Don't be afraid, darling ✔[COMPLETED]

Chapter 17: Surprise moves

We entered the school grounds, poking fun of the worst dressed kids and laughing our heads off.
There was a bright blue tent-like canopy set up in front and festooned with balloons and banners reading, "Happy Founder's Day!"
The polished white statue of Alexander Mantzari was placed right beside the dance floor, which seemed a rather risky place to place a marble statue.
To my shock, Alexander Mantzari looked faintly like.... Zorraine?
The same slanted eyebrows, same sharp nose and messy hair. The statue was white, so I couldn't make out the colour of his eyes and hair. There was no mistake. Mr. Founder must have had been some ancestor of Zorraine or something.
Cassian must've seen my shocked expression. He put his hand on the small of my back, "What's the matter, Kiara? Are you okay?"
I nodded, "You know what, I met this guy called Zorraine few days ago. He helped me out of a tight spot." Cassian's grasp on my arm tightened and his strong jaw hardened, as though at the mention of Zorraine's name.
His otherwise warm, brown eyes turned ice cold and directed on me, "Zorraine?"
I nodded again, "Yeah, why're you looking at me like that? Do you know him?"
He glanced at the gates for a second, as if expecting someone to burst through it, "Yes... he is an old acquaintance." He said tersely.
I was surprised at that bit of knowledge, "Really? So could you tell me why he resembles Mr. Founder over there?"
I looked at him expectantly.
He tensed up and tapped his fingers on my back agitatedly, "Alexander Mantzari is his ancestor." My eyes widened at that. I was actually helped by the descendant of the town's Founder?
"I have known Zorraine since we were little. He had left this town... with his parents, few years back. Looks like he's back again."
Something clicked in my mind, "Wait a sec... that means his name is Zorraine Mantzari? He lives in that creepy house in the forest?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Creepy house?"
I smirked, "My best friend told me about that house in the forest. Belonged to the Mantzaris. Burned down because of a mysterious fire and everyone died."
Almost to himself, he mumbled something like, "Not died..."
I was puzzled, "Sorry?"
He straightened up and looked at me, "I'm new to this town. I don't know much about the forest or the creepy houses in it. Zorraine and I just went to the same.... preschool." He pulled me towards the dance floor and winked, "Allow me to sweep you off your feet."
I giggled and let him guide me through the throngs of students.
Looking around, I spotted Daniella Phillips, clutching the arm of some random football jock like her life depended on it. She had poured into a skintight, glittery black gown with a thigh slit and plunging neckline. Her face was caked with make-up and her blonde hair was hairsprayed into stiff peaks that would've made a meringue proud. Oh, and she was wobbling dangerously on her six inch high stilettos.
I felt an immense desire to vomit when she started to shake her hips and run her hands up and down her partner's chest, who looked like he wanted to run far away from the banshee in front him rather than dance with her.
Cassian followed my gaze and smirked, "She's got serious behaviour issues. And she needs immediate dance lessons."
I laughed and looked at him mischievously, "Do you wanna give her those lessons?"
He smiled tenderly as he lowered his voice to a husky caress, "I thought you would never ask."
We stepped onto the dance floor and took our positions with everyone else, as a slow, tinkling music floated out of the speakers.
Filled with anticipation, I faced him and gazed deep into his eyes. He gazed back and gave me a reassuring smile, indicating that I need not worry about being clumsy.
He slipped an arm effortlessly around my waist and gripped my hand chivalrously. I placed my other hand on his broad shoulder, nervous as hell.
A warm feeling spread in my stomach like a pool of caramel. Gooey, salted caramel. My mind turned to mush as he drew me closer so our fronts were almost touching.
I carefully took a step back, in rhythm to the music. He grinned encouragingly and twirled me past a few glaring cheerleaders who only had eyes for my date. I smirked at them, sending out the message: yeah, I got the hottest, most gorgeously sinister guy in the town for my date. But he's my date, so BACK OFF!
We danced in silence for a while, both having forgotten our surroundings. We were the only ones who existed in each other's eyes.
Suddenly, the slow, mournful melody changed into a fast, lively number. The students squealed in delight and started to dance like their was no tomorrow, throwing their limbs around and shaking their stuff.
Without a warning, Cassian gave me cheeky grin and lifted me into the air by my waist easily, like I was made of paper. I was so surprised that I couldn't even scream as he brought me down and then swerved me to the ground, with one hand behind my neck and the other on my back, such that I was literally hanging from his arms. I stared at him in utter shock as  he pulled me up again and then slid an arm around my shoulder and turned me so my back touched his chest. I didn't even have time to react when his arms snaked to the front of my stomach and clasped themselves there. His warm breath hit my neck as he whispered softly, "Enjoying?" Before I could answer, something happened that I couldn't explain.
A strange sensation enveloped me as my feet lifted from the ground by a few milimeters.
