Chapter 23 (post four)

Pre-read note: Hello again! I know you've mis1sed me, and no promises I'm going back to steady posting, but I'm here now (I sound like GG, I will stop that lol) So here's the next post! This was the section I was struggling with, because I didn't know what was going to happen. I was going to have some sort of drama with alcohol or something, but I didn't know what. So I avoided writing it for weeks. Then forty-five minutes ago I just started writing whatever popped into my head, and this is where that got me! So it's not as dramatic as planned, nor probably as well-written as I want it to be, hey, I finally got over this bit of writer's block! Also, since reading week begins for me at 8pm tomorrow night, I might have some time to post some more in the near future.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter twenty-three, pg 71, section four:

The lawn was strung with a million little white lights, creating the illusion of a full starry night. The music pounded through the crowd of girls and guys, moving together across the grass. Celebratory blue streamers hung in the tree branches and a banner hung across the building, crying out, “CONGRATULATIONS WEST END SECONDARY SCHOOL!”

So far I hadn’t spotted 68, or rather Tyler, but that didn’t surprise me, since the football players had been crowded by students all afternoon and night. Their victory was being praised by even teachers, and Tyler had scored the last touch-down. I’d managed to easily keep an eye on Amy and her group, though, since Amy was the only other colourful dress in the crowd of black and navy. I’d already heard her large flower-printed blue dress had been custom-order from Sunrise, not supposed to be released until next month. I also noticed that when I caught her eye, she seemed to return my smile with a glare.

“New Wings!” someone called and I turned around. 

Tyler came up to me, dressed in a clean football uniform, followed by a matching entourage. His hair was still a little wet and messy, like he’d just walked out of the shower, and we boasting an ear to ear smile.

“Hey!” I grinned, “Congratulations on that touch down!”

“Thanks!”

Three guys gathered around, each sporting their own cocky grin and football-buff arms. Just as I was about to ask Tyler about Amy, Lulu came up behind me.

“New Wings!” She glided into our circle in her black dress and black heels, “Who are your friends?”

She smiled as each of the guys introduced themselves, their names slipping in my one ear and out the other, but Lulu seemed more than engaged. I managed to catch Tyler’s eye for a minute, and he followed me as I headed for the table set with blue flowers and drinks.

“Have you seen Amy yet?” I asked as I grabbed two cans of pop, offering one to him.

He took it with a nod. “I saw her on the dance floor. She’s hard to miss in that dress.”

“Have you danced with her?”

“No, but relax, I will.”

I tried to smile, “Sorry, it’s just stressing me out.”

“Don’t apologize, c’mon, lighten up.” His arm brushed against mine as he smiled, “We won; we should be celebrating.”

Again I forced a smile, but I think he could tell, ‘cause he seemed to almost laugh at me.

“Here,” he said, taking my unopened pop from my hand and placing it down with his on the table, “Come dance me.”

With that he took my hand and was leading me towards the dance floor before I could say a word. The music was a steady pop beat that made me move, even though at first I fought it. Music has this funny thing about it, though, like it knows you better than you do. For a minute I forgot where I was and who I was with, and as I looked up to the star-studded sky and trees streamed with little lights, I smiled and moved with the music. That’s when he put his hands on my waist, pulling me a little closer, and I although we weren’t touching, my stomach twisted. Jake.

I caught Tyler’s eye and he grinned, but I took his hands off me as I shook my head.

He stopped moving. “Why?” He said mouthed.

I just kept shaking my head no, not knowing what to say. He stood their awkwardly, acting like he didn’t care when it was written all over his face that he did.

Then I saw the sweep of blue floral and blonde hair.

“Amy!” I cried. I turned away from Tyler and starting after her, pushing past people. I caught Tyler’s eye as I turned back, and I think he started after me, but I soon lost him in the crowd.

I followed Amy through until we finally emerged from the swarm out onto the empty part of the front lawn. Here there were no lights in trees or banners strung across the bricks of the school building, instead there were just cool, dark shadows. When we were finally alone she turned around to face me, and I could tell her eyes brimming with tears even in the low light.

“How could you?” At first it came out strong, but by the end it was soft and broken. She closed her eyes as a tear dripped down her cheek.

“Amy, please let me explain,” I stepped closer but she back away.

“New Wings, I can’t believe you, after we helped you out, showed you around the school, were your first friends here...” She trailed off, still not meeting my eyes.

“Amy, I wasn’t dancing with him, I –”

“Amy!”

Tyler came out of the crowd of people, jogging towards us in his uniform. He came right up beside her, never meeting my eye and rather looked right at her.

“Amy, I’ve been looking for you.” He reached his hand out, “I wanted a dance.”

At first she shook her head, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Just go dance with New Wings.”

“Amy,” Tyler shook his head, “I was only with New Wings because I was looking for you. That’s what she was trying to tell you.”

He flashed that smile, and those golden bangs fell in his face again. There was moment of silence where I help my breath, before he slowly took her hand, and she let him lead her back towards the crowd, the same way he had just a few minutes before with me. He never looked back at me.

I watched them disappear, a bright red jersey and a sky blue dress eaten up by the black and navy of the crowd, with my head cocked, still trying to understand what had just happened.