Gracie Abrams is eking out a solitary existence, fighting day-in, day-out against the drain of working customer service and nursing two newborn kittens in her off time. Out on her own ever since her sister moved in with her boyfriend, the burden of...
A/N: This chapter is something like fate. This was a scene I have been waiting to write for two years, and I had no idea it would be published a day before Valentine's. Let's consider it a brief, magical moment <3.
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I pulled Kakashi to his feet, practically yanking him up the incline. Casually tossing the plates into the nearest trash bin, we made it to the pavilion's concrete platform in time for Kellin Quinn to begin the live and unplugged version of Sleeping With Sirens' iconic song "If I'm James Dean, You're Audrey Hepburn."
"Do you know how to dance?" I asked him.
He placed a hand on my back, pulling me into his chest. Those gloved fingers worked magic along my spine. I could feel them even beneath my coat and sweatshirt. Trailing up and down, each sweep habitual, semi-conscious. This had never been part of our closeness, yet from the moment it started, it was as if it always had been.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting myself breathe in his scent. A thready heartbeat worked with the rhythm of the song as Kellin's voice directed the audience to dance. I had listened to this version more times than I could ever count, though I'd had to less and less lately. Namely, not during the past two months.
Whoever had built this playlist has used a lot of live recordings throughout all the different genres. To give the vibe of a live show but be able to control the volume. What an excellent idea.
"How the hell did we end up like this? You bring out the beast in me."
"Of course I know how to dance," Kakashi said defensively.
I wrapped my arms around his waist, humming. "Good, because I don't."
Our heartbeats kept us warm beneath our jackets. They felt connected on a string: mine would beat, and his would respond in kind. Eventually, they merged into one tempo. Stronger.
Stronger together.
"They say that love is forever, yet forever is all that I need."
We hardly moved, just kind of swayed along to the music. Luckily, there were plenty of couples doing the same, so I felt less self-conscious about standing out. I guess people came to these things to dance without feeling like a fool.
I had never danced with anyone before. Not even at school dances, though I'd gone to a couple. And technically, I'd had dates. The kids dancing just looked so dumb, so fake, as they grinded to music like Justin Timberlake. The only dance style around. And when a slow song came on? Watching everyone scramble to right themselves, pull up their straps, adjust their uncomfortable belts, all to form a weird gaggle. The change was too immediate to feel genuine. It didn't look like dancing to me. It didn't look like anything I wanted to be a part of.
