Chapter 16 - The dance - part 1

Pacing around the living room, my hands were clenched into fists at my side. My new dress was shimmering in the lamp light with every move that I made. My friends waited patiently by the door, probably wondering what I was doing.

"If we don't leave soon we'll be late." I heard Karen whisper to Jenny, who nodded.

"Um Kori? We'd better get going...you coming?"

I stopped walking and sighed, turning to face my friends. Knowing that I couldn't tell them what was really on my mind, I quickly thought up something that would excuse my odd behavior.

"Sorry guys, I guess I'm just nervous." Looking away from their concerned faces, my hands gripped the material of my dress. I hated lying to them.

"About what?" Karen sat down on the arm of the sofa, peering at me.

I sighed again. "I guess I'm just not very good at dancing. What if I step on Richards feet when he's trying to lead?"

"That's it? Oh come on Star, you'll be fine. Richards probably an expert in the art of smooth dancing anyway, what with all those times Bruce has dragged him to a fancy party. He'll be able to lead you fine." Karen patted my back and got up.

Nodded slowly I rose from the sofa, following Rachel out the door. Karen lingered inside for a moment, shouting good bye to her mother and grabbing her bag before joining us outside.

As we walked down the street, taking the familiar route to school, Karen realized something. "Hey, wait! I'm gonna win the bet tonight if they get together!" She did a victory dance and Rachel rolled her eyes. I rose an eyebrow and asked who she was talking about, but Karen merely shook her head, grinning.

Jenny spoke up."Well that's if they get together."

As Karen and Jenny argued back and forth for why they thought this mystery couple would get together, I turned my sights onto the road ahead. With worry creasing my brow, and Rachel yet again reading her book, my group slowly made our way to the dance.

OOO

Madame Rouge, our French teacher, stood outside the hall awaiting the students who were attending the dance. She rose a brow my happy friends who approached her, taking in our different dresses. Karen was wearing a white sleeveless dress, which had gold glitter around the edges. She also wore matching gold earrings.

Jenny was wearing a purple backless dress, and had put her pink hair up in a bun with a red rose pined into it. Rachel wore something that matched her usual style, which was a blue sleeveless dress. It flowed down to her knee's and hugged her figure beautifully.

I followed behind them, smiling uncertainly at the teacher as we entered the hall. My hair flowed down past my shoulders, tickling my skin as my curious eyes took in everything.

My heels clicked rhythmically along the floor before they came to an abrupt stop. We each immediately noticed the pounding music, and flashing lights as they equally blinded us and made us deaf.

"Hey whats going on?! I thought this was a formal dance!" Karen yelled over the music.

"Apparently, so did they." Rachel pointed to the teenagers who were dancing, most of the boys were in tuxes and the girls in dresses.

Gar, Victor and Wally approached us. I smiled, seeing my friends greet them so happily, a sparkle in each of their eyes. As I looked around the hall though, I suddenly noticed something.

"Um Victor? Where's Richard?"

Victor turned towards me, but I noticed him send a glance to Wally, who then sent a glare to Karen.

"Sorry little lady, I haven't seen him." Vic answered easily, shrugging his shoulders.

Trying to squash the disappointment I felt, I smiled and waved it off as if it didn't matter.

Jenny seemed to noticed the hurt look on my face, and tried to take my mind off the missing boy. "What the heck is with the change in dress code? I thought this was a dance, a fancy get together. Not a club night!"

Gar laughed. "The teachers changed it at the last minute because they thought it would appeal to us teens more. I can't believe you didn't know they changed the formal dance, to a disco one. You're not the only one though, judging by the way the girls are all wearing frilly dresses and the guys are in pansy tux's." He said this as he straightened his casual jacket.

Raven shrugged, putting her book into her bag. "I don't know, I actually kind of like those pansy tux's. They look smart."

Gar blinked, surprised. "R-really?"

At Rachel's nod, Gar ran off, quickly shouting over his shoulder; "Be right back!"

At that, Jenny disappeared with Wally, while Karen dragged Victor onto the dance floor. Rachel sat on the sidelines, waiting for Gar, so I decided to join her. As I sat, I couldn't help wondering what was keeping Richard.

Sighing to myself, I stared at my hands as they twisted in my lap. How come hes not here yet? He said he was coming, maybe he's just stuck in traffic?

Turning to Rachel, I asked; "What do you think is keeping Richard?"

She looked at my concerned face before turning away. "I don't know exactly, but I'll see if Vic knows anything more, stay here a moment." In one swift motion, she rose and approached Vic and Karen who was dancing near us. I knew I shouldn't have, but I tried my best to over hear the conversation. What I gathered from Karen wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind.

