Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! ^^


Chapter 2

~Prom Stupidity~

Several months have passed by and it's February. The long-awaited prom is near and the senior students started practicing their batch dance.

Months have passed, yet Nine never had a single chance to speak with Seven. He's too shy to make a move. There's something mysterious about her that makes her all the more interesting. In a way, he felt a certain tinge of envy against his buddies who could freely interact with Seven. While him, there, he just did is to stare at her, nothing more and nothing less.

Then Eight was saying. "Why don't you take this chance and talk to her at our prom night? Ask her to a dance, man!" He nudged Nine on his side. Eight has a point. "B-but how?" Nine said. He can't imagine himself, finally, talking to her and will hear that sweet tone of her voice. Then he found himself feeling thrilled, excited and nervous and his heart his pounding, rapidly.

"Well, how about you seek the help of Jack." Eight patted his shoulder. And yes, Nine's friends already knew about his liking to Seven. Well, in the very first place, his buddies already knew about it, especially Eight, Jack and Machina. He's just shy to admit it. And the news was spread to Trey, King and Ace. And luckily they're very trustful friends. They hadn't said at least a word to the girls. Though, they find it quite odd for Nine having a crush and it's not just a crush, a BIG crush on a girl. But they're happy for their friend, because like what Jack had said. "At least we knew he's not a total idiot. He knows about girls and hey, he even got the taste." They talked about Nine one time and the guy they're talking about is not there. The boys all agreed to Jack's statement.

"Let's support him." Ace said and they all agreed. "Yeah."

oOo

Nine went to Jack for help.

Jack was speaking. "Wow, I never thought you're gonna talk to her. Tsk! I knew it, you have a brain, Nine."

Nine felt insulted. "What do you mean by that Jack?"

Jack smiled and put an arm around Nine's neck. "What I mean is how about you tell her some lines that sure will gonna shoot her."

"Er…that's kinda scary to hear."

"Oh no…" Jack chuckled. "Like for example, hhmm…Here…Why do you even need a watch, a wrist watch I mean, if I could give all my time for you." Then Jack leaned closer and raised his brows up and down playfully."That kinds of lines. Pick up lines is what they call it." Then he leaned away at once pursing his lips to control his laughter. It sounded very silly. But Nine was kind of amazed. For him, it was a very good line to give to her, but it sounded kind of weird. He turned to Jack, an eyebrow raised. "Are you sure I'm gonna say that?"

"Well, yeah. It's up to you… " Jack is still controlling his smile. "But it'd be better if you'll tell her at least one line."

"Er…do you have another one?" Nine places his index and thumb on his chin, seems like interested which cause Jack to smile, but, thankfully, he didn't laugh. 'This sure is gonna be fun.'Jack thought happily to himself.

oOo

It's their prom night, and all the students were on their best dresses and suits. Excitement filled the air. All were gathered inside the covered gymnasium. It's six o' clock in the evening as the program started. It started with a ramp, where the students will walk in the red carpet before the entrance of the gymnasium with their partners. One of the school rules for the prom is that they're not allowed to bring an outsider. And their partner is their classmates, who they happen to be linked on the line. The motif of the prom is color black and red. The tables are clothed in red with the accent of black. And each of the tables has red roses to give to their partners when the dance begins, specifically for their first dance. And their chairs, too, were clothed in black with a red ribbon. And the stage was designed in color black and red too, with two dim yellowish lampshades on each side, with plants and red roses, around. Then the very program started with a ceremony and some symbolism. Eight can't hide his nervousness and excitement. "Man, why do they even need to mention and introduce each symbols, like I care." He whispered to Jack. And Jack just smirked. "Just like last year on our junior prom." Then after some few boring introductions and speech, the batch dance began. Nervousness can be felt within the students. Some are quite awkward and conscious on how they look, but the little presentation ended up just fine. And their parents who were watching wore smiles on their faces. And after the short program, which ended up almost eight in the evening, the host requested the students' parents, as their audience for the night, to leave and just go back tomorrow five in the morning to drive and bring their children home. Then the audience slowly went out and lessened until the only ones left are the senior students who are participating for tonight's activity.

