Tears of July | √

12. Sparks Fly

Chapter 12

My heart was flailing wildly beneath my chest, and my breathing was hitched. And  if only my pride wasn't getting in the way, I would have run to Lyle and hugged him already. But I still felt so embarrassed and shocked and numb from what just happened.

Okay, Cass. Move your feet and get on with it already.

And so with every heavy step of my foot on the cold tiles, I walked down the stage and tried to shut out everyone around me.  Exhaling deeply, Lyle took my hand which caused a bazooka exploding inside my stomach. I looked at him with wide eyes and he gave my hand a small tug then we proceeded to the middle of the dance floor.

It felt like I was reminiscing back in the club when we were dancing, oblivious to the world as people around us were all so smitten. But now, this wasn't a joke. I was dancing with Lyle for heaven's sake. We were going to dance with half of the student body watching us. Of course all I wanted to do was run out of the doors and lock myself in my room and cry at that moment, but I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that if I wanted my innocent image be ruined with nothing but pure teasing and horrible memories.

As I placed my hands carefully on Lyle's shoulders, I felt some kind of spark fill my body which gave me tingly shivers.

Lyle looked at me with tranquil eyes, the sparkle behind his vision seeming like a hundred miles away. When he put his hands on my waist, I closed my eyes and breathed heavily, hoping to calm down. I tried not to scream in frustration as the instrumental song of Sparks Fly started playing, and I and Lyle's waltz was dull and wrong.

Opening my eyes, I was literally hyperventilating in nervousness. Lyle's eyes bored into mine and a small smile tugged on the corners of his perfect lips.

"Cass, look at me. Don't mind them."

And as he said those words, I relaxed and stared longingly in his green eyes, longer than I normally looked into. His hair swayed along with his body, his soft, spiky strands falling just above his eyes. I tightened my grip on his shoulders, the silky cloth of his tuxedo brushing my skin, leaving me breathless. Lyle stepped closer to me, and I couldn't help but slowly bury my head on his chest, closing my eyes, with only his hands guiding me how to dance. I inhaled in his familiar scent, and I couldn't help but smile a little, since I was really close to his body that I could feel his warmth cascading to my skin, and his breath hot near my forehead.

Get me with those green eyes, meet me as the lights go down, give me something that will haunt me when you're not around, 'cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile, I sang on my head, hoping to distract myself from everything.

I'll run my fingers through your hair and watch the lights go wild. Just keep on keeping your eyes on me, it's just wrong enough to make it feel right. And me at the staircase, won't you whisper soft and slow; I'm captivated by you baby like a firework show. Drop everything now, meet me in the pouring rain, kiss me on the sidewalk, take away the pain, 'cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile.

And the next thing I knew, the dance was over. Most of the students were now joining the slow dance.

I, on the other hand, found this as an exit and started hurrying to my table as everyone danced. I quickly took my purse and trudged my way to the back door entrance so no one would know I had left already. Zara tried to catch up with me, but I went on without her.

I'd have to find another way to get home.

Dialing my mom's number on my phone, I called her to pick me up. She asked me why I wanted to go home already, but I didn't answer. I vigorously took the tiara and ripped it away from my head, breaking it in half and burying it deep into my purse.