With The Labels

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One

The school was packed. Students of all ages, under and upperclassmen, and even kids you wouldn't think of as going to dances, were at the school tonight. 

Blake and I park near Bella and Zeke and a couple other friends, and we all walk in together. Blake and I hang towards the back, and he lightly holds my hand in his. This was all new to me, touching and holding hands with him in public. We don't do it often, but when we do it makes me slightly uncomfortable just because I'm not used to it. I don't know what we are yet, but I am happy to stay like this for a while. We are more than friends, but we aren't dating.

Once we walk into the school I can hear the loud club music vibrating from the gymnasium. I show a teacher my ID and hand her my ticket, and so do my friends. Quickly, I throw my shoes and clutch into my empty locker.

Bella grabs my wrist, pulling me out of Blake's grasp. "Come on!" She lets go of me, dancing down the hall. "Let's go and party!" Rachel and Bri cheer along with Bella, excited to get to the gym. Laughing, I follow quickly behind my girlfriends. I wave bye to Blake and promise to meet up with him later. One of the main reasons why I don't typically go with dates to dances is because of the baggage. I don't want to have to be responsible for another person or be to clingy. I want to have no attachments and just have fun and let loose. But since Blake is my date to the dance, I can't exactly let loose, but I still want to spend time with my other friends and not just exclusively be with him.

Going down the crowded hall with my friends, we pass a bunch of people, mostly Freshmen who feel too awkward to join the party yet. Every girl is pretty much dressed in the same attire as I am. Tight dresses and heels, but with different patterns and colors.

The gym looks completely different. A DJ is set up in the middle of the gym on a stage. The stage has a cat walk where a bunch of teenagers are dancing close together. All of the lights are off and are replaced with different colors of flashing lights. 'Get Low' by Dillon Francis blares out of the speakers. A mosh pit of teenagers forms around the stage, all gyrating and grinding. The deeper you get into the mosh pit, the more erotic the students get because that is where they can do things without getting caught by the teachers.

"Come on!" Bri shouts over the music, pulling Bella, Rachel, and I into the circle of students, pushing through the crowd. Everyone's personal space bubble has popped. I am pressed up against people I don't even know. But I don't care, tonight is a night of fun.

I loosen up and move freely, not caring if I look like an idiot. I am with my friends and that is all that matters. Jumping up and down, the mosh pit quickly turns into a crowded version of a hot yoga class. It is hot and sweaty and smells strongly of alcohol. I don't know how long I can take this. Of course my old school was like this, but I never really got into the dances. I usually hung outside the crowds and just dances with all my friends.

'Wobble' by V.I.C. comes on and I, along with everyone else, starts singing and dancing along. These club songs are another thing we didn't have at my old school dances. Usually they just played like Top 50, nothing like this. I wasn't complaining because I love working out and listening to music like this. It really gets you in a good rhythm. A bunch of different types of club and EDM music plays because they are saving the slow songs for the end.

Somehow in the crowd I manage spot Blake. He dances with his friends, but looks kind of lost. His eyes search the crowd, as do mine. We meet eye contact and he grins, pushing his was through the crowd to get to me. By this time Bella and Bri and Rachel have disappeared either off with boys or just separated to different parts of the crowd. The longer I am dancing, the more fluid and relaxed I get.

Blake wraps his hands around my waist and I wrap mine around his neck. We dance practically on top of each other, especially because everyone is already so close. 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent plays now, and I jump along with the music. Blake and I both sing along, knowing the lyrics of the popular hip hop song by heart. The music changes to EDM and I throw my arms in the air and so does he. We separate, but only slightly, and now Blake dances behind me. Sweat starts to bead on my face and neck and I decide it is a good time to take a break and get a drink of water. I grab the sleeve of Blake's button down (he hung his sports jacket in his locker) and pull him out of the crowd with me.

The temperature change from the gymnasium to the hallway is literally a good ten degrees. "Damn it's really hot in that gym." Blake mumbles to himself, ruffling his hair with one hand. I wipe sweat off my forehead as we walk into the cafeteria. Most people who aren't dancing gather here, either sitting on the lunch tables, getting their pictures taken or a drink.

Blake walks over to a huge Gatorade water pitcher and pours us two cups of water. I sit down on a bench, and he sits down next to me. "Don't worry," Blake winks, bumping our shoulders together, "I got us a drink from the pitcher that isn't spiked"

I roll my eyes. "Thanks. How thoughtful." I got to admit, it is nice to have a date that doesn't drink, because then they don't rely on you as much and you don't have to worry about them doing something stupid. I gulp down the water in two sips and toss the paper cup in the trash can.

"Caroline!" Two voice shouts, and I turn around to be greeted by two juniors, Chloe and Lily, in my psychology class. They sit at the same table as me and are really nice.

"Hey!" I hug both of them, who compliment my dress. They both ask for a picture with me before inviting me to go and dance with them. I quickly agree, ready to dance again. Before I run off with the girls, Blake grabs my wrist. In my ear he whispers, "Save a dance for me." Softly smiling, I allow Chloe and Lily to drag me off. Now that I am cooled off, it is time to renter the furnace of a gymnasium.

~

An hour passes and the dance is nearly over. People slowly start to leave and lessen the crowd. A slow song comes on and I am ready to leave and go find Blake, since he wanted to dance with me. But it looks like he found me first. He leans against the wall of the gym, studying me intensely.

We meet each other halfway. "Caroline Wright, may I have this dance?" Blake smiles warmly at me, holding out his hand. Man this is so cute and all I can think about it how horrible it would be if I said 'no' and walked away. But of course, I don't do that.

I place my small hand in his, "Why of course, Mr. Currington." He leads me to the center of the gym. The huge mash pit is replaced by a couple dozen couples dancing. I gently place my hands on his shoulders and he places his hands on my waist. Bruno Mars 'Just The Way You Are' plays softly in the background. And I have to say, I really don't like Bruno Mars but I love this song. I think it is so cute and adorable.

We sway gently to the song, and I place my head on Blake's shoulder. He lightly kisses my forehead and I feel tingles down my spine. This is all so romantically cheesy, I absolutely love it.  "Be mine, Caroline." He whispers, barely audible, as the final song of the dance ends.

I pick my head up off his shoulder, gazing into his eyes. What does he mean by that? I cock my head, confused.

"I am done with the teasing." He starts. "I want you, Caroline, all to myself, selfishly. I want to kiss you whenever I want and hold your hand without feeling awkward about it. You drive me crazy, and I love that about you. So be mine, officially, labels or no labels." Blake bites his lip, unsure of how I'll react.

Well that was unexpected. I blink a couple of times, processing his words in my head and thinking about what to say. "I want you too, Blake Currington. With the labels."

He smiles down at me, taking my hand and guiding me out of the gymnasium. So that's it. That is the end of the best first (and last) Homecoming at Honeycomb High School.

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Hope you guys enjoyed! This chapter inspired me to change the title from The Bad Boy and His Horse to With The Labels but because I think it is cute and I didn't really focus on Blake and his bad boy-ness as much as I thought I would.