The Songs in Our Hearts: A Young Adult Romance(38)

“It’s my dancing. I know it’s horrible.”

“Actually, I’m surprised by how good you are.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Charlie.” He eased closer, filling in some of the distance between us. I felt sort of stupid for being so nervous. There really wasn’t anything complicated in moving back and forth in one spot. And Micah’s hands on my waist were comforting.

Every girl, at some point in their life, dreams of sharing a dance with her crush at Prom, Homecoming, or a party. We see these fantastical moments in our favorite films, and it becomes an unspoken expectation. As I danced with Micah, all of the fantasies I had painted fell away. Everything I had envisioned as perfect was gone, and replaced by here, now. I could only hear the sound of those actualized dreams—like shooting stars, in my ears as Micah grinned at me.

The Taylor Swift song came to an end, and Micah slowly released me from his grasp. He held my gaze as I steadily took a step back.

Suddenly, Jennifer screeched my name from across the room, jerking my attention away from Micah. Before I knew it, she smacked into me with a hug.





“Time is Running Out”

Muse





“OH! YOU CAME!” JENNIFER CRIED. “WITH MICAH! OH MY GOD!”

I tried to grab ahold of her to calm her down. She was embarrassing herself.

“What is she on?” I heard Micah mutter under his breath. I bit back my laugh and tugged Jennifer away from the dance floor.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I said to her.

“Of course! Rachel invited me,” Jennifer explained. “I came with Daan and our friends!” She pointed to our small group from the lunch table. I wasn’t surprised to see Samantha standing there with Daan, Jake and his friends.

“And look at you! You came with Micah!” Jennifer continued. “I had no idea you were coming at all.”

Ever since Rachel invited me to the dance, I had avoided the topic completely. It really wasn’t anyone’s business whether I was going or not, and who with. I knew if I brought up going with Micah, I would only get slammed with a slew of questions about it. It was better to let Jennifer think what she wanted about seeing the two of us together. I wouldn’t bother to mention the bonfire afterwards.

“I’m going to head back,” I gestured to Micah, who was standing in the distance. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Sure thing, Charlie. I understand.” She winked at me. I wanted to groan. I turned on my heel and walked back to Micah. He stood against the wall, phone in one hand, the other shoved into his pocket.

“I’m back.”

He lifted his head. “In one piece, I see.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Marshall said he’s going to start the logs around eight-thirty or so. We could head over now if you wanted. Or we could dance one more time?” Micah suggested. I found myself focused on the dark warmth of his eyes and the heavy scent of his cologne.

“W-we could dance again.”

Micah poked my shoulder. “I’m just questioning your stability. You keep looking like you’re about to faint. I mean, I’m used to having that effect on the ladies, but not with you.” Other ladies. Ladies who weren’t me. A surge of jealously spread throughout my body and twisted in my chest. I lifted my chin, trying to hide the fact that his comment had bothered me.

“Don’t flatter yourself. It’s hot in here.” I stood up straighter. He grinned, as if he knew exactly what he had done, and held out a hand.

I took it. Micah slid into the rhythm of the upbeat song playing, while I sort of did my own awkward thing. I completely ignored the stupid smirk on his face, silently teasing me for my horrible moves. A few times, he had tried to grab me and guide my hips the way he had before, but I darted out of his reach. The less physical contact between us, the more clearly I could think. After two more dances, Micah tugged us breathlessly from the dance floor and glanced at his phone.

“Wanna head over to the bonfire now?”

For some strange reason, I was suddenly tempted to tell Micah I had changed my mind. I tried to tell myself it was only Josh and my dad’s unfounded warnings that were throwing me off, but I had a bad feeling in my gut about the whole thing.

And yet, if I didn’t go, I knew I would regret it. I didn’t want to be that girl—the Debbie Downer.

“Sure,” I said. The fire hall had warmed up from all the body heat since we’d arrived, and it was only getting more crowded. I was glad to know Rachel’s dance had done so well. I could only imagine how much money had been collected from the event. Rachel was in the corner still talking to David as we left. They seemed at ease with each other. There was a sparkle in his eye, and a soft blush on her cheeks. He was smiling brightly.

“Hey, you coming?” Micah called from ahead. (I’d have to remind myself to text Rachel later.) I hurried up toward him. He stood holding the door, allowing a gust of the cool night breeze to enter the room. The colder air skimmed over my sweaty skin, causing a shiver to run down my spine as I stepped outside. Micah walked with me to the car. As we clamored in, I wondered what he was thinking.

“That was fun,” he admitted. I smiled. He started to fumble with his stereo until the melody of “Pillowtalk” from Zayn trickled out from the speakers. There was silence between us as we drove out into the countryside. My mind began to wander as the music filled the car; my eyes scanned the dark forest as we drove by. What had just happened at the dance hall? There was an unmeasured amount of chemistry between us. What would it be like to hold his hand here, in the privacy of his car? What if he leaned over and kissed me? What if I kissed him back? Would I just be another girl under his belt? What if he was just being nice this whole time…and my feelings weren’t reciprocated?