Just A Coincidence Ch. 3 Part B
'Do these shoes match the pretty outfit your wearing?' I raised the long skirt up to my knees.
"Check."
'Did you shave?' I eyed my somewhat white legs.
"Check."
'Smell good?' I sniffed myself if it was physically possible, and took a few strands of my hair and
inhaled.
"Check."
'Did you put a modest amount of make-up on?' Although I wasn't a real fan of the stuff, I did
have a tiny inkling for some clear pink strawberry flavored goop- well gloss. The rest of the
stuff- foundation, blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, I put them on with annoyance. Thank goodness I
had some skill in applying them on even though I hated them. I hated everything except the
gloss. Oh wonderful gloss. Such moisture, such softness added to my lips...
"Check."
'How is the hair?' I eyed my hair cautiously. It was blown dry, down, and waiting (May I add the
fact that my hair is way too freaking long?). One hairstyle was immediately implanted on my
mind. My usual two buns with the long trail of hair cascading from each bun... the
Odango-atama look. Yeah, yeah, my unique hairstyle that Raye had gladly labeled the first time
we met. It's the only way I'll go. It was comfortable for me, oddly enough. Heck who would
care?
"Eh, Check." I mumbled to myself, tucking in the last hidden clip into a bun. Should I add
something to it?
"Oh I know..." I took out two slender but long ribbons out of my 'hair-trinket' box. And yes they
were pink to match the outfit. I tied each one around a bun into tiny bows. "There."
'Jewelry?' I eyed my neck and ears. Was it necessary?
Fine- A matching pair of gold earrings and a necklace to complete the ensemble. What's in
common? A crescent moon and a single star on each gold earring and pendant.
"Check."
'Anything else?'
I looked at myself head to toe. Everything seemed fine but... the dress. Yes it was pretty, but
something drew my eyes to it all the time. It looked familiar... I must have seen it before...
'Duh, I just bought it.'
The phone rang.
I twirled around one last time to make sure that everything was in order. And indeed I looked
quite decent. Was I even pretty perhaps? Maybe...
"Hey Mina." I dryly greeted when I picked up the phone, knowing already who it was.
"You ready?"
"Yeah, just waiting for you."
"Okay I'll be there in ten minutes."
I heard a click from the other line. There goes any chance of bailing out now. It's now or never...
------------
"Do we really have to get there early? I mean it's stupid. We're probably the first ones there." I
lamely commented when I shut the car door next to me.
"Serena. Andrew's already there. I don't want to keep my lover boy waiting for me now do I?"
She grinned when suddenly making a sharp right turn out of my driveway. I should've known
better than to get a ride from her. Her power walk from the mall had matched her driving skills,
which really didn't surprise me. Never the less, I held on tightly to my seat belt for dear life.
"Besides, it's already 6:20 we're only ten minutes early..."
"Yeah, whatever. I don't understand how you managed to get me into this in the first place."
"It wasn't me. Remember? It was Amy."
"Yeah, I was a dumb ass to open my mouth." I rolled my eyes. She made another turn only this
time it was more 'calm.' With this I slightly loosened my grip on the restraint. "And you took my
answer seriously..."
"It was a perfect opportunity to drag your rear out for once."
"Don't you mean, 'perfect opportunity for Serena to waste money on a dress'?"
"Shut up. It was for your own good."
"Since when was shopping for a dress 'good for me'?"
"Since..." She started tapping on the wheel. "Since now."
"You know this is really Amy's fault."
"And how did it become her fault?" She giggled when the car started slowing down. "Anyway,
you both need to go. I can tell."
"Can tell what?" We entered through the student parking lot. In one quick motion, she turned the
steering wheel putting pressure to it with one palm of her hand. She flawlessly parked into a
vacant space. "Do we look like loners to you?"
"No. You guys just need to get out a little more. Take some fun out of our once in a lifetime
'senior year'. You know what I mean right? It's actually unhealthy to stay indoors all day and not
go out and have fun." We both stepped out of the car and simultaneously shut the doors. "I
mean just loosen up."
"Yeah, yeah, I didn't know you cared."
"Well of course I do!"
"Are you saying you're lesbian?"
"Shut up."
Mina slipped her arm through mine as we entered into the open doors of the school gym. And I
was right. The place was empty besides a couple of people still working on the decorations
that...
I blinked.
The place was filled with balloons.
From the ceiling to the floor, the place was infested with them. Some strings, coming from the
floating balloons above, came down long enough to be held, others too short. Other balloons
were scattered on the floor string less. And they were all colorful- all too damn colorful... and all
too familiar.
'It can't be...' They were the only words to cross my mind as a fuzzy image of my recent dream
flashed at the same time.
All color began to drain from my face again.
'It can't be...' The thought repeated again.
I had looked up.
As we walked across the room, a tiny disco ball was being placed overhead.
My heart began to race. The pathetic excuse for a 'wannabe ulcer' developed in the pit of my
stomach again. By this point if I could even go any paler, I just did.
"Just... like in my... dream." I whispered to myself. "It just can't... be."
"Amy? Is that you?" Mina temporarily broke my thoughts of the disco ball. My eyes darted to the
person hanging the thing. It was Amy dressed in a simple blue gown, standing at the very top of
the ladder, busily tying the ball in place. "Damn you look pretty!"
The girl looked down immediately with slight caution in her eyes. Realizing that it was the both
of us, she then smiled weakly.
"Hi you two." She responded, now slowly going down the ladder. "Just doing the last minute
touches. And thanks."
"Last minute? That thing should've been up earlier. Seems like you're doing all the work." Mina
commented as I started to gaze at the sliver ball in awe again.
'The disco ball is... here. Why is it here? Why was it in my dream last night?' A small lump in my
throat had formed. I tried to swallow.
"Certain people were to do this but I told them to go home early for the dance. And I wanted to
do it myself." Amy smiled, patting her hands together, my thoughts being interrupted. "Don't
worry anyway. That was the last thing I needed to do."
"...So, uh, you decided to come anyway huh?" I tried to smirk, placing a hand to the side of my
waist. I briefly decided to forget about the ball, let alone the balloons and- "Don't tell me you're
wearing that dress for nothing."
"Of course. You're here aren't you?" She smiled amusedly this time, remembering our deal. "Like
I said, I'd go if you'd go."
"Right."
"Oh I almost forgot..." Our blue haired friend quickly walked away, going to the entrance. She
went to a seat that held back one of the double doors to the wall. On it was a basket of...
something white? "Hey, you guys. What's a masquerade-costume party without the masks?"
When she returned to us, she handed Mina and I pairs of white masks. We immediately put them
on with a smile. "Thanks."
"No problem. The early bird gets the early worm. You guys
should get the first pair."
-----------------
Thirty minutes have passed and the Juliet clad Mina started pacing around with cell phone
pressed up against her ear, a small scowl on her face. Andrew hadn't shown up yet, already
exceeding the amount of time that she had expected him to come in. I watched her in
amusement, taking occasional sips from a cup of punch. Yes, I was standing near the punch
table, my interest of the dance slowly dwindling.
"Told you we were too early." I shook my head when she abruptly stood in front of me, dialing
the same number again with irritation. I grinned. "Don't you know there's speed dialing?"
"Why isn't he here yet? He told me he would come early." She ignored my last comment, as she
continued pacing around again. "And why isn't he picking up?"
"Girl, relax. He's probably doing some Arcade business. After all it is a Friday. You know how
people are from school." I attempted to have her pacing stopped. It was actually getting me
dizzy. "He's taming the customers. Anyway, I'm guessing he'll be here sooner than you think."
"Fine. Fine. But when he gets here though, I'll show him the girlfriend's wrath." She sharply
pressed the power button, shutting off the phone quickly. "I can't believe he isn't picking up the
phone. I swear I'll give him a piece of my mind."
The guests have begun to arrive and the party had already begun. On their way in, each either
had grabbed a mask or already had one on. This was getting interesting. I didn't recognize
anyone except Amy and Mina of course. For some reason they were all dressed in elegant attire.
Various colors of purples, greens, beiges, crimson, and pink (of course referring to myself)...
They were all dressed in tuxedos, tights, skirts, and whatever wardrobe that was classified to be
elegant. And of course, no one was scantily clad. Thank god I wasn't over or under dressed.
Two girls started to approach the table. One was dressed in a red spaghetti strapped gown,
another in green. They both matched in style but both obviously had different colors.
"Mina is that you?" The one in red spoke happily. I recognized that voice. "It's me, Raye."
"Man they're hot..." The one in green began to eye the male guests with a wide grin. No doubt
that was Lita.
