"Ready?" Jessica asked. Of course, I didn't come to the ball alone, I had invited Taylor. Jess, though, was totally against the idea, she said she wanted to show me off to all her hot friends. I told her, "Sorrie hun, I'm eighteen. These 'hotties' are immature youngin's." She laughed, saying I was too mature for my own good. Please, it's only been three years, I doubt I'm too mature. Ha! Funny to think so, huh?
"Yep." I told her, wondering where Taylor was. I think Jess said something about leaving him outside so he and Mike could walk in, and light up the room together. Maybe that might happen, wouldn't that be magic?
"Everyone is going to love what we did to my dress. It looks brand new." It did, after all. It wasn't pink anymore. We unstitched the silk shiny dress that lie under the sheer, and re stitched it with a royal blue shiny silk skirt instead. The pink shiny chest part still remained, but we pulled off all the gems, and replaced them with royal blue gems, in the shape of stars. My favorite! I wasn't really sure how well the straps looked, 'cz we decided to keep 'em and stitch silver stars and royal blue gems along them. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson thought we should sell the dress while we're at the dance, make some big bucks. I laughed silently to myself as I smiled to Jessica and she guided me toward a huge round table. It was full of girls, they were all dressed up, all in the same dressed. Probably they all told each other that they found the perfect dress, one of a kind, and now look! Man, if I was only a couple years younger, I'd say something to them, god it would feel soo good!
"Hey guys!" Jessica called to them, silence peaking when she stepped up toward the table.
"Jess!" one girl shrieked, pushing her chair back and getting up, giving Jessica a hug. She looked at me alittle oddly, as if amazed by my presence.
"Listen guys, remember that girl Mandy I told you about?" They all nodded. I smiled, flipping a few strands of fallen hairs behind my ear. "Well, she's come back. For good." she seemed so proud to be with me, and I couldn't help but wonder why.
"Your dress is beautiful." One boy said to me, he was a cutie. He was small, little peach- fuzz showed as hair, and he had a bright smile. "I'm Scout." he announced, getting up. He reached for my hand and brought it to his lips, softly kissing my fragile hand. "Nice to meet you, Mandy." Hmm, I could get use to this!
"Isn't it?" Jessica mussed, smiling broadly. "We made it ourselves."
"I told you Jessie, you should go into your own design career." A girl, in a pastel purple dress laughed. Her voice was high and shallow. She was trouble, someone I knew I wouldn't like.
"Listen, Kaytee, shut up. I'm not doing anything until after high-school. Okay?"
"Fine. Your loss." Kaytee replied, flipping her softly curled golden brown hair over her shoulder. She seemed like a girl that I knew. Almost like a girl I never wanted to know, me.
"Anyway," Scout said, clearing his throat, breaking the moment.
"How long are you staying here?" Kaytee asked me, giggling when her eyes fell behind me. I turned, seeing Mike and Taylor walk into the room. It seemed like the dance beams just glistened off of them, drawing all vulnerable hearts to their sparkling smiles. They were the two most gorgeous guys in the room, and it felt so good to know that I was here with them. Well, with Taylor anyway.
"I'm moving here, Jess just told you. Your a quick one huh?" I laughed at Kaytee and silently excused myself to go join the 'men'.
- - - -
I approached them, knowing that my passion was radiating off my body, but I couldn't help it.
"I see you've met Kaytee, huh? What a pigeon." Mike laughed, rolling his eyes. "She drives any sane person crazy!"
"That's mean!" I laughed, though I knew I shouldn't of been. I don't know her very well, but from his remark, I don't think I want too, either.
"Well, it's true." Taylor added, shaking his head. I guess he's met her more then enough times.
"I've come to steal Tay away from you for a while, I think your girlfriend would appreciate you whisking her away from those two." I told Mike, twitching my head toward Jessie. Too much, I thought, this is too much too fast. Mike laughed, thanking me for the advice and walking away.
The D.J just started off the mood, and played the slow beginning of a familiar ballet. It was an 'old' song, back from 2000. It was called "This I Promise You", by non- other then the group *NSync. Funny huh? I haven't forgotten about them, how can I? J.C still calls me every now and then to go out and have fun whenever he was in Switzerland, or London. Which ever, I went between the two. "May I have this dance?" I asked Taylor, my face forcing seriousness. This has to be special, this would be our first time alone, our first time being together. This is our song.
Tay smiled softly, his eyes sparkling with passion for me. I pretended not to notice it, 'cz if I had noticed it, I would have melted in his arms then. He stepped closer, this eyes gazing into mine. I wondered which way we should dance, the high-school way, or the hand in hand way? Shrugging un-noticably, I placed my hands around his neck, shivering against his warmth. "Just like the old days?" I whispered, my head tilting up to see his reaction. He was still much taller then I was, and I had to step back alil' so my nose wasn't in his mouth when I tilted my head back.
"I guess you could say that." he replied.
"Mmm." I said, my body heating against him, as I realized I haven't felt this light- headed feeling in a long time. In years maybe, not since I left I can say that much.
"Are you really going to stay? Or are you going to pick up and leave again?" he whispered to me, and I felt my heart tense in pain. That was the first mean thing he has said to me all day.
"I deserve that." I said, looking away, I couldn't face him. "No," I whispered back, my cheek leaning softly against his chin. "I'm not leaving. I'm staying here, where I belong. I have everything, and I want to forget Matt. I want to forget it all."
"Do you?" he whispered, nudging my face away from him. I leaned back, looking into his eyes. They were blue and wet with emotions.
"Most of it. I want to forget the pain I caused you, all of you. I want to forget my foolishness, I want to forget Matt and the pain he caused me."
"Oh," Taylor replied softly. What could he say besides 'oh'? Nothing really, I know thats all I would say. The song picked up then, but slowed seconds after, the words were indented in my heart now, and I knew I would never forget this moment. Before I could think, Taylor had his lips pressed by my ear,whispering the words of the song to me softly. "And I will take you in my arms, and hold you right where you belong, to the day my life is through, this I promise you, this I promise you....I've loved you forever, and life-times before, and I promise you never, will you hurt anymore....I give you my word, I give you my heart, this is a battle we won, and with this vow, forever has now begun....just close your eyes, each now and day, and know this feeling won't go away, til the day my life is through, this I promise you..this I promise you...,-" I cut him off.
"Taylor?" I said, wishing I hadn't spoken.
"I promise you, Mandy, I do." he said, leaning his head down to me. I watched his mouth close the space between us, and I waited until he was seconds before he kissed me before I closed my eyes. I wanted this moment to be perfect. His mouth was hot, and new against mine, I almost melted then. I stopped, afraid, almost as if I didn't know what I was doing. "I promise." he said, pulling away just enough to speak. He touched his forehead to mine, gazing into my emerald eyes.
"I love you Taylor." I told him, my heart beating against his build chest. The song ended, and I leaned in, pressing hard against his lips. I closed my eyes, overcome with heated desire to be held by him. Immediately after "This I promise You", an old 2000 release of "If Only", by Hanson kicked up. Taylor laughed, and we continued to kiss, our bodies slowly moving to their pace, the music immune to us.
Finally.
