An Exchange

Chapter Forty - School Valentines Dance

Penny

Ryan picked me up for the dance at the school. When we arrived, Ryan's football mates, including Spencer, ambushed him. They each had a girl with them, all of whom had an obvious dislike for me―being either cheerleaders or popular girls. But Maria pounced on me, saving me from the uncomfortable situation. "Penny, you look so cute tonight!"

"Thank you." I smiled as I ran my hand down the dress Ryan bought me back in November. "And you look beautiful, as always."

She beamed and spun around in her red cocktail dress. "Marty bought it for me. You know how he is with clothes. It's a little girlie sometimes, but I don't mind the benefits."

Marty and Ray appeared and greeted me warmly, then Marty saw his usual friends and excused himself to go see them. Maria grabbed his hand and smiled at me as she went along with him.

Ray smiled back as he watched her go, then he looked at me. "Would I be able to steal you away for one dance tonight?"

"Sure."

The football boys noticed Ray and engulfed him into their crowd.

Ryan grinned from ear to ear as he wrapped his arm around me, thoroughly enjoying himself. I spotted Giles and Zoe by the back wall and excused myself. Ryan nodded and gave me a quick kiss before letting me go.

I ran over to them and hugged them both. We talked briefly before an arm wrap around my neck.

"Hey, sis." Jonas beamed. "You better save me a dance."

"Of course." I laughed.

"Sweet! I'm gonna make all my friends jealous. I get to dance with a cute senior and an Australian one at that!" He then bounced away.

Giles turned to me. "On the topic of reserving dances, may I request one as well?"

I laughed at his formality. "Okay, I just hope there's enough of them."

Zoe scoffed. "Oh, there will be. The committee insisted that half of the songs are slow dances. It's going to be a long night." She saw someone hovering suspiciously around the food, and rushed off to shoo him away.

A hand rested on my elbow. Giles stepped back. "Ryan."

"Giles," Ryan responded coolly.

I nudged Ryan away. "I'll see you later, Giles."

Ryan led me onto the dance floor. At first I danced stiffly, afraid to look stupid, but after watching Ryan and Spencer with the football boys dancing together, I didn't think anyone could ever look stupid again.

Because Marty's group was nearby, Maria found her way to my side. We enjoyed being together, safe with one another among all the girls who hated us for dating our boyfriends. The boys made it easy to ignore them, as they happily goofed off with us. So Maria and I focused on each other’s company and the crazy boys.

The music changed. Marty whipped Maria away from me. Ryan grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a waltz position. "I could easily do a whole night of this."

"Me too, except three."

He looked confused. "Why?"

"I promised Ray one..."

"Okay yes, I can see that."

"And Jonas because he wants to make all his friends jealous, and also Giles."

Ryan glanced away, but soon smiled. "But I get you the rest of the night, right?"

"Right!"

The song blended into a new slow song, and Ray tapped on Ryan's shoulder. "May I?" Ryan nodded and stepped aside for him. Ray took my hand, smiling. "You look nice, Penny."