"Oh, Wally told Richard that the dance was at 7.30 not 7.00. That way Kori will have time to realize how much she wants a dance with him. After that, when Richard arrives Kori will immediately ask for a dance. They'll do so, and end up getting even closer. By the end of the night they'll end up kissing and together at last...well that was the plan anyway." Karen smiled, but Vic caught Rachels annoyed look.

"But don't worry! He'll be here soon."

"I'm not worried for myself you moron, I'm worried for Kori. She was looking forward to this, looking forward to seeing him. Heck they probably would've gotten together tonight anyway if you hadn't of meddled. She's not going to appreciate you manipulating her love life like this you know." Rachel had crossed her arms now.

"I just wanted to help-" Karen was cut off.

"More like you just wanted to win the bet."

I'd heard enough, I rose from my seat, walking away. I shook my head, confusion and anger waging a war inside my mind. In one way I felt furious that I'd been used as a means for entertainment, for my friends to bet on the outcome of my love life. The fact that they'd gone so far as to postpone Richard coming here just to worry me, and make me fly into his arms like a little girl, only made me grit my teeth tighter.

In another way though, I knew they were just looking out for me, and had perhaps had the best intentions at heart. I still felt annoyed though, and I stormed over to the punch bowl, hoping it would calm my nerves. Pouring myself a drink, I took a sip and closed my eyes in relief.

It was then that I noticed an arm wrap around my shoulder.

"Rich-!" I turned around, and was expecting to be faced with a pair of ocean blue eyes. Instead I found brown.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry. I thought you were-"

"It's no problem at all." The new comer smiled and I noted that he still hadn't released my shoulder. Unlike most of the other boys who had arrived at the dance, he was in casual wear, and seemed to be a little older than the rest of them. His brown hair was messy and his eyes were strangely empty and bored.

"Um, may I help you?" I asked weakly.

"Actually you'd be allot of help if you came with me right now. You know Xaviour don't you?" I stared up at him, wary. Surprise and fear suddenly started working its way into my mind.

Xaviour didn't have any friends, he only had enemies, he'd told me this himself.

The taller boy leaned down, whispering into my ear as his arm tightened around my shoulder. "I think its best you follow me quietly. You wouldn't want to get him into any more trouble than he's already in, would you?"

He took out something from his pocket, a red lighter. Only this lighter caught my attention and held it, because I knew that Xaviour had a special one that looked just like it. It was ordinary apart from his mark on the other side, in the shape of an 'X.'

As the boy turned the lighter in his hands, I caught the same mark on its surface.

Cold fear grabbed me, and I stared at the cruel face of the boy who held me. Those empty eyes were capable of anything, and I knew this wasn't a trick, Xaviour would never throw that lighter away or loose it. It was important to him for reasons I didn't know.

What I did know was that I couldn't just leave Xaviour to face this person alone, so I raised my head and tried to fight the fear climbing higher inside me.

He took my silence as a good sign and walked us forward, leaving the hall behind as we entered the corridor through a set of double doors.

I had a feeling this wasn't leading anywhere good.

OOO

Richards POV:

Parking my R-cycle, I removed my helmet and looked up at the hall. Different coloured lights flashed in the windows, signalling a disco. I could hear the music even from outside.

I was looking forward to a dance with Kori, but this wasn't exactly my scene. I usually hated these types of dances and avoided them at all cost, so that I'd come for Kori especially made me a little nervous.

I wasn't used to feeling so attached to a girl that I'd do this for her. She was special to me sure, but this was something else. I was putting aside my own needs and wants for once to make her happy. My heart beat a little faster in my chest as I walked forward.

Calm down you idiot, shes just a girl.

I cringed as I stepped into pounding music and flashing lights. Looking around the hall I smirked at a few people as they showed off their mind blowing talents on the dance floor. Not that I could do much better.

As I turned, I noticed my friends in a corner, talking with Kori's. Oddly enough I couldn't see her with them. Walking over to them I suddenly noticed their worried faces.

"Hey guys, whats up?" I inwardly groaned, knowing I shouldn't have said that. Now Gar would make a lame joke about the ceiling or something, but surprisingly noting came out. Garfield looked a little worried, standing silently in his tux.

"Um Richard... look man, promise you won't freak out." Vic spoke up and scratched the back of his head.

Looking around myself at Kori's friends, I noted the same worry on each of their faces, and my blood ran cold. "Whats going on?"

Vic swallowed hard and looked me right in the eye.

"We can't find Kori."

ooo

Soo...like it? Sorry about the cliff hanger but anyways...where has dear Kori gone hummm? You ll have to wait and see. ^^ It's nearing the end of High school in a nutshell now guys! BUT its not over yet! I've got a few more surprises left up my sleeve before this is all over! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx review!