𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𓂃⋆.˚ 𝐒.𝐇

F O U R T E E N

"Everyone dances to this song," Steve argued, grabbing her hand before she could protest.

"Steve!" she exclaimed, but he was already pulling her to her feet.

Her laughter bubbled out despite herself as he twirled her around, his movements exaggerated and goofy. At first, she felt self-conscious, acutely aware of how awkward and stiff she probably looked. But Steve's enthusiasm was infectious, and soon she found herself letting go, moving to the beat with a freedom she hadn't felt in ages.

By the time the song ended, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed from laughter and exertion. Steve flopped back onto the bed, grinning up at her.

"You're a natural," he said.

"I told you, I don't dance," Ana replied, still catching her breath.

"Well, you should. You're good at it," he said simply.

Ana looked away, her cheeks burning again. Her heart was racing, and she wasn't sure if it was from the dancing or the way he was looking at her. Joyce's words echoed faintly in her mind once more. "It's kind of wonderful, isn't it?"

The next song started, and Steve froze mid-laugh.

"Is this 'Rock You Like a Hurricane'?" he asked, his voice full of disbelief.

Ana nodded, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. What, you didn't think I'd like rock music?"

"It's just... unexpected," he admitted. "But kind of awesome."

Ana shrugged. "It's my secret. I've always loved rock and metal. My dad used to play it when I was a kid."

"That's badass," Steve said, clearly impressed.

"Thanks," she said softly.

As the tape continued, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper began to play, and Ana's entire face lit up.

"This one's my favorite," she admitted, her voice almost giddy.

Steve noticed the change in her immediately. Her smile was radiant, her eyes sparkling with a happiness that was impossible to ignore. For a moment, he just watched her, struck by how different she looked when she let her guard down.

"One more dance?" he suggested, standing up again.

Ana hesitated, her heart fluttering at the way he asked. But then she nodded shyly, letting him take her hand once more.

They spun and laughed together, their laughter mingling with the music, and for the first time in a long time, Ana felt completely carefree. By the time the song ended, her cheeks ached from smiling so much, and her heart felt impossibly light.

🧇🔦🚲📺

Later, as they returned to their books, the room felt quieter but no less warm. Steve had changed the cassette to one of his own, letting soft rock play in the background as they studied.

Ana tried to focus on her notes, but her thoughts kept drifting to the way Steve had smiled at her during their impromptu dance session, the way he'd made her feel like the most important person in the room.

When the evening ended and she packed up to leave, Ana was still lost in her thoughts. She barely noticed that she'd left her cassette on his desk, her mind too preoccupied with the way her heart seemed to skip every time she thought of him.

As she drove home, the memory of his laugh, his touch, and the way he'd made her feel lingered like the echo of a song.

Maybe Joyce was right. Maybe it really was a crush.