Page 39 of Grown

“Really?”

“Nope. No dances or prom in homeschool.”

“What was that like?”

“Homeschool?” He chuckles.

“Yeah, but homeschool while touring all over the world? I mean, that must have been lit!”

His jaw tightens, eyes growing distant as he stares into the water.

“It was... lonely.” He takes a deep breath and slides back into the pool. “Come on, time to go.”

I pout right before he grabs my waist, lifts me off the edge, and drops me in.

“Eek!” I giggle.

“Shhh.” He laughs, arms wrapping around me. He looks over his shoulder at the door and I’m glad to see the smile back on his face. His eyes are on me now. He cups my face with both hands, pulling us inches apart, my bones thrumming.

Then he kisses me.

The pool becomes a hot tub, sweat beading around my neck, and I forget how to breathe.

“Thank you for teaching me how to swim.” He exhales, our foreheads touching.

Combust. That’s what will happen if I stay this close to him for too long. I’ll be a girl wrapped in a blanket of flames, floating on water.

After we dry off and change back into our clothes, we return to the studio. I feel lighter, my chest an egg cracked open, sunny yolk spilling out, leaking love all over the room. I can’t wipe the smile off my face and my lips are sore from kissing.

Kissing. I was kissing Korey Fields.

“So you got a date to this dance?”

The question rips me out of my daydreaming.

“Um, no.”

He nods, busying himself with some music sheets.

“You not lying, are you?”

My stomach tenses. Korey has a weird look in his eyes. Is he jealous?

“N-n-no. No.”

He shrugs and sits behind his keyboard. “So, what’s tomorrow’s movie?”

“Beauty and the Beast.”

“Ha! Tale as old as time...”

I spin around and sing with him. “True as it can be...wow, Ilovethat song! I mean, the Disney version is beautiful, but that Peabo Bryson with Celine Dion... that hits!”

Korey snaps his fingers, jumping from behind his board.

“Bet. Let’s do it!”

“Really?”