Falling for The Wrong Brother

Chapter 8: The Dance

I studied Zach’s appearance as we drove to the school dance. Zach looks handsome but so natural. I watched him comb his fingers through his hair, and this time I wasn’t thinking like ‘he really needs a haircut’ like I used to do. Instead I was thinking about how it would feel to run my own hands through that soft, silky hair.

“So you’re not mad at me?” I asked a few minutes later as we drove.

He shook his head and look at me questioningly. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“For lousing up your evening. I thought you didn’t like school dances. You never went to any before.”

“You’re right. I’m really not into dances. Too many people, I’m more of one-on-one kind of guy.” He smiled briefly then frowned. “But this is different Dana. I’m just being a good brother to Jake, and a good friend to you.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll be honest, I’m not really hapy with this arrangement, but I agreed to it. So will you please just drop it?”

“Yeah, sure. If that’s what you want.” This is so unlike of Zach, I thought as we drove in silence. He was always so easygoing. Something must be bothering him.

Zack parked his pick-up in the school parking lot. He switched off the ignition. “Dana before you go inside, I want to tell you something.” He took a deep breath. “I think Jake is not the right guy for you.”

“Zach!” I was surprised. “I know what I want and-“

“Let me finish,” he interrupted. “I know how you feel about Jake. You’ve never tried to disguise your feelings for him around me. But I am just protecting you from getting hurt. We’ve always been honest with each other, and that’s why I need to tell you that-“

“Zach, I appreciate your concern.” I said annoyed. How dare him tell me what to do. “But I can take care of myself.”

“I wish I believed that.” He continued. But I don’t think you’re a match for Jake. He’s a lot more experienced-“

This was getting downright insulting. “I don’t need you to look out for me. I’m a big girl Zach.”

Zach sighed, then got out without a word. We walked quietly toward the gym where we were swept up in the crowd of party-goers once inside.

“Zach!”somebody called out. “What are you doing here?!” and he was swallowed out in the sea of bright colored dresses and haze of cigarette smoke.

As I searched the crowd for sign of Jake, I felt somebody pulled at my arm. “Dana, is that really you?” It was Alice from my French class who taught me a lot of French slang before I went to Paris. “Yuou look great!” she exclaimed.

“Thank you.” I said distractedly looking at the mass of people around. Jake might not be here yet. I craned my neck to look for Zach but I could not find him. He was supposed to be my escort until Jake arrive, but he had abandoned me. Some friend.

We walked to the dance floor, the band was playing a popular dance tune.

Alice snapped her fingers. “Wow look at him go.” She said pointing at the middle of the dance floor.

I followed her gaze and my mouth go dry when I saw Jake.

“He’s amazing!” Alice said.

“Yeah.” I answered quietly. He wasn’t dancing like a guy who’d just sprained his ankle, that’s for sure. Jake probably went to the most expensive doctor, one that could do wonders with his injury, I thought sarcastically.