EMILY

The Dance

Emily's POV

"We are not going without you. You have isolated yourself in the house for the last two weeks. Please Em, don't do this to yourself." Alicia said to me as she sat down cross-legged in front of me.

"I can't." I responded and buried my face in the book in my hand. "He will be there."

"No he won't. Justin make sure of it that nobody will invite that son of a bitch in any party." Sophia said and I immediately felt relief wash over me. "For he first time in my life, I actually like his act."

"I.. I can't. What if everyone make fun of me that my own boyfriend tried to rape me." I shivered as the memory ran through ny mind.

"Nobody is shallow enough to do such thing." Alicia said. "But if you really think you shouldn't be going then fine, we are staying here too."

There was a celebration party for the new graduates in one of our classmate's house and I was afraid to go to it after what happened last time I went to a party. But Alicia and Sophia were fully dressed for the party and it didn't feel right to cancel their plan because of my issues.

"You guys don't have to stay with me." I tried to reason but they didn't listen to me.

"Yeah we do." Sophia added. "These are our last few days together. We won't waste any opportunity of spending time with one another."

I sighed and then hopped out of my bed. "Fine. Don't be emotional, I'm going." I said and both of them jumped excitedly.

...

Life was never easy for me. Being the self conscious person that Chloe made me, I never did anything that would made me prominent among a group of people. Yet trouble always seemed to find me. I never had any friends before, nobody dared to go against their queen. Then somehow everything started to get better. I find two best friends who love me and were always here for me. I thought I had found love too, but that didn't turn out well. But at least I still have my friends with me.

Both of them were sticking to my sides so that I won't be afraid of anyone, ignoring all the boys who were asking them to dance. Even Alicia didn't go with Adam, who she forcefully brought to the party.

"You can leave me alone. I am not a child, you know." I told them and both shook their head.

"I'll sit there and watch you dance. Don't worry." I added but they didn't move.

"Fine. Come on then, let's dance." I said and stood up, pulling both hands out for them. They looked among each other and then took my hands, standing up and walking behind me. We reached the centre of the lounge where everybody was busy drinking and dancing. I dragged my arms to and fro to make it look like I was dancing because I wasn't a good dancer like them.

Sophia and I danced alongside while we sent Alicia towards Adam who was casting agitated glances towards her. They look so cute together, no matter how different they were. I don't think there was anything common between them but their love conquered each difference. Whenever he was around, there was always a huge smile on Alicia's face. That's the kind of love I wanted.

After she left, I continued dancing and while doing so, my side bumped with someone and I wobbled back but a strong chest behind me prevented me from falling.

"Are you fine?" a familiar voice asked. I nodded and turned around, my eyes landed on Justin dressed in black T-shirt stretching against his torso, highlighting his toned muscles.

His gaze assessed me from head to toe and I swallowed the lump of saliva in my throat. Sophia raised her eyes while dancing and I nodded to tell her that I was fine with his presence. She cast a warning glance at Justin and then carried on with her dancing.

"I didn't think you'll come." he said.

The pile of bodies around me pushed me once again and I found myself standing too close to Justin. He was tapping his leg according to the rhythm so I mimicked his action and started doing the same.

"Neither did I." I answered.

There was a girl twerking behind him. To avoid his contact, he scooted closer to me until I felt his arms brushing against mine, causing a shiver down my spine. The light in the room had somehow dimmed and the distance between us had decreased to only few inches.

His proximity affected me and my cheeks started to warm up under his gaze. I tried to keep my movements slow and unaffected but his tall height towering over mine made me both nervous and excited.

"May I?" he pulled his hand out for me. I shouldn't have, but I gripped his hand and stepped closer to me, keeping my head still lowered. I was stepping into a dangerous territory and I should have stopped him right there but I couldn't.

I finally managed to raise my head to look into his eyes and found myself losing in those brown orbs. There were freckles dusted on his crooked nose, and a beauty spot on the corner of his lip. My breath hitched as his tongue darted out and he licked his lip. I tried to tear my eyes away but I couldn't, he was just so damn irresistible.

It felt as if a cord was pulling me closer to him. Both of us leaned towards each other as I looked deep into his eyes. There was unmistakable desire in them and I wasn't sure if mine looked any different.

"He doesn't deserve me." I told myself but it was too late. Crowded in between dancing bodies, our foreheads touched and our breaths mingled with each other. I closed my eyes and let my other senses guide me. I felt like I'd die if I don't kiss him right there. All my emotions were heightened, all my senses were hightened, his lips were hovering over mine, still not touching.

"Fuck." he cursed as another push came from our left and both of us tumbled sidewards. The jerk instilled some senses into me and I immediately created some distance between us, my chest was heaving up and down. Leaving him standing, I dragged myself out of the lounge, ignoring Sophia's voice calling me from behind.

I turned to an empty room at the end of the lounge and locked myself in. All this feeling was too much. There was a fight going on between my mind and my heart and I didn't know who to listen anymore.

Pulling my knees closer to my chest, I hid my face in between them and exhaled deeply. I was tired of crying and being pitied upon, I was tired of everything that was happening. I wanted to go away from this place. College felt like a savior for me. Nobody would know how pathetic or stupid I was. Just one more month and I'll be free of this.

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