Tied for Second

Chapter 6 - The Masked Man

"HEY! Watch where you're going!!" I exclaimed, picking myself up.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry. Are you okay?"

I look up. I was knocked over by a dude. A tall, muscular, very well cut dude. He was wearing a black suit with a silver vest and bow tie and a phantom of the opera mask. He didn't have a boudoir so he must have gone stag. He had dark hair and brown eyes and tan skin. He looked really familiar but I mean, it was a school dance.

"Yeah, I- I'm fine." I spun my dress around, checking for any tears or runs but thankfully there were none.

"Wow. You look-... uhm- you look great."

I looked back up at him. He looked bashful and he rubbed the nape of his neck, embarrassed by his boldness but not regretful. I know that expression. Where do I know that expression from? It was like someone had hit me over the head and taken the memory.

"Thanks." I said, still looking at him, not quite sure how to respond. TWO COMPLIMENTS IN ONE DAY?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME I CAN BARELY GET MY MALE DOG TO LOOK AT ME!! IS IT THE DRESS? SHOULD I BE WEARING THIS EVERYDAY????????

"Uhm, do you, wanna dance?" He asked. I stare at him for a second, then cock my head, listening to the music. I make a face.

"You really want to dance to Katy Perry?"

He laughed, "no, not really. But I thought maybe you would."

I smiled and shook my head, "No way. Those desserts look really tempting though."

He smiled and offered me his arm. I took it, mockingly, and he escorts me to the desert table. There were cupcakes and eclairs and scones and souffles and tarts and I think I might have drooled a little bit. I grabbed two of each and my companion laughed.

"Whut?" I asked, half a tart in my mouth.

"Nothing. You just don't seem like the kind of girl to love food."

"Nebah djudge uh bhook buhy iz chuvah." I mumbled through my food. I held up a finger, chewed, swallowed, and started again, "Never judge a book by its cover."

"No... never..." He mused quietly. Before I could decide what he meant I heard it. My song.

"Oh my gosh this is my song!!!" I squeal, almost running to the dance floor. He laughs behind me and I stop at the edge of the dance floor. You know what I said about 'nobody cares if we perform Satanic rituals'? Well, apparently there was a little more then Satanic rituals going on. My face fell. All I wanted was to dance to my song and stupid hormone driven teenagers ruined it. My companion stopped beside me and, realizing what I saw, grabbed my arm and said,

"C'mon, over here."

I allowed him to drag me away, catching a glimpse of my friends. I opened my mouth to say hi but then stopped. Daisy and Garred were still lip locked and Nathaniel, Lewis, Cole and Taylor were dancing while Joy and Nick had a dessert eating contest. They were all having so much fun without me, they'd be fine if I hung out with my new friend for a while... right?

I kept following him and eventually we came to a glass door. He opened it and outside was a large balcony, complete with a little cafe table and lights. You could still hear the music pounding, but it was less thundering and more melodic outside. I walked over to the edge and looked out. You could see the whole town just illuminated in the late fall night.

"Hey, I can see my house from here!" I said, leaning over the railing. I pointed my finger out in the distance to my neighborhood.

"That's not far from where I live." He said, joining me at the railing