Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters besides Laura, Kayla and Steven.
Summery: Just as Laura's trying to get through her last year in high school and forgetting about her ex boyfriend Steven, she goes job hunting for anything. Desperate for a job, she's hired as the second Night Guard at the Museum of Natural History. Working along side of Larry as history comes to life each night, she finds herself falling for Larry...and someone else. But only one of them ends up feelings the same way for her. Will she end up breaking from her heartbreak and let herself be happy once again while trying to help Larry keep peace and order in the museum?
Author's Replies to Reviews (it's a new thing I'm starting if there's reviews on the previous chapter):
RageRomania: Lol. Don't worry. I just felt like I needed a bit of conflict for a while. Ahkmenrah won't end up with her because he knows how she is. I thought about Laura taking Larry to the Prom, but then I thought of how he couldn't come to prom with her being that he has to watch over the museum that night and Ahkmenrah just couldn't. Idk. Thanks for reviewing though!
Hawk's_GaL4077: Good! Glad to hear it! :D I'm gonna try and make things more exciting.
pinkxjellybean: Thank you and glad to hear it, hun. :)
Chapter Eight ~ Glitter in the Air
Kayla spent the hole day spoiling me. She made me get a bubble bath with this expensive bubble bath solution she bought from when she traveled to Rome. Then she gave me a pedicure and manicure, painting my nails black, as requested, with just the exception of a color that matched my dress on the tips of each nail. Then she gave me a makeover. She put my hair up in this fancy do and then she put random makeup on me, as if she knew what she was doing.
I stood before the doors of the school. The weather was beginning to break (thank God) and I only had a shawl on. Somehow, I was shivering a bit. I was scared to walk in there. But when Jamie found me, she linked her arm with mine and forced me to walk with her through the set of double doors, down the main hall of the school, and into the gym where there was so many amazing things to see. A DJ stood at one end where blue and green moving lights hit ever two seconds, glitter fell in the air, the decorations simply came out perfectly, and not to mention everyone looks so beautiful.
"You look perfect," I heard Jamie murmur to me. Jamie was wearing a simple red satin gown that fitted her like a glove. Her hair was curled and pulled half up. She was wearing neutral colors for her makeup.
A smile stretched across my face as I looked down, blushing from embarrassment. But my smile faded when I noticed a few people stopping what they were doing to stare at me. It was like one of those moments out of the books that when everyone stopped and stared at you and then your prince charming would walk up to you and ask you to dance.
But this wasn't like the books. Everyone tried their best to look away and they managed to do so. And there was no prince charming who even looked my way or walked over to me. I sighed and looked down, feeling a bit left out from life itself.
"I'm going to get something to drink," I told Jamie as I slipped from her arm and walked over to the big table where a large bowl of punch with stacks of glasses surrounding it. I got myself a cup and walked over to one of the empty tables that surrounded the dance floor. I sat down and watched as couples danced and friends talked happily.
Then suddenly, my body froze. "So you actually made it to a school dance?" a familiar voice asked.
I sighed and turned around in my chair too look up at Steven. He had a half smile set to his lips as he wore a black tux with a blue flower pinned on the jacket's pocket. "Jamie made me being that I'm head of the Prom Committee," was my reply as I avoided his eyes as I turned back around and took a sip of my punch.
I saw in the corner of my eye, Steven pulling out a chair and sitting next to me. "I thought you hated school dances," he said as he crossed his arms on the tabletop.
I scoffed. "That was then. This is now," I said as I got up from my seat, Steven doing the same thing.
"What, I can't talk to you?" he asked me in a concerned tone.
I rolled my eyes as I began to walk away.
"Laura," I heard him call as he grabbed my arm and pulled me around so that I was facing him.
I sighed and tried to pry my arm out of his grip, but it wasn't working. "Where's your little girlfriend?" I asked in a snappy attitude.
He sighed. "We broke up last night," he replied.
I scoffed, but before I could say anything, he spoke before me. "Look, let's just dance," he said as he pulled me onto the dance floor, forcing his arms around me in a strong and caressing hold as my hands folded on his chest. I could meet his eyes.
"Why are we dancing?" I asked as we swayed to Everything by Lifehouse.
"Why wouldn't we?" was his form of reply.
I looked up at him and gave him a crossed look. "We broke up and you found a new girlfriend, Steve," I replied in an obvious way.
He just chuckled a bit. "You changed."
