Alright, here we go, the latest chapter. It's not much of anything, it's something old and something I hadn't intended to post either, but I decided that I haven't written a damn thing is months nor posted a damn thing, so I might as well do something. And besides, it's the 13th chapter, so of course it had to play the stereotypical dancing bit that pretty much every Oc-insertion fanfic has! Yaayyyyy...

I know that the formatting is really strange in this chapter, it's like that on purpose. It's supposed to be as though it's bouncing between perspectives of dream and reality, but I'll let you in on a little secret and just tell you that it's not. It's all a dream, right up until the last sentence.

This part has been pretty much done since my last chapter, and I decided to give it a quick and lazy finish so that it can get up here.

To be pretty damn honest, I have lost all inspiration to continue this. If anyone has any objections, I will see to it that I will finish it as planned, but otherwise...ehn.

If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll explain any questions and I will happily collaborate, giving credit where it's due.

Thank you everyone, I'm amazed I made it to 35 followers on this story just yesterday, which has also sort of brought me back to trying to do something.

Without further ado, please enjoy.

'Where am I running? What am I running from?'

The girl was in a panic, dashing through the thick, black spindly trees protruding from the dark earth. Darkness crept up all around, lurking forwards, enveloping the land as she fled. What was once a very tame dream somehow became contorted in a blinding darkness. Monsters trailed behind, gargling, growling, snarling. Closing in, the beasts' claws digging against the earth, tearing its flesh, was all but lost in her frantic breathing.

'I have to, I have to-'

Her fears seemed to melt, alertness heightening as the sounds choked to a stop. Casting a quick glance back, she noticed there was nothing there, the darkness was empty, and yet she still felt terrified. She tried to stop without slowing or looking forwards, inevitably tripping. Shutting her eyes as she fell, landing came quicker than expected, and a lot softer. Rather, the fall had felt like nothing at all.

I shot upright, grasping the edges of the chair I seemed to be sitting on. The attention of the man sitting at his desk was raised from the paperwork before him. I stared at him, and he gave his own head a soft tilt. His hair was only partially in a ponytail, pulled back out of his face.

I was...back at school. I was in the little office, the councillor's office, my heart racing, I rested my forehead back down on the desk to hide my face, probably red. My eyes a little glassy, I didn't even notice my body giving its soft quivers from the shock of waking up so abruptly. I gave another momentary start as I felt a gentle touch, a warm, gloved hand rest atop my own.

"Is everything alright, my dear...? That was quite the wake..." his voice sounded almost distant, I figured it was due to how drowsy I felt. I had to admit, it wasn't a pleasant dream. I swallowed hard, not wanting to have to talk about it. I couldn't help but wonder how often I ended up merely sleeping whenever we met in his office on quiet days. I couldn't close my eyes again, I knew that unpleasant and infested darkness was waiting. I shifted my hand just a little, curling my fingers and lightly grasping his tips of his, my heart leaping as I failed to think about what I was doing.

"Another nightmare..." he spoke softly, more of a statement than a question. I nodded softly, keeping my forehead down on his desk. He gave my hand a light squeeze, his thumb brushing the back of my hand in a calming manner. "There's no need to worry... I'm here, and you are awake now..."

"I...I'm...awake now..." I tried to say, but nothing actually came out. My eyes began to feel heavy once more. I moved my other arm closer to my head, resting my face in the crook of my elbow. My eyes fell shut and the feeling of warmth washing over me drowned out the anxiety. I shifted myself to the edge of my seat, getting closer and more comfortable against the desk. I could hear the faint buzzing of voices out in the hall figuring classes must have just been dismissed. "You're here...I'm safe..."

His warm chuckle filled the air. "I will keep you safe..."

The room felt as though it was swirling around me, a dizzying feeling as I kept my eyes closed. Shivers ran down my spine as I felt the gloved hand begin to slip away, brushing along my bare palm. Faint music was playing outside, in the distance, gentle. It was inviting, the sounds mingling with the voices and laughter.

