on the REBOUND (On Hold)

Chapter 7

I burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Longan McDonald. You? You are friends with Tyler Walker??"

"What did you call me?"

"Puh-lease, why would a good boy like him be friends with a cocky douchebag like you?"

"Did you just call me Longan McDonald?"

"Yea, cuz you're a fruit loop and a clown."

"You make me sound... delicious. Finally, a name that describes me accurately. Let it be known to all, from this day on, I am the great Longan McDonald." Longan McDonald announces.

"Also, I do know Tyler Walker. I'll prove it." He adds with a wink, and weaves into the crowd nimbly before I can stop him, his head bobbing above most of the student population. Anxiously, I start pushing aside people to keep up. Soon, he comes to a halt before Tyler, who had been trying to bridal carry Tasha. ("So just turn down the lights, and close the door... Ooh, I love that dress, but you won't need it anymore.") 

"Heyya Ty-ty old boi." Longan McDonald drawls.

Tyler looks up in surprise.

"Hey broooo, watcha doing here? You're in Mars too?" Tyler flashes his 10000 watt smile and sets Tasha gently on her feet. Tasha waves at me unsurely, a look of confusion on her face. 

"Nah, Imma Hershey Kiss. Came round cuz I spotted your cute button dance partner here and wanted to swap." Longan McDonald then turns to Tasha, giving her a knowing look. "Hey cute button, wanna dance with me instead?" 

Tasha's face turns as pink as her fingernails, which have found their way into my skin. 

"HELL YEAH!" She latches herself onto Longan McDonald's proffered arm like a leech that hasn't drunk blood in 2 months. He leads the way as she follows him on wobbly feet.

"Thanks Ty-ty!" Longan shouts to a dumbfounded Tyler over the dance instructions.

Did Longan McDonald just help me?

"Well uh..." Tyler recovers from his shock and crinkles his hazel eyes at me. "Wanna dance?"

I smile as brightly as a young kid offered the chance to go to Disneyland.

"Alright, everyone, I hope you remember what we've taught you so far! From the top!" Clare restarts "Versace on the floor".

"There's no place I'd rather be in this world

Your eyes are where I'm lost in..."

I walk towards Tyler. This is it. The moment every fibre of me has been pining for.

If walking toward Longan McDonald was a rock creating ripples across a calm lake, walking toward Tyler is a mesmerising whirlpool tugging me under - his charm relentlessly drawing me to the very core of his being, his hazel eyes pulling me in, his low gentle voice lowering my every defence. There is no resistance I can offer. I'm not sure how much longer I can put up with this fight. 

"Underneath the chandelier

We're dancin' all alone

There's no reason to hide

What we're feelin' inside

Right now"

My hand is trembling as I rest it on Tyler's chest. It's not as broad or muscular as Longan McDonald's but it feels like home. I can feel his heartbeat thudding away in his chest. Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub. Rhythmically, consistently. Like how Tyler has always been there for me through the years. Good times and bad. 

We go into the box step before he lifts my hand for the twirl. I feel my hair whip across my face as I spiral into Tyler's embrace. 

I could be Cinderella right now. Though I'm probably more of a Mulan. Still, not complaining. 

"So, baby, let's just turn down the lights and close the door

Ooh, I love that dress, but you won't need it anymore"

Tyler stoops down, places my right arm around his neck and lifts me clean off my feet in one sweeping motion. My mind goes into overdrive. We're so close I can smell his aftershave. His arms cradle me as though I'm a prized possession. I can't tear my eyes away from his hazel ones, speckled with light. Does he know he's whisked me to cloud nine? How can someone make me so anxious, so happy and so scared all at the same time? I want to reach my hand out to cup his face so badly... anything to get closer. My gaze drops to his lips. They look so soft...

No, you won't need it no more

Let's just kiss 'til we're naked, baby

Versace on the floor"

And before I know it, I'm kissing Tyler.

***

Did you expect Haywood to lose her self-discipline? 

What's gonna happen now?

Stay tuned to find out. 

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