Soooo… Semi-formals Part 2 is here! This will be one of the big steps for Lucaya. I'm so excited! (Even though I'm the one who wrote it lol)
I'm sorry to hear some of you didn't like reading about Lucas and Jenkins, and that some were upset they might be a "thing". Let me explain. I was trying to portray how Lucas always does things with his head and not with his heart. That's why he so readily agreed to do everything he did with Jenkins in the semi-formals; because he thought he was being polite and doing what he must do as a good date. He was so busy doing what his brain told him was right, he didn't stop and think about what he felt. (Although, that stops in this chapter ;D) Hence the automatic responses of "my pleasure" and "of course". Also, let's face it: Lucas and Jenkins were never meant to be. There was never a "thing" to begin with, anyways. They didn't even talk to each other in Girl meets Rah Rah.
Why am I even talking now? I'm holding you guys back! Go on, enjoy the chapter! Don't forget to drop a review if you want to share how you feel about certain events or anything at all related to the story. Again, I say, reviews are more important that follows and favorites (though I wouldn't mind those either ;D) because they give me inspiration and ideas to improve as a writer.
Look at me yabbering on. Sorry. Just wanted to explain some stuff in the previous chapters. Please read, and enjoy!
I watch as Billy whispers something into Maya's ear and she laughs. A pang of jealousy washes over me suddenly. What could he possibly be saying that's so funny? Stop it, Lucas, what's wrong with you? Then Jenkins and I turn and sway to the slow music together, and Maya is blocked from my line of vision.
"You having fun?" Jenkins asks. I nod immediately.
"Yeah, it's great. I can't believe it's our last school dance at John Quincy Adams."
"Me too," she sighs. I barely hear her, because as we turn again, I see Maya, looking harassed and a little scared. Anxiety clenches my stomach. Is she okay?
"Lucas?" Jenkins breaks me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry. I was just… thinking about other things that has happened in the years we were here." I lied.
"We've had a good couple of years here." she mused absently. I nod, not really listening.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's that time of the night. I'd like you to offer your hand to someone you did not come with tonight as we have the King and Queen's dance." Jenkins doesn't seem that bothered as we separate. A footballer steps up, offering Jenkins his hand.
"May I?" he asks with a charming smile. Jenkins smiles but looks at me for confirmation. I nod and smile.
"Of course." they disappear closer to the center of the dance floor.
I look around and see that Farkle and Smackle are switching partners with Zay and his date. I also happen to see Jonas shyly offering Jackie his hand, saying something to her softly. She smiles a little bashfully and accepts his hand. Is he blushing? Is she blushing? Since when did Jackie and Jonas blush? I'd have to ask Jonas about that next time I see him. out of the corner of my eye, I see Riley coming towards me with a look in her eyes and a we-need-to-talk face. Uh-oh. I turn away, looking for an escape, and come face to face with Maya.
"Hey," Sam says, sidling closer to me. I involuntarily move an inch away from him. "Did you know you have the most beautiful skin?" A chill runs down my spine and I can't respond, can't move. He puts his lips near my ear and whispers, "You smell pretty good too." I try very, very hard not to shudder, and silently pray for Jonas or Jackie or Billy or Farkle or Smackle or somebody to come help me.
"Excuse me." I mumble and scurry away as quickly as I can. I hear him follow me and quicken my pace.
Sam grabs my arm, forcing me to turn and face him. Goosebumps appear on my bare arm, and they have nothing to do with the cold. A flash of panic and anger wells up in me and I rip my arm out of his grasp, turning away quickly, almost running right into Lucas, who happens to turn towards me at the exact same time.
"Hi, Maya." He smiles. Then he registers the panic on my face and his brow creases in worry. "What's wrong?"
"I-"
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, again, I'd like to repeat my previous announcement. It's that time of the night, so I'd like you to offer your hand to someone you did not come with tonight as we have the King and Queen's dance." Lucas holds his hand out.
"May I please?" he asks, still scanning my face for a hint of what was wrong. A twinge of humor struck me and I smirk, forgetting the situation I was in.
