Part 1- Chapter 5
It's later that night at the dance. Emma's standing by the punch bowl, scanning the crowd for Clark. Clark walks in and sees Emma. He slowly walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. At the light touch Emma turned around, looking into the blue eyes of Clark.
"Clark! I'm so glad you made it!" Emma said enthusiastically.
"Me too. You look fabulous!" Clark complimented.
"Thanks," Emma replies as she commences to blush, "so do you."
"Thanks. I love this song . . ." I'm With You by Avril Lavinge starts playing "You want to dance?"
"Sure."
They walk onto the dance floor, moving closer together as Clark clasps Emma's hand. The warmth of Clark's hand was comforting against Emma's clammy one. One dance turned into two dances, two dances turned into three dances, and so on. The embrace of the dances had deeply effected Emma; she hadn't felt this happy for a really long time. After several dances Clark stepped away, Emma regretfully did the same.
Meanwhile Ashley is leaning against the wall alone, among the shadows she awaits her date. Craig walked into the vast gym, with darkness engulfing him. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the sharp black surrounding him and his ears did the same to the painfully loud music. Looking around the decorated gym a figure in the dimly lit spot, where a table was covered in refreshments and snacks. A quick stride brought him to this figure faster, and the rustle of his sneakers scuffing the floor caused this figure to raise her eyes.
"Hey. You look great." Craig said in a low voice.
"Thanks. You too . . . do you want to dance?" Ashley asked tentatively.
"I'd love to." Was Craig's reply.
"Great."
"Do you want to dance again?" Clark whispered into Emma's ear.
"Yes, but first I need to put my bag away . . . want to come?" Emma informed and questioned Clark.
"Sure."
Together they walk the familiar path to the lockers. Twirling the knob to the memorized numbers Emma unlocks her locker, taking her bag from her shoulder and places it inside of her locker. Without hesitation she closed the flimsy, metal door and turned around. As she turned to face Clark he motioned her to the side of the row of blue lockers.
"Emma?" Clark asked gazing into her eyes.
"Humm?" the mumbled sound came from Emma, who was gazing even deeper into Clark's eyes than he was in hers. In that gaze she saw Clark's true being, their past, and their future.
"Would you mind terribly if I kissed you?"
"No, I'd like that."
They lean into a small kiss, which then changes into a 'make-out in the hallway'. Chelsea was strolling down the halls, bored out of her mind since she came without a date and all of her friends did. While waking around the hallway she walked past the row upon which Emma's locker lied and which a figure of two people leaned against. She didn't think much of it at first, but once she walked past this figure she recognized the curly mop of dark hair. Almost silently she gasped, she realized that it was Clark . . . the other figure was too much in the shadows to be identified. With an outburst of rage she ran down the hall.
"Wow!" Emma gasped in a raspy voice.
"That was . . ." Clark's voice trailed.
"Incredible!" Emma finished for him.
Clark nods, then leaning closer to Emma's ear he whispers "Will you go out with me?"
Emma, also in a whisper, replies "Yes."
They lean closer once more exchanging a small kiss and a quick embrace, before walking back, hand in hand to the gym.
Once more we're in the gym, only this time we see Paige and Hazel in deep discussion.
"So do you think I should tell her?" Paige finished telling Hazel about the over-heard conversation on the bus.
"Yeah, she should know about it!" Hazel said concern filling her voice.
"Well have you seen her?"
"Yeah, she's walking in now."
"Okay I'm going to go tell her."
With a 'look at me' walk, Paige headed toward Emma and Clark.
"Hey Emma!" Paige said, too cheerfully.
"Oh hi Paige." Emma answered stubbornly.
"Would you come with me to freshen up in the bathroom?"
"Why can't Hazel do that?"
Paige points to the middle of the gym "Because she's dancing with Jimmy."
Emma replies stubbornly "Oh all right, I'll be right back . . . okay, Clark?"
"Yeah." Clark responded.
Inside the bathroom, the angered voice of Emma bounced off the walls "Okay Paige, what's up?"
"Okay well I over heard a break up on this bus." Paige reported.
"And?"
Paige cringes as she breaks the harsh news "It was between Clark and Chelsea."
"Liar!" Emma yells and runs out of the bathroom. The heavy door slamming behind her.