"Hey guys, Serena here." I walked over to them casually, a cup of punch still in hand. "You guys
look great."
"Hey Sere-"
Lita and Raye both stared at me in what seemed to be in shock. They went silent. That's a first.
"Hello? Yeah... lost for words." I raised an eyebrow toward them. The both of them had the same
reaction just as the one Mina had when she first saw me earlier in the dress at the mall. I actually
giggled. "Hehe. You guys never saw me in a dress before."
Raye and Lita simultaneously shook their heads to probably snap out of the weird state they were
in, and both smiled.
"Damn Serena... I didn't recognize you. Although your hair did give you away..." Raye laughed
with both hands on her waist. "YOU look great."
"Pink? Well it does suite you..." Lita trailed off, head automatically turning to the direction of
the male guests. "So where's Amy?"
"Hey babe. Sorry I'm late..." A blond man clad in tights had walked up and placed both arms
around Mina's waist. She sighed.
"Andrew, you could have told me earlier. I was here before 6:30..." She turned around and gave
him a quick peck on the cheek. He placed a kiss on her forehead.
I almost puked. Well not because of the sight of affection... just the sight of a man in tights doing
the act of affection. Eh, hard to explain...
"Are you going to show him the 'girlfriend's wrath' as you plainly put it?" I smirked to Mina who
then rolled her
eyes.
"Yeah, sorry about that but there was a little trouble back at the Arcade." Andrew began with a
frown.
"What happened?"
"A bunch of idiots messed around in there. They took my
time cleaning the dump again."
"That sucks." I took another sip of punch, noticing its not-so-tangy taste. "See Mina I was right."
"About what?" Andrew eyed me curiously, with a brow
arched. "Who's this?"
"You can't tell? That's Serena... and this is Lita and Raye." Mina laughed, introducing each of us.
"Oh cool. Well, you guys look great."
"So is your buddy showing up?"
I blinked, surprised at what I had asked.
"Who?"
"That, uh, idiot-"
"Darien." She interrupted me, as I rolled my eyes. Why wasn't I allowed to insult the jerk?
Especially after that little incident in the arcade a week ago- "Yeah where is he
anyway?"
"Oh, he's picking up Beryl. He should be here soon."
I blinked nonchalantly.
Of course he's on a date. That's what a dance is for isn't it? The 'Pretty Boy' was just picking up
his TAB. Wait. That didn't sound right. I smirked at the pun.
Some ass suddenly blasted the speakers far off in the corner of the gym, playing some sort of
weird happy-go-lucky music. I almost jumped at my spot.
"What the hell..."
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's start dancing!" Andrew dragged Mina, Mina dragged me
abruptly, and I grabbed the nearest thing available, which was Raye's arm. In turn she grabbed
Lita who was still busy eyeing the so-called 'studs' in the room. And we began the uncalled-for
fun. Or so I thought...
---------------
It had nearly been two hours. After the ridiculous conga line that Andrew and Mina had started
around the room earlier in the dance, I had quickly returned to the punch table, sitting on a
vacant chair. For the rest of the time I didn't feel like dancing. Something had starting at the pit
of my stomach when I had been idly sitting, watching everyone and everything. By this time my
interest in the dance was now 20%. And again with the stupid ulcer... It didn't help but force the
feeling of wanting to go home and leaving at any time. I felt myself shiver.
"How come you're not dancing?" Someone sat beside me, as I continued to look around. "After
all it is a dance."
I looked to my right. It was Amy.
"Oh yeah? Why aren't you dancing yourself?" I managed a grin, lightly lifting my skirt to cross
my legs. "I see a
certain guy over there staring at you right now."
"Who?"
"Right there. He just started staring and right at you." I repeated with a natural smile now, as
Amy began lightly blushing.
"You're kidding me. He's probably looking at you."
"Nope. It's you."
"Yeah um... so are you ready for the mysterious dance in the dark?" Amy had obviously changed
the subject, both of us leaning back on our chairs. "Do you know about it?"
"What's that?"
"Well actually it's supposed to be a secret." Amy began explaining with a gleam in her eye. "It's
something I thought up. See, this will be the last dance. The lights will be turned off and people
have to mix themselves up. When they do, they dance with the nearest person they can hold on
to while it's still dark. Then when the lights do go on again, they'll get to see whom they danced
with, and everyone has to take their masks off. It should be fun."
"Oh yeah I heard about that. Cool idea." I took a sip from my new full cup of punch. I sighed.
"But I think I'll take a pass on that."
She gave me a surprised look.
"Oh, how come?"
"Just because. I mean I might end up dancing with a looney or something." I grinned, noticing
the same guy still staring at Amy. Did I just see him smile? How cute. Wait... That's sick of me
to say.
"Looney? Are you sure? I don't remember letting anyone who escaped from an asylum come to
this party." She lightly giggled, as I noticed her eyes trailing to the guy who was still staring at
her intently. "Come on everyone here seems fine to me."
"Are you sure everyone is FINE to you?" I smirked again, which I was referring to the guy that
Amy had captured attention from. "How about that guy over there?"
"What?" Amy now averted her attention to the guy, confusion in her face. All of a sudden, the
guy uncrossed his arms and began walking toward the both of us.
I smirked.
"Amy, it's your signal." I winked playfully.
"What?" She repeated with bewilderment more than curiosity.
The masked guy was now standing in front of Amy. He extended his hand to her with a smile on
his face. "May I have this dance?"
Amy looked up quickly, slowly nodding her head in wonderment, as a blush crept up her cheeks.
I saw her blink a couple of times. "Uh, sure..."
She gave me a quick smile and walked away hand in hand with the guy. I loved it when I was
right.
"Alone again..." I sighed to myself.
---------------
It had been another hour. When Amy had left, the feeling in my gut had returned, but it was
weaker than usual. I had no problem with it now, but I couldn't help wondering- was I sick?
I sat still pondering if I was getting an exotic illness that maybe no one else knew about. How
funny. How would I get it? Or how did I get it?
I shook my head.
Maybe if I thought of something else, the feeling would go away completely.
My eyes started focusing on certain people I knew. Mina with Andrew, holding each other
closely, eyes closed with smiles of contentment; Amy and this new masked guy, also dancing
sweetly, going along with the soft tempo of the music; Raye and Lita each actually dancing with
their own guys (although I doubt that the guys had willingly asked them), weird googly-eyed
looks plastered on their faces...
I felt pain.
For once I felt pain, not from the weird heart and stomach problems I was getting tonight but it
was something else. Something different.
My eyes now focused on Mina and Andrew. They looked so happy together. Content. They were
indulged with one another. I realized they had something that I didn't have. They both had
someone to talk to, share their feelings with.
They each have other.
I blinked back tears that were forming behind my eyes. Was I about to cry? No. Did I even cry
already? I touched my cheeks. No I haven't cried. But hell... I was about to. Wait.
That's stupid. Why would I cry?
'Am I jealous?' The question crossed my mind before I could stop it. 'Jealous? Of what?'
The feeling in my gut became stronger. It was growing every second and my heart raised its
tempo. What's going on?
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"Hun, do you mind getting me some punch?" Beryl asked me in the most innocent look she
could give, batting her eyes. "I'm kind of thirsty."
"Yeah, sure." I muttered walking away. I would have gladly departed from the giggly psychotic
group of Beryl's anyway, nothing but senseless talk of... fashion- new outfits... I cringed. It was
strange that they all acted alike. Like they were other versions of Beryl. I shuttered at the
thought of dating another one of her. "Why me of all people?"
Upon reaching the table, I took a cup and scooped it into the punch bowl. Getting all the
necessary liquid, I drank the cup myself, the taste not doing much for me. I needed a break. Oh
yes, a break from her.
My eyes wondered around. Looking at the table, my vision led to a girl who sat quietly from
behind. She didn't seem to enjoy herself.
'She looks cute.' I noted the familiar hairstyle that she had. Soft blond hair-
Hell it was time I mingled with girls other than Beryl. Should I? After all I'm on a 'break' as I had
put it.
I took a deep breath hoping that my 'Chiba' charm would take a life on it's own, or at least start
any second when I would get to her. That's what I called it anyway, when I wanted a girl to get
interested in me. Put on a killer smile, wink, and tell all the wonderful things that I would do if
she were the object of my desire. Hell I know that sounded stupid but that's exactly what I call it.
Suddenly, I winced at the thought that I had used the 'charm' on Beryl. What in the hell did I ever
see in that girl in the first place?
