Author's Note:

Yup, another chapter! It has been done for a while but I thought I'd give you guys a little break after that extremely long chapter last time. I'm sooo happy that you are all enjoying the story. All your comments really make my day =) To all my fans/commenters/readers/etc: Thank you for your support!Once more- enjoy and tell me what you think!

You Again?

Chapter 21

I knew one thing for certain: I would avoid Darien at all costs for the night. It wasn't an option. It was a must.

I don't know what came over me. I don't know what I was thinking- actually I do. I wasn't! Which is the problem in a nutshell.

As an adolescent, Darien Shields made all my higher brain functions shut down allowing only my very immature self to shine through. Arguing and fighting over seemingly childish subjects. As an adult, apparently, Darien Shields made all my higher brain functions shut down allowing only my very hormonal self to shine through. Either way, I don't like it.

He is dangerous for my well being. That is a fact. Seriously, it is completely unfair for one person to have so much influence on you. One second, I'm perfectly fine and the next he merely touches me and I lose all control. Maybe I've gone too long without a boyfriend.

I've dated. Really, I have. I just had a date… well, probably over a year ago… And it wasn't even a good date, I ended the night by shaking his hand. And can you guess what happened next? Nothing. I didn't hear from him again…

But I don't want to date. I've never liked it. It is always awkward and forced, as though I have to try too much. It just doesn't seem worth the effort…

Well, then, I only have one option: ignore Darien until I get my hormones in check.

But trust me, that is easier thought than done.

Even if he isn't by my side, I can still sense him in the room… and it is a big room. I can feel his very eyes on me and it isn't comforting. Especially since my lesser self wants to run over there and continue what we had been doing…

But I was finally saved… at least for the moment.

Mr. Jenks announced that dinner would be served soon and we should all find our seats. I stayed by Jenny's side, going over to sit with her and her husband- Harry. She didn't question me, thank goodness.

Cindy, luckily, went to take her seat by her parents- aka the owner of the building Linda Peters and her husband Mitch Peters. I didn't dare look to see where Darien was seated, fearing that if I even looked at him I'd be tempted to go over there and say or do something extremely stupid.

Soon, my mind became at least partially occupied by the food as well as the bubbling conversation that ensued on either side of me. I was infinitely grateful to everyone at my table.

All too soon, however, dinner was over and a band that I hadn't really noticed before began singing a song I didn't recognize. Jenny excused herself to go dance with Harry and soon the table was completely evacuated save for me. I was almost grateful. Almost.

I didn't really feel like talking to anyone- true- but I also didn't really feel like thinking… all my thoughts were either terribly inappropriate or just plain annoying.

I rested my head on the table trying to get some sort of reprieve from myself. Maybe if I started banging my head on the table? Probably not a good idea, people might think I'd gone crazy… Not that they'd be wrong.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and stiffened immediately… Please, please, no.

I cautiously looked up… and couldn't help but groan in frustration.

"Why me?" I complained aloud.

Cindy merely laughed, "What is wrong with you? Seriously, you're acting like a child."

I shrugged and sat straighter, "You don't understand Cin."

"Then make me." She said with that famous adolescent stubbornness- although I guess she really isn't an adolescent.

"I wouldn't even know how." I shrugged, "Sorry, I'm just being an idiot. Ignore me."

She rolled her eyes at me, "Yes, yes you are being an idiot. I mean, look at him!" She pointed somewhere off to the right… I knew what it was so I stopped myself from turning to her fascination.

"Trust me, I have."

She laughed a little, "Okay then I'd like to know the problem. He's nice, he's gorgeous, he's successful, and he's clearly into you."

"But he's Shields!" I whispered my frustrated yell.

"And that means what exactly?"

She wasn't going to get it.

To be honest… I don't get it either but whatever.

"It merely means that he's Shields."

She rolled her eyes again and leaned in closer to whisper, "Well, you might want to get over it pretty soon before it's too late." She pointed again and this time my head immediately whipped around of its own accord.

Cindy laughed evilly. I turned to glare at her.

Darien was dancing with Mrs. Wipple…

"See, you like him. Get over yourself already."

I crossed my arms, "Mind your own business Barista."

She laughed, "Ouch. Ouch. You hurt me so."

I couldn't help but smile a little myself.

She shrugged as she got up, "Just saying. Look around you, Sere. You want to end up like this at all the parties?"

And she was off.

I couldn't help but look around me as she'd instructed. This was a rather pathetic seen, she was right. I let out a small, frustrated groan.

"Wow," The word momentarily stopped my heart… then it was off like I'd just run a marathon, "I knew you'd be depressed without me but this is just pathetic."

I glared at him, "Can everyone just stop with the pathetic-calling?"

He smiled crookedly as he took the seat next to me, "And what's gotten you in such a lovely mood?"

"What do you think?" I countered as I sat straighter in my seat.

He laughed a little, his breath escaping dangerously close to me… "Well, I don't know what's wrong with you. From past experience that gets any normal woman in a very different mood."

I almost, almost let out the question that immediately came to the tip of my tongue. How many normal women have there been? Maybe even, How many women- normal or otherwise- have there been?

Luckily, I wasn't stupid enough for that.

"Well, maybe I'm not normal."

"Certainly not. I already knew that though." He replied easily and I lightly smacked his arm, but quickly retreated my hand before it got its own will too.

We sat silently for a second- him staring at me, me staring at anything but him.

"Wanna dance?" I heard the words but shook my head quickly before I said something stupid like "yes". He laughed. "Seriously? Are you that scared that you won't be able to resist my charms?"

I snorted none-too-ladylike, "You wish."

