"Where do ya think you're goin'?"
Kayla jerked to a stop and grimaced, her hand not even two inches away from the entranceway. She slowly peaked over her shoulder, keeping a firm grip on her backpack strap.
"Uuumm…out?" she answered uncertainly.
Raph raised one eye ridge at her, his arms crossed commandingly. "'Out' huh? Out where?"
Kayla glared at him. "I don't have ta take this, Raph. Sensei said I could go so I don't need permission from you."
"Which only means it's someplace ya don't want me knowin' 'bout cause I'm not gonna like it." Raph pointed out. Kayla rolled her eyes, getting impatient.
"Fine, I'm goin' to April's. Happy?" Kayla snapped before making her escape, slipping out of the lair before her hotheaded brother could say otherwise. At least that wasn't a total lie.
After a good fifteen minutes Kayla knocked on April's apartment door. Not ten seconds later the door opened to reveal the familiar redhead, her green eyes bright and happy.
"Hey, I was wondering when you were gonna get here." she commented as Kayla stepped in.
"Yeah, I had a bit of a hold up, of the Raphael persuasion." Kayla remarked cynically, clearly annoyed at her brother.
April laughed. "I can imagine. I still don't get why you don't want them knowing though."
Kayla looked at her like she was crazy. "You've met my brothers, right? Raph would probably follow me and try to sneak into the dance."
April shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you have a point. So, where is it?" she asked teasingly.
Kayla rolled her eyes as she slipped her backpack off her shoulder, opened it, and pulled the dress out of it. April held it up and looked it over.
"I like it. Suits you." she commented before grabbing Kayla's arm and pulling her to the bathroom. After doing her hair and putting on light make-up April stepped out of the bathroom so Kayla could put on her dress.
"Okay, I'm ready." Kayla called before opening the door. Her black hair was in a low messy bun, her bangs straightened and hanging over her right eye, and longer strands framing her face in loose curls, which April had curled with her curling iron. The dress was a simple dress with a white, spaghetti strapped bodice, a black ruffled skirt that went down to mid-thigh, and a blue, silk strip just above her hip. She was wearing simple black flats since she hated heels.
"You look beautiful. I'm sure all the boys will stop and stare when they see you." April commented, which made Kayla blush in embarrassment. She glanced at the clock, which said 6:28. The dance started at 7:00. Kayla didn't feel comfortable with Ethan picking her up anywhere near home so they agreed he'd pick her up at a diner that was only a few blocks from the school and he'd drop her off there after the dance as well; April was going to drop her off at the diner and pick her up after the dance. Alana had wanted to go to the dance as a group made of Kayla, Ethan, Alana, and Alana's date David. Kayla honestly felt more comfortable with the idea and asked Ethan if he'd be up for it, but he declined. He actually seemed uncomfortable with the idea. So, despite her disappointment, Kayla told her friend they couldn't do it.
"We'd better get going. I'm supposed to be at the diner around 6:45." Kayla announced as she grabbed her jacket and pulled it on. April drove her to the diner, the drive was only about ten minutes long. When they pulled into the parking lot they sat in the car for a moment, Kayla looking out the window. She was suddenly nervous, her stomach was clenching and making her feel sick. April put a hand on her shoulder, making her look back at her.
"Are you okay?" April asked gently, her facial expression one of concern.
Kayla smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." April looked doubtful but nodded anyway.
"Alright. Well, call me if anything comes up. And have fun."
Kayla smiled as she got out of the car and looked back in the window. "I will. Thanks April."
As April drove off Kayla waited for only about five minutes by the front door of the diner before an almost new-looking, black Ford fusion pulled into the parking lot and stopped in front of her. Someone opened the front passenger seat from the inside.
"Hey, come on." Ethan greeted her as he leaned back in the drivers seat. Kayla took a deep, silent breath as she climbed into the passenger seat.
Most of the car ride was filled with awkward silence with a few meager attempts at conversation. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, they parked in the high school parking lot. They both climbed out of the car and followed the already-gathering crowd to the front doors.
Kayla could've sworn she could see Ethan looking down at her legs out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn't be sure. They followed the wave of high schoolers into the school, stopping by the coat rack so Kayla could hang up her jacket. Kayla took a deep breath as she felt Ethan take her hand and lead her into the gym where the pounding music was coming from. The entire gym was already filled with teenagers dancing, many of them in pairs bumping and grinding against each other. Kayla couldn't help but grimace at the scene, the idea of grinding never really appealed to her, in fact it was one of the reasons she avoided high school dances.