I walked up behind the masked 'cute' girl, a knot forming at my gut. Before I said anything to get
her attention, something caught my eye. She was wearing pink.
'Pink?'
I blinked.
When I first walked into the party earlier, my heart immediately started pounding in the strangest
way. I had noticed the decorations. God the decorations... they were the last things I would
notice but as soon as I walked in, a flash of realization hit me.
The balloons, the disco ball, the room itself, they were all in my dream last night. I nearly
tripped over a balloon when I had realized this. Everything was there. All of the detail I had
seen- it was in this very building... And I had noticed it was a gym. Yes. Indeed it was a school
gym. The very same place I had seen and what the person online told me...
Person online... That Lone1igrl, who ever she was. How could that be possible that she was
right? She had mentioned that it was a gym that she had dreamed of recently. The one I dreamt
of too. The very same one...
But now this girl wearing pink... the same dress style... Only adding shock to my anxious nerves
I shut my eyes and opened them again.
"This is amazing..." I hadn't noticed I said it out loud. But the girl heard.
She turned around.
I froze.
Everything around me started slowing down. Nothing seemed to move. Time had stopped.
Everything frozen.
I held my breath. It felt like the only sane thing for me to do.
My mind went numb.
My heart started to pound on its own... hitting, pushing to break through my chest. It wouldn't let
up. It kept forcing its way, trying to get out of my chest. It wanted to explode.
Her eyes... they had found my own.
"They're so blue..."
They were the exact eyes that I had seen in my dream. The same heavenly blue orbs that made
me feel paralyzed, time after time. The white mask protected her eyes; her irises behind the
lenses, clear and blue... staring right back at my own. Magnetizing... They pierced me. My soul?
They held my stare with more power then I have ever imagined.
I couldn't blink. My lids stayed up. I just couldn't blink.
She slowly stood up. I noticed. I couldn't read the expression on her face. My eyes were just
fixed on her own. Stuck. Just plainly, unbreakably stuck.
I just couldn't move. I can't think. I can't breath.
"Hi..." Her mouth slowly opened to say something. I couldn't understand it. I didn't understand
what she said. I couldn't hear. Why couldn't I hear?
"Honey..." An arm slipped through my own. "Honey, you're spilling punch on the floor."
And I blinked.
The power was now gone.
"What?" I turned my head to the voice that was all too familiar. My jaw was slightly opened. I
quickly clenched them, gritting my teeth. I repeated myself with a hint of annoyance. "What?"
"Hun, you're spilling the drink. Look." Beryl pointed to my cup that was now tilted ninety
degrees from the floor. Only a drop of punch was left in it.
"Shyt." I quickly put the cup onto the table and immediately checked myself for any spills.
Surprisingly enough, the tasteless drink touched nothing. "Damn."
"And what's taking you so long to get me a drink?" Beryl took a couple of napkins and started
wiping the spill on the floor. She stood up and threw the napkins to the nearest trash can. She
then slipped her arm through my own.
"Sorry about that. The spill is gone anyway." She told the girl whom I had recently stared at. I
couldn't look into her eyes again. I averted my attention to Beryl.
I frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?" She looked at me perplexed. "It's alright anyway. I'm here. I can get my own
drink."
After getting her beverage, Beryl dragged me across the room saying something I couldn't
understand.
As we walked away, I briefly turned my head to the table, the strange girl still looking at me.
The image of her eyes was still burning in my mind. I had to look back.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
I released my breath, which I hadn't known I was holding.
I couldn't believe what just happened.
I had been standing there staring at a guy. Not just a guy, but also a guy that I've seen before.
'His midnight blue eyes... They wouldn't let go of my stare.'
I blinked.
Time seemed to stop when we did this. Nothing moved around me. Everything seemed like
statues. The only thing that I was aware of was his gaze... his tantalizing and memorizing gaze,
and the sound of my own heart beating.
It had thumped wildly in my chest. It wanted to jump out of my throat.
'His eyes... They were the ones I've seen in my dreams.'
I blinked at the spot where I've seen him last, across the room. He had disappeared with a girl
pulling his arm through the crowed. I inhaled shakily, almost coughing at the action. The knot in
my stomach had now disappeared. It was completely gone.
I closed my mouth, unaware that I had opened them earlier. Words wanted to come out, but only
the simple word 'hi' could be uttered.
'Hi' had managed to crawl out of my mouth- A stupid and pathetic 'hi'.
I mentally kicked myself. 'You asinine- what the hell were you doing?'
Reality struck me in the face. I was back in the dance, alone and shivering. Why the hell was I
shivering?
'He couldn't be real... could he? It can't be. It just can't be. Why was he here, alive as any person
in this room? It just can't be him. Why did he come here? Why was he so close? Why? The eyes
behind his mask, I know them. It had to be him. It just had to be...'
Anxiety rushed in my nerves.
All of a sudden, I started walking into the dance floor. A new feeling started to burn not in my
gut, but in my chest. I started searching.
Wondering.
I had to find him.
My eyes skimmed through the sea of people. Nothing caught my attention. I was searching for
him, yes. But what part of him would help give me a sign? Everyone looked the same. The white
masks moving everywhere- moving, confusing me. I was lost. I was lost in a sea of white masks.
They wouldn't let me find him.
I wanted something.
I wanted him.
I wanted those eyes to leave me captivated.
I walked slowly to the middle of the dance floor. Soft music was playing. A slow beat was
thumping through the air. I didn't care. I just kept moving. People lightly bumped into me. I
stopped. I stood still. I froze.
Suddenly the lights went out. It wasn't pitched black. Just dark.
Something was being said through the loud speakers. I didn't understand it. I couldn't hear. I
couldn't listen.
Everything had disappeared except the floor below me, the room I was in, the long balloon
strings that hung peacefully from the ceiling, and the round moon shining weakly through the
windows high above me, away. The gray beams touching the floor, showering everything with
rays of soft weak light. The people were gone.
I looked down at the ground. The hem of my skirt was the only visible thing I could see because
of the moonlight shining. I recognized it was my dress. My soft pearly pink gown I was wearing.
That's why it seemed familiar. Now I understood.
I stood silently, not moving. I was afraid to move. Everything seemed right. As if everything was
going automatically. I have seen this scenario before.
I looked up.
I was alone. I knew people surrounded me but the loneliness that I was feeling- it was different.
It was as though I was the only person left in the world. I was truly, madly alone. I wanted
comfort. I wanted... him.
Something changed in the atmosphere, as if the loneliness had left.
I feel something coming. I feel him.
I waited.
Slowly a tall figure emerged out of the pieces of darkness.
'It's him... I know it's him.'
The figure took a few more steps, making it clearer to my eyes that the figure was becoming a
shady silhouette of a man.
'It's him... He's real...'
The outlined figure finally stopped midway through a soft moon spotlight, temporarily
disrupting the ray.
'I can't believe it... It's really him.'
I recognize this. I recognize him.
He stood right across from me, only a few inches
now.
'This is all happening again...'
As if planned by impulse, I slowly reached out to him. He had done the same. The palms of our
hands edged closer and closer until they gracefully stopped two inches apart. Finally, the tips of
my fingers softly brushed against his, followed by our hesitant palms meeting.
I felt a shiver down my spin. The beating of my heart fiercely thumped against my chest. I lost
my breath. I don't care anymore.
My stare, which was first focused on our hands touching intimately, now moved to meet his.
Dark sapphire clashed with my own. This wasn't the first time I had clearly seen his eyes. I had
seen them before.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^)
'It's her...'
My hand now shifted away from her touch, allowing me to caress her soft hand. The softness... I
know this touch. I know the feel of her hand.
Slowly I took it in my own and I came closer to her. Gently, I raised her hand to my lips. I
inhaled like I always have. The scent never changed. It was a mix of roses... it always was.
And I kissed her hand.
I enveloped her in my arms. My arms wrapped around her waist. It wasn't strange to me. I knew
it. Like I always have. Her hand snaked up around my neck. I knew she would do this. She did it
like she always has.
We began to dance...
-----------------
"That's it everybody! Thank you for coming to tonight's dance! Now everyone stand still. That
lights will be on shortly..."
"What?"
The lights went on, the intensity almost blinding me. I stopped moving.
"Huh?" I heard a soft voice murmur just below me.
I looked down.
The girl had her arms wrapped around my neck. I had mine around her small waist.
"What's going on?"
"Okay everyone! The moment you all have been waiting for! Please remove your mask to see
that special person you've been dancing with."
The both of us backed away from each other quickly, the voice pulling us back to reality.
I blinked.
She stood staring at me.