Since after the batch dance, after they have their dinner and now the dance is starting, Nine didn't leave his eyes at Seven. He finds her really stunning tonight. Seven is wearing a black tube, above knee length, Tutu dress, which was accented in few glittering diamonds. Then for her sandals, she wore three inches silver stiletto heels, and her hair is in its usual style but in a blower and she wore light make-up. All in all she's still the most beautiful in Nine's eyes. He's sharing a table with Eight, Jack and Machina. But Jack and Machina were busy having a dance. And Eight and Nine were left there at the table, quiet. Nine is wearing a dark gray tuxedo and blue polo and dark blue neck tie inside. Then black slacks and shiny black leather shoes. They've been quiet; none of them plans to talk. Besides, Nine is having a fun time staring at his Seven. He followed her as she had a dance and as she sat back, by his eyes. He's thinking of what line to tell her. Jack had told him a number of lines and even challenged him to take this chance to talk to her and tell her at least one pick up line. But he's too nervous. Especially now, how can he talk to her properly, she's too stunning. He doubts that he can even say a word to her. It seems better to just sit here and stare at her. To stare at her beauty before this night ends. Eight is starting to get bored, what he did is to observe Nine and read what Nine is thinking or maybe he's waiting for him to stand and ask Seven to a dance. But several hours have already passed and nothing's happening. He and Nine are just sitting here and he seems waiting for nothing. Then he asked. "Are you not planning to ask her to a dance?" He stared at his friend like forever whose eyes are still on that girl, he didn't know if it even failed to leave Seven. But Nine didn't answer, like he even heard what he asked. But still Eight waited and a minute has passed. He knew it. Why does he even wait, where he well knows how lame his friend was. Then he sighed, resting his chin on his hand. Then Nine suddenly spoke, but he's not looking at him, his eyes still on Seven. "How about you? Why don't you ask Cater?"

Eight didn't expect he would ask such. "I-I'm shy."

"Then that's my answer too."

"Golly, Nine is that you're reason? I already- we already knew that you are shy. Aren't you going to give it a try? I'm sorry but you are a very big lame. This is your chance. I thought we had agreed on this, huh?" Eight brows slightly knitted. "Go on. Make at least a move. You haven't' made one. But are you planning to court her? "

Nine sighed and at last his eyes moved on him. "We're just the same Eight." Then he rolled his eyes and stare back at Seven, but where is she? Damn, that's the reason why he doesn't want to leave his eyes on her. In a second she's just sitting there but now…He felt quite pissed on Eight. But Eight's voice slightly rose this time. "No, we're not. I'm not like you. I can at least talk to Cater. And we're best buds. Unlike you, there's not at least a word friend on your relationship with Seven, even acquaintance."

Nine scoffed, crossing his arms and frowned at Eight. "Then why don't you ask your Cater to a dance, if you too is not lame? And why do you even care about my relationship with Seven?"

Eight felt more pissed 'Damn! Is this guy numb? Did he not see how we support him for that girl? Damn him!'

And Eight said, quite irritated. "Of course we care, idiot! And I don't know if I can hide my feelings for her anymore. She's too amazing tonight. And my feelings for her are overflowing right now. I'm afraid my friendship with her might break."

Nine sighed to decrease his irritation. "I feel the same, Eight. I don't know how to face her. Like what you said, Cater looks amazing for you and Seven looks amazing to me too. Can't you get it? And I don't know if I'm going to court her."

"I totally understand you, Nine. My point is that, you haven't done, at least, a single thing or even a move towards her, have you not realized that? And we, as your friends, think that tonight is the perfect chance to talk to her. I mean you got all the reason, ask her to a dance."

What Eight said struck him. He has a point. Well, all he says has a point. Right, this is his chance. Stupid! Why hadn't he thought about it? He's wasting all the time he got. But it's just eleven o' clock, he still have more time. Then he started to stand and took the rose which is slowly getting dry, other than that it's still color red. But when he was about to stand, a hand suddenly held his shoulder. And as he turned he saw Machina, and he can't believe what he is seeing. Machina is holding hands with Seven. He looks back at Machina, wide-eyed, and Machina winked at him, smiling. Machina turned to Seven. "Er…Seven I'd like to introduce to you my very good-looking friend, Nine." Machina turned back at Nine and signaled him to stand up. Nine nervously stood. He gulped, and then he felt his heart pounding furiously, especially when Machina showed Seven in front of him. Seven gave Nine a small smile. Machina, then, turned to Nine. "And, Nine, I have here Seven. I bet you already know her." He smiled. Nine gulped once more, he's stunned. Seven is quite confused on what's happening. First, Machina smiled at her and held his hand to her like he's asking her to a dance, that's why she took it. Then in the second, Machina brought her and introduced to her the guy her friends like to talk about and make fun of, no other than Nine.

