Thank you everyone for reading my first chapter and the reviews, I really appreciate them. This is my first story ever so I hope you continue to enjoy it as it develops.
I do not own bleach or any of it's characters used in this story.
Rukias' POV
I pin back the top half of my hair and apply the final layer of lip-gloss before I step back from the mirror and am satisfied with what I see. I hardly ever get dressed up. I decided to wear a short dress for Prom; especially since I'm so short a longer dress would've just swallowed me up. My dress fits perfectly. The color makes my eyes stand out; it's a deep violet dress with silver beading along the bodice. It's strapless, so I can show off my shoulders and the back is a lace up. It came to just above my knee and was only slightly 'ball gown' looking, I didn't want anything too form fitting but didn't want an overly dramatic dress either. Looking at myself in the mirror I truly felt beautiful.
"Perfect. Tonight is going to be a night for me to remember."
I did one last turn in front of the mirror before I heard a knock at the door.
"Hey Renji, you look very handsome in your suit. Who would've thought you'd clean up this nicely?" I gave him a very wide grin and gestured for him to come into my house.
"Yeah, well, you don't look too bad yourself. You know, if Orihime and I weren't so hot and heavy, I'd probably try to get with you." Renji just looked over at me and grinned.
"Oh gosh Renji! Could you be any grosser? The mental image that just popped into my mind is going to haunt me for weeks now, thank you."
Renji walked over and put his arm around me. We both took a look at ourselves in the mirror in the living room and it was amazing how much we've both grown up, and how well we did clean up.
"Yep, I'm looking mighty studly tonight. I'm thinking that there is no way Orihime is going to be able to turn me down tonight."
"Excuse me?" I turned to look over at Renji with just a hint of disgust on my face.
"What? You don't think we're just dating because of her sparkling personality? Nah, she's fun and all, and a really great girl, but oral is only going to get you so far, it's either tonight or I think I might be ready to move on."
"Seriously Renji? You can't keep jumping from girl to girl just because they aren't putting out. At this rate there aren't going to be any girls left in this whole town you haven't been with."
"Well, I'm sure there will always be at least one girl that I won't ever get with." Renji looked over at me with soft eyes and a half smile. I couldn't help but blush a little, but seriously? Renji and I? Even the thought of it didn't sit right with me. No, we were definitely better as best friends. He was someone I could and would always depend on to always be there for me no matter what.
"Hellooooo? Anybody here?" Renji and I both turned at the sound of Orihime announcing her presence.
I leaned over to Renji and whispered, "You be good to her. She treats you better than anyone you've ever dated before, and to be completely honest, I've never seen you look happier. Don't screw this up." I pushed him to the door before he had time to object so we could welcome everyone showing up.
"Hi Orihime! You look beautiful!" I smiled at the Auburn haired girl standing at my door, wearing a long, bright yellow, haltered style fitted dress. She truly did look wonderful.
"Thank you Rukia. I really wanted to look my best for Renji." She glanced past me to look at her boyfriend, who, to my amazment, was looking back at her with what looked like love in his eyes.
"I don't think beautiful begins to describe how you look right now." Renji walked past me, took Orihime by the waist and brought her to his chest. He leaned down and pressed his lips gently, yet passionately against hers.
I couldn't help but feel a slight sting of jealousy at this. Not because I was jealous of them, but more jealous of what they have. It was at this moment I realized that I was lonely, and while I had everything a girl could ever possibly want, I didn't have anyone to share my life with. How much I yearned for someone to hold me like Renji holds Orihime. To be kissed like that. To have Ichigo kiss me like that.
My thoughts trailing towards that orange haired man were quickly interrupted by the arrival of Rangiku and Tatsuki.
Rangiku had her long blonde hair down and flowing, while her womanly curves were excuenatied by her low cut, hot pink, form fitting gown. Tatsuki was dress a bit more appropriately, with a simple, long, sky blue empire waist dress.
