1. 1 Second
It's only for an instant, but the first second Tyler Gage sees her, he knows he has to take a second look.
2. 30 Seconds
The lights are dim and there are bodies crowding from all sides, but for thirty seconds there's a brief bubble of space between them and he manages to squeeze in next to her so that they're dancing together rather than simply dancing next to each other.
2. 1 Minute
He's been dancing with her for an entire minute and she has yet to look up—that's how involved she is with her dancing. He's disappointed and fascinated at the same time.
3. 5 Minutes
That's how long it takes for Mac to drag him away from the dance floor, and only then he only goes because he's just realized that he doesn't know her name and probably never will unless he asks Mac, who knows everyone.
4. 10 Minutes
He's never been the most subtle guy in the world, and Mac catches on quickly that Tyler's mind is not on the game. "Man, you gonna lose all yo' money if you don't get cho mind back on the game," he scolds, and sighs when he catches Tyler's eyes wandering to the dance floor again. "This better be some girl," he grumbles, and gives his best friend a shove. "Her name's Andie West."
5. 15 Minutes
She's not on the dance floor when he gets back on, and for a moment his heart sinks, but then he sees her by the punch bowl trying in vain to squeeze through the masses of people to grab a cup. He slides over and easily snatches one for her, and the smile she gives him when she takes it is more than worth the elbow he got in the ribs from the annoyed person he grabbed the cup from.
6. 30 Minutes
She's on the dance floor again, and he's really turned on because no one's ever been able to keep up with him that long and the way she's still spinning out fresh moves is almost challenging. And Tyler Gage never backs down from a challenge.
7. 45 Minutes
He still hasn't touched her yet, nor has she touched him. They dance around, above, beneath, and through each other, but never the skin-on-skin grinding that so many others are doing all around them.
8. 50 Minutes
The clock says it's almost been an hour, and Tyler can see Mac shaking his head at him from the poker game, but he's finally got Andie in his arms and they're moving together like they've been dancing forever and really, that's way better than some lame card game.
9. 55 Minutes
He realizes that it's New Year's Eve and wonders if it's too soon to kiss her, but then she looks at her watch and gasps, spinning away and heading for the door. Another girl pushes into the place where she'd stood just moments before and puts her hands on his hips, and for a brief moment he's distracted. (He is only sixteen.) It's enough for him to lose sight of her.
10. 59 Minutes
Mac finally takes pity on the morose look on his bro's face and tells him that he actually knows where Andie lives and that, if Tyler'll shape up and help him win a few rounds, he'll tell him so he can go stalk the chick.
Tyler socks Mac on the shoulder, just 'cause, but five minutes later Mac's won the round and smirking at him.