Acceptance: Hogwarts Legacy Continued

Chapter 94: MC- young love pt. 2

Diana had danced in a situation that was a lot more dire than this not that long ago- but she felt a lot more relaxed then, than she did now. The room was beautiful, people around her were dancing excitedly, and everyone looked happy- but none of that eased the apprehension that was building inside of her. Things were just too loud, too crowded, and too close.

Garreth had his hand at her waist and their hands clasped together as he moved her along to the song. He was being nothing less than a gentleman in his actions, but as they danced she tried to avoid his eyes. Every time she looked at them she got a hint of something that made her want to run for the door.

He was her friend though, she had asked him to come with her because she liked being around him. Sure things could get a little bit awkward and uncomfortable at times, but it was nothing compared to times with Sebastian. So why was it so much worse now....

They danced for a few songs, with not many words shared between them during it. Diana didn't mind the silence, but man if those eyes could talk.... Occasionally they stopped to take a drink or talk to some friends, but then they always went back to dancing. This was a dance so she shouldn't have been surprised. As the evening went on the songs seemed to get slower and slower, and the space between her and her date continued to get smaller.

It was during a particularly slow and supposedly romantic tune that Garreth finally seemed to want to break the tension that was growing between them.

"I'm sorry I've been so quiet tonight. Ever since you first came down the stairs I just... have had a lot of things on my mind."

"Oh, that's okay!" She felt relieved that he was addressing it because she really didn't know how to. "I was worried that maybe something was off between us or something."

"No! I mean we're great or at least I think we are great... what do you think about us?"

Diana paused as she thought about the question. "Um I mean I think we are great as well. I enjoy spending time with you and I'm glad that we got to come here tonight."

She tried to not let the apprehension she had been feeling all evening come out in her words or tone. Even though her words were true they still felt forced.

"I'm really glad that we are together tonight too, and really- you look absolutely beautiful."

She turned her head to the side as she blushed. It wasn't so much his words that got her, but again that look in his eyes and that fact he was so close. In that same moment he pulled her even closer, almost so they were pressed against each other. She turned back to him, eyes wide, wondering why he would want to restrict their movements like this.

When she had practiced dancing with Poppy her friend had shown her the amount of space needed to move around freely together- and this was not it. Even when she had been with Ominis the space had felt so wide, so much that she wished it had been smaller then, but not if it had felt like this...

Diana felt her chest start to tighten, which she didn't think was possible with her corset as tight as it was. There was already so much constriction at her chest, could her ribs handle any more? Her heart started to pick up which made the constricting feeling become even more unbearable.

"Diana... there's something I want to talk to you about..." She just continued to stare at him, now stuck in his hazel eyes as he leered down at her, his face starting to look as pink as hers probably was. Her muscles were starting to feel stiff, like she wasn't able to move as freely. She was silent, unable to get her jaw to move. He must have taken her silence as a go ahead because he continued.