I did the same.
"I..." She tried to say something. "I... can't do this..."
The girl suddenly walked passed me, picking up her long skirt. She had gone through the noisy
crowed without so much of an effort.
I was stunned.
"Wait..." I finally said after she had gone through the wall of people leaving me lost for words.
She had left me. The realization had slapped me. The dream girl left me, and I have been
dancing with her...
"Hey babe. How come you don't have your mask off?" A voice behind me interrupted my
thoughts.
"What?"
"Your mask... you should take it off... Did you even dance with anyone?"
I sighed.
"Yeah Beryl. Of course I did." I finally took it off from my eyes. I felt arms encircle my waist.
"Did you see her? Was she prettier than me?" She giggled behind me, myself frowning in
moderate disgust.
"Yeah, definitely."
Her arms released my waist.
"What?"
"Yeah, she was so damn fine... Sexy..."
"Hey, did any of you guys dance with someone else?" Mina interrupted my sentence walking
towards us. Andrew followed behind her with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah. I did. This guy was so hot..." Beryl quickly grabbed Mina as they started walking away.
She glanced over her shoulder to see if I had noticed. I just shrugged.
"So who was the un-lucky girl you danced with?" Andrew grinned, pulling up his sleeves.
"Obviously Beryl danced-"
"I don't know who I danced with."
Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"What the hell? No that's pathetic. The girl took off her mask and you didn't even ask-"
"We didn't take off our masks, she just ran away right
after the lights went on..."
"Well I'll be damned. Finally you met someone with some sense in her..." He chuckled.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^)
I ran all the way back to the punch table, my heart still fluttering. What had just happened?
"Serena? Hey are you okay?"
I had been dancing. I was dancing with a guy. Not JUST any guy, but a guy-
"Serena, right now the color of your face is matching your dress. Is there something wrong?"
Someone had softly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Wh-what...?" I slightly choked on the word, my head turning to the voice. It was Amy again.
"Did something happen? You look really red..."
"Oh uh... I'm..." I stopped a couple of seconds to find an explanation for the sudden blush. I'm
blushing? "I'm... just cold."
"Oh. Okay. Do you want to borrow my jacket?" Amy then pointed to a light brown trench coat
hanging over a chair.
"Yeah, could I?" I nodded to her with a weak smile. I was shivering... again. Was I actually cold?
"No problem. Here." She went to the chair and grabbed the coat. She handed it to me with a
smile and a hint of concern in her eyes. "You can give it back to me tomorrow."
"Thanks." I slipped it on and tightly tied on the brown cotton belt that was around my waist. The
thin brown material covered all of my dress, giving me sudden warmth. "I feel better now."
"Hey you still have your mask on..." Amy then plucked the mask off my face, myself unaware
that I still had it on. "So did you dance with anyone?"
My heart skipped a beat on the last question.
"I- I did. Actually, yeah..." I shook my head and gave a smile. "It was... actually very interesting."
"How so? Did you know who it was?"
"I..."
"Amy. Great dance tonight! Wonderful job..." Mina pranced up with a gleeful look on her face.
She slipped her arm through mine.
"Uh... thanks?"
"Now that it's over, Serena and I will help with the clean up. I'm not letting you clean all of this
after you worked so hard in making the dance work..."
I lightly jabbed my elbow to my blonde friend's rib cage, giving her an annoying look. Mina was
being spontaneous again.
"We are not cleaning-"
"-The windows though. We just don't do windows." She glared at me back then gave another
cheerful smile to Amy. "But we both volunteer to help."
I sighed, as the blue haired girl gave a nervous and slightly bewildered smile. "Yeah... thanks.
But you guys really don't have to..."
"Oh, but we insist."
---------------
Everyone began leaving, but a couple of people still stayed after. Mina and I weren't the only
ones who volunteered to clean. Lita, Raye, Andrew, and a few other people had also stayed as
we began to pick up loose trash around the premises. I was busy tying trash filled up-to-the-brim
bag, my mind wondering back to the incident that happened fifteen minutes ago...
"Hey PMS girl, need help with that?" A voice behind me asked at the same time tapping my
shoulder.
I rolled my eyes, not willing to turn around. I recognized Mr. 'Pretty Boy's' pathetic voice. "No
thanks. I can do this myself. And stop calling me that."
"Suit yourself. So you actually went to the dance huh?" I raised an eyebrow, still fumbling with
the black bag.
"Stupid question. I'm here aren't I?"
"So did anyone dance with you?" He ignored my comment, myself still refusing to look at him.
The stupid trash bag still wouldn't close- "Though I highly doubt that-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I growled, suddenly yanking the trash bag together with
more irritation. "Did you come here to help me or insult me? And frankly I don't think my
dancing with other people should be of your concern."
"Bet you didn't." An arm suddenly grabbed the bag from my grasp. I huffed in annoyance.
"Especially with someone who can't handle a simple trash bag, who would want to-"
"FYI, I did dance with somebody. So you can just go to hell."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. So you can just go away now. And I bet you didn't dance with anyone yourself."
'Who am I kidding? I bet he danced with his TAB.'
"You doubting that I did dance with anyone?" I felt
him smirk next to me. "Dream on. Of course I danced with
someone."
"LIKE I care."
"Hey everyone. Thank you guys for helping out, but you guys should leave now. I've got to lock
up." Amy called out when she neared the punch table.
I grabbed the trash bag from 'Pretty Boy's' grip, still not looking into his face. Why wasn't I
facing him? "Thanks for your help."
I quickly walked away.
----------------
"Thanks Amy- for lending me your coat." I smiled sweetly, taking off the trench coat and
handing it to her. "Not cold anymore."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, Mina's taking me home anyway..." I motioned Mina from across the room to come to me,
myself already standing in front of the exit. "We're leaving now right Mina?"
"Uh yeah. Yeah we're leaving." My blonde friend ran across the dance floor with a trash bag still
in hand. She handed it to Amy. "Come on Serena let's go."
"Oh. Don't forget to take some balloons home. You guys deserve it." Amy notified us of the
balloons still floating on the ceiling. I suddenly shuttered.
"Thanks Amy. We'll take a couple right there." Mina dragged me to the middle of the dance
floor. I noticed all the long stringed balloons were gone, except for the shorter stringed ones. We
both started jumping in the air in hopes of grabbing at least one.
"Can anyone help us get some?" Mina yelped still hopping, her finger barely grazing the end of a
colorful string. I gave up the idea, still watching Mina with a smile.
"Girl, you look like an idiot doing that."
"Sure." A male voice came up behind me, a taller arm finally grasping the string Mina wanted.
"Here you go."
I turned around.
It was none other than pretty boy himself.
I froze.
"PMS girl, do you want one too?" He off handedly said while grabbing another balloon. "Here..."
I lost my breath.
Our eyes had locked.
'Those... eyes...' My mind whispered. An image momentarily flashed through my eyes, of the
dark sapphire irises I have seen. The very same ones...
"Uh... Here. PMS... girl..." He slowly handed me the balloon, our eyes still on each other.
"Yeah... thanks..."
An arm suddenly dragged me across the floor, breaking my connection with those eyes. I gulped.
"Come on Serena let's go..."
Before I knew it, I was out of the gym.
----------
TO: lone1igrl@jch.com
FRM: sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net
SUBJECT: SOMETHING HAPPENED TONIGHT.
Lone1igrl, I appreciate you adding more detail to the dream you had last night. So let me add
more to it too.
Tonight, something strange happened to me. You know the dream of ours? Yes ours. There's no
doubt in my mind now that we both have been having the same dreams. The same exact ones
we've been telling each other. It seems you were implying that we both... dream of each other. If
you're not going to say it first, then let me. I think we dream of each other. Period.
You dream of a guy, right? And I dream of a girl. It only makes sense. So far everything you've
been telling me is true. And especially tonight. Tonight you confirmed what I was thinking.
Every detail from last night's dream happened. It ACTUALLY happened. There was a dance that
I attended. Yes. I went to a dance that my school held. It was in school gym. You were right
about that. The balloons you mentioned, the... disco ball you said, they were all in there. I even
recognized them.
Want to know something even more shocking? I met my dream girl. If I'm not mistaken I think I
met you. You had the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen. You were so damn pretty. But your
eyes were the only ones that really got my attention. I recognized your eyes.
I danced with her. No. I danced with you. Tell me I danced with you...
By the time the dance finally ended, you left me. Why did you leave me? I tried to say something
but you left me.
Please reply.
----------
A trembling hand held the copy of the e-mail. I silently tucked away the printed version into the
slit of my journal. I closed it.
