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[img]https://i.imgur.com/Tjta8re.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200611/4431820809143a6f20de8a9d50cfd08f.png[/img]
[sub]Starring: [color=cf5685]Julie Macmillan[/color] [@spooner] & [color=fff700]Ryland Aspen[/color] [@TootsiePop][/sub]
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[indent]If he had put much thought up until now, Ryland wouldn’t have believed he’d get this far. If he had focused on anything but Julie, he would’ve noticed how displeased his best friend seemed and how mixed the crowd was with his stunt. Well, more so because of the singing than the dancing, which was to be expected. He wasn’t Katie Callaghan, who was the leading lady at Beverly Hills High School. In this case, her mirrored counterpart would be Chrissie McCoy, but he didn’t know the Starlet of King’s Academy well enough to talk about her skill and talent. Regardless of the atmosphere, and those that watched in acceptance or judgment, his mind was solely on the person that grabbed his hand. Anyone else could go fuck themselves.

Leading her to the dancefloor, he became more and more aware of the pounding heartbeat in his chest. The song transitioned from Shawn Mendes to [i]Live For The Night[/i] by Krewella, which was more up his alley than his confession song. With how last minute and spontaneous his act was, he didn’t know what other songs he could use that matched his feelings, without coming off too strong.  When they reached the center, the dance floor flashing with an array of hot pinks, reds, and gold, fitting colors for Valentine’s, he let the music fuse with his body, as he did for his performance, but this time, he made sure to match her and use his ballroom lessons from his aunt, to make his date float across the dance floor. 

Unlike the hip hop style he showcased earlier, Rye was far more focused and careful since this was no longer a solo thing. He didn’t want to be seen as the average teenage boy that would urgently go for the grind like he had done earlier with Marisol. Rye didn’t want Julie to think that was all he was capable of, and while this was a unique song to mix club dancing with ballroom moves like a reverse pivot from Quickstep, shoulder spins from Jive or bringing Julie in a Sweetheart position from the East Coast Swing, he was going to make this work. He was going to make [i]them[/i] work. 

At the start of the song, he worked hard to gain her trust, taking the lead, holding her hands, bringing her in, then out, and back in again. As he turned her body like they were salsa partners, he chose steps carefully and with intention, to showcase [i]her[/i]. Twirling her, he couldn’t contain the stupid grin off his face from how happy he was. He hadn’t felt this way about someone for a while and to think it would be someone far out of his league, someone that reminded him of sour candy, so sweet, yet when angered, she had one hell of a bite. And, let’s be real.  That side of her was uncontrollably hot. [color=fff700]“Am I still a little boy to you?”[/color] A reference from a line he would never forget her saying: [i]This school already has enough little boys disguised as ‘Alpha males’.[/i]  Rye’s smile never faltered, as his dark gaze locked with her stormy eyes. To someone as keen as Julie, it was clear he was observing her for any signs of displeasure.

As they danced around Julie couldn’t help but think that she was having more fun tonight than she had been having in a long time. Maybe it was true what her peers had been whispering throughout the halls. Maybe she had been wound too tight… only wanting to have fun on her terms, not just letting go and dance. But letting Ryland take the lead as they danced proved to be just what she needed to relax and let go. 

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she stared back into his eyes. [color=cf5685]“I don’t know...”[/color] she paused resting her arms on his shoulders and looked around. [color=cf5685]“Are you still acting like a little boy?”[/color] she continued with her own question. 

[color=fff700]“Right now?”[/color] He pulled her close to him and shook his head, [color=fff700]“Nah.”[/color] At least in this instance, he was owning up to his actions and taking charge. For the first month or so of him attending King’s, though? He was being a [i]big[/i] baby. Sheepishly, his smile momentarily turned into a pout, [color=fff700]“But maybe earlier… yeah, a little.”[/color] By earlier, he was referring to his raunchy dance with Marisol that clearly was not something he should’ve done with a friend. 

A small huff escaped Julie as they continued to sway to the more slow song the DJ had put on. [color=cf5685]“Well…”[/color] she began pondering if she should admit how she felt when she saw him and Marisol dance before. [color=cf5685]“If you tried to get some sort of reaction out of me… I guess it sparked some small feelings of jealousy.”[/color] she flicked her ice blue eyes back to his [color=cf5685]“But don’t let that get to your head!”[/color]   

The ball was in his hands and he couldn’t convince his ego to talk out of his ass. To pretend that he leveled up fully to a gentleman, or prince charming, would be blatantly lying to her face. Rye knew he had a lot of growing up to do, he was a child at heart, which was okay for times like these. However, if he wanted to be with a lady like Julie, there was no doubt in his mind that he had to clean up his act and do better. [color=fff700]“I should… apologize. For that, and for putting your date in a [b]mood[/b].”[/color]  

Julie craned her neck around to see if she could spot Sonny. And there he was standing together with Marisol having what looked like a heated discussion. Her face fell into a frown [color=cf5685]“Why?”[/color]  her expression was visibly confused. [color=cf5685]“How is Sonny’s mood connected to us dancing?”[/color]  Julie queried curiosity growing in her. 

