On December 18th, I go to winter formal with Penelope, Juliet and our new friend, Kelsey. She moved during October from Florida and the four of us instantly bonded. Instead of in its normal tight curls, my hair is in loose waves and Juliet did my makeup. I'm not going to lie, I look really good. But there's someone who I know would look good with me.
Stop thinking about him, things ended in September. He probably isn't even thinking about you anymore.
After a while, we all split up and I find myself fiddling with my silver dress. When out of nowhere, Zane begins to approach me. He must be smiling at the person behind me, there's no reason why he would come towards me.
However, his smile was for me and he shoves his hands into his tuxedo pockets. His hair is slicked back the way it always is and ironically enough, his tie is silver.
"Hey Grace." he says while looking at my eyebrows. I can tell he's trying to convince me that he's making eye contact, but he isn't trying hard enough, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"It's a school dance, why wouldn't I be here?" I asked him as I feel my eyes move downwards, "And why are you even talking to me? You ignored me for months and suddenly I exist again?"
Zane puts up his hands in defense, "I just needed some time to think about everything. That wasn't really the way I wanted you to find out."
Both of us stay quiet and the DJ announces that there is going to be a couple's slow dance. The lights in the moist and sweaty gymnasium dim as a song that I recognized singing with my father plays.
"We'll figure it all out later...but for now, do you want to dance?"
I have to say no, I have to say no, I have to say no.
"Okay." I finally nod and reach my hand out, a corsage wrapped in royal blue ribbon laced around my wrist.
The dancing is awkward at first, especially because the song that I know so well. I mean who doesn't love Africa by Toto? Both of us quietly singing along makes things a bit less strange and before we know it, our bodies are together and we sing the song in unison.
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
"I never knew that you liked this song." he comments with a laugh. His voice has gotten much deeper since we last talked and it is noticeable.
"Yeah, it was one of my dad's favorites." I nod, remembering that it is still a tough subject to bring up.
Maybe we should just stop talking and I should just listen to the song. Because damn it's good.
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
Without realizing it, I've set my head on Zane's shoulder and feel at ease. I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time and it feels so good. He squeezes my hand and I pull away to look up into his eyes. Those damn eyes...they can make me do anything.
And his eyes end up making me kiss him as the chorus of Africa by Toto echoes throughout the gymnasium of Silver Valley High School.
That's our cliche, our romantic ending.
YOU ARE READING
binded
Teen FictionGrace's life is normal. She has lived seventeen years of her life as the type-A girl with perfect grades and adoration from her parents. She has everything in the palm of her hand and doesn't want that to change. Zane has a secret. He is on the run...
