Dancing with Danger

Chp. 11 The Runaway Dance

After graduation, Whitney and some of our friends were holding a giant party at Whitney's house. Only the graduating senior class was allowed. I was getting ready when Clapton stood in the doorway of my room.

"Hey," he said casually. My mind flashed back the passionate kiss we shared earlier. I looked at him in the mirror as I applied eyeliner.

"Hey," I said with a sheepish smile. He came into my room wearing his usual tattered jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket. His brown hair was its usual mess and when he flopped down on my bed it didn't help his cause.

"Why are we going to this thing, again?" He asked. I put my eyeliner away and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was in ringlets, my jeans were faded, torn and fit to my curves. My shirt was one of my blouses. It was flowy with little pink and white flowers. I slipped on some heels and went back to my dresser in search of jewelry.

"Because it's the last time we might see these people," I said putting in a dangly earring.

"I hate pretty much everyone that's going," he whined. I rolled my eyes.

"Then don't go," I said.

"And let you go alone?" He said sitting up. "Hell no."

"Aww!" I said sarcastically. "Clapton Michaels. Is protective. Over me?!"

"Shut up, Wildfire," he snapped. I grinned and picked up my phone before heading for the door.

At the party it was already raging. Music was pounding, people were heading for the pool in the back, and you could see the close bodies dancing in the living room. Clapton and I headed inside.

I went in search mode looking for Whitney. People gave me hugs, and high fives, and congratulated me on my speech and my acceptance to Berkeley. I finally found her flirting with Jeremy. I grabbed her arm and yanked her away from him.

"Hilly!" She protested as I dragged her away.

"Jeremy is a man-whore," I told her. I gestured to Jeremy who had just moved to another girl and was dancing up against her. How did he become valedictorian? I had no clue...

"Ugh," Whitney said making a face. "Thank you!"

Sadly to say, the party was very anticlimactic and uneventful. At one point I saw Clapton flirting with Grace Feller. My heart sank and when he gave me his know it all smirk and wink I didn't feel much better. The party lasted a long time. I was ready to drop by the time I got home. I walked up the stairs quietly behind Clapton. He was drunk again, but hasn't said much.

"Hey," he said to me when he reached my doorway. I looked up at him.

"Hey," I said smiling. He put his hands around my waist and pulled me against his chest. "Clapton..."

"I just want to tell you something," he said his words slurring. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe Juilliard will give you a full ride too if you tell them what Berkeley is doing." That actually wasn't a terrible idea...

"Yeah," I said an idea churning. "Goodnight, Clapton." He kissed my forehead a few times and went into his bedroom. I went into mine.

The next day after my parents left for work and Anna went to the studio for morning classes I picked up my phone and dialed the number Juilliard had given me. It rang a couple of times.

"Hello, Juilliard School of Dance," a sweet vote said. "How can I help you?"

"Hi!" I said brightly. "This is Hillary Gale. I just received my acceptance letter yesterday, but I had a couple questions concerning scholarships."