Jarida Drabbles

School Dance

C'mon, Merida! You have to dance." The petite brunette pouted; she snatched her friends armed and tugged on it.

"I don't want to," she explained, peeling the fingers from her arm.

"But, it's senior prom!"

"And I came alone. I fully expected this. Now, stop clinging to me and cling to your boyfriend. He looks lonely. Once somethin' more lively comes on, I'll gladly join you."

"But - "

"Hey, Blondie. I don't think you're going to convince him. C'mon." Flynn stepped up and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Rapunzel sighed and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor.

"Thank you," Merida mouthed.

The college student smiled and gave a small nod before turning to focus on the young woman in his arms. He nestled her tightly to his chest and swayed in time to the drudging beat of the ballad.

Sighing, the exchange student fiddled with the fiery curl that hung in the middle of her forehead. She sat down in one of the cold aluminum chairs that lined the gym. She sighed in relief. The cold felt wonderful. Her feet cried out glorious "Hallelujah"s at not having to work. Merida bent forward and undid the strap of her heels and slipped them off. She wriggled her toes, basking in the luxurious freedom. She would have preferred wearing sneakers, but after her mother (and Rapunzel) found out over their weekly Skype chat, the idea was quickly nipped in the bud.

"Your face is almost as red as your hair."

"Oi."

Her eyes darted up to spy a familiar smirk directed down at her. Jack's hair stuck up in its usual untamable mess; the white locks glowed eerily in dance lights. She wondered what his hair would look like under black-light.

"Pretty freaky. I'm told I could star in the next horror movie. I tend to stay away from it," he said.

"Huh?"

"I guess you didn't realize you said that out loud." He plopped down next to her.

"Ah, no."

"Really, though. Your face is red. Like, really red. You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just hot."

Cold skin pressed against her cheek and forehead. She sighed in relief. The warmed flesh disappeared as Jack flipped his hands and pressed the other, cooler side to her face.

"Better?"

"Mhmm. Thanks."

"No problem," he said as he pulled his hands away and let them hang limply on his lap.

"Why are your hands so cold?"

"Why is your face so hot?"

They both paused at that.

One of his hands made its way to the back of his neck; he rubbed the muscles. "Ah. No. Sorry. Didn't mean it like that - I - uh - I was just..."

"Oi, stop rambling. I got it already."

"Good. 'Cause I didn't mean that you're hot like - like that. Just that you're warm, hot."

"I said I got it already, Jack."

His lips pinched shut.

"So...why aren't you up and dancing?" she asked, trying to get his characteristic smirk back. Anything else didn't suit him.

"Simple, brutal answer?"

"Yeah."

"Didn't come with anyone. Didn't ask anyone. No one went out of their way to ask me. You?"

"Same. Plus, eh...not really my thing. Well, somethin' more lively perhaps. But, not this." She gestured to the entwined couples pressed against each other, music forgotten for the other.

The smirk returned as he turned to her, his arm draping the back of her chair. "We don't need the music to be upbeat to dance."

"What are you suggesting?" she questioned with an arched eyebrow.

He grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. He dragged her out to the middle of the floor, ignoring her complaints about leaving her shoes behind.

Grabbing her shoulders, he turned her to face him and said, "Think of your favorite song."

"What - "

"Think of it!"

"Okay, okay! I got it."

"Now dance!"

"But - but, it's not playing. It would look weird."

"So? Dance anyway!" Jack shouted. He snatched her hands and began to alternate between pulling one towards him and then the other.

Slowly, she loosened up. Merida laughed as she let him twist her body to a rhythm shared between only the two of them in the sea of couples.