'Do these shoes match the pretty outfit your wearing?' I raised the long skirt up to my knees.
"Check."
'Did you shave?' I eyed my somewhat white legs.
"Check."
'Smell good?' I sniffed myself if it was physically possible, and took a few strands of my hair and
inhaled.
"Check."
'Did you put a modest amount of make-up on?' Although I wasn't a real fan of the stuff, I did
have a tiny inkling for some clear pink strawberry flavored goop- well gloss. The rest of the
stuff- foundation, blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, I put them on with annoyance. Thank goodness I
had some skill in applying them on even though I hated them. I hated everything except the
gloss. Oh wonderful gloss. Such moisture, such softness added to my lips...
"Check."
'How is the hair?' I eyed my hair cautiously. It was blown dry, down, and waiting (May I add the
fact that my hair is way too freaking long?). One hairstyle was immediately implanted on my
mind. My usual two buns with the long trail of hair cascading from each bun... the
Odango-atama look. Yeah, yeah, my unique hairstyle that Raye had gladly labeled the first time
we met. It's the only way I'll go. It was comfortable for me, oddly enough. Heck who would
care?
"Eh, Check." I mumbled to myself, tucking in the last hidden clip into a bun. Should I add
something to it?
"Oh I know..." I took out two slender but long ribbons out of my 'hair-trinket' box. And yes they
were pink to match the outfit. I tied each one around a bun into tiny bows. "There."
'Jewelry?' I eyed my neck and ears. Was it necessary?
Fine- A matching pair of gold earrings and a necklace to complete the ensemble. What's in
common? A crescent moon and a single star on each gold earring and pendant.
"Check."
'Anything else?'
I looked at myself head to toe. Everything seemed fine but... the dress. Yes it was pretty, but
something drew my eyes to it all the time. It looked familiar... I must have seen it before...
'Duh, I just bought it.'
The phone rang.
I twirled around one last time to make sure that everything was in order. And indeed I looked
quite decent. Was I even pretty perhaps? Maybe...
"Hey Mina." I dryly greeted when I picked up the phone, knowing already who it was.
"You ready?"
"Yeah, just waiting for you."
"Okay I'll be there in ten minutes."
I heard a click from the other line. There goes any chance of bailing out now. It's now or never...
------------
"Do we really have to get there early? I mean it's stupid. We're probably the first ones there." I
lamely commented when I shut the car door next to me.
"Serena. Andrew's already there. I don't want to keep my lover boy waiting for me now do I?"
She grinned when suddenly making a sharp right turn out of my driveway. I should've known
better than to get a ride from her. Her power walk from the mall had matched her driving skills,
which really didn't surprise me. Never the less, I held on tightly to my seat belt for dear life.
"Besides, it's already 6:20 we're only ten minutes early..."
"Yeah, whatever. I don't understand how you managed to get me into this in the first place."
"It wasn't me. Remember? It was Amy."
"Yeah, I was a dumb ass to open my mouth." I rolled my eyes. She made another turn only this
time it was more 'calm.' With this I slightly loosened my grip on the restraint. "And you took my
answer seriously..."
"It was a perfect opportunity to drag your rear out for once."
"Don't you mean, 'perfect opportunity for Serena to waste money on a dress'?"
"Shut up. It was for your own good."
"Since when was shopping for a dress 'good for me'?"
"Since..." She started tapping on the wheel. "Since now."
"You know this is really Amy's fault."
"And how did it become her fault?" She giggled when the car started slowing down. "Anyway,
you both need to go. I can tell."
"Can tell what?" We entered through the student parking lot. In one quick motion, she turned the
steering wheel putting pressure to it with one palm of her hand. She flawlessly parked into a
vacant space. "Do we look like loners to you?"
"No. You guys just need to get out a little more. Take some fun out of our once in a lifetime
'senior year'. You know what I mean right? It's actually unhealthy to stay indoors all day and not
go out and have fun." We both stepped out of the car and simultaneously shut the doors. "I
mean just loosen up."
"Yeah, yeah, I didn't know you cared."
"Well of course I do!"
"Are you saying you're lesbian?"
"Shut up."
Mina slipped her arm through mine as we entered into the open doors of the school gym. And I
was right. The place was empty besides a couple of people still working on the decorations
that...
I blinked.
The place was filled with balloons.
From the ceiling to the floor, the place was infested with them. Some strings, coming from the
floating balloons above, came down long enough to be held, others too short. Other balloons
were scattered on the floor string less. And they were all colorful- all too damn colorful... and all
too familiar.
'It can't be...' They were the only words to cross my mind as a fuzzy image of my recent dream
flashed at the same time.
All color began to drain from my face again.
'It can't be...' The thought repeated again.
I had looked up.
As we walked across the room, a tiny disco ball was being placed overhead.
My heart began to race. The pathetic excuse for a 'wannabe ulcer' developed in the pit of my
stomach again. By this point if I could even go any paler, I just did.
"Just... like in my... dream." I whispered to myself. "It just can't... be."
"Amy? Is that you?" Mina temporarily broke my thoughts of the disco ball. My eyes darted to the
person hanging the thing. It was Amy dressed in a simple blue gown, standing at the very top of
the ladder, busily tying the ball in place. "Damn you look pretty!"
The girl looked down immediately with slight caution in her eyes. Realizing that it was the both
of us, she then smiled weakly.
"Hi you two." She responded, now slowly going down the ladder. "Just doing the last minute
touches. And thanks."
"Last minute? That thing should've been up earlier. Seems like you're doing all the work." Mina
commented as I started to gaze at the sliver ball in awe again.
'The disco ball is... here. Why is it here? Why was it in my dream last night?' A small lump in my
throat had formed. I tried to swallow.
"Certain people were to do this but I told them to go home early for the dance. And I wanted to
do it myself." Amy smiled, patting her hands together, my thoughts being interrupted. "Don't
worry anyway. That was the last thing I needed to do."
"...So, uh, you decided to come anyway huh?" I tried to smirk, placing a hand to the side of my
waist. I briefly decided to forget about the ball, let alone the balloons and- "Don't tell me you're
wearing that dress for nothing."
"Of course. You're here aren't you?" She smiled amusedly this time, remembering our deal. "Like
I said, I'd go if you'd go."
"Right."
"Oh I almost forgot..." Our blue haired friend quickly walked away, going to the entrance. She
went to a seat that held back one of the double doors to the wall. On it was a basket of...
something white? "Hey, you guys. What's a masquerade-costume party without the masks?"
When she returned to us, she handed Mina and I pairs of white masks. We immediately put them
on with a smile. "Thanks."
"No problem. The early bird gets the early worm. You guys
should get the first pair."
-----------------
Thirty minutes have passed and the Juliet clad Mina started pacing around with cell phone
pressed up against her ear, a small scowl on her face. Andrew hadn't shown up yet, already
exceeding the amount of time that she had expected him to come in. I watched her in
amusement, taking occasional sips from a cup of punch. Yes, I was standing near the punch
table, my interest of the dance slowly dwindling.
"Told you we were too early." I shook my head when she abruptly stood in front of me, dialing
the same number again with irritation. I grinned. "Don't you know there's speed dialing?"
"Why isn't he here yet? He told me he would come early." She ignored my last comment, as she
continued pacing around again. "And why isn't he picking up?"
"Girl, relax. He's probably doing some Arcade business. After all it is a Friday. You know how
people are from school." I attempted to have her pacing stopped. It was actually getting me
dizzy. "He's taming the customers. Anyway, I'm guessing he'll be here sooner than you think."
"Fine. Fine. But when he gets here though, I'll show him the girlfriend's wrath." She sharply
pressed the power button, shutting off the phone quickly. "I can't believe he isn't picking up the
phone. I swear I'll give him a piece of my mind."
The guests have begun to arrive and the party had already begun. On their way in, each either
had grabbed a mask or already had one on. This was getting interesting. I didn't recognize
anyone except Amy and Mina of course. For some reason they were all dressed in elegant attire.
Various colors of purples, greens, beiges, crimson, and pink (of course referring to myself)...
They were all dressed in tuxedos, tights, skirts, and whatever wardrobe that was classified to be
elegant. And of course, no one was scantily clad. Thank god I wasn't over or under dressed.
Two girls started to approach the table. One was dressed in a red spaghetti strapped gown,
another in green. They both matched in style but both obviously had different colors.
"Mina is that you?" The one in red spoke happily. I recognized that voice. "It's me, Raye."
"Man they're hot..." The one in green began to eye the male guests with a wide grin. No doubt
that was Lita.
