The Girl Among The Boys

Bonus Chapter: Artemis's Dance

It was the night of the dance, I was in my room picking something to wear. I was hopelessly looking through my closet when I saw it, a knee length blue dress with a dark blue ribbon tied around my waist. I put my hair up in a ponytail like I almost always do,  I take Karate, self defence, baseball and track, so putting my hair up has become just another habit. Unfortunately my big brother Apollo is coming, he’s sooooo overprotective, he said the only people i get to dance with is Kira and Liberty. Please! I have so many other friends (by that I mean one) that might want to dance with me. Yes, there's this boy i've had a crush on since the third grade, his name is Austin. He moved here in the third grade from Grease, he has thick black hair, a perfect clear complexion, brown eyes with flickers of gold. And most of all a good face. I've never had the courage to really talk to him and he's never noticed me, but it’s all gonna change tonight when i dance with him. I came out of my room were there was a full family attack circle Dad, Harmony, Apollo and Ruby, all standing right outside my bedroom door. Dad, then proceeded to take a million photos, after the smothering was done Ruby went back in her room and Apollo took my hand to walk me out the door. Once we got there i met up with Kira, Liberty and Matt, we all met in kindergarten. Kira and Liberty are twins, they look exactly the same, blue-green eyes, ginger hair and freckles, i'm just glad their dad doesn't dress them in matching outfits, I would never be able to tell them apart. Kira is very social and outgoing, then there's Liberty very quiet and socially awkward. Last but not least Matt, he’s very nice and polite and also funny. He has dirty blond hair and brown eyes. We all balance each other out, that's why we’re friends. Apollo watched me like a hawk from the corner of the room constantly. “Hey! Guess what!” Kira said excitedly “what?” i replied giving in “We have a new sister! Her name is Venus and we dragged her here to chaperon us!” She said excitedly. A thought started snaking its way into my head and a evil grin crawled up my face. All three of them looked at me like I was crazy till I told them my master plan “Hey, Kira, Liberty! Why don't you two talk your sister into asking my brother out. Then we could be sister in laws!” I said excitedly, they both nodded furiously running off to find they're sis. It was just me and Matt now “sooo, are you going to ask Melody to dance” I asked smoothly, his face immediately turned bright red. Melody is this cute girl Matty has a crush on, she has short black hair and super blue eyes. She has a pretty smile and freckles, I could see why he had a crush on her. “Maybe,” he answered “are you gonna ask Austin?” He shot back, I glared at him  “ok how about if I ask Austin or you ask Melody the other has to ask” I proposed. We shook on it and sat there waiting for the other to do something, finally I lost it “Matt Hickson! I will go up there and ask him if you won't ask her!” I finally said. I just said that because I know he gets embarrassed when I say his last name, he just shrugged so i pushed down that terrible feeling in my stomach and approached Austin. “Uh, hey Austin! I'm Artemis and I was wondering if you would like to dance.” I asked, even though my head was screaming YOU IDIOT YOU'RE GONNA RUIN EVERYTHING! He looked at me for a second then answered “of course” he replied, my heart was about to explode I looked over at Matt and his mouth was hanging open. Me and Austin were having a great time, then a slow song came on. I was about to just go sit next to Matt again when Austin pulled me into a slow dance position. We started swaying to the beat, I couldn't help notice Matt still hadn't asked Melody yet, Austin put his hands on the midsection of my back and I put my hands on his shoulders. But slowly something bad happened his hands started creeping down my back, one finger at a time. My mind was racing as his hands got closer to danger zone, I thought he was good! I gave him a warning by gently moving his hands back up, but they immediately started back down. He'd been my crush since third grade and I just felt all those warm bubbly feelings go away in less then a second, it was so overwhelming I froze for a moment. Remember your classes I told myself, i squeezed his shoulders for support and made a quick swift kicking motion with my knee into his crotch. He plummeted to the ground making wheezing sounds as I whipped around into Matt. “Matt? How did you get up here so quickly, can you teleport?” I asked he shook his head “when I saw what was happening I was on my way over here to help you, but I guess you don't need it.” He explained. How sweet and stupid, he thought I was helpless, but he also tried to help. He looked down behind me, with a little laugh “how hard did you hit him?” He asked. I looked behind me, Austin layed sideways on the floor in fetal position moaning. I