Runaway- CaptainSwan AU

• Chapter 26 •

"Wow... so this is what a party looks like," Emma said in awe as the group walked into the school.

"Don't tell me you've actually never been to a party?!" Ashley asked in disbelief.

"Nope..." Emma admitted, almost embarrassed.

"No way! Well, come on, let's dance!"

Ashley grabbed Emma's hand, dragging her onto the dance floor. Emma laughed, casting Killian a nervous but excited glance as she followed Ashley's lead.

Killian smiled as he watched Emma struggle to keep up with Ashley's... unique style of dancing. She seemed to be having fun. Graham stood beside him, watching his face intently.

"So... Emma," Graham said.

"What about her?" Killian asked absent-mindedly as he watched her dance. His smile grew as he saw her make her own dance move, giving up on copying Ashley.

"Are you ever going to ask her out? It's obvious you two have something here."

Well, for your information, she's already my lovely girlfriend, was what he wanted to say, but he didn't, remembering that Emma wasn't quite ready to go public with their relationship yet.

"Not sure, mate. I don't know if I see her that way," Killian said instead.

It was beyond the opposite of true, but it was the best excuse he could think of. Not that he was very convincing, but at least he was trying.

Graham cast him a sarcastic glare. He wasn't buying it for a second.

"Ah. So do you think she'd be interested in eh... somebody like me?" Graham asked, smirking internally.

"Why the bloody hell do you want to know?!" Killian exclaimed, turning away from his gaze on Emma to glare at him.

Graham grinned, giving him a knowing look.

"Don't see her that way, huh?"

"Oh, drop it," Killian said, rolling his eyes.

On the dance floor, Emma was surprised to find herself having a good time. Normally, she wasn't one to be up and dancing- she'd never danced in her life. It had always seemed too... happy and preppy for her. Her whole life, she's tried her best to avoid scenes like the one she was currently in. It just wasn't her thing.

But she was trying new things now. And so far, she hadn't regretted a moment.

After over an hour of continuous flushing lights with loud and upbeat music, the volume gradually toned down. The lights dimmed slightly, and the DJ of the night made an announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a slowww song request. Grab a partner and sway away," he said in a smooth voice.

Having been dancing with Regina and Ashley, Emma was apologetically left alone for the moment. Regina had gone to find Robin while Ashley went to find some boy she'd been meaning to ask out for quite some time.

"It's fine, Ash," Emma laughed. "Go get him," she smiled.

She turned, looking through the crowd of now couples dancing to find Killian sitting off to the side with Graham, punch in hand. With a new determination in her heart, Emma made her way over to him. She was nervous as hell but... this would be worth it, she hoped.