Changing Strides

~Chapter 24~

  Ben offered his hand and I took it graciously as we walked toward the door.  He gave me a brief kiss on the lips before we stepped into the school.  We had made our way into the "dance room" and looked around.  Laser lights spilled from the stage and music danced through the room.  I spotted my group of friends and pointed them out to Ben.  He shrugged and we walked over to my friends.
  We all each hugged in greeting, happy we could all be together. I hugged Sammy first, she was like a goddess. Her tan skin brilliantly highlighted her royal purple one shoulder, knee length dress with matching purple flats. Her brunette hair was neatly dressed into a bun with a purple flower and a silk purple headband. She had a silver necklace with a deep violet stone to top it off. She was stunning. Amanda wore a light green, airy, sundress with brown sandals, her hair in a neat braid. She had in a green headband and green accented earrings. I hugged Jordyn next. Her long and flowing yellow dress matched with her blonde hair and sunny personality. Kristen was the last one in line her delicate frame held a light sky blue dress that had a slight proof on the bottom. Her hair was in a French braid and, like everyone else, complimented their personalities. My friends all adored my dress. I wore a strapless blue dress that was knee length in the front and down to my ankles in the back, with a silver belt. My shoes were the same dark blue as my dress. My brunette hair was in a half braid accented with a silver headband.
  Together, we all caught up in each other's lives. We danced together and of course danced with our dates. Then I heard the DJ address the gym for the prom's king and queen. He raffles off a lot of honorary couples, who had liquid eyes, not for their date, but because they were close to winning. I rolled my eyes at the pathetic display as the DJ did a drum roll. "And tonight's, prom king and queen is....Tarek Pollwel, and Sammy Baten!" Kristen started screaming and freaking out. I was happy for her too. I congratulated Sammy as she went toward the DJ. She came back to us a couple minutes later bubbly and with a delicate silver tiara placed on her head. Most of the night seemed uneventful to me, I was waiting until after the prom.
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The prom ended late into the night, but none of us were through yet. We all went over to Sammy's house. Ben even joined us too, along with the rest of the guys. We all had extra clothes nothing fancy, more for playing. I wore a light blue Nike tank top that was cut low and apparently slightly see through, showing my brace and sports bra, with Nike track shorts that we're the same shade of blue. Kristen wore a gray, cuffed capris with a highlighter yellow breezy tank top. Sammy wore, just her under armour sports bra with spandex. Finally, Amanda wore a Fila running shirt with matching blue striped capris. Sammy walked out of her house with a volleyball. Boys vs girls style. Kristen's date, Conner just kinda stood there waiting to play. Amanda's date, Zac, thought he was gonna dominate volleyball. Tarek was in the middle, standing calmly, his eyes blazing with excitement. Ben acted similar to Tarek, with the same look in his green eyes. Sammy threw the ball high into the air and served it high over the net. Tarek, being the tallest, hit it real hard with one hand making the ball cut right, straight above the net. Amanda managed to set it back over. Then Ben, bumped the ball. Kristen got the ball and bumped it back. Zac then got his turn and tried to spike the ball. I dived for the ball, saving it, Amanda caught it and tipped it over the net. Conner tried to get it but missed. The girls celebrated while the boys being their immature selves, blamed Conner in a whiny voice.
  Even though the night was just beginning, it felt like it was ending.  But the night wasn't ending, it was us.  The era of us friends was crumbling.  We all had different dreams, and I just wished I could hold onto this magical night forever.  So, I pushed my thoughts aside, embracing the breezy starlit night as it brushed my face and became entwined with my hair.
  That's when I realized I was staring at Ben, and I had wandered into the dreamy depths of the amazon of his eyes.  I fell in love all over again, and I was alright with that.  We just stared at each other, and my friends were yelling at us to pay attention, but I ignored it.  Because within Ben's amazon, I felt like I was finally myself, and I was changing my stride, and my heart, for the better.