Promises

Chapter 1 - Company

I really got to know him at a school dance. We'd never talked before really. Just acknowledged each other when it was required, and worked together when it was necessary.

I had arrived with some friends, and they had all left me at one of the tables to go find their dates or their other friends. I sat there for a while, observing couples dance and people stand around and chat before I became bored. I was about to leave, go outside or something before I noticed an argument. I recognize two of my classmates; a thin blond figure, and a tall dark haired boy.

"No, I'm leaving."

"Alex, babe, please don't. There's still a dance to enjoy."

"Kinda hard to enjoy a dance when you just saw your girlfriend all over some other guy", came the sarcastic response. She huffs.

"I told you I was sorry."

"Sometimes sorry isn't enough Ella! How can you be so selfish? No, you know what? We're done! Enjoy the dance."

He walks out of the room, leaving her to melt in a puddle of tears. I'm tempted to go comfort her when I remember what she did. She cheated on him. Maybe he's the one who needs comforting.

I unbuckle and slip out of my heels, choosing to carry them than to make a fool out of myself by tripping over my own feet. I slip past a now weeping Ella and several other bystanders before I make it out and into the hallway. I'm immediately struck by how quiet it is. The loud music and the chatter are now muffled by the doors, and the strategically placed LED candles gave the hallway a romantic glow. I turn a few corners, trying to find him until I peek around a corner and see him. I don't know what I'll do, or what I'll say, but I walk up and sit down next to him on the floor, curling around the heels in my lap.

"How many people do you think saw that?"

I shrug. "Who knows? A lot of people were dancing. Not a whole bunch, I'd say." He sighs in relief. "Buuuuuuut, knowing high school drama, everyone will know by Monday morning." He groans and rests his head back against the wall. We sit in silence for a moment or two, leaving me to mess with the straps on my heels and him the buttons on his sleeves. Just before it gets awkward, he peers over at me and asks, "Why did you follow me out here?"

"I don't know, really. I just thought you might need company after that. Am I wrong?"

He shakes his head. "No. The company is nice." He pauses for a moment. "I can't think of a single friend who would just come out here to see if I was okay." I chuckle. "Well, then you need new friends." He laughs along with me for a moment before he sobers. "Seriously though. I mean it. Thank you."

"You're welcome", I say, and I mean it.

The rest of the night is peaceful, and regrettably, goes by too fast. After a few awkward starts, we strike a chord and dive into an interesting conversation. We're interrupted when a chaperone finds us and ushers us back into the dance, but when he gets a goofy grin on his face, I can't help but follow him onto the dance floor.

I ignore the hateful daggers that Ella stares into the back of my skull, and the curious glances from our classmates. For the first time in a while, I let myself go and have fun. I laugh, I smile, and I dance. And when it comes to the last song, I say goodbye. Alex promises to ask for my number on Monday before he's swept away by some guys. I'm left sitting on the steps, hugging my heels, waiting for a ride home, with a big grin on my face.