Machina mouthed Nine again, "Your hand. Held it." He eyed him. Eight just sat there and watched, wearing an amused smile. Nine look at Machina, and then he, hesitantly, held his hand in front of him. It's like he knows where this thing will go, that cause his heart to beat more wild and louder. He hopes that Seven won't hear his heart beat or else she'll know that he's more nervous than ever. Seven felt her heart skipped a beat as she saw Machina placed her hand gently on Nine's exposed hand. She looks at him, bewildered then to Nine. As soon as Nine met her hand, Nine felt that he's going to melt anytime. Her hands are so soft, like cotton. He wants to squeeze it suddenly, but afraid Seven would mistake him as a pervert. Then Machina let go of his hand on them and clasp his hand and turned to each of them. "So enjoy!" then he moved on Nine's back and tapped it, and whispered. "So I'm gonna leave her all to you now. Do your best!" Then he gently pushed Nine for him to walk his partner on the dance floor. Nine can't take his eyes off her. Then he gulped once more. And as he felt that Machina is pushing him and heard what he said, his heart that's already beating rapidly, jerked once more and how he hoped that his face isn't red. Then he slowly and nervously led Seven on the dance floor.

"Have a good time." Machina smiled.

oOo

Seven find this guy a little weird. Since they dance, Nine didn't look at her even once. His head is all but lowered. She suddenly is starting to believe what her friends were saying about him.

Nine's hands were on her slim waist, nervously, while her hands were on his broad shoulders. Nine, on the other hand, feels like he's going to suffocate, he can't breathe properly. His head is screaming for AIR! And it's like this girl has electricity within her body. Since he held her waist, he felt electricity flowed within the veins of his arm, to his spine, up to his head, which made his face to be red. But gladly, it's dark and only party lights lit the gymnasium. But he still hopes that Seven won't notice the redness of his face. His heart didn't stop beating since Machina showed her to him. But he didn't know whether to be happy or not. His dream is just starting, but he thinks he won't make it. His friends had told him many times to ask Seven to a dance and talk to her. But he can't say a single word. He felt that there's something stuck in his throat. Seven decided to just ignore the weirdness of this guy, and listen to the music. The music played was Falling Stars, and it's so calming. Nine can't hear the song. All he knows is that the girl of his dreams is here, dancing with him. All he could hear is her even breathing. And all he could feel is her presence and all he could scent is her sweet smell. Man he feels like he's a mad man in love. But is he in love or this is just infatuation. He doesn't want to think. He doesn't want to feel any regret after this dance but it's like he's starting to feel it. 'Damn! The rose!' In the entire thing he could forget how in the world did he forgot to bring the rose? He suddenly felt uneasy. He can't concentrate. When he felt that somebody's speaking. 'I-is she talking to me?' Then he moved his attention to her and he's too stunned. She really is speaking to him. He tried to talk. "Er…E-excuse me?" Then Seven, suddenly leaned closer on his ear, which made his heart jump. He can't move an inch suddenly. Then he heard her saying. "I said, what is that rose doing on your back pocket? I-Is that really included in your suit?" and he felt that she's smiling. Then he slowly leaned away and looks at her. "R-Rose?" Then he turned at his back pocket and was so surprised to see a rose. But how did it got there. Then he suddenly saw Machina from afar, dancing with some girl who winked and smiled at him. Golly, his friends are his savior. 'Thanks to you guys!' he thought as he smiled back at Machina. Then he turned back to Seven, and realized that the music just ended. "E-er…I-it's for you." Then he took it and gave it to her, nervously. Seven's smile faded. This is the third rose she received. So it means she's Nine's first dance. "T-thank you." She manages a smile. Nine smiled, shyly and slightly bowed his head. "N-no…Thank you." Then he hurriedly walks away, leaving her at the center of the dance floor. Then he, at once, sat back on his chair and heaves a deep sigh. How long is he not breathing? But now's different, he wore a very beautiful smile. And he found Eight seems surprised.

"What? Is there anything wrong?"

"Anything wrong? Yeah, a very big wrong. How in the world you leave her just like that? You must at least walk her back at her table."

Nine stopped, his smile faded. And remembered it. He's so shy, he left her. Then he turned back to where Seven is and she's nowhere to be seen. She's not even sitting at her table. Then Machina appeared in nowhere, suddenly. "Hey, sorry to say but it's a big no-no for a guy to leave his partner on the dance floor."

"I know. I know. I'm sorry."

Then Jack appeared, grinning. "Hey I saw it. So how was it? Have you talked to her?"

"N-Not really. I can't speak."

Then Eight suddenly spoke. "What? You didn't speak to each other? Then what's that, I saw it huh, she leaned to you closer." he smiled, teasingly.

Nine remembered it again, and he flushed. "S-she just noticed the rose on the back pocket of my pants."