"And you didn't?" I said as I tried to pull away from him, but his embrace tightened.
"We both changed," he started with as he took a hand off of my waist and forced me to look up at him with the touch I remember loving. Now that touch broke my heart and made me want to cry. But I was strong enough to hold it back. "But that doesn't mean we can't be friends again. Or even more," he said, giving me a soft smile.
I took that smile the other way. I used all my strength and pulled away from his hold as I finally broke free and staggered back on the dance floor, accidentally knocking into a couple. I murmured a 'sorry' to them and they brushed it off. I turned to Steven and slapped him hard on the left cheek, something I should have done a long time ago when he broke up with me. "You're such a jack ass, Steven," I said as I picked up the skirt of my dress and hurried off of the floor, heading to the gym exit.
Jamie grabbed my arms on my way. "Whoa, whoa, whoa...what's wrong; what happened?" she asked.
I looked at the dance floor where I left Steven, who stood there staring after me. "Steven," was all I said as I ripped my arm from Jamie's grasp, grabbing my shawl and hurrying far away from the school.
..::( ~ ~ ~ ~ )::..
It was only when I stepped out of the school and into the moonlight that I noticed that the fallen glitter was in my hair and on the skirt of my dress, scattered a bit on my shoulders and I tried to brush the glitter off the best I can, trying to find a way to distract myself from the tears that threatened to escape. But it didn't help. So I hurried to my car, got in, and drove to my job, where I should be by now.
When I got there, I burst through the doors after unlocking one of the revolving doors, hurrying across the lobby, ignoring the shocked and curious glance of Larry at the information desk and Teddy on Texas. "Wh-what are you doing here?" Larry asked asked as I made it past Rexi's exhibit where he sat on, looking at me, excited to see me.
"Sorry I'm late for work," was all I said as I found an empty room and sat down, letting go of the tears. Something about the museum helped me feel more calm than any place possible. I hunched over, hiding my face in my hands as I let out the tears.
I was still in love with Steven, I could feel it. But I knew that if I ever went back to him, it would hurt me worse than it did the first time. I knew it would cost me. He was such a jerk to me and even though he made me feel so right and wanted in this world for once, I obviously was unable to make him feel the same way. But when he said something close to be more than friends, I wanted to jump all over him and say 'yes' but I knew I couldn't. I'd just be hurting myself. I could never have him back. And that was a fact of fate. He gave up on me for something that basically wasn't my fault when he was the only person who was left to mean the whole world to me.
A touch broke my reverie. A sun-kissed and warm, gentle hand was placed on my bare shoulder. I straightened my posture as I turned around and found Ahkmenrah standing behind me. I looked up at him and shook my head. He bent down to my level and cupped my head in his hands, a very confused and concerned expression crossing his face.
"Laura, my love? Whatever is the matter?" he asked me in his thick British accent.
His chocolate brown eyes calmed me down a bit, and so did his touch. "Steven...I should have never gone to Prom," I said, closing my eyes, trying to stop the tears.
Before I knew it, I felt something warm and soft press against my lips. I opened my eyes to see Ahkmenrah so close...he was kissing me. He moved his lips against mine in a soft and gently rhythm that...I couldn't help but kiss back. My hands rested on each side of his neck as we stood up, Ahkmenrah sliding his hands down until they wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. I wrapped my arms around his neck, unable to stop kissing him back. I could tell he couldn't stop either. A moan escaped from my mouth and soon, our kiss stopped.
I stood in his arms, looking down at his lips as we tried to catch our breathes. "Oh my," I murmured. Ahkmenrah smiled.
Then Larry came in and looked at us, sighing as he nodded his head once. "You got her to calm down?" he asked Ahkmenrah.
Ahkmenrah looked at Larry and smiled, nodding his head. "Yeah. Just a little bit of boy troubles is all," he said as he let me go and patted my shoulder flawlessly one time.
"Good," was all I heard Larry say. I turned my head to look at him and saw him staring at me and then my dress. I smiled. "You look beautiful, Laura," he said, giving me a soft and considerate smile.
"Thanks," I said as I wiped away my tears, thankful that no eyeliner nor any mascara had been put on tonight. Just a bit of eye shadow.
Larry just nodded his head, put his hands on his hips, and walked away...as if he was disappointed or hurt...or something. Whatever it was, I would find out sooner or later. That, reader, I could promise you that...for sure.