A Year In Fort Lauderdale

Dancing Queens and Midnight Movies

Chapter Eleven

We walk into the school, music pumping throughout the building, and colorful lights streaming around from the stage where the DJ stands at his table. Blue, white, and silver balloons wrap the iron pillars and shimmering silver snowflakes hang from the ceiling, sparkling against the lights. Students mill about, some hitting the dance floor, some standing around the tables of food and drinks, and others walking down a red carpeted hallway to where I assume they are taking professional pictures.

Christian lets go of my arm and walks over to a group of guys, saying hey to them. I try to ignore the fact that he just left me but before I can look for somewhere to go, Adrianna comes up to my right and Jacob comes up to my left.

"Why don't we go find some food?" Jacob suggests, linking his arm through mine. Adrianna holds onto my right arm, dimples appearing on her cheeks as she smiles. 

We walk over to the table of food. Chips, cookies, fruit, tiny sandwiches, and drinks cover the table. I pick up a strawberry and pop it in my mouth, surveying the room again. More people have moved onto the dance floor, and I catch sight of Cas and Brayden dancing crazily, looking like total goofballs.

A smile forms on my lips as I watch them dance around. "I could see them together," I say out loud, keeping my gaze on them.

Adrianna munches on a small sandwich next to me and follows my gaze at them. "I've always thought so too. They really compliment each other. She deserves someone who treats her the way he does."

Movement to my left catches my eye and I turn to see Jess sashaying her way towards us. She's wearing a long silver dress that hugs her small figure. She emphasizes the swing of her hips as she approaches, throwing her dyed blonde hair over her shoulder.

"Jacob," she purrs as she grows closer, pressing herself against him.

He wraps a strong arm around her, eyeing her up and down. I turn to Adrianna and mimic a gagging expression. She smiles, but it doesn't completely reach her eyes.

"Why don't we go dance?" He suggests, keeping his eyes trained on hers. She smiles mischievously as she pulls him towards the dance floor. He turns back to Adrianna and I with a smile, his smile faltering slightly as his eyes look to Adrianna.

Before I can dissect that entire interaction, Delilah runs up to us, her long red curls flowing wildly  and freely. "Guys, the stupid dean just breathalyzed me," she huffs with a roll of her eyes. "Do I look drunk to you?"

Adrianna takes a sip of the drink in her hand. "They choose people randomly, I'm sure he didn't think you were drunk," she reasons, looking around the room. "Plus, if someone looks drunk to him I don't think a breathalyzer would let them through. He'd just kick them out immediately."

I sweep my eyes around the room, catching sight of Christian in a circle of people, talking animatedly. It's not that I wanted him to spend his entire night with me or anything but I didn't really expect him to leave me within the first five seconds of us arriving. 

I look over at Adrianna and Delilah. "Do you guys wanna dance?" I ask, feeling so far out of my comfort zone that I'm willing to do anything, even dance. They agree and we race out to the dance floor, the lights bathing us in their various colors. 

Adrianna confidently moves to the music, every move on point. Her easy going attitude and confident demeanor are somewhat infectious as I find myself losing myself in the music. I haven't met someone quite like Adrianna; so comfortable in their own skin, not caring what anyone is thinking. Even Cas, who is a pretty confident and carefree person, still has her days where she wonders what others are thinking.