"Hey guys, Serena here." I walked over to them casually, a cup of punch still in hand. "You guys
look great."
"Hey Sere-"
Lita and Raye both stared at me in what seemed to be in shock. They went silent. That's a first.
"Hello? Yeah... lost for words." I raised an eyebrow toward them. The both of them had the same
reaction just as the one Mina had when she first saw me earlier in the dress at the mall. I actually
giggled. "Hehe. You guys never saw me in a dress before."
Raye and Lita simultaneously shook their heads to probably snap out of the weird state they were
in, and both smiled.
"Damn Serena... I didn't recognize you. Although your hair did give you away..." Raye laughed
with both hands on her waist. "YOU look great."
"Pink? Well it does suite you..." Lita trailed off, head automatically turning to the direction of
the male guests. "So where's Amy?"
"Hey babe. Sorry I'm late..." A blond man clad in tights had walked up and placed both arms
around Mina's waist. She sighed.
"Andrew, you could have told me earlier. I was here before 6:30..." She turned around and gave
him a quick peck on the cheek. He placed a kiss on her forehead.
I almost puked. Well not because of the sight of affection... just the sight of a man in tights doing
the act of affection. Eh, hard to explain...
"Are you going to show him the 'girlfriend's wrath' as you plainly put it?" I smirked to Mina who
then rolled her
eyes.
"Yeah, sorry about that but there was a little trouble back at the Arcade." Andrew began with a
frown.
"What happened?"
"A bunch of idiots messed around in there. They took my
time cleaning the dump again."
"That sucks." I took another sip of punch, noticing its not-so-tangy taste. "See Mina I was right."
"About what?" Andrew eyed me curiously, with a brow
arched. "Who's this?"
"You can't tell? That's Serena... and this is Lita and Raye." Mina laughed, introducing each of us.
"Oh cool. Well, you guys look great."
"So is your buddy showing up?"
I blinked, surprised at what I had asked.
"Who?"
"That, uh, idiot-"
"Darien." She interrupted me, as I rolled my eyes. Why wasn't I allowed to insult the jerk?
Especially after that little incident in the arcade a week ago- "Yeah where is he
anyway?"
"Oh, he's picking up Beryl. He should be here soon."
I blinked nonchalantly.
Of course he's on a date. That's what a dance is for isn't it? The 'Pretty Boy' was just picking up
his TAB. Wait. That didn't sound right. I smirked at the pun.
Some ass suddenly blasted the speakers far off in the corner of the gym, playing some sort of
weird happy-go-lucky music. I almost jumped at my spot.
"What the hell..."
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's start dancing!" Andrew dragged Mina, Mina dragged me
abruptly, and I grabbed the nearest thing available, which was Raye's arm. In turn she grabbed
Lita who was still busy eyeing the so-called 'studs' in the room. And we began the uncalled-for
fun. Or so I thought...
---------------
It had nearly been two hours. After the ridiculous conga line that Andrew and Mina had started
around the room earlier in the dance, I had quickly returned to the punch table, sitting on a
vacant chair. For the rest of the time I didn't feel like dancing. Something had starting at the pit
of my stomach when I had been idly sitting, watching everyone and everything. By this time my
interest in the dance was now 20%. And again with the stupid ulcer... It didn't help but force the
feeling of wanting to go home and leaving at any time. I felt myself shiver.
"How come you're not dancing?" Someone sat beside me, as I continued to look around. "After
all it is a dance."
I looked to my right. It was Amy.
"Oh yeah? Why aren't you dancing yourself?" I managed a grin, lightly lifting my skirt to cross
my legs. "I see a
certain guy over there staring at you right now."
"Who?"
"Right there. He just started staring and right at you." I repeated with a natural smile now, as
Amy began lightly blushing.
"You're kidding me. He's probably looking at you."
"Nope. It's you."
"Yeah um... so are you ready for the mysterious dance in the dark?" Amy had obviously changed
the subject, both of us leaning back on our chairs. "Do you know about it?"
"What's that?"
"Well actually it's supposed to be a secret." Amy began explaining with a gleam in her eye. "It's
something I thought up. See, this will be the last dance. The lights will be turned off and people
have to mix themselves up. When they do, they dance with the nearest person they can hold on
to while it's still dark. Then when the lights do go on again, they'll get to see whom they danced
with, and everyone has to take their masks off. It should be fun."
"Oh yeah I heard about that. Cool idea." I took a sip from my new full cup of punch. I sighed.
"But I think I'll take a pass on that."
She gave me a surprised look.
"Oh, how come?"
"Just because. I mean I might end up dancing with a looney or something." I grinned, noticing
the same guy still staring at Amy. Did I just see him smile? How cute. Wait... That's sick of me
to say.
"Looney? Are you sure? I don't remember letting anyone who escaped from an asylum come to
this party." She lightly giggled, as I noticed her eyes trailing to the guy who was still staring at
her intently. "Come on everyone here seems fine to me."
"Are you sure everyone is FINE to you?" I smirked again, which I was referring to the guy that
Amy had captured attention from. "How about that guy over there?"
"What?" Amy now averted her attention to the guy, confusion in her face. All of a sudden, the
guy uncrossed his arms and began walking toward the both of us.
I smirked.
"Amy, it's your signal." I winked playfully.
"What?" She repeated with bewilderment more than curiosity.
The masked guy was now standing in front of Amy. He extended his hand to her with a smile on
his face. "May I have this dance?"
Amy looked up quickly, slowly nodding her head in wonderment, as a blush crept up her cheeks.
I saw her blink a couple of times. "Uh, sure..."
She gave me a quick smile and walked away hand in hand with the guy. I loved it when I was
right.
"Alone again..." I sighed to myself.
---------------
It had been another hour. When Amy had left, the feeling in my gut had returned, but it was
weaker than usual. I had no problem with it now, but I couldn't help wondering- was I sick?
I sat still pondering if I was getting an exotic illness that maybe no one else knew about. How
funny. How would I get it? Or how did I get it?
I shook my head.
Maybe if I thought of something else, the feeling would go away completely.
My eyes started focusing on certain people I knew. Mina with Andrew, holding each other
closely, eyes closed with smiles of contentment; Amy and this new masked guy, also dancing
sweetly, going along with the soft tempo of the music; Raye and Lita each actually dancing with
their own guys (although I doubt that the guys had willingly asked them), weird googly-eyed
looks plastered on their faces...
I felt pain.
For once I felt pain, not from the weird heart and stomach problems I was getting tonight but it
was something else. Something different.
My eyes now focused on Mina and Andrew. They looked so happy together. Content. They were
indulged with one another. I realized they had something that I didn't have. They both had
someone to talk to, share their feelings with.
They each have other.
I blinked back tears that were forming behind my eyes. Was I about to cry? No. Did I even cry
already? I touched my cheeks. No I haven't cried. But hell... I was about to. Wait.
That's stupid. Why would I cry?
'Am I jealous?' The question crossed my mind before I could stop it. 'Jealous? Of what?'
The feeling in my gut became stronger. It was growing every second and my heart raised its
tempo. What's going on?
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"Hun, do you mind getting me some punch?" Beryl asked me in the most innocent look she
could give, batting her eyes. "I'm kind of thirsty."
"Yeah, sure." I muttered walking away. I would have gladly departed from the giggly psychotic
group of Beryl's anyway, nothing but senseless talk of... fashion- new outfits... I cringed. It was
strange that they all acted alike. Like they were other versions of Beryl. I shuttered at the
thought of dating another one of her. "Why me of all people?"
Upon reaching the table, I took a cup and scooped it into the punch bowl. Getting all the
necessary liquid, I drank the cup myself, the taste not doing much for me. I needed a break. Oh
yes, a break from her.
My eyes wondered around. Looking at the table, my vision led to a girl who sat quietly from
behind. She didn't seem to enjoy herself.
'She looks cute.' I noted the familiar hairstyle that she had. Soft blond hair-
Hell it was time I mingled with girls other than Beryl. Should I? After all I'm on a 'break' as I had
put it.
I took a deep breath hoping that my 'Chiba' charm would take a life on it's own, or at least start
any second when I would get to her. That's what I called it anyway, when I wanted a girl to get
interested in me. Put on a killer smile, wink, and tell all the wonderful things that I would do if
she were the object of my desire. Hell I know that sounded stupid but that's exactly what I call it.
Suddenly, I winced at the thought that I had used the 'charm' on Beryl. What in the hell did I ever
see in that girl in the first place?
