Catching Feelings

The Ugly Truth

I am so stupid. Really, I am.

I mean seriously? Why would Jake just randomly take an interest in me after being at the same school as me since forever? How could I not have seen this coming?

I can't believe I was so stupid.

I look up at Suzanne and Jake again before taking a deep breath and shutting my eyes tight. I stand frozen on the spot before someone grabs my hand. I open my eyes and see Cody pulling me towards the dance floor. He puts an arm around my waist and takes hold of my hand.

"Cody, what are you doing? I ask sounding a bit hoarse.

"Dancing you idiot. I promise I won't step on your feet," he replies and I send him a weak smile before we start swaying to the music.

"Why?"

"Because this is the best way to get back at them," he tells me and I stare at him like he's lost his mind. He doesn't say anything but suddenly it clicks. The best way to get back at them is to show that I really don't care what they do. I sigh before looking up at Cody and smiling.

"Thanks," I tell him.

"No problem. It's what best friend's are here for right."

"No seriously. Thank you," I tell him squeezing his hand. He doesn't say anything. Instead he twirls me around causing me to laugh.

"What happened to the 7 year old who stepped on my feet?"

"Really Em? It's like 10 years later. I do know how to dance now."

"I can see. Did you like take a class or something?"

"If you could call spending countless Saturday nights watching chick flicks then yes. You could say I took a class."

"No ways! You did not learn to dance from watching movies!"

"Fine you caught me. My mom taught me after the whole stepping on your feet incident. Don't ask me to waltz or do the tango though because this is all I can do."

"Well it's better than nothing."

"That's exactly what she said. She told me that one day I'd be going to dances and even to the prom and that I'd need to be able to dance because all the pretty girls like to dance," he tells me which causes me to giggle. Only Laura would say something like that.

"And what did you say?"

"Well I told her that I didn't want to learn because there was only one girl I actually would dance with and that since the girl shouted that she would never dance with me again there was no need for me to learn."

"That sounds like you. So what happened with that girl?"

"She's actually dancing with me right now," he tells me with a grin before twirling me again.

"Well then aren't you happy you learnt to dance?" I ask.

"I guess it did pay off," he says with a chuckle.

I grin at him as the song ends.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"Thanks to you I am," I reply.

"Really Em. Are you okay? Because I do remember saying that I was gonna go after Jake with my hockey stick if something like this happened," Cody says and if he didn't look so serious I'd burst out laughing.

"Cody I'm okay. I'm not great but I'm okay. And Jake is not worth getting in trouble okay."

"But I can't just-"