Under the moonlight

Chapter 16

Kia's  pov

Conquer the world. What really was I thinking when I said that? Clearly,  I had no idea what the night had in store for me.

Dembe and I were having a great time at the dance. Well, it was great until we had to set out eyes on that one person neither of us had good thoughts about : Namuli.  The girl was trying so hard to catch our attention with the way she was moving her  'invincible' hips.
The irritation was too much and I found myself lashing out and then just at that moment, someone much better caught my attention.

Amare.
He had just arrived at the arena, but he was not alone.  Zazi was tagging along.  I did not care that he had brought another girl to the dance instead of me. All I cared about was that he was there and his eyes were on me. Me!
Suddenly, I could not talk. Amare's  look melted my knees and made my ever running mouth go quiet for a few minutes.

"Just act normal, Kia. "

Trust Dembe to talk about normal when the one and only boy was standing right in front of me, in all of his glory staring at me.
He was her brother, so probably that was why she could say such things, but for me, it was different.

Seeing that Zazi was trying so hard to get Amare's attention, I decided to move into the crowd and dance away from the light.  I understood how it felt like to be rejected, by that one person you wanted so much.
Zazi was definitely not one of my favorite people, but she deserved a good night, so I started moving away, but not without catching the disappointment in Amare's face.  He looked like he was making his way towards me when suddenly Zazi pulled him to the center of the arena, where they started dancing.

I watched them dance and for a second what I thought was disappointment on Amare's face did not look like it. He looked like he was having a great time. I was hurt,  but what did I expect from him?  He had never even as much as glanced my way, except for  two minute ago, when I thought I was melting into a puddle of emotions.

I so lost in my thoughts that I did not notice that I had left D alone, talking to herself. So much for being normal.
I knew she would be fine, especially since I had spotted Kojo but I did could not tell her.
I figured she must be enjoying the night and there I was sulking over one stupid boy, so I decided to dance my sorrows away.

I looked at the center of the arena one more time to see whether Amare was still there or not and to my disappointment, he was not, but surprisingly, Zazi was still there.
Whatever had happened, I did not want to know. What angered me was that Amare had come and gone without even greeting me when it was very clear that he had seen me, probably even seen through me. I wanted to go home and cry it out but I could not let him ruin my night  like that, so I decided to stay. 
Naturally, I am a very strong and outgoing person. I speak out my thoughts and rarely do I show my vulnerability. Amare was the only person who managed to bring out that side of me, yet he did not even realize it.

My dance steps were inspired by anger and disappointment, more than wished them to. I was so caught up in my own steps that I did not realize that I had stepped on someone and was about to fall when two strong arms held me.

"I am so so..."

For the second time during that night, I could not find my words.
What was wrong with me?

"You know the dance is not a matter of life and death, right? "

Of course, I knew what was wrong with me. Amare was the problem and there he was holding me like I was a fragile pot. I did not want him to let me go, but was not just about to show him that. I wriggled out of his hands, straightened my dress and looking away, I said,

"I am sorry, I stepped on you. "

"There's no problem. You can step on me the whole night, if that is what it takes for me to see you in that dress. "

He said,  chuckling.

I wanted to laugh along with him but I did not, mainly because, the tone in his voice was doing things to my body that I was not sure whether I liked or not and also because screams of Dembe suddenly broke out.

"Put me down, Kojo! "

Kojo was sure going to have a lot to deal with. I knew my girl was not going to calm down just like that.
When I looked at Amare, I almost burst into laughter, again.  He looked like he was ready to kill someone. Nobody messes with my sister.

"You know she can take care of herself. She will be fine. "

"Are you fine? "

Why was he twisting my words?  He was supposed to be worried about his sister and yet he stood there and continued asking me cheesy questions.
How could he even ask me if I was fine, when he knew exactly how I felt.

"Should you not be dancing the night away with your girlfriend? "

I saw his mouth curve into a smile as soon as I said that. Did he enjoy seeing me so vulnerable in front of him? 

"Are you the only person who does not know that I have no girlfriend?  Come on, Kia, I thought you knew me like the back of your hand. "

He was definitely enjoying himself.

"So, what is Zazi to you then? "

"Oh!  You are interested. Do not trouble your mind though, she poses no threat."

She poses no threat. What are did he even mean by that?  I did not want to  raise my hope  and then end up disappointed.

"Okay, then I think we are done here. You can go back to your not-girlfriend. "

He laughed again and I was beginning to get irritated.

"I will, but not without a dance with you. "

Before I could protest, he started dancing and pulled me along with him.
We were away from the light and no one's focus on us and so things were made easier for me.

Amare danced so well, that I found myself staring, forgetting that I should also be doing the same.

"Pick your jaw from the floor, Kia."

I felt my skin flash and suddenly started laughing to cover up my embarrassment.

As the music got louder and engulfed my embarrassing laugh, I thought that if that was what conquering the world meant, then I wanted to do it over and over again.

******

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Love,
Daisy. 💋