"T-that's all?"

"Y-yeah."

"Then you even leave her like that?"

"I-I gave the rose."

Machina scoffed. "You even forgot about it."

"I know. But thanks Machina."

Jack chuckled. "You're really-"

Nine interrupted. "Lame, I know. Don't need to say it." He knew it, he won't make it. He's lame like what his friends always told him. Even the girls, finds him one too, and he bet even Seven also. He sighed. "E-excuse me." Then he stood and decided to breathe some fresh air outside.

Then the boys began blaming each other.

Eight said. "It's your fault, Jack. You shouldn't have said that."

Jack scoffed. "Eight don't talk like you didn't call him lame, too."

"But I just call him like that in the right time."

"Right time? Are you kidding me? When's the right time?"

"Enough guys…" Machina said. "What's happened has happened."

"Hey, you belong here too." Eight said. "It's like it's even his fault that he forgot his rose."

"W-what do you mean? I'm not blaming him."

"Eight, enough blaming us. It's our entire fault, okay?" Jack said.

Eight sighed. "It's his fault too. We're just helping him remember?"

oOo

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why did you leave her, bug brain?" Nine muttered, under his breath. He kicked a tree trunk in annoyance to himself. His hands on his pants' side pockets. But after a while, he's smiling to himself, blushing. He really won't forget this night. He could still remember the dance and how she leaned to him. He still could feel her hot breathe beneath his ears. And he blushed more, but maybe there's nothing perfect in this world. And he's the one who just ruined its perfectness. "Why? Why did you leave her, idiot?" Then he kicked the tree trunk again. Then his friends' words echoed in his brain. '...a very big no-no…you're a-….a very big wrong…. How can you leave her just like that?'

"Damn!" he cursed to himself and kicked the tree once again. He's mad at himself. 'Why do you need to be so lame and too idiot?' He huffed, sharply. Then he felt that he's not alone. He suddenly felt embarrassed, how long is this person whoever he is, standing there? Did he saw his quiet outburst or had he heard him? Then he hesitantly, with his head lowered turned to the man, but he's so surprised to found that it's a girl and not just a girl. It's Seven. 'So she's here all along.' But how long is she standing there? Had she heard his tantrums? He suddenly felt more embarrassed. And he can't move an inch suddenly, even if she's standing several inches from him. Then he remembered his friends' words again, on how his friends persuaded just for him to have enough courage to talk to her. Then he heaved a deep sigh. 'You can do this.' he convinced himself. Then he slowly walks towards her until he's right behind her. Man, his body is trembling. And his heart skipped a beat again. This girl always makes his heart beat this way. He suddenly felt his whole body weakening. Then he gently coughed to get her attention. "Ehem, ehem."

Seven is looking up at the stars on the sky, when she heard somebody coughed, quietly, behind her. Then she, slowly but hesitantly, turned around. She didn't expect to see Nine.

Nine, secretly, wiped his sweating hands on his pants. "E-er…I-I've been looking for you actually. I-I didn't expect to s-see you here." Then he thought. 'Stop stammering.'

Seven was quite surprised. "Oh…w-why?"

"Er…I-I just want to apologize f-for leaving you at the dance floor… e-earlier." He gulped. He felt a sweat fell on his forehead. 'She's so beautiful. She's even more beautiful this close.'

"O-oh that. I-it's alright." She managed to smile. But honestly, she felt embarrassed as he left her.

Nine managed, and walk beside her and look up the sky, but she's more beautiful than the stars that he stare back at her at once. "H-honestly…" his eyes moved to the side, sheepish looking. "I-I'm shy towards you." Then he realized he can't take to look at her this long, especially now that he's facing her. He looks away. Seven didn't know what to react. She didn't know if what he meant is a good thing or not. Then she tried to ask. "W-why?" she looks away too and decided to look at the ground. With that Nine can't speak suddenly, he didn't know what to say. But instead, he said "I hope w-we can be friends." He turned at her and grinned sheepishly, with a hand on the back of his head. Seven turned at him and smiled. "S-sure." And Nine for the first time, felt at ease even if Seven is beside him. He put his hand that's on his head down. Smile won't leave his lips, until he met his bed. He looked at the boring white ceiling of his room, his hands behind his head. That was the best night he ever had. Happenings came running back in his mind: the dance, on how they were close to each other and on how she lean towards him and whispered, hearing that very melodic voice of hers. And on how she gave him one of her very sweet smiles. Then he had dreamed of her that whole day, and they were dancing, talking and laughing.

To be Continued


wow...improvements...you finally made it Nine! But stupiditywon't leave you..XD...

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