Kayla was snapped out of her observing as Ethan pulled her onto the dance floor by tugging her hand. She was pulled into the center of a large group of teenagers. She sucked in a nervous breath as he pulled her to him with his hands on her waist. Kayla paused a moment before hesitantly linking her hands behind his neck loosely. She was nervous for two reasons: one was that she still wasn't completely sure about Ethan. Two was that she'd never danced with a boy before.
"You look beautiful." Ethan told her smoothly, smiling a confident grin.
Kayla blushed and looked down. "Um, thank you." she wasn't sure what to think about his compliment. It seemed too confident to her, like it was practiced, or maybe she was just used to hanging out with shy people?
As they were slowly moving to the music Kayla couldn't help glancing around the crowded gym. She smiled when she saw Alana and David dancing on the edge of the crowd. Alana's eyes were closed as she rested her hands and the side of her head on David's chest while he held her to him with his arms around her waist. They looked so comfortable and at peace. Kayla wished she could feel like that. But she just felt…tense. No matter what she tried she still felt uneasy around Ethan. But seeing Alana with David…they looked like two pieces of a puzzle, fitting together perfectly. Okay, that sounds a little mushy, but it's true.
After a few minutes Kayla felt Ethan suddenly lean the front of his hip area against hers. She pulled away in shock, feeling extremely awkward, and she avoided looking at his face. She suddenly started feeling uncomfortably hot and claustrophobic.
"Um, I-I need to go to the bathroom." Kayla quickly made up an excuse as she backed away from Ethan and made her way through the crowd back to the entrance of the gym. Once out of sight she leaned her back against the wall and took a few deep breaths.
She knew this was a bad idea. She never should have agreed to this. She barely knew Ethan! And that stunt he just pulled gave her the creeps!
Kayla stayed in the hallway for a good five minutes before she started feeling better and dared to venture back into the gym. She scanned the crowd from the doorway, really hoping Ethan would be either gone or dancing with someone else. But he wasn't. She saw him talking with a couple other guys from their grade. But Kayla's eye also caught something else.
Marcus was near the edge of the crowd. His black hair was casually smoothed down and he was wearing a white dress shirt, a faded blue necktie, a black suit that was left unbuttoned, matching dress pants, and black dress shoes. Wow. He cleaned up nice. At that moment Kayla realized she's never seen him dressed up before.
But what surprised her more was that he was dancing with a girl. And she was beautiful. She was wearing a strapless pink dress that went down to just above her knees, her honey golden brown hair was curled and over one shoulder, and the lights seemed to make her skin glow.
Kayla blinked and felt her eyes widen slightly. She didn't even know Marcus was seeing anyone, he never said anything to her. Kayla then shook her head slightly and blinked again. Of course he didn't say anything, it wasn't any of her business. And they seemed perfect for each other.
Before Kayla could think anything else she felt someone grab her elbow and lead her back onto the dance floor.
Kayla danced with Ethan for the rest of the night, which was about two hours. They didn't talk much, she mostly just spaced out and stared at nothing while he lead her around the dance floor. When the dance was over Ethan drove her back to the diner, but just as she was about to get out of his car he grabbed her wrist. It didn't hurt but it was a bit harder than necessary. She looked back at him in surprise, standing partly out of the car and partly in.
"Wait. I had a really good time with you tonight." he started as Kayla went back to sitting in the passenger seat. She felt uncomfortable looking him in the eye so she looked at his shoulder as she listened to him. "And I was wondering if you'd wanna do it again sometime. Maybe we could give a, ya know, a relationship a try."
Kayla's head snapped up to look at him. 'Please let him be joking, let him be joking,' Kayla repeated over and over in her mind, but as she scanned his face he gave no sign of joking. He was serious?! Kayla didn't realize her mouth had dropped open slightly until that moment. She closed her mouth. "Um…" she had no idea what to say.
"Look, I get that we don't know each other that well, but I'd really like to give it a shot. Please?" his green eyes seemed to be boring into her and she felt like squirming but couldn't. True, she didn't know him that well, but isn't that true with everyone? You only get close to people you meet by getting to know them with time. So, maybe he at least deserved that chance.
Kayla took a deep breath. "Uh, yeah. I mean, I'd-I'd like that." she finally answered. A huge grin appeared on Ethan's face and he leaned across the car closer to her. Kayla breathed in quickly as he pressed his lips to hers. She'd never been kissed by a boy before so she had no idea what to do or think. It was only a few seconds before he pulled away.
Deciding to get out, Kayla forced a small smile. "I, uh, better get going. I'll see you on Monday."
"Yeah, I'll see ya." he called as she got out and shut the car door.
Kayla stood by the front door of the diner and watched him pull out of the parking lot. She took a deep breath through her nose and let it out through her mouth.
"What have I gotten myself into?"