I held on a little tighter, pulling it back closer, feeling my body moving as well. I hadn't realized when I'd begun to stand and the disappearance of the desk completely slipped my mind as I was brought closer, leaning forwards just a little. I felt another hand come to rest on my waist, helping to close the gap, guiding me into his arms. I opened my eyes halfway, sensing the coy smirk on his lips.

He wore a long jacket now, a warm but devious look upon his face. "Won't you dance with me...?"

I leaned my forehead against the upper corner of his chest, aiming for his shoulder. There were people filling the room, moving around, some pairs in sync with each other, others meandering, partaking in minor trickery. "I can't dance...not formally..."

He chuckled, beginning to shift his weight back and forth, from foot to foot. I moved with him as he was following the music at half of the beat, swaying softly from side to side. "You know how to dance...I've been to a practice before, you even danced with me...the principles are the same...I lead you...you follow me..."

She nodded softly, her other hand slipping from the side of his jacket up to the top of his shoulder. The steps for each dance was generally different, yet the rules were usually the same. She would match his steps as he leads, subtly hinting the direction with gentle tugs or pulls, and she would mirror him, falling into step and paying close attention to where his weight is being shifted. She noticed him beginning to sway more to the rhythm of the music, slow and gentle as it was. Her heart fluttered as she got nervous, she didn't want to start just yet. She kept her head against his chest, resting her eyes once more.

"No more resting, my dear," he purred, taking a small step back to create a space between us. I tried to take my own step closer, but he chuckled, moving back once more. "Come now...dance with me."

The first step he led her into was small, as were the following, to help her learn how to move. She kept her eyes down, not wanting to see if anyone else happened to be watching her sloppy, novice skills. Not to mention she didn't fancy making any eye contact with these strangers in masks. At the same time, by watching the floor she could know for sure where his feet were to not step on them.

"That's right, my dear," he spoke warmly, she raised her gaze to him, lowering it back to his waist as her eyes came in contact with his. She remembered the time that they had danced together at that very practice.

He was on his way out when he saw a few of us students still in the building after hours, inquiring why that was. One of the other girls gave him his answer and invited him along for a session. She insisted that it was for student and teacher alike, and that included the councillors of course. He'd joked with her that it seems she would not relent until he agreed. I remember a small part of me wanting him to come along, while another feared having him there, not only watching, but participating with us.

He appeared to know how to move his feet, shift his weight with each step, but the moves themselves were not something he seemed familiar with. He'd mentioned that the only dance he'd ever learnt regarded that of a ballroom. Swing dancing was not his forte, he'd said, despite being rather quick to learn how to move, give or take the occasional misstep. Overall it had been really fun, especially to watch, but as we rotated partners and I drew closer and closer to being his, I remember getting nervous, I remember being scared.

When the time came that I was to move to him, I remember the warmth of his touch as he took my hand. I had a hard enough time looking up with any of the other male leads, but with him, fathoming such a thing was even more impossible. My face had been so red from embarrassment that the teacher instructing us asked if I needed a break. While my heart raced, palpating from my terror, the adrenaline felt good and there was something oddly pleasing about this new proximity.

Even though I felt more nervous, more cautious in my steps, it felt as though the room was melting away, everyone around us became less apparent. Even as I think about it, the room felt as though it was melting around us, it felt as though nothing else mattered anymore. Like the world was falling down, and not even that mattered.

Moving felt easier, his arm around my waist, the other held higher, holding my hand...I slipped my hand free from his, noticing his reluctance in letting me do so. Much to his surprize I set it against his upper chest, next to his shoulder, leaning closer to rest my head against him. He chuckled, allowing it as he replaced his hand on the upper part of my shoulder blade. Everything was strange, nothing felt real anymore. I could feel him smiling.

I felt like I was falling.

No...

...I was falling.