"Sure." He replied easily with an indulgent smile.

I knew what he was doing. Really, I did.

So maybe I really am an idiot because I got up to follow him to the dance floor.

As soon as we got there he put an arm around my waist and pulled me closer while his devil's smile broadened. I didn't let myself go crazy this time. I merely placed my hand on his shoulder and let him take my other hand in his.

I didn't even dare breathe- his scent alone could do the trick.

We were way too close. I mean, I don't know anything about the waltz- or whatever dance this was- but I think there should be at least an inch separating a dancing couple—I mean pair. Us? I think there may have been maybe one infinitesimal centimeter separating us.

Oo. Never mind. Centimeter eliminated.

"Can't handle it?" He challenged with an upturned brow.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

He smiled down at me and then he stepped forward…

"Ouch." My foot. My poor foot.

"Sorry," He immediately replied then his brow raised even higher, "You don't know how to dance?"

I glared up at him a little as I bent down to gingerly inspect my poor, poor foot. "No. Why would I?"

He laughed a little as he bent down with me. "Nope, you're fine." He said as soon as he looked at it then got back up and offered his hand. I took it but kept glaring.

"How would you know? You're no doctor."

He rolled his eyes then looked me square in the eye with all seriousness as he brought us back to our previous position, "Well… Maybe it might have to be amputated…"

I shoved him with the hand on his shoulder and he laughed.

"Okay, now," He began and looked down at me, "When I step forward with this foot," He briefly neglected my hand to point at what he was talking about, "You step back with that one," He pointed again. I nodded my head.

"Okay."

"But when I step back with this," He pointed again, "You step forward with that."

I nodded again then looked at him with a smile, "That doesn't seem so bad."

"Nope, it's not. You'll be fine."

And he stepped forward, I stepped back. He stepped back, I stepped forward. I looked up to smile at him in triumph but then…

Crap. I accidentally stepped forward at the same time he had.

His face had a repressed strained look, "Sorry," I muttered apologetically.

His smile was somewhat forced, "No problem. Just… try to step with the front of your foot next time instead of the heel so that we don't actually have to amputate anything."

I smiled sheepishly, "Oops. Maybe I better just go sit down."

He shook his head, "No. You aren't giving up here. First time is always the worst."

I laughed a little, "I doubt I'll get better."

He rolled his eyes, "Not with that attitude." He looked at me with complete seriousness, "Now…" He began and was off explaining it more precisely once more, "this time we'll do it slower."

I nodded.

He stopped forward…

I stepped back.

Back. Forward.

Forward. Back.

I couldn't control my enthusiasm, "I did it!" A giggle escaped… crap, what is up with me and giggles?

He smiled though apparently not worried about the giggling like I am. "Yes, you did. Now a little faster."

I bit my lip, "You sure? I think this is a good pace."

He rolled his eyes, "Sere, we did like two steps in about a minute. We barely moved."

"You said I did it!" I couldn't help but accuse.

"Well, you did. Just rather slowly. Now we can move past tortoise speed."

I nodded in defeat.

We were off again- faster this time, but no feet were stepped on! I wasn't half bad.

I smiled at our feet.

"Sere?" I heard Darien's voice.

"Yes?" I replied with my happy smile still intact.

"Umm… you planning on staring at your feet all day?"

"Huh?" I asked and looked up.

His face strained again and I stepped back quickly.

"Sorry, sorry! Oh my gosh I'm sorry!"

About five heads turned to look over at the uncoordinated couple.

I frowned, "See? Bad idea. I should just sit down."

I walked off but felt a restraining hand reach for mine.

"You are doing fine." He quickly amended.

I glared at him, "Are you some sort of masochist? I keep mauling you."

He laughed a little- through the pain that is, "I mauled you one out the three times so we're almost even."

"Not even."

"Why do you keep giving up?"

"Because I keep hurting you." I rolled my eyes. Is he dumb?

"I hurt you too."

"Exactly. So we should stop while we're ahead."

He raised his eyebrows and I had a feeling we weren't talking about just dancing anymore.

"What if we went tortoise speed?" He asked with a certain look in his eyes.

I knew what he was asking… and it wasn't about dancing.

"It still wouldn't work." I replied trying to get him to understand.

"Why is that?"

"Because this is us we're talking about." I answered at the same time as he placed my hand back on his shoulder, his on my waist, the other hands together. My heart's erratic palpitations made me feel kind of woozy.

"Well, I'm good at it. I'm sure we'll be fine." His crooked smile was gentle this time and I almost gave in… almost.

"Maybe you're too good at it." I voiced my concern without meaning to.

"Not really. I just have a little confidence."

"Well, I don't."

"You really should. See?" I didn't get his meaning until I looked back up to his smiling face…

We were dancing. I was dancing… And not looking at my feet or mauling his.

The small smile that lit my face couldn't be helped… but… "It can get more complicated than this."

His smile merely broadened. Then, with seemingly no effort on either our parts he spun me around so that my back pressed against his chest, his hand securely holding mine around my waist. I stopped breathing- my heart leapt to an unnatural place. His words whispered against my heated skin, "I'm sure we can handle it." The music stopped but he spun me back in another 180 anyway so I was flush against him. Before I could make any sort of move, he did. His face inched closer- not that it was at all far away. I waited with bated breath…

Nothing happened.

There was maybe one infinitesimal millimeter separating our lips… but he wasn't moving. He was looking at me. Just looking.

And I knew what that meant.

It was completely up to me…

I could either lift my head to eliminate that barely-there space… or I could push away.

The irony of the song that the band chose to play next did not evade me…

It really was Lady's Choice.