Page 15 of Searching for Beautiful
“It’s just one dance. ” Ellie squeezes my arm.
“He’ll come around,” Diana adds.
“You guys rock. ” I seriously have the best friends in the world. “Do you want to—”
“Brynn!” A voice cuts off my words.
Author: Nyrae Dawn
It’s weird how one moment can stand out in your mind. I don’t hear the music, my friends, or any of the other people. Just my name being yelled across the gym.
The rest happens in slow motion. I turn. Christian stands about fifteen feet away from me. His lips quirk in a half smile as he does the finger thing. You know, when a guy crooks his finger at you and says to come here.
Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart threatens an attack. When I don’t move, Ellie or Diana—I don’t even know who—gives me a slight push. My feet are heavy as I walk toward him
“Do you wanna dance?” he asks, his Hispanic accent coming out a little more than usual.
I can’t find the words to reply, so I nod. Christian leads me to the corner of the gym. We don’t talk as he wraps his arms around my waist, giving me chills. Is this what Mom felt when she first danced with Dad? I wonder. Maybe this will be the start to my very own love story with the boy I’ve had a crush on forever.
He smells sweet. Like candy. Still, no words come as I lock my shaking fingers together behind his neck. In the same slow motion, we move together, no sounds but the music and my friends cheering for me in the background.
When the song is over, Christian looks at me with his too-blue eyes and I know right then, I love him. I mean, I’ve crushed on him for months and months, but now I know it’s love. Like the forever kind.
“Thanks for the dance, Bryntastic,” he says. I don’t know why he calls me that, but he’s done it for months now.
Again, my reply is a nod. Christian smiles one more time before disappearing into the crowd. Me? I run. Run to the bathroom, Ellie and Diana right behind me. Tears pour down my face and they laugh and hug me as we spin around the girl’s room, one of my most exciting moments spent with my best friends.
Just like Mom and Dad, I fall in love at a dance.
A week later, Christian and his family are suddenly gone and I never see him again.
Chapter Twelve
Now
Until now.
“Long time no see, Bryntastic. ”
“Christian,” I mumble. It can’t be him. He can’t be back. I hate boys, and I don’t want to hate him. I’m not dumb. I know I didn’t really love him but still, he’s a good memory. One you want to keep locked away so it never has the chance to be ruined because you know something like that will never happen again. “I have to go,” I say, and for the second time in one day, I run away from Christian Medina.
…
“Hey, beautiful. ” Soft fingers brush the hair out of my face. Though my eyes are begging me to stay closed, everything inside me needs them open. I need to see the face that goes with the voice I love so much.
Prying them open, I come face-to-face with Jason, leaning in my car window. “Hey…sorry. I must have fallen asleep waiting for you. ” It’s a shock I didn’t wake up because of his car. It’s his prized possession. Super loud and really fast. He likes speed.
“That’s okay. Sorry I’m late. Something came up. ”
Laughing it off, I reply, “You’re terrible about being on time. ”
“I know. I’m sorry, Red. I had to do something with my dad. ” His brown eyes never leave mine, so sincere. “You should come in with me. Since I’m late, we might be cutting it a little short. I want to spend some time with you before Sam gets home. It’s our anniversary. ” Leaning closer, he kisses me. I immediately melt into him, savoring that mint and smoke taste. No one has ever kissed me like Jason does. Not Ian. Not Brian, who I kissed in that game of spin the bottle. Just Jason.
“I missed you,” he whispers against my lips. “I want to spend as much time with you as I can. ” By then, he’s already pulling my door open. Taking my hand and gently tugging me into his brother’s house.
It only takes him about ten minutes to get my clothes off. It’s only our second time doing it, but I already feel more comfortable than I did the first time. Jason loves me and I love him. Like he says, what better way is there to show it?
My eyes slip open so easily, I’m not sure if I was dreaming or remembering. Or maybe it’s that they’re so wet and full of unshed tears that it’s too hard to keep them closed.
