the warmth of his hand through the fabric of her dress, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and the subtle way he guided her movements. For the first time, it felt easy to be with him. There were no harsh words, no tension, just the quiet understanding between two people who had been through too much together.
As they danced, Elena looked up into his eyes, searching for answers to the questions she didn’t know how to ask. Kyle’s gaze was steady, his expression soft in a way she had never seen before. He looked… vulnerable.
The room around them seemed to vanish, the murmurs of their classmates distant and unimportant. For the first time in a long time, Elena felt like she wasn’t invisible. She was standing here, in front of everyone, with Kyle Thompson. And it didn’t scare her anymore.
When the song finally came to an end, the silence stretched on for a few seconds longer. Then, as if breaking a spell, the room erupted into applause. Elena blinked in surprise, realizing that everyone had been watching them. But for once, she didn’t care. She didn’t feel self-conscious or out of place. She felt… free.
Kyle still hadn’t let go of her hand, and as the applause died down, he leaned in closer, his voice just above a whisper. "Thank you for giving me this chance."
Elena nodded, unable to find the words. But in that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could give him more than one chance. Maybe this was just the beginning.
The music started again, louder now, and the other couples returned to the dance floor. But Elena and Kyle remained where they were, caught in their own world.
For the first time, Elena allowed herself to smile.
---
YOU ARE READING
Silence Screams
Teen Fiction| ongoing | |First book of mine| ;) Elena has lived a life of silence-born mute, she has faced countless challenges, from being neglected by her parents to enduring years of bullying at school. Her world is shaped by tragedy and loneliness, but when...