should have felt bad, but I didn't, more importantly where was Apollo? Kira and Liberty ran up to us “guess what! We talked Venus into-” “more like bullied into” Liberty chimed in, Kira gave her a dirty look then continued “Anyway, she's gonna ask Apollo out!” She squealed. I jumped up and down “when?” I asked “right now” answered Liberty, “quick we need to find my brother.” I announced. Matt tried to say something, but us girls rushed off to quickly. We found Apollo in the cafeteria with a pretty girl approaching ( I'm assuming Venus) him, well my stupid brother just stared at her. COME ON! DO SOMETHING! Goodness! Anyway, she sat down across from him, we were to faraway to hear her but we could see her lips moving. Apollo's face was beat red and he kept touching the back of his neck, not saying anything. I stomped over and very politely said “excuse me, may I have a word with my brother-dear.” I asked. They both looked at me confused, since neither answered I grabbed his arm and pulled him up and away into the corner. “You have to say yes” I insisted “I'm not sure I don't know anything about her.” He said. I rolled my eyes isn't the point of dating someone wanting to get to know them better? “Look, I know this may sound harsh, but you may never get asked out again. You're much too shy to ask someone out yourself, so this may be the last time someone asks you!” I lectured. He looked back at her then back at me, and gave a determined nod. I pretend to walk away when in reality I was walking back to my hiding spot with the twins. Once I looked back over her face was red and they were talking. Yes! Mission accomplished. Know I can enjoy the dance with my friends. Liberty turned to me talking in a hushed tone like she always does “Matt came over when you were talking to Apollo he said he never liked Melody.. he likes someone else.” She said. What? All the ducking away from her, all the blushing when she walked by it was all fake? I need to go talk to him. I walked back into the chaos which was the dance and started looking around. I immediately ran into someone “I'm sorry I'm looking for my friend” I apologized “it's ok, could I maybe help” said a female voice, I turned and saw Melody standing there. “Oh hey Melody, I'm looking for Matt have you seen him?” I asked, she bit her lip “I've seen him, but that was quite a while ago, I'll help you look.” She offered. And so we looked around the whole school and actually became pretty good friends. I found out she does gymnastics and has a younger brother named Riley and a younger sister named Keira. She has two dogs Ares and Snow, and her favorite color is blue. We may have gotten distracted a few times by food or games, but I mean who wouldn't! Once we gave up and started talking, I saw him outside! He was sitting on a bench on his phone probably texting his mom to pick him up. I said goodbye to Melody and went outside to talk to him. He looked up at me as I sat next to him, neither of us said anything for a long time, I think we both new what was happening. He had a crush on me, not Melody. “Why me?” I asked, he shook his head smiling “why not? I mean, your pretty, athletic, smart, you know how to fight, nice, funny and you can put up with me.” He said. I was still trying to process it all, but I think I like him to. He's the only boy who'd be willing to be best friends with three girls, when the twins weren't around or even when they were he would always make me feel better when I was down. “Well, you are all those things too. A-and that's why I like you back.” I replied, now he was smiling and blushing. I stood up and held my hand out to him, he took it and I pulled him up out of his seat. Once we got back inside I asked him to dance “yeah!” He replied, we went out to the dance floor and enjoyed ourselves. Unfortunately the thing that happened with Austin happened with Matt, as soon as we started dancing a slow song turned on. This time I wasn't hesitant to start dancing with him. I simply put my hands on his shoulders and his on my waist, and danced. Matt wasn't as tall as Austin, but that's ok. We were the same height, but I was like a millimeter taller im pretty sure in a year or two I'll overtake him. I much rather dance with a sweet short guy then a tall snake. But, I'm happy to inform you that we stayed that way
for the whole song, and I enjoyed the rest of my night. Me and Apollo were waiting for Matt's ride to pick him up since we didn't want to leave him alone waiting. Once a shiny silver car pulled up he said goodbye to me, and dramatically kissed my hand. Apollo wasn't to happy about that part, but wait till I tell him what happened with Austin! He flipped out! He started punishing himself for not being there to help, until I insisted even if he were there I would have handled him before he even got to me. I wonder if he's still lying there, in pain? I walked home with a new crush who I know likes me back and a new friend, Melody! Yeah I think I can survive middle school.