Act Three
-Only if the stars could see-
I sat beside Brayden in my crisp pressed suit with my hands folded over my lap. All around me girls danced in the fancy dresses, their expensive shoes sinking into the grass under the night sky. They held tight to their partners as they twirled around the make-shift ballroom. A classical band played in the background, violins, and cellos serenading the full moon.
I was still trying to figure out for the life of me how I'd gotten drug out to such a place. Our school was known for parties like these. Balls that showed off the local wealth, opportunities for the students to flaunter and parents to gather.
To me, it all equaled a massive headache.
I sighed for probably the fifth time that night and Brayden glanced over at me with a sympathetic look. I wanted to snap at him, tell him that if he could concern himself with me then he should do me a favor and tell me I could go home. Events like these did not put me in the best of moods, but I knew I was sulking, so I pressed my lips together and leaned back in my chair.
When he'd first asked me to come I'd turned him down in record time. Earning me a face from him I didn't want to see. His disappointment had been so evident that I'd found myself recanting, also in record time. He'd told me he'd already been obligated to attend the event, but he didn't want to come if I didn't.
The jerk. What was a guy supposed to say to that?
I couldn't turn him down, so now I sat here, swatting at bugs, my mood souring every passing minute.
"There's Crystal." He nodded towards a girl walking over to us. "That's the last one. After this, I will have danced with the four girls I'd promised."
"I already told you, it's fine," I mumbled over to him.
He smiled over at me, showing me a brightness I was still getting used to seeing. I watched as he went up to her, took her hand and lead her out among the crowd.
I had to remind myself why I was here. For all of Brayden's cockiness and boasting, he was actually a very serious guy, and he'd asked, practically begging me, to come with him. Told me if I didn't he'd feel like he was cheating. Telling me that he'd already promised a dance to some classmates who'd helped him out on a recent project.
I couldn't fault him. That was the kind of guy he was. The two of us were still getting to know one another, and despite the way in which he'd approached me, that part of him was what had won him the title of Prince at our school.
And he'd pouted at me for Christ sakes! What could I have done?
I fought back the memory that followed that one, putting my hand up over my cheeks. That had been our second, and only other time back in the art club room. Like the first time, he'd swept me up in his pace. Wrecking my body and my thoughts all the way through first period and halfway into second. After that, I'd told him I couldn't skip for a while.
I still didn't know if I considered us dating or what to call it. Brayden had kept true to his declaration to keep me at his side. He stayed near me at school, walking with me to classes when he could and talking to me on the phone every night. He'd kept all of this up for over a week now without any sort of request from me. In my mind, that's all things you would do with any friend, but then when I start thinking about the art club...
Still, my mind struggled with everything, somehow not wanting to grant him the title of boyfriend.
My eyes found him out in the crowd and I watched as he danced with the girl in the blue dress. It honestly didn't bother me. Brayden had made it clear how he felt, and I didn't doubt him in that. That made things easier for me. Jealousy wasn't in my DNA to begin with. The fact that I knew it wasn't jealousy that was causing me to sit here in my souring state, only made me feel worse.
My true reason for being upset set on my shoulders like a ten-ton elephant. I sat, watching the people around Brayden. Even in a situation like this, he held their admiration and respect. I could see it all over their faces. Everyone always smiled for him. They would watch him laugh and they'd laugh in turn. That was his aura. People would always be drawn to him.
In his spotlight, there was no place for a shadow.
"Riley?"
I turned to see Aylah, a girl from my homeroom. She wore a long pink dress that clung to her body. The long V-neck traced far down to her breastbone, showing a glimpse of her cleavage. She waved at me with a bright smile as she grabbed a handful of the long silken material and walked faster towards me.
In truth, I'd once thought her a beautiful girl. Not that I didn't think so now, but that part of me felt different somehow.
"Hey," I greeted her. "Didn't know you'd be here tonight."
"Same. I didn't peg you for the ball type." She laughed.
"You got me. I was kinda dragged here."
"I figured." She pushed her long brown hair over one shoulder and looked around my table. "I'm surprised Brayden isn't here. You two seem to have gotten close recently."
She probably likes him too, I thought. "He's around here somewhere."
She curled her finger around the ends of her hair. "I haven't seen you dance with anyone, and it would be such a waste of your time and nice suit. Why don't you dance once with me?"
I thought about it for a moment. I had told Brayden I wasn't interested in dancing any, but it did look odd for me to come and only pay attention to him.
"You're right. It would be a huge waste."
I stood and offered her my hand and together we joined everyone else out in the center of the large field. The music was slow, so I slid my arm around his waist. Her hands went to my shoulders and we began to sway with the gentle flow.
I didn't know if I should talk or not, but after a moment her arms slid further up my shoulders, towards my neck, and she laid her head on me.
"I saw you at your last track event," she told me.
"That so? You didn't come say hi."
"I was there with a friend. I saw you run though. You did awesome."
"Yeah." I flushed with embarrassment, glad she couldn't see my face. "Second place though."
She gave my shoulders a light shove, lifting herself up to face me. "Second place is great. Don't be down on yourself."
"Thanks."
I was starting to feel awkward, so I looked away, not wanting to meet her gaze. Though, it wasn't her gaze I needed to worry about. It was Brayden's.
Our eyes met, and I felt my heartbeat kick in my chest. He was facing me through the crowd. His expression one I'd never seen but could only compare with the faces he'd shown me during our time in the art club building. His eyes blazed like a seething flame. Somehow, even though his lips were still smiling, I knew he wasn't.
Shit.
His gaze held onto me the entire rest of the song. I parted from Aylah the moment the music stopped, thanked her, and excused myself back towards my table. I could tell she still wanted to talk, probably wanting a chance to run into Brayden, but I darted out of the crowd without giving her the chance to respond.
I was almost to the table when Brayden came up and grabbed my arm.