"Sure, Ranger Rick." I say, putting my hand in his. He smiles too and tips his hat with the hand that isn't holding mine. I smirk even more.
We lock form and everyone in the gym starts dancing (ballroom style) to the song "So Close" by Jon McLaughlin.
"Now will you tell me what's wrong?" he says quietly as we sway to the music.
"It's Sam. Billy's friend? He's creeping me out." I shudder. Lucas' jaw hardens.
"Did he do anything to hurt you?" he asks.
"No, he's just really creepy. Jonas hinted there might be something he might try but…" I trail off.
"Stay close to one of us for the rest of the night, okay?" he tells me. I nod.
"So, Miss Hart," he says, "what does a girl like you do for fun?" I put on my Texas accent and smirk.
"Well, I like to square dance with a particular Ranger Rick and play basketball with a certain Heehaw and his friends." I reply slyly, using the Texas accent I've used to tease him over the time he's been here. He laughs and twirls me around. I spin, smiling. As he spins me with one hand, he takes off his hat with the other hand. when I am spun back to him, he puts the hat on my head. I grin.
"Well," he says, in a horrible imitation of my Texas accent, "this Heehaw is playing basketball with his friends this Wednesday and they are going out for pizza afterwards. Want to join?" I smile even more.
"Definitely."
Maya starts humming the song. I involuntarily find myself following her lead. She's got the voice of an angel. Her sapphire blue eyes are glowing his flames under this lighting. The color is both calming and exciting. Maya leans in. I don't think she knows she's doing it. The funny thing is, I feel myself leaning in too. Suddenly she looks up. her blue, blue eyes go right down to my soul. They shine like Sirius in the night.
"Maya," I whisper. "You are amazing." Words said by scores of boys to scores of girls before, words that should be tired out by now. Yet, in the light of the moment, in just the right time of your life, those words make both people quiver with excitement and anticipation and fear of what they are becoming. I crane my neck down and she tilts her head upwards to me. Our eyes lock, and they don't let go.
The moment is ruined when I see movement out of the corner of my eye. Riley, with Missy saying something in her ear. Missy's face is pure glee and mock sympathy, but it's nothing compared to Riley's face. I freeze up suddenly. Oh my god. Did I just try to-
"Mind if I take over?" Jenkins asks, materializing out of no where. Maya and I jump quickly apart, face burning, not meeting each other's eye.
"Of course." Maya says, disappearing. As Jenkins takes the place of Maya, my mind whirls at a thousand miles a second. Thoughts blur together, mindsets change at light speed.
"Lucas?" I snap my attention back to Jenkins.
"Yeah?"
"Are you happy that you came with me?"
"Of course." She grabs my hand and pulls me aside, close to the walls of the gym. She crosses her arms.
"Now I've seen how you look like when you lie. Why don't you show me how you look like when you're telling the truth?" I say nothing. "I'm sure you felt certain asking me to the semi-formals before, but I'm willing to bet my cheer leading outfit that you feel differently now."
"Really, I am happy that I came with you-" I try to say, but she cuts in.
"Then it's not your lying face. It's way worse. It's your self denial face. You feel differently, you just don't know that you do." I guess I look confused, because she explains. "Whenever you look at her, your eyes go crazy and you get this really huge grin plastered all over your face." There's only one person that can possibly make me feel that way, I realize with a sudden jolt. Maya. I guess my face said it all, because Jenkins' face said "my job here is done".
I like Maya. It's so obvious now. There's no one else. After all this time of us growing closer, especially after Maya and Riley's fight. Has she seen it? Jenkins reads my mind.
"You have to find her and tell her. even if she doesn't feel the same, which I highly doubt, you have to tell her."
"I'll try," I decide determinedly. "And, Jenkins, thank you. And I'm sorry." Thank you for opening my mind to how I feel. I'm so sorry that your last school dance involves your date ditching you for another girl. That's what my words seem to convey. She understands.
"Don't worry about it. What are friends for?" With a parting smile from both of us, I take off looking for Maya, hoping that she feels at least a shred of what I feel.