First Down: a sweet romance, page 30
“This is new,” Cam laughs, offering Samson his good hand for a clapping shake before dropping it to take mine. “You guys look great.”
“I know,” Beth spins, giggling and smoothing down her skirts.
“You’re beautiful, Bethie.” I smile, nodding to my captain. “Let’s go inside, yeah?”
As we walk into the entrance I position myself next to Mike, leaning over to warn him in a low tone that I’ll be watching him with my baby sister this evening. My mouth is hardly open, however, when a sharp elbow to my gut steals my breath… I bend over, gasping for air, as my tiny evil sister glides innocently past, hooking her arm into her date’s to urge him to the photo station.
“Oh, Elliott,” Casey titters, not even trying to hide her glee. “When will you learn that Beth isn’t the one who needs looking after?”
“Did you see that?” I demand to Camden as Casey pulls Harrel over to join Beth and Samson. “I’ve been assaulted!”
“My poor baby,” Cam laughs, rubbing my side with his thumb and kissing the back of my neck as he whispers. “I’ll protect you from that mean girl…”
“You’re on their side!” I gasp dramatically, my jaw dropping even as I melt back against Cam’s chest as his chuckle rumbles through me. “Maybe we should just leave, sneak away, so no one else can pick on me…”
My tone is joking, but there’s a part of me that thinks this might be a very very good idea… Visions of pig’s blood raining over us, of people pointing and laughing, of the lights going out, rough hands on my arms, flashing through my mind one after the other, and then- Cam’s good hand smooths over my shoulders as he turns to stand in front of me, ducking to look me in the eyes.
“I love you.” Cam says, as if it’s the answer to life’s questions.
“I love you too,” I smile, biting my lip, and stand a little straighter. Cam nods, and we follow the rest of our impromptu group to the backdrop.
We’re directed to stand in pairs, then as a group, we take photos as couples and I grab Beth and pull her closer as she squeals and laughs a protest for a photo of the two of us for our parents, until we’re all laughing and pushing each other off the carpeted walkway and closer to the gym where music pulses through the open doors. I stand to Cam’s left, holding tightly onto his hand as we make our way closer.
“Hey,” Cam leans down, speaking close to my ear in a low voice. “If you need to go, we will. Anytime. Just, let’s give it a chance?”
I nod, squeezing tightly again, but unable to speak past the knot in my throat. We walk together into the room, past smiling teachers who nod and usher us in, and my eyes widen as I look around. They’ve really outdone themselves this year, transforming the gym into a beautiful dance hall with streamers and lights all around. Balloons float around the floor and hang on the wall, drifting as people walk through like bubbles in some fantasy world. Casey tugs us along to the side where a table is set up for refreshments, and we all pour an inch into clear cups and find a spot on the wall away from the chaos.
Everyone in the school must be here, smiling and dancing. They look like they’re laughing, but the music is just loud enough I can barely make out the sound. I feel myself relaxing, shifting in place to the beat. Before long people start to drop by, slapping Camden’s good hand and leaning in close to ask him how he’s feeling. He rests his left arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him as he chats with a couple of senior boys he knows from Music Appreciation, and I start to tense… But they just smile and nod, laughing at what he’s saying before peeling off to return to their dates.
The beat shifts into the next song, and my jaw drops as I spin to face Camden.
“I love this song!” I laugh, drifting into the light in his eyes.
“I know!” Cam grins. “Let’s go dance.”
For a beat I consider declining, but as Jake Wesley Rogers begins to sing I stand a little taller and pull him along. Beth and Mike notice and join in, and I laugh as she grabs Casey’s arm and pulls her so off-balance she nearly spills her drink. Colton catches her hand with a grin, steadying her cup as he shimmies along and before I know it we’re in the middle of the floor surrounded by our friends and classmates. Teacher monitors shift around the floor, smiling as they watch us dance before turning to make sure no one is having too much fun tonight.
Lights flash in the dark gymnasium, strobes of yellow and pink and blue coating the smiles of my friends as we dance and sing. My boyfriend reaches for my waist, pulling me closer to him and resting his hand on my right hip as I drape my arms over his shoulders and sing up at him. A slow smile spreads across his face as he leans closer, and I feel the spray of lights over my closed eyelids as his lips touch mine…
And just like that we’re dancing, and kissing. In public.
And it’s just like all the movies said it would be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaleigh Whitford lives in Texas with her son and husband and their entirely unruly herd of pets. Characters and stories have drifted into her mind since childhood, and she's finally decided she ought to write them down and share them with the world. Her hobbies include drinking coffee, staring at her hands until they behave and write the words on paper in the proper order, and trying to be inconspicuous when random people and events in public inspire her and she must write down her ideas immediately. (Even if it happens, say, during a concert, or an absolutely silent and solemn meeting at work... Which has almost definitely, certainly, never happened.)
Kaleigh Whitford, First Down: a sweet romance
