I was standing in the spotlight on the dancefloor; time seeming to slow to a near painful crawl.

How could he abandon me? When everyone was watching.. 203 unsympathetic witnesses? That was the worst case scenario of every girl's high school dance and here I was living it. But what hit me the hardest was that there hadn't even been an explaination. No forewarning that my date was going to just walk away. In fact, I thought he was having fun. We were talking and laughing and I let him get closer to me than anyone ever had before.

After a few awkward minutes the silence was fading, as people started giggling and whispering to each other while openly staring at me. After all, the hottest guy in the school had left the dance to chase after the hottest girl... and his clueless date was still standing in the middle of the gym.

I would have laughed, too... If it wasnt me.

Realizing that this was going to make me the joke of the entire school, I tried to move, but my feet didn't seem to want to obey. So I stayed frozen, a living statue in the middle of the gym. My red dress rustled as people spun past, once again focusing soley on their date, and not on the girl all alone in the midst of everything. I was becoming part of the background-Losing the spotlight.

No longer under the leering eyes of my peers, I let my mind race back over what had happened...

Rick, the blonde Cassanova of Saint Cloud High was known to socialize only with cheerleaders, preps, and sluts. So, you can imagine my suprise(shock, really) when he asked me to be his date to the next dance. I had had a crush on him since we were in Elementary school, so of course I said yes right away. I knew it was strange, but at the moment I kept making up excuses for it.

Maybe he had turned over a new leaf?

And he made it easy to believe.. he had a way of putting things that made them seem like the most natural thing in the universe.

He had picked me up at my house in his red convertable and been the perfect escort. But everything was set to go wrong from the start. When we got out on the dance floor for the first song, he spotted his ex-girlfriend watching us. I looked, too, and she caught my eye. Her arms were folded and the glare she shot at me was enough kill.

Then she spun around and stalked out of the gym.

I expected Rick to just ignore her since she was seeing Brad, another upper classman. But, to my horror, he suddenly let me go and and chased after her.

My mouth dropped open and I looked around dumbly, at the other kids. It was embarrassing enough for little ol' me to be dancing in the middle of the crowd with the hottest guy in school.. but it was even worse to be abandoned by him. Not to mention the way it felt when his warm hands left me and every little fantasy I had imagined for tonight just evaporated; leaving me empty and alone.

Maybe I was dwelling too much on it? Maybe I had opened up too much of my heart, foolishly, to this boy... How could I have expected not to get hurt?

The room went blurry and tears slipped over my cheeks. Hastily, I wiped them away. I wouldn't let him get to me like this.

I looked around the room to see if anyone had seen.

Most of the other kids were dancing, or eating, or just talking to their friends.

Then, I caught the eye of a boy leaning against the wall across the room, in the shadows. Had he been there before?

His shaggy black hair was slicked back and he looked eerily like someone from the Renaissance. He stared directly into my eyes, and I felt a blush creeping up my neck to drape itself across my cheeks. His arms were crossed and his eyes held me like a pin.

All of the sudden, he dropped his arms and started across the floor to me. My heart tripped and started hammering in my chest.

"Keep a grip on yourself, Mazia," I told myself,"He's probably just going to tell you to get out of everyone else's way."

But he came to a stop directly in front of me. Then, to my suprise, he bowed low and asked quietly,"May I have this dance?" It wasn't quiet in a shy way, but in a very private way; for my ears alone. As if I were any other beautiful girl, besides just plain old weird me. Still, I managed to stutter a response and he placed a cold hand on my side. I felt gooseflesh blossoming on my skin from his touch, and slowly put one hand on his shoulder and the other in his open palm.

We began to dance smoothly, almost as if we were totally in rythm; and for once, I didnt stumble. Several people watched us, but I found ignoring them was suprisingly easy for once. I stared into his deep crimson eyes and we danced like that for a long time; or at least it felt that way.

I lost track of time and too soon the chaperones were bidding us all goodnight. I slipped out the door with the rest of the crowd and hastily walked to the parking lot. I looked down at my feet while I walked.

Then I heard a noise and looked up.

And froze in my tracks.