"The party has arrived! Lets get this thing started, I'm ready to get my dance on and flirt with all the hotties..." We all just laughed at Rangiku and made our way out to the limo.
"It's officially Prom, only 2 weeks left until graduation and then we will all be free of this place." I smiled at my statement and we all toasted in the limo as it took off. My brother knew how special prom was to me so he allowed for champagne to be supplied to us, but only in the limo.
We arrived at prom about 2 hours after we left my house. We had to stop and eat, and of course, we finished off the delightful champagne. Everyone was feeling great and ready to party.
"Whoo! Let's go hunt down some single men Tatsuki."
"Only for you Rangiku, mostly because you won't stop nagging me until I agree to come with you."
"Yippie! We're off then, see you on the dance floor Rukia, Renji and Orihime."
Rangiku and Tatsuki headed off to the refreshment table to make themselves known to a couple of single guys that were lingering there. I'm pretty sure neither of them will be coming back to the hotel we booked tonight…. at least not alone.
"Why don't you two go get your pictures taken?" I looked over at Renji and Orihime who hadn't let go of each other since we left my house.
"Why don't you come with us Rukia? I'd love to have a picture of the three of us together, after all, you are Renjis' best friend."
I smiled at Orihime, "Thank you, but tonight should be about the two of you having a great time, besides, I'm going to go mingle, see who all is here and maybe we can get one big group shot before the end of the night."
I could see a slight bit of disappointment on Orihimes' face, but her eyes were filled with joy over having the entire evening to spend with Renji, in anyway she wanted.
"Okay, well, if you change your mind just let us know, okay?"
"Don't worry about her Orihime, right Rukia? You're a big girl and don't need us to keep you company tonight." Renji looked over at me with this huge cheesy grin, and I knew exactly what he was getting at.
"Right Renji. Go one, you go have fun and I'll catch up with you later."
With that I walked away from Orihime and Renji before Orihime could think of another activity that I needed to be included in. Did she somehow feel sorry for me because technically I was alone at my own prom? I certainly didn't mind, sort of.
I made the rounds in the building, talking to the teachers that were chaperoning and the other students that I was friendly with when I noticed a few guys that were part of Ichigos' group of friends.
"Hey. What are you guys doing at this prom? Isn't yours tonight too?" Soon I found myself surrounded by three pretty decent sized guys. Chad, Ikkaku, and Shuhei. Appearance wise you would definitely not want to mess with them. Chad was huge, about double my height, had shaggy brown hair, really tan skin, and muscles to put any man to shame. Ikkaku, he was about the same size as Ichigo, a little bit leaner, but he had a shaved head and usually some sort of scowl on his face. Shuhei, he could have been Ichigos' body double, except for some scars and a distinctive tattoo on his face. Shuhei also had brown hair. This was Ichigos' group, usually the troublemakers, and I had no idea what they were doing at my prom.
Ikkaku was the one that answered my question for me.
"Yeah, well, we're not exactly allowed to attend our prom. Something about being rotten teenagers that will end up ruining the whole even for the entire student body."
"Oh, I see. So you decided to come and crash my prom instead?"
"Not exactly. We came here because…" and Ikkaku was quickly cut off by an all too familiar voice that I never expected to hear tonight.
"I think I can take the explanation from here guys. Why don't you o find yourself someone to pick on or some girls to pick up?"
Chad, Ikkaku, and Shuhei walked away. My heart was racing and I wanted to turn around to make sure that it was him standing behind me, but I also didn't want to be disappointed if it wasn't him. I felt a hand on my shoulder and the warmth of his breath as he whispered into my ear, "You look beautiful tonight Rukia."
His hand dropped from my shoulder and I turned my head to see those brown eyes and orange hair.
"Ichigo? Wh-what are you doing here?" I searched his face to try to find a hint, but there was nothing, just a smile. I looked him over. He was handsome. He was wearing a very well tailored black suit with a red shirt underneath and a black tie.
"Well, my friends and I really didn't have anything better to do tonight and I thought to myself, I wonder if Rukia will have anyone to dance with at her prom."
