Best Friend Next Door (Love Next Door Book 2) *Rough Draft*

Chapter 4

On paper pulling up to the Vincentville Spring Social on the back of Christian's Harley seemed like a good idea on paper, forgetting the fact she was a lady in a dress. She'd wore extra tight her mermaid style white sundress and with red roses, and red peep toe heels. It was cute until she had to straddle a bike and put on a helmet.

She tossed it off when they parked in the parking lot of the community center. She slid off the bike straightening her dress, and the little bit of cleavage she did have. Even her thong rode up be up, but she wasn't going there. Christian just stood there and laughed.

"Shut up." She said digging in her red clutch for her compact mirror and her lips glass to reapply it.

She looked up at Christian with his red and navy blue plaid with dark jeans and his usual black boots. She saw her reflection in his glasses. Her wind blown hair that she smoothed down. Christian slipped his hand around her waist.

"You look fine Duchess."

Melanie pouted as her tall red heels clicked on the hard pavement.

"I tried to tell you." He said, "You're hair doesn't look that bad."

She pulled out her emergency hair repair kit. A few bobby pins, a hair tie, and a red head band. She studied herself in her compact. This was as good as it was going to get. Thank goodness she was so used to these types of emergencies directing her play and Vernon had taught her a thing or two.

She moved onto her eyeliner as they walked, then mascara, she pinched her light cheeks.

Christian just laughed. "Duchess, again you look perfect."

Even with wind-blown hair Christian looked amazing. She looked like a wind-blown cocker spaniel. She put closed her clutch and just accepted this was as good as it was going to get, she's have to take Christian's word for it.

Christian opened the door and allowed her in. Noticing the crowded room made her more self conscious. She looked at Christian again and smoothed her dress. "Are you sure I look okay."

He laughed as he scrolled her appreciating her finger. "You look great." He tucked her arm in the crook of his arm, "I feel lucky just having you on my arm, duchess. I mean that."

She smacked him in the bicep with her other hand. Wanting to believe it. She guessed deep down she was still the awkward teen she always had been growing up here. She scrolled the room looking for any familiar faces as the speakers blared a Shaina Twain upbeat song that Melanie recognized and quietly sang it all.

Christian tugged her closer to his hip as they navigated through the crowd that was standing on off to the side. Some just without dates, some in line for food. The aroma's filled the air, but for some reason Melanie just wasn't hungry.

"Hungry duchess?"

She looked up into Christians deep blue. "No. Are you."

He chuckled. "No." He pulled her into him leaning into her ear making her heart go haywire. "You want to dance?"

Her breath hitched as he pulled away. She nodded. "Sure."

Christian led her out into the middle of the floor. They danced at a reasonable distance, unlike a lot of the other couples grinding on each other like they weren't in a crowded room. Melanie danced and sang along laughing at how much of the song related to Christian. So she just started singing it to him. She'd even forgotten there were other people in the room. They were just two friends having a good time.

When the song was over another song she recognized came on and she continued to dance and goof off with Christian. The next song was a slower but upbeat song. It slow enough to slow her rapid beating heart. Christian slipped a hand around her hip and held her other hand and they rocked singing along.