A DIFFERENT SIDE
454 Words
The music continued playing softly while we danced in the center of the room.
Everyone around us was watching.
Whispering.
But for some reason, I stopped paying attention to them.
Adrian’s hand rested lightly on my waist while the other held my hand. His movements were calm and confident, guiding me easily across the floor.
“You’re staring,” he said quietly.
“I’m observing,” I replied.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Observing what?”
“You.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“I’m just trying to understand something.”
“And what’s that?”
I looked up at him.
“Why you act like such a jerk all the time.”
A few people nearby laughed quietly.
Adrian didn’t seem offended.
“Maybe I enjoy it.”
“That’s a terrible hobby.”
He smiled slightly.
“Maybe.”
For a moment we danced in silence again.
Then he spoke.
“You’re not like the others.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“What’s so different about me?”
Adrian thought for a second.
“Most people try to impress me.”
“And I don’t.”
“Exactly.”
“Well,” I said, “someone has to keep your ego under control.”
He laughed softly.
“I’ll remember that.”
The song slowly began to end.
The crowd started clapping and cheering.
“Wow!”
“Did that really just happen?”
“Adrian danced!”
I stepped back quickly, suddenly aware of all the attention again.
“Well,” I said awkwardly, “there’s your dare.”
Adrian looked amused.
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
Before either of us could say more, Maya suddenly appeared beside me.
Her eyes were wide with excitement.
“Lena!”
“What?”
“You just danced with him in front of the entire school!”
“I noticed.”
“This is huge!”
I sighed.
“That’s not comforting.”
Across the room, Chloe was watching us.
Her expression was dark.
She quickly turned away and walked toward the door.
I frowned.
“That can’t be good.”
Adrian followed my gaze.
His expression hardened slightly.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“Why do I feel like she’s planning something?” I asked.
Adrian crossed his arms.
“Because she probably is.”
The party continued around us, but suddenly the atmosphere felt different.
More tense.
More serious.
I looked back at Adrian.
“Your parties are dangerous.”
He shrugged.
“You came anyway.”
“That might have been a mistake.”
But deep down…
I had a feeling this night was about to get a lot more complicated.
- Writer
