Giddy

Mormon Prom 2017

"I think it'd be cool to be a magician and everything..." He shared, I intently listening. "I've always wanted to be amazing." He added. 

With an innocent smile I responded, "I'm sure you'll be amazing. You're amazing now."

I glanced to the seat in front of me, but quickly brought my eyes back to his just as he spoke, "Really? How am I amazing?" 

I didn't even hesitate to answer, "Well... you're amazing for coming here and being my date." A smile never left my lips, however the thoughts of sleep clouded my mind and I didn't know if what was happening was a part of a dream or reality. 

"I see..." There wasn't disappointment in his eyes, but maybe a sort of pleasure or content that draped his features. "Do you think it was worth your time being with me?" 

Again without hesitation the word left my lips, "Definitely." 

And then he held my gaze with a look I hadn't known before that moment; he stared into my eyes longer than he had before, with a softness that made my heart flutter. A smile was pulling at the corners of his mouth that mirrored my own.

After that, conversation lulled and we fell asleep. We must have ridden that bus for a while, but my eyes briefly opened and there was his face, centimeters apart from mine. It was like a cliche moment from a drama; his eyes were shut from the exhaustion of the night.

Though, unlike me, I didn't panic; I simply grinned at the innocence that draped his features, and went back to sleep myself.

And when we had arrived home, I awoke him and we got off the bus. My legs, however, felt like they were not mine. My mind was clouded like intoxication had taken over my whole being as I stumbled out. I had to be steadied by my friends, and when Jace approached me to say his goodbye with a hug, I struggled to stay upright and nearly tipped us both over. Luckily, of course, he held us mostly in place.

That was the most giddy I had been that night; it wasn't when we ate tacos together for dinner or played life-sized Jenga against his brother and my friend; it wasn't when he swung me around on the dance floor.

Then, like a tragic love story, I never had a night like that with him again.

The closest was when I saw him on the last Saturday of my last high school summer, when I could only exchange a goodbye to him after not seeing him that whole night at that dance. He pulled me into a hug, a hug so tight that it only left me wondering if that was how he hugged everyone or if I was somehow special to him.