I walked up behind the masked 'cute' girl, a knot forming at my gut. Before I said anything to get
her attention, something caught my eye. She was wearing pink.
'Pink?'
I blinked.
When I first walked into the party earlier, my heart immediately started pounding in the strangest
way. I had noticed the decorations. God the decorations... they were the last things I would
notice but as soon as I walked in, a flash of realization hit me.
The balloons, the disco ball, the room itself, they were all in my dream last night. I nearly
tripped over a balloon when I had realized this. Everything was there. All of the detail I had
seen- it was in this very building... And I had noticed it was a gym. Yes. Indeed it was a school
gym. The very same place I had seen and what the person online told me...
Person online... That Lone1igrl, who ever she was. How could that be possible that she was
right? She had mentioned that it was a gym that she had dreamed of recently. The one I dreamt
of too. The very same one...
But now this girl wearing pink... the same dress style... Only adding shock to my anxious nerves
I shut my eyes and opened them again.
"This is amazing..." I hadn't noticed I said it out loud. But the girl heard.
She turned around.
I froze.
Everything around me started slowing down. Nothing seemed to move. Time had stopped.
Everything frozen.
I held my breath. It felt like the only sane thing for me to do.
My mind went numb.
My heart started to pound on its own... hitting, pushing to break through my chest. It wouldn't let
up. It kept forcing its way, trying to get out of my chest. It wanted to explode.
Her eyes... they had found my own.
"They're so blue..."
They were the exact eyes that I had seen in my dream. The same heavenly blue orbs that made
me feel paralyzed, time after time. The white mask protected her eyes; her irises behind the
lenses, clear and blue... staring right back at my own. Magnetizing... They pierced me. My soul?
They held my stare with more power then I have ever imagined.
I couldn't blink. My lids stayed up. I just couldn't blink.
She slowly stood up. I noticed. I couldn't read the expression on her face. My eyes were just
fixed on her own. Stuck. Just plainly, unbreakably stuck.
I just couldn't move. I can't think. I can't breath.
"Hi..." Her mouth slowly opened to say something. I couldn't understand it. I didn't understand
what she said. I couldn't hear. Why couldn't I hear?
"Honey..." An arm slipped through my own. "Honey, you're spilling punch on the floor."
And I blinked.
The power was now gone.
"What?" I turned my head to the voice that was all too familiar. My jaw was slightly opened. I
quickly clenched them, gritting my teeth. I repeated myself with a hint of annoyance. "What?"
"Hun, you're spilling the drink. Look." Beryl pointed to my cup that was now tilted ninety
degrees from the floor. Only a drop of punch was left in it.
"Shyt." I quickly put the cup onto the table and immediately checked myself for any spills.
Surprisingly enough, the tasteless drink touched nothing. "Damn."
"And what's taking you so long to get me a drink?" Beryl took a couple of napkins and started
wiping the spill on the floor. She stood up and threw the napkins to the nearest trash can. She
then slipped her arm through my own.
"Sorry about that. The spill is gone anyway." She told the girl whom I had recently stared at. I
couldn't look into her eyes again. I averted my attention to Beryl.
I frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?" She looked at me perplexed. "It's alright anyway. I'm here. I can get my own
drink."
After getting her beverage, Beryl dragged me across the room saying something I couldn't
understand.
As we walked away, I briefly turned my head to the table, the strange girl still looking at me.
The image of her eyes was still burning in my mind. I had to look back.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
I released my breath, which I hadn't known I was holding.
I couldn't believe what just happened.
I had been standing there staring at a guy. Not just a guy, but also a guy that I've seen before.
'His midnight blue eyes... They wouldn't let go of my stare.'
I blinked.
Time seemed to stop when we did this. Nothing moved around me. Everything seemed like
statues. The only thing that I was aware of was his gaze... his tantalizing and memorizing gaze,
and the sound of my own heart beating.
It had thumped wildly in my chest. It wanted to jump out of my throat.
'His eyes... They were the ones I've seen in my dreams.'
I blinked at the spot where I've seen him last, across the room. He had disappeared with a girl
pulling his arm through the crowed. I inhaled shakily, almost coughing at the action. The knot in
my stomach had now disappeared. It was completely gone.
I closed my mouth, unaware that I had opened them earlier. Words wanted to come out, but only
the simple word 'hi' could be uttered.
'Hi' had managed to crawl out of my mouth- A stupid and pathetic 'hi'.
I mentally kicked myself. 'You asinine- what the hell were you doing?'
Reality struck me in the face. I was back in the dance, alone and shivering. Why the hell was I
shivering?
'He couldn't be real... could he? It can't be. It just can't be. Why was he here, alive as any person
in this room? It just can't be him. Why did he come here? Why was he so close? Why? The eyes
behind his mask, I know them. It had to be him. It just had to be...'
Anxiety rushed in my nerves.
All of a sudden, I started walking into the dance floor. A new feeling started to burn not in my
gut, but in my chest. I started searching.
Wondering.
I had to find him.
My eyes skimmed through the sea of people. Nothing caught my attention. I was searching for
him, yes. But what part of him would help give me a sign? Everyone looked the same. The white
masks moving everywhere- moving, confusing me. I was lost. I was lost in a sea of white masks.
They wouldn't let me find him.
I wanted something.
I wanted him.
I wanted those eyes to leave me captivated.
I walked slowly to the middle of the dance floor. Soft music was playing. A slow beat was
thumping through the air. I didn't care. I just kept moving. People lightly bumped into me. I
stopped. I stood still. I froze.
Suddenly the lights went out. It wasn't pitched black. Just dark.
Something was being said through the loud speakers. I didn't understand it. I couldn't hear. I
couldn't listen.
Everything had disappeared except the floor below me, the room I was in, the long balloon
strings that hung peacefully from the ceiling, and the round moon shining weakly through the
windows high above me, away. The gray beams touching the floor, showering everything with
rays of soft weak light. The people were gone.
I looked down at the ground. The hem of my skirt was the only visible thing I could see because
of the moonlight shining. I recognized it was my dress. My soft pearly pink gown I was wearing.
That's why it seemed familiar. Now I understood.
I stood silently, not moving. I was afraid to move. Everything seemed right. As if everything was
going automatically. I have seen this scenario before.
I looked up.
I was alone. I knew people surrounded me but the loneliness that I was feeling- it was different.
It was as though I was the only person left in the world. I was truly, madly alone. I wanted
comfort. I wanted... him.
Something changed in the atmosphere, as if the loneliness had left.
I feel something coming. I feel him.
I waited.
Slowly a tall figure emerged out of the pieces of darkness.
'It's him... I know it's him.'
The figure took a few more steps, making it clearer to my eyes that the figure was becoming a
shady silhouette of a man.
'It's him... He's real...'
The outlined figure finally stopped midway through a soft moon spotlight, temporarily
disrupting the ray.
'I can't believe it... It's really him.'
I recognize this. I recognize him.
He stood right across from me, only a few inches
now.
'This is all happening again...'
As if planned by impulse, I slowly reached out to him. He had done the same. The palms of our
hands edged closer and closer until they gracefully stopped two inches apart. Finally, the tips of
my fingers softly brushed against his, followed by our hesitant palms meeting.
I felt a shiver down my spin. The beating of my heart fiercely thumped against my chest. I lost
my breath. I don't care anymore.
My stare, which was first focused on our hands touching intimately, now moved to meet his.
Dark sapphire clashed with my own. This wasn't the first time I had clearly seen his eyes. I had
seen them before.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^)
'It's her...'
My hand now shifted away from her touch, allowing me to caress her soft hand. The softness... I
know this touch. I know the feel of her hand.
Slowly I took it in my own and I came closer to her. Gently, I raised her hand to my lips. I
inhaled like I always have. The scent never changed. It was a mix of roses... it always was.
And I kissed her hand.
I enveloped her in my arms. My arms wrapped around her waist. It wasn't strange to me. I knew
it. Like I always have. Her hand snaked up around my neck. I knew she would do this. She did it
like she always has.
We began to dance...
-----------------
"That's it everybody! Thank you for coming to tonight's dance! Now everyone stand still. That
lights will be on shortly..."
"What?"
The lights went on, the intensity almost blinding me. I stopped moving.
"Huh?" I heard a soft voice murmur just below me.
I looked down.
The girl had her arms wrapped around my neck. I had mine around her small waist.
"What's going on?"
"Okay everyone! The moment you all have been waiting for! Please remove your mask to see
that special person you've been dancing with."
The both of us backed away from each other quickly, the voice pulling us back to reality.
I blinked.
She stood staring at me.
I did the same.
