The Key to my Heart

Chapter 27: Unexpected Guest (Fitz's P.O.V)

Biana was going to the dance with Jensi. Sophie was going to the dance with Tam. Linh was going to the dance with Keefe. Last I heard, Dex was going to the dance with Stina. I wasn't going to the dance. Why not? Because it was a middle school dance. And I was in high school. I sighed and looked out the window. Biana would normally be home by now, but she was staying after school... for the dance. I sighed again. Middle schoolers got all the fun.

As sad as it was, being left out because I was too old wasn't even the real reason I was upset. Somehow, I had developed a little crush on Dex's little sister, Bex. She was in sixth grade, probably also going to that stupid dance. And probably going with someone, my brain added. And I was stuck here at home, unable to ask her out, not dancing the night away with the scrawny redhead who stole my- oh? My phone had buzzed.

"Hello?" I asked, unsure of why Dex would be calling me. Shouldn't he be at the dance already?

"Hiya, Fitz! I changed my mind about the dance," a girl's voice said.

"Bex?"

The girl laughed. "Yes, stupid. It's Bex. I'm borrowing Dex's phone. I changed my mind. I'm not going. See you in fifteen minutes!"

It took a moment for my brain to process what she was saying. "Wait, Bex!-" but the line was already dead.

The doorbell rung fourteen minutes later. And then it rung again. And again. Whoever it was kept pressing the button over and over, seemingly as fast as they could, filling the house with a steady string of 'DING-DONG's. "Fitz, will you get the door?" My dad called from downstairs. He worked from home a lot, but I knew very well that if it was after nine and before five, he was as at work as if he was in the office.

I groaned and trudged downstairs. Emotionless, I flung the door open, half-expecting to see Keefe smirking up at me, but I wasn't totally surprised when my eyes met periwinkle-blue ones, framed by strawberry-blonde curls.

"Hey Fitz!" Bex said, grinning ear to ear. "I said I'd be here in fifteen minutes!"

"Bex," I said gently. "I... never said it was okay for you to come."

Her face fell. "Oh. Sorry. I'll just-"

"No!" I said, grabbing her wrist to stop her. My fingers tingled where they touched her skin. "my dad's working, so we should stay outside. But ask next time, okay?"

She nodded, the grin back on her face. Without any warning, she pulled her hand away and slapped my arm harder than I thought she'd be able to and ran. When she was a good hundred feet away, she yelled, "TAG! YOU'RE IT!" I laughed and chased after her.

I tried to picture what it would've been like if I had gone to the dance. No matter what my brain thought up, it was never as good as running around wild in the backyard, playing the most intense game of tag ever with the girl I loved.

And although I didn't know it yet, I was pretty lucky to not have gone. Because what would happen later that night would be something I didn't want to see.

So, so sorry for the shorter chapters. There are longer ones in the very near future though, I assure you!