Jacob (BWWM)

The Dance

"You intoxicate my soul with your eyes." Billie Holiday, You Go to My Head

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She never noticed him until now.

She notices him in the dark bluish lights spinning in the gym and the silhouettes of her classmates. He was in a corner with his friends and the tallest of them all with eyes that easily grabbed her attention. He was a shadow with a gaze resembling green leaves aging in the fall. His body fuses with the walls with ease as if his friends were talking to an empty space. Yet, she notices him. She notices him devouring her with one look and finding it enriching but shocking. Despite the intensity, they were gentle and stalked her every move. She ran a fluttering and nimble hand through her yaki curls then tore her eyes away.

Veronica wonders if he had always been staring. For all she knew, he was just now looking at her. Was it better to think that he wasn't staring at her all night? She didn't know but all she could think about was the music and his expression. It seemed like he wanted to speak but was idling his time. Veronica feels a terrible and distressing wave of nerves hit her.

She searches anxiously around the room for her best friend, Lizzy, trying to avoid any eye contact with the boy across the room. "Candy Girl" by Trailer Trash Tracy's played in the background making her feel a little relax. Veronica was out of her comfort zone.

Lizzy had ranted on and on about Veronica never wanting to have fun. She included that all Veronica did on the daily was "listen to sad white people music and do her homework". Lizzy wasted no time to include that she considered Veronica "boring." Being hurt was an understatement, even though Veronica knew Lizzy was only being honest. Unfortunately, it didn't stop Veronica from being upset.

That's how Veronica ended up at the school dance. It was the winter ball for all grades, and she couldn't help but feel insecure and jittery. Everyone was in the school gym creating a packed room full of laughter, excitement, and romance. The music was loud enough to block how noisy the students were. Despite the energetic atmosphere, she couldn't help but feel discouraged.

She felt suffocated and knew her drink was going to spill all over her dress due to her tremors. What was made as an effort to finally spend some time with her best friends ended with her being all alone. Michael was running late, and Lizzy had left her all alone knowing that Veronica didn't do well in crowds.

Veronica sighs. She never did well with anything.

"Ah!," Veronica is grabbed by her shoulder and spills her drink all over her hands. She looks up with frightened eyes preparing to meet amber ones.

"Michael, what the fuck?" She whines softly grabbing napkins off a table. She glares at Michael, his brown eyes twinkling while he laughs. She's sent a few students near them several apologetic smiles to ease their weary gazes.

Michael gives Veronica a childish pout that makes her forgive him on sight. She sighs the millionth time that night and tries to wipe the juice off her hands as her face slowly begins to glow.

"You seen Lizzy?"

Veronica frowns, her glow disappearing.

"N-nah, I was trying to find her myself..." She mutters with a downward gaze. She peeks up at Michael, face hot, as he's scratching his curly jet-black hair. His piercings gleams whenever he talks, and a flash of blue light touches his face. It makes Veronica smile softly while she ponders at the thought of how they would feel on her lips.

Michael groans in annoyance, "She's always running off some damn where! I told her to stay still but she's so hard-headed! "

"You know Lizzy... O-once she's at a party, she won't settle down."