Let's Play a Game

Chapter 17: Protect my Princess-Part 2

Word Count:1512

"Come on Princess, lets go dance" Julian mutters in my ear. I sigh, to be quite honest. I would be perfectly content just standing here like in this position for the rest of the night- I'm blaming the alcohol for those thoughts.

"Lilly" he chides me quietly

"Fine" I mumble, finally  accepting his offer. I feel is arms disappear from behind me. He intertwines his fingers with mine, pulling me along to the dance floor. The music had just changed from an upbeat radio music to a slow song, great just my luck.

Julian tenderly places his hands on my waist. I place my hands on his shoulders as we moved together to the slow melody of the song. I was looking away from Julian. Well not really away from him.

I just refused to look him, to meet his gaze. I couldn't bring myself to. Not after what he had witnessed. I didn't know how I would ever explain to him what he had seen. I felt embarrassed and ashamed and I just couldn't te-

I gasp, I'm pressed up against Julian. I could feel the heat radiating off his body through the materials of our clothing. I could feel his heart thumping, every breath he took...

I was now staring right into his blue eyes, I wasn't able to look away. I was in some sort of trance. At this point we aren't even dancing anymore. We're just standing there, holding each other, staring into each others eyes like there was no one else in the room.

"Lilly.." Julian said in a strangled voice. He looked conflicted, like he was debating whether or not to continue his sentence. The hold he had on my hips was tight, I felt almost claustrophobic but at the same time I enjoyed the feeling of being pressed up against him. The song ended and was quickly replaced by an upbeat song that made us move apart.

Julian coughed and scratched his head uncomfortably. I pressed my lips tighter not knowing what to say. An awkward moment passed. Which was thankfully interrupted by Alissa. "There you guys are" she called. I turned thankful for her presence at that very moment. "You guys need to take a picture together, for the school year album as contestants for the couples costume contest" she explains quickly. "Come on" she calls over her shoulder as she weaves through people dancing. We follow her to where Maya had set up a photo booth.

She had plastered a black background in not the wall. Fake spider webs and bloody handprints adorned it along with jack-o-lanterns  on the floor.

"Finally" Maya says shaking her head. "Come on" she says motioning for us to stand in from of her little backdrop. We stand beside each other awkwardly. I fold my hands in front of me

"Guys, really? That has to be the worst pose in history. Actually not really but still. Do something, it's really not that hard" Maya says hurriedly.

Julian slides his arm around me, they can't see it or at least I hope they can't. His hands rests oh so causally on my ass. I shift my weight to one hip popping the other one out. I drape my hair over one shoulder and look at the camera.

Click. Click. Click.

"Ohh these are good" Maya admires the photos she took. "Very dramatic, I like it" she approves looking then over. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

I walk out of the shot and stand beside Maya looking behind her shoulder. She was right we did look very dramatic, but it was fitting considering our costumes. We look serious yet at the same time the way Julian's arm wrapped around me was almost... protective.

"Do you know where Nina is?" I ask wrapping a piece of hair along the length of my hair. Julian leaned against the wall on his phone. Maya shakes her head "Nope, sorry. Probably making out with Malik somewhere" she giggles with a sly smile. "Probably" I laugh.