Moonlit Dance

'Brionna! Where are you going?' shouted one of my best friends, Marie, over the noise of the music at the dance.1

I sighed and looked over at Roland, my other best friend, the one guy that I found myself falling in love with. He was dancing with Kelsi, the one girl in this whole school that felt the need to hate me without reason. 'Outside!' I shouted back. 'I need some air. I'll just be a couple minutes!'2

I faked a smile and then turned and walked out of the big main doors into the cool April night. I crossed my arms as I walked over the willow that was growing in the middle of the school grounds. This was mine and Rolands tree, the one where we always got together and listened to his Ipod, or cheated on our homework with one another.3

I sat down and crossed my legs, carefully pulled the bottom of my skirt over my knees.4

I rested my head on the palms of my hands and looked up at the stars. I would be 17 in two days, and I had just felt as if my heart was shattered... the best birthday present in the world, let me tell you. And then, without warning, the tears began pouring out of my eyes, falling into my hands, and dripping onto my black skirt, leaving big round wet spots.5

'Bee?'6

I jumped at the sound of my nickname and the familar voice, and quickly wiped of my face. 'Yeah, what's up Roland?'7

'Not much, needed some air, thought that I would come out here. Marie said that you had come outside too, so I thought I would come and see if you were over here.'8

I smiled and then indicated the empty grass beside me. 'Have a seat, I promise that I won't bite you this time.'9

He laughed as he sat down beside me. In the moonlight, his blonde hair and gray eyes seemed to illuminate... making me love him only that much more. 10

'So why are you out here by yourself?' he asked turning to look at me.11

I shrugged. 'I just didn't want to be in there anymore. How is Kelsi doing?' I asked in an irratated voice that I swear I had tried to hide before then.12

He looked at me with a confused look on his face. 'I don't know. She just asked me if I would dance with her. I agreed. We really didn't talk much.'13

I shrugged. 'You guys were still pretty up close and personal.'14

He turned his head away and started laughing. 'You know, if I didn't know any better, Bee, I would say that you are a little...' He left the sentence hanging there as he turned back to look at me.15

'Jealous?' I asked at an attempt to finish the sentence for him.16

'Well, yeah.'17

I sighed and then leaned back against the white trunk of the tree. 'Yeah, just a little bit.'18

'Why are you jealous?' he asked putting his arm around my shoulders like he always did when we talked. 19

'Because I don't like Kelsi... and because, well... other reasons.'20

He gripped my shoulder tighter. 'What other reasons?'21

I looked at his freckled tan face and then shook my head. 'Nothing. Just other reasons.'22

He smiled and then took my hand in his. 'Let me guess.'23

'Ok?' I said giggling nervously.24

He weaved his fingers in with mine and then said, 'You are jealous because you couldn't stand seeing me dancing with another girl, not just because she was Kelsi, but just because it wasn't you, because you like me.'25

I started blushing and then anwsered in a barely audible voice, 'You're good at this.'26

'Yeah, I know.'27

We sat there a couple more minutes before I asked, 'Is this going to ruin our friendship?'28

He looked at me and then smiled and leaned in. 'No, I think it just might make it better.'29

His lips met mine without hesitation. I felt like I was being lifted from the ground. My heart started racing at a thousand miles per hour. My stomach felt as if butterflies were inside it, and would not stop fluttering their wings. And the eletric shock that went throughout my body was magnificent. 30

After what felt like a few weeks, but really just seconds, he pulled away and whispered, 'Wow.'31

I laughed and then said, 'Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.'32

He smiled and then tucked some stray hairs behind my ear. 'Do you want to dance?'33

I smiled and then nodded. He stood up and then reached for my hand and helped me up as well. He wrapped his arms around my waist tightly and I wrapped mine around his neck, resting my head on his chest just below his chin, just because he was that much taller than me. And there, in the moonlight, we danced to the sound of the crickets and the distance sound of the bass and screams from the school. This was perfect. I closed my eyes and savored that moment forever.