"I..." She tried to say something. "I... can't do this..."
The girl suddenly walked passed me, picking up her long skirt. She had gone through the noisy
crowed without so much of an effort.
I was stunned.
"Wait..." I finally said after she had gone through the wall of people leaving me lost for words.
She had left me. The realization had slapped me. The dream girl left me, and I have been
dancing with her...
"Hey babe. How come you don't have your mask off?" A voice behind me interrupted my
thoughts.
"What?"
"Your mask... you should take it off... Did you even dance with anyone?"
I sighed.
"Yeah Beryl. Of course I did." I finally took it off from my eyes. I felt arms encircle my waist.
"Did you see her? Was she prettier than me?" She giggled behind me, myself frowning in
moderate disgust.
"Yeah, definitely."
Her arms released my waist.
"What?"
"Yeah, she was so damn fine... Sexy..."
"Hey, did any of you guys dance with someone else?" Mina interrupted my sentence walking
towards us. Andrew followed behind her with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah. I did. This guy was so hot..." Beryl quickly grabbed Mina as they started walking away.
She glanced over her shoulder to see if I had noticed. I just shrugged.
"So who was the un-lucky girl you danced with?" Andrew grinned, pulling up his sleeves.
"Obviously Beryl danced-"
"I don't know who I danced with."
Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"What the hell? No that's pathetic. The girl took off her mask and you didn't even ask-"
"We didn't take off our masks, she just ran away right
after the lights went on..."
"Well I'll be damned. Finally you met someone with some sense in her..." He chuckled.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^)
I ran all the way back to the punch table, my heart still fluttering. What had just happened?
"Serena? Hey are you okay?"
I had been dancing. I was dancing with a guy. Not JUST any guy, but a guy-
"Serena, right now the color of your face is matching your dress. Is there something wrong?"
Someone had softly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Wh-what...?" I slightly choked on the word, my head turning to the voice. It was Amy again.
"Did something happen? You look really red..."
"Oh uh... I'm..." I stopped a couple of seconds to find an explanation for the sudden blush. I'm
blushing? "I'm... just cold."
"Oh. Okay. Do you want to borrow my jacket?" Amy then pointed to a light brown trench coat
hanging over a chair.
"Yeah, could I?" I nodded to her with a weak smile. I was shivering... again. Was I actually cold?
"No problem. Here." She went to the chair and grabbed the coat. She handed it to me with a
smile and a hint of concern in her eyes. "You can give it back to me tomorrow."
"Thanks." I slipped it on and tightly tied on the brown cotton belt that was around my waist. The
thin brown material covered all of my dress, giving me sudden warmth. "I feel better now."
"Hey you still have your mask on..." Amy then plucked the mask off my face, myself unaware
that I still had it on. "So did you dance with anyone?"
My heart skipped a beat on the last question.
"I- I did. Actually, yeah..." I shook my head and gave a smile. "It was... actually very interesting."
"How so? Did you know who it was?"
"I..."
"Amy. Great dance tonight! Wonderful job..." Mina pranced up with a gleeful look on her face.
She slipped her arm through mine.
"Uh... thanks?"
"Now that it's over, Serena and I will help with the clean up. I'm not letting you clean all of this
after you worked so hard in making the dance work..."
I lightly jabbed my elbow to my blonde friend's rib cage, giving her an annoying look. Mina was
being spontaneous again.
"We are not cleaning-"
"-The windows though. We just don't do windows." She glared at me back then gave another
cheerful smile to Amy. "But we both volunteer to help."
I sighed, as the blue haired girl gave a nervous and slightly bewildered smile. "Yeah... thanks.
But you guys really don't have to..."
"Oh, but we insist."
---------------
Everyone began leaving, but a couple of people still stayed after. Mina and I weren't the only
ones who volunteered to clean. Lita, Raye, Andrew, and a few other people had also stayed as
we began to pick up loose trash around the premises. I was busy tying trash filled up-to-the-brim
bag, my mind wondering back to the incident that happened fifteen minutes ago...
"Hey PMS girl, need help with that?" A voice behind me asked at the same time tapping my
shoulder.
I rolled my eyes, not willing to turn around. I recognized Mr. 'Pretty Boy's' pathetic voice. "No
thanks. I can do this myself. And stop calling me that."
"Suit yourself. So you actually went to the dance huh?" I raised an eyebrow, still fumbling with
the black bag.
"Stupid question. I'm here aren't I?"
"So did anyone dance with you?" He ignored my comment, myself still refusing to look at him.
The stupid trash bag still wouldn't close- "Though I highly doubt that-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I growled, suddenly yanking the trash bag together with
more irritation. "Did you come here to help me or insult me? And frankly I don't think my
dancing with other people should be of your concern."
"Bet you didn't." An arm suddenly grabbed the bag from my grasp. I huffed in annoyance.
"Especially with someone who can't handle a simple trash bag, who would want to-"
"FYI, I did dance with somebody. So you can just go to hell."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. So you can just go away now. And I bet you didn't dance with anyone yourself."
'Who am I kidding? I bet he danced with his TAB.'
"You doubting that I did dance with anyone?" I felt
him smirk next to me. "Dream on. Of course I danced with
someone."
"LIKE I care."
"Hey everyone. Thank you guys for helping out, but you guys should leave now. I've got to lock
up." Amy called out when she neared the punch table.
I grabbed the trash bag from 'Pretty Boy's' grip, still not looking into his face. Why wasn't I
facing him? "Thanks for your help."
I quickly walked away.
----------------
"Thanks Amy- for lending me your coat." I smiled sweetly, taking off the trench coat and
handing it to her. "Not cold anymore."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, Mina's taking me home anyway..." I motioned Mina from across the room to come to me,
myself already standing in front of the exit. "We're leaving now right Mina?"
"Uh yeah. Yeah we're leaving." My blonde friend ran across the dance floor with a trash bag still
in hand. She handed it to Amy. "Come on Serena let's go."
"Oh. Don't forget to take some balloons home. You guys deserve it." Amy notified us of the
balloons still floating on the ceiling. I suddenly shuttered.
"Thanks Amy. We'll take a couple right there." Mina dragged me to the middle of the dance
floor. I noticed all the long stringed balloons were gone, except for the shorter stringed ones. We
both started jumping in the air in hopes of grabbing at least one.
"Can anyone help us get some?" Mina yelped still hopping, her finger barely grazing the end of a
colorful string. I gave up the idea, still watching Mina with a smile.
"Girl, you look like an idiot doing that."
"Sure." A male voice came up behind me, a taller arm finally grasping the string Mina wanted.
"Here you go."
I turned around.
It was none other than pretty boy himself.
I froze.
"PMS girl, do you want one too?" He off handedly said while grabbing another balloon. "Here..."
I lost my breath.
Our eyes had locked.
'Those... eyes...' My mind whispered. An image momentarily flashed through my eyes, of the
dark sapphire irises I have seen. The very same ones...
"Uh... Here. PMS... girl..." He slowly handed me the balloon, our eyes still on each other.
"Yeah... thanks..."
An arm suddenly dragged me across the floor, breaking my connection with those eyes. I gulped.
"Come on Serena let's go..."
Before I knew it, I was out of the gym.
----------
TO: lone1igrl@jch.com
FRM: sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net
SUBJECT: SOMETHING HAPPENED TONIGHT.
Lone1igrl, I appreciate you adding more detail to the dream you had last night. So let me add
more to it too.
Tonight, something strange happened to me. You know the dream of ours? Yes ours. There's no
doubt in my mind now that we both have been having the same dreams. The same exact ones
we've been telling each other. It seems you were implying that we both... dream of each other. If
you're not going to say it first, then let me. I think we dream of each other. Period.
You dream of a guy, right? And I dream of a girl. It only makes sense. So far everything you've
been telling me is true. And especially tonight. Tonight you confirmed what I was thinking.
Every detail from last night's dream happened. It ACTUALLY happened. There was a dance that
I attended. Yes. I went to a dance that my school held. It was in school gym. You were right
about that. The balloons you mentioned, the... disco ball you said, they were all in there. I even
recognized them.
Want to know something even more shocking? I met my dream girl. If I'm not mistaken I think I
met you. You had the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen. You were so damn pretty. But your
eyes were the only ones that really got my attention. I recognized your eyes.
I danced with her. No. I danced with you. Tell me I danced with you...
By the time the dance finally ended, you left me. Why did you leave me? I tried to say something
but you left me.
Please reply.
----------
A trembling hand held the copy of the e-mail. I silently tucked away the printed version into the
slit of my journal. I closed it.
