Always

seventeen

LUNA

"Tell me everything!" Was the first thing Leo blurted the second he came to sit next to me.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. You know what I'm talking about." At my dumbfounded look he rolled his eyes. "The dance, you idiot."

"Oh. I-" I stuttered. Shit. I had forgotten he was going to be there.

"I saw you and Kyler in his car, you know." My eyes whipped over to his as he leaned back in his seat, biting from the chocolate bar in his hand. A mischievous smirk was spread on his lips. "You can't lie to me."

"I wasn't going to-" I started but he cut me off with a look. I let out a heavy sigh.

"Yeah, I was with him." I mumbled resignedly. "The crowds were too big in the gym."

"Aw, baby." He cooed, leaning forward to ruffle my hair. I shot him a glare. "So, where'd you guys go? Back home? To his place? The cafe-"

"He took me to a park." I cut him off, mentally preparing myself.

"Oh."

"There was a swing set over there. So we just sat there for a bit and then he..." I paused. Impatiently, Leo waved a hand in the air, gesturing for me to go on.

"He asked me to dance."

"What?" Leo shot up, his eyes bulging. I held in my laughter as students from a nearby table shot him a concerned look. He just brushed them away. "He asked you to dance?"

"Yes."

"Are you shitting me right now?"

I shook my head. "I'm serious."

"No fucking way." His lunatic grin was back. "So, he took you away from the school dance because he knew you felt anxious-"

"Well, so did he-"

"-and he asked you to dance when you were all alone." He continued, ignoring me. "Did you say yes?"

"Of course, I did."

"Holy shit!" He slapped his hand on the table. "How was it? Was it romantic? Or was it the awkward middle school dance feel?"

"It was...romantic." I bit my lip to keep from smiling. "He brought me flowers too."

He paused, mouth open. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

I laughed, playfully shoving his shoulder. "He just said it was because he didn't make the proposal romantic enough." I shrugged. "He probably just felt bad."

"You're so fucking dense." He muttered. I rolled my eyes at him.

I bit my lip, a flutter in my chest as I contemplated telling him.

"I think we shared a moment." I whispered.

"Yeah, no shit Einstein." He rolled his eyes but just as he turned to look at my serious expression, he straightened, his eyebrows shooting up. "You mean, there's more?"

I nodded slowly. "I think we almost-" I swallowed. "I think we almost kissed."

The silence which followed on Leo's part was too loud.

"What?" He damn near shouted.

"Shut up!" I hissed, widening my eyes. "Are you insane?"

"Yes!" He still didn't quieten down. "You almost kissed?" At my nod his smile returned. "Holy shit, I was right."

"No, you weren't." I retorted. Even without an explanation, I knew what he meant. "It was just something that happened in the moment. It meant nothing, okay?"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that." He paused. "Does Kyler know that?"

"What?"

"Does he think it means nothing?"

"Yes!" I automatically replied. I paused. He did, right?

Leo chuckled, shaking his head in pity. "You're really dense, Luna."

"Piss off."