[color=fff700]“That, I can’t answer. Like I could tell he was already in a bad mood, because of me and Sol, and this was just icing on the cake for some reason?”[/color] Ryland looked over to his two best friends arguing. Goddammit. He spent so much time cheering Marisol up and now she was back to ground zero, all over again. 

Unfortunately, he had no idea of their plan to play matchmakers, all he knew was Sonny was not taking Rye’s serenade and performance well solely because of the fact that his boy decided to argue with his girlfriend soon after. Did Rye suck that bad? [color=fff700]“I meant earlier. With the whole jealousy thing.”[/color] Turning his attention back to her, Rye realized how tall Julie was. He was used to peering down at short girls, and for once, there was only a couple inch difference.  

After a moment of surprise, he furrowed his eyebrows, not really knowing how to explain the ordeal well. Rye knew any hesitation would only make Julie think the worst. He didn’t want to ruin her day, and he hoped he wasn’t going to, but he also felt like she deserved honesty. [color=fff700]“You’re perfect.”[/color] Fuck! That was not how he wanted to start this.  [color=fff700]“And beautiful.”[/color] Okay, well, he was just going to die after this. [color=fff700]“I mean, uh, that’s a given… but like, you and Sonny looked—”[/color] He heavily sighed, knowing he was god awful at explaining shit, and probably already fucked up, [color=fff700]“—good together.”[/color] 

As Rye struggled to get his words out, Julie couldn’t help but roll her eyes playfully. She was used to people telling her she was ‘beautiful’ or that she was the ‘perfect’ girl for them. Obviously she knew she looked good, she had mirrors in her house. But they never really meant it and only said those things because they wanted something. Hopefully the gentleman who was standing in front of her was different. She had a feeling he was. [color=cf5685]“Thank you…”[/color] she whispered reaching out to put a piece of his long hair that had fallen in front of his face behind his ear again. [color=cf5685]“You look very handsome tonight as well… shoes and all.”[/color] she smirked and flicked her eyes down at their feet.

Damn. These shoes were going to haunt him for the rest of his life, weren’t they? Relief washed over him with how well she took his word vomit. Her teasing, while sweet, gave him an urge to run away with her, somewhere secluded, where they could get more acquainted. He could definitely see the little minx coming out to play. Yeah, he was into it, even if the mention of his shoes killed him a little more on the inside. 

Focusing on his original thought process, about the two arguing not too far away from them, and NOT on wanting to flirt back, Rye grabbed her hands and stopped dancing,  [color=fff700]“Marisol has [b]major[/b] self worth issues. And Sonny? I love the guy, but he sucks at communicating. Please believe me when I say this has nothing to do with you. I just got caught up, in between, and so did you.”[/color]  he explained. 

[color=cf5685]“Oh dear…”[/color] Julie said and turned to face their friends biting her lip pensively [color=cf5685]“I think… we should try to get out from in between them”[/color] she looked back to him. [color=cf5685]“Let them work it out… last time I tried to give advice”[/color] she paused remembering the homecoming dance. [color=cf5685]“It didn’t really go that well.”[/color]  

There were probably a lot of options for them, like go hang with other friends and keep their distance, but the only thing Rye could think about was: [color=fff700]“...we could leave?”[/color] 

Julie raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow and turned slowly to face Ryland. [color=cf5685]“Oh yeah?”[/color]  she blinked slowly. [color=cf5685]“And go where?”[/color]  she asked letting her hand trail up his arm. She wanted to toy a little with him first, he had her attention and she wanted to see if he could keep it. 

Smirking, instead of saying the natural response that came to mind 'wherever you want’, he released one of her hands, running it through his hair, and cooed, [color=fff700]“Want another surprise? I can keep ‘em coming.”[/color] 

[color=cf5685]“Alright new kid…”[/color] she laughed [color=cf5685]“You’ve shown yourself to be quite good at surprises! Let’s see if you can deliver.”[/color] Julie nodded. [color=cf5685]“Show me your best!”[/color]   

[color=fff700]“Ha! If I showed you my best, you’d never sleep again.”[/color] Rye stuck out his tongue before taking out his phone and texting his two best friends: [i][color=fff700]‘Hey, guys. Ride together? I’m headin’ out.’[/color][/i] He sent the message, as vague as ever.

[color=cf5685]“Bold of you to assume that I sleep…”[/color] she said as she fished out her own phone from her purse. She figured she should probably send a text to Sonny to let him know she was leaving. 

[i][color=cf5685]‘You’ll work it out Sonny… I know you will. Remember you are not your past. Don’t worry about me, I’ll find my way home’[/color][/i]

She sent it and focused on Ryland, [color=cf5685]“Ready whenever you are”[/color]

Oh he forgot! He quickly added in the group message: [i][color=fff700]‘ ..with Julie.’[/color][/i]

Offering his arm to grab which she did, he smiled from ear to ear, [color=fff700]“Fuck yeah! Let’s get out of here.”[/color] Wait, what if she doesn’t like cursing,  [color=fff700]“...huzzah! I mean.”[/color] 

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