There, at his red mercedes, was Brad, all over his ex...or rather previous ex. Their mouths were moving together, tongues tangled, and his hand was sliding up her thigh.

I spun around and stumbled as quickly as I could in the opposite direction.

Turning the corner of the building I slammed my back against the wall and slid down, letting my tears run free. I tried to stifle my sobs. I had only had a crush on him-Why did it hurt this much?

My mind spun out of control and a strong dark and beautiful temptation pulled at me. Cutting.

But.. but I was trying to stop... I couldnt fall back now. Besides, I didnt have anything but my fingernails and they were bitten short.

Suddenly a low voice broke through my sadness. "Are you all right?" I started and quickly wiped the tears from my eyes, undoubtedly smearing mascara across my face, and stared. It was the guy that had danced with me! He had parked over here in the shadows.

"Umm, yeah." My voice was hoarse and I had to clear my throat and repeat it. He looked at me doubtfully. I stood up, smoothing out my dress, and eyed him defiantly.

Then he asked me if I needed a ride.

"Oh. Oh no, I can manage. Thank-you, though." I stuttered.

He gave me a look and asked,"How are you going to get home?"

"I'll..."

At that moment it occured to me that I had no escort to speak of, no friends to drive me, and no money to take the bus.

But I was NOT getting in a car with a stranger. No matter how many times we danced.

"I'll walk." I said, tilting my chin up, trying to keep every ounce of dignity I had left on the surface, masking how flustered I was. Even though I dreaded the thought of walking all the way home in my red strappy heels, I wasn't going to accept his offer. No matter how handsome he looked in the bright moonlight.

He looked at me, silent, for a few moments and suddenly, in a blur of movement, had me by the elbow and was ushering me to the car.

My blood turned to ice and terror gripped my heart. "Hey!" I protested, but my strength was no match for his.

Should I call for help? Or should I just go with him and hope maybe he wasnt going to rape or kill me?

Before I could decide what to do, we were both in the vehicle, with the doors locked; so I couldn't try to escape.

"This is called kidnapping, you know." He ignored me and instead asked, "Where do you live?"

I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him. He returned my glare with an even more vicious one. Finally, I spat out my address and he began driving.

When I told him where I lived his eyebrows rose. That bothered me to no end.

Frustrated, I glared out the window. Dark outlines of houses and trees streaked past in a blur. My breath fogged up the cold window glass and I soon got bored of sitting in the silence. I huffed loudly and turned his CD player on wondering what kind of music he listened to.

My eyes widened as I recognized the song. "You listen to Warpaint?" I asked, suprised. He kept his eyes on the road and replied with a short, "Yes."

Regret washed over me when it occured that I might have been overreacting a bit.

"I-Im sorry, about the way I acted before." I said, looking down, "I really am grateful to you for saving my butt. From the dance AND the long walk home." I spared a glance up and saw that his posture was more relaxed now.

I smiled casually and asked, "Why did you rescue me anyway?" His cool attitude faltered and I could see a look of pain streak onto his face. Then, just as quickly, it was gone. "I hate to see people suffer." He said flatly.

I turned back to the window when I noticed his stiff posture had returned. I also felt suprisingly disappointed by his apparent lack of interest. The only reason he had helped me was because I was someone who was in a bad spot. Although, I had to admit it was a bit chivalrous anyway.

An awkward silence filled the car again and I was glad when we finally pulled into the driveway at my house. I got out quickly and turned, "Thank you for bringing me home... uhm..."

"Kurt." He supplied.

"Right, Thank-you, Kurt. I'm Mazia by the way." In case we ever meet again.

He raised an eyebrow at the mention of my name. But after seventeen years of introductions I was used to odd reactions like that. "Goodnight." I said.

Without waiting for a reply, I closed the car door and made my way quickly up the driveway, onto the porch, and into the safety of my own home.

Later that night, after I had finished crying over my failed 'perfect night', I looked out the window at the moon. A dark figure caught my eye in the yard across the road; but when I looked again it was gone.

My own story. My own characters. :)

Hope you enjoyed, there will be more to come XD

BTW- The particular song I listened to while writing this is: Stars~Warpaint

Hope you enjoy it, too :)