Secrets of Attraction

Seven: SUZY

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks," Joohyuk said before exiting.

I crossed my arms for warmth, watching him leave after his friend. I had the weird urge to follow and see what Broody Barista did in his free time. Running into him had been such an unexpected surprise in an otherwise meh kind of a night. The door closed with a clunk. I walked over to it, running my hand along the cold push bar - one swift motion and I'd be out. not that I really wanted to leave - the night had barely started. And this dress was far too fabulous to just roam the streets in, plus I still hadn't gotten any decent photos or slow-danced with Minho.

Why was I making a list of reasons to stay at the dance?

School dances always sounded better than they actually were. Why not call it what it really was: Friday night all dressed up trying to be something it wasn't. No matter how much balloon art filled the gym, it still boiled down to a room with blue padded walls, retracted basketball hoops, and the faint smell of rubber and Simple Green where we'd be slapping around a hockey puck in class on Monday. Seeing it as a romantic place was hard, even with the mood lighting.

Expect watching Stephanie and Jisoo - the building could have come crashing down around them and I doubt they'd have noticed. They really were that sickening couple - annoying and sweet and in their own world. I took a few pictures of them, then wandered deeper into the crowd, ignoring the disappointment that threatened to bring down my already precarious good mood. There was nothing that scuked more than searching for your date during a John Legend song. Where was Minho?

I made my way to the front of the gym to see if there were any interesting shots - I'd been wary of the dance assignment at first by realized it could be a great opportunity to build my portfolio. Photography was not my thing but my art teacher had said diverse portfolio showed that you weren't afraid to take risks. That what these art programs wanted to see most was your potential.

Earlier in the year, I'd taken some artsy shots between the spokes of a Ferris Wheel at the Union Founders Festival that had won a ribbon in the fall arts show. Granted, there wasn't much competition. I looked around for something out of the ordinary, anything I could see with a different perspective. As I brought the camera up to my face, Minho's smile appeared in the frame.

"Where have you been?" he asked, grabbing my hand and leading me to the dance floor.

"Minho," I said, taking quick little steps to keep up with him. "Slow down."

I adjusted the strap so the camera was to my back, like a purse - it had really become the clunkiest of accessories. We found an empty space in the center of the gym. He drew me close, hands sliding up my arms, his fingers tracing my shoulders and trailing down my back. I clasped my hands behind his neck, keeping my eyes on his.

"Where was I? Where were you?"

He leaned down.

"Let's just dance," he whispered, lips brushing my ear. My breath stopped. Maybe I was too quick to dismiss the dance, because his mouth on my skin made me forget we were even on planet Earth. I snuggled into him as he caressed my back and we swayed to the music.

For all of ten seconds.

Until the beat got fast, and VIXX echoed through the gym, sending up some loud whoops as the crowd got crazy again. A few of the teacher chaperones darted onto the dance floor as a precaution. Union was a no-grinding zone - but it didn't stop people from trying. Minho lifted his arms up in the air and rocked his hips, with the sort of fearlessness that canceled out the goofy moves. He moved closer to me, so serious, I had to laugh. I wondered if he'd practiced in a mirror.

"Come on," he said.

He screwed up his face like he was in pain and continued to dance around me. I finally relented until Miss Pyeong, the calculus teacher, gave us an I'm watching you glare and we parted. I took the moment to search the floor for Yoona or Stephanie but it was impossible to see anyone through the thick mass of bodies.