A smile formed across my face and my heart continued to race even faster. How could one sentence from him make me feel this way? I wasn't even sure what I was feeling; all I knew is that right now, in this moment, I didn't want the feeling to end.
Before I could stop my body from reacting to his words I reached out my hand to him, looked into his eyes and said, "I do now."
Ichigo smiled back at me, took my hand and lead me out onto the dance floor. I could feel everyone's' eyes on Ichigo and me. I knew what they were all thinking. Why was this delinquent at our prom and how long until him and his friends found a way to ruin it. For once though, I didn't care what anyone thought. For once I didn't care about being perfect. For once, I was going to allow my heart to do the thinking instead of my head.
"So tell me, why are your friends here with you if the only reason you came was to dance with me?"
"Um…well, you know, they wanted something to do tonight too and I figured they could just tag along."
"Somehow I don't believe you."
"Well, that's your judgment call I suppose." Ichigo smirked and then twirled me around the floor.
By the fourth turn I was starting to regret my fifth glass of champagne. I stopped in mid turn and ran off the dance floor to the bathroom. I made it there just in time before I threw up. How embarrassing. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, I knew there was a reason I always kept a toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse. I can't believe I was the girl throwing up in the bathroom on prom night. I wanted to go back to the dance floor to find Ichigo and explain what had happened, but I didn't know if I could face him with my embarrassment. I decided to go outside and get some fresh air and gather my nerves before I went to find Ichigo. I walked out of a side door to what looked like a park area. I found a bench to sit on and just relaxed for a few minutes.
"So this is where you ran off to."
I looked up and saw Ichigo looking down at me. He started to take off his coat and then threw it over my shoulders before taking a seat next to me. I smiled at him.
"Thank you. Look, I'm sorry about running off like that, it's just"
"It's okay, you don't need to explain anything to me."
"No, it's actually pretty funny, you see, my brother bought me and my friends a few bottles of champagne to celebrate prom with and we finished them all before we even got here."
"Oh. Wow, didn't expect that. Good little Rukia getting sloshed before a school sponsored event? I think I'm starting to rub off on you."
I wish you would. Ugh. If only I could say that out loud without sounding completely pathetic. Instead I just smile back at him.
We sat there in silence for a few moments. It was the longest few moments of silence I think I have ever experienced. I kept looking into Ichigos' eyes, and he was looking right back into mine. He seemed nervous; almost as if he was trying to tell me something; something horrible.
I reached over and put my hand on top of his, hoping to comfort him if there was something wrong.
Ichigos' POV
Her hand is so warm, and she really does look amazing tonight.
"Rukia, I."
She was looking at me so intently. I couldn't find the right words to use to express what I was feeling. I know I'm just some messed up troublemaker that's no good for you, but I want to be with you.
"Ichigo? What's going on?"
Her hand gripped tighter on my own hand and my heart started to race. I couldn't hold back anymore. My free hand cupped the side of her face as I leaned in. Our lips were barely an inch apart when I felt her warm breath and then I went for it. Our lips were touching. Her lips were so soft, so eager to feel mine on them. I could feel her hand move from mine and move to my neck. I then moved my free hand and pulled her closer to me. Our lips perfectly in sync, the passion growing between them and our breathing became heavier.
As quickly as the kiss had started I felt Rukia pull away from me. It was amazing, but why did she pull away. Fuck, did I just make a huge mistake taking this chance?
"Ichigo…. that"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to force that on you, I just…"
Her lips were on mine again, this time her fingers were in my hair and her body was pressed up against mine. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in as close as I possible could.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
We both stopped and turned to the voice that interrupted us. It belonged to Sosuke Aizen. The one guy that I despised and have gotten into too many fights with. The absolute last person I ever wanted to see tonight, while I was with Rukia. Shit Rukia! Aizen will surely try to find a way to use her to get to me.
I turned to Rukia, "You need to go back inside, please."