What the hell....?
The next second, my arms were crossed in front of my chest and one of my legs moved backwards, brushing Cassian's leg.
People started to stare at us as my partner slid his arms down mine and gently brought them up above my head, in one graceful move, such that my arms were crossed over my head. Making me look like a party dressed ballerina.
His whisper tickled my earlobe yet again as his leg gave me a slight nudge on the shin, "Go with the flow."
I knew what to do now. I thrust my arms backwards and clasped my hands behind his neck. He lifted me from the ground again, twirled me around once and set me down back on the ground, this time with our fronts facing each other. He smiled appreciatively, "You're learning fast, beautiful."
I smiled back, with one eyebrow raised, "Yeah, I used to go to gymnastics classes when I was seven."
"That was hardly gymnastics. That was fluid dancing."
"A bit too fluid for my liking. A little warning next time, perhaps, before you decide to toss me up like a beach ball?"
He gave me that cheeky grin which made my brain scream in my head, "CAREFUL!"
"Toss you up.... like this?" He grabbed me by the waist again, and....
Threw me up into the air.
Yes, he literally tossed me up, which made me wonder if I was underweight or malnutritioned. I was horrified beyond imagination when gravity decided to leave me and suddenly join me again.
I feared to break a few bones when I would hit the ground and already decided on the insults I would lob at Cassian.
But I never hit the ground. I landed right in his arms. His arms hooked beneath my knees and neck, bridal style.
The idea made me blush.
He smirked at me triumphantly as everyone around us started to clap, cheer and whistle. Even some teachers seemed impressed.
And I have to say: the guy's got moves.
But I'm so not admitting that to him in a zillion years.
Only Daniella and her cronies looked like they had wanted me to crash to the ground and break a few bones.
Bad luck girls, it's not your day!
"Well that..." he commented, while putting me down, "... was awesome, don't you think?"
I sneered at him, "You wish."
But inside, I agreed wholeheartedly with him.
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"I've never met your family. Where exactly do you live?" I asked Cassian, as I sipped my cranberry juice.
His relaxed expression faded a little and his fingers curled harder around his glass of fruit punch. I wondered if it was a sensitive topic with him. I tried to correct myself, "I'm sorry... you don't have to tell me if it's personal. I get it."
He made eye contact with me, "No... it's  okay. I just don't like to talk about my family much. I'm not very close to them. And as for where I live..." he grinned mysteriously, ".... I'll take you there myself, one day."
I punched his arm. But it was of no use. His arm was like a block of wood.
He laughed, and then gazed at the lake in front of us. We were sitting on a bench behind the school, our backs resting on the wall behind us. The scene was beautiful. The water in the lake sparkled in the moonlight. The grass looked silvery green and a gentle breeze ruffled our hair. The place was deserted. That was good, cause I was tired as hell after all the dancing.
"I'm close to my little sister. She's really sweet." He said fondly. I smiled, "What's her name?"
He hesitated a bit, and then answered, "Ally".
"That's a cute name. How old is she?"
"A year younger than me. She's not in town right now. She'll be arriving later on. I miss her."
I placed my hand on his, comfortingly, "Hey, you'll see her again. I haven't got any siblings. I'm dead jealous of you."
He laughed again, "Don't be. She can be a real brat when she feels like it."
His knuckles seemed to stiffen at my touch. He turned to face me, not moving his hand an inch, "You really are extraordinary, Kiara."
I drew in my breath as he gazed deep into my eyes, "You're beautiful, witty, smart, funny, caring; everything I desire. You are an odd mixture of strength and vulnerability. I want to hold you in my arms and protect you forever, even when I know you don't need it. You are a chance.... I have been given to redeem myself." He said the last part rather absently.
Thoroughly moved, I gazed back at him. His long fingers began to caress my knuckles. He moved a fraction of an inch closer, "You... you make me want to lose control and control myself, at the same time. I just can't rein myself in when I'm around you. I feel wild and savage when you smile, especially when you smile at me." He placed his palm on the wall so that his arm was positioned on one side of my head. I was caged between him, his arm, and the wall.
I stiffened slightly as his hand moved up to my face and stroked my cheek gently. I managed to get a few words out, "Wha-what are you thinking?"
He chuckled darkly, his eyes on my lips as I unconsciously bit my lower lip, "Trust me, you don't want to know."
My eyes became hooded and my hands nervously clutched the empty glass in my hand, "Are your thoughts that sinister?"
His fingers which had been stroking my face, slipped behind my neck and started to draw circles on my heated skin, "Darling, I am a sinister person. And I know...." I shivered at his response, partly  due to fear, and partly due to excitement.
".... you want to be afraid of me. But...." he leaned in closer and closer, ".... I also know that you are stubborn. So you don't scare easily, do you?"
With that, he closed the distance between us and kissed me.
Oh. My. God.
This evening's full of surprises.
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