Starstruck

Chapter 27b: Resolution matrix (part 2)

I was grateful she didn't come right out and say it was hers, with Trina standing within earshot.

The DJ was playing a song I liked, and I was kind of hoping it might be my first-ever dance with Rigel, but before I could even hint at it, Trina grabbed him by the hand.

"Come on--let's let the committee know you're here. You need to be briefed on the program sequence."

He sent me a questioning look, but I shrugged and nodded--and couldn't quite suppress a snicker at Trina's self-importance. After facing almost certain death earlier today, being briefed on the "program sequence" just didn't seem like fate-of-the-world stuff. Still, he looked reluctant as he left me, which I didn't mind at all.

"So, did you hear?" Bri asked me the moment he was gone. "Like, a bomb or something exploded in a cornfield right next to the school today! They actually considered canceling the dance because of it, can you believe it?"

"Really?" I asked with what I thought was admirable cluelessness.

"Yeah." Matt, Bri's date, chimed in. "Derek and Paul went out later, after the cops left, to check it out, and they said there's like a crop circle or something out there."

"The cops came?" I hadn't known about that. "Did they find out what happened?"

Before Matt could answer, a voice came over the speakers--the Principal, announcing that it was time to crown the Homecoming Queen and King and their court. The students quieted down a little as Mr. Cowan presented Heather Williams and her king, Scott Anderson (our basketball star-this was Indiana, after all), then the rest of the court, including Trina and Rigel.

Heather made a brief little thank you speech, then the DJ queued up a slow dance to be led off by the Queen, King and court before the rest of us were allowed to join in. I watched Trina draping herself all over Rigel and tried not to mind. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Jimmy Franklin standing there.

"Oh, hey, Jimmy," I said, glancing behind him for his date. No one was there.

"Hey, M. I, um, I was wondering," he stammered, "since, you know, Rigel has to dance this one with Trina, if, um, you might, um, dance with me?"

Jimmy looked handsome and earnest and more than a little nervous as he waited for my reply. A couple of months ago, this would have transported me into complete ecstasy. Now, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Uh, sure. I guess that would be okay," I said as other couples started to drift out onto the dance floor to join the Homecoming court.

He led me out to the floor. I had to keep my gaze away from Bri, who kept giving me very-raised-eyebrow looks that were guaranteed to make me laugh. Instead, as I gingerly put one hand on Jimmy's shoulder and the other on his arm, I looked over at Rigel and Trina, which sobered me right up.

Trina was still pressing herself shamelessly against my boyfriend, though it looked like he was doing his best to fend her off by keeping his elbows between their bodies. Then they turned so her back was to me and he saw me. His eyebrows went up almost as high as Bri's, but then he grinned. I grinned back.

We spent the rest of the song smiling and winking at each other without our partners being any the wiser. As soon as the music ended, I politely thanked Jimmy, Pete reclaimed Trina, and then Rigel and I were together again.

"I'm really sorry about that," he said, taking both of my hands in his and pulling me close, even though the next song was a fast one. "I wanted my first dance to be with you."

So had I, but now that I was in his arms, I couldn't feel anything but happy. "That's what we get for being late," I said. "It's not your fault you're the most popular guy in the sophomore class."

He chuckled. "Homecoming Court doesn't quite compare with real royalty, but I guess it's something. Anyway," he added, holding me closer, "I don't plan to leave your side for the rest of the evening."

"Sounds good to me," I murmured.

We danced in contented silence. The next song was a slow one again, which made us a little less conspicuous, since we were treating them all that way. It was like we couldn't bear to let go of each other--at least, that was true for me.

"Happy?" he asked during our third dance.

I nodded, then finally asked the question I'd been dying to ask all evening. "So, your folks, Shim, they're . . . okay with, you know, us?"

He raised one shoulder in a half-shrug. "They'll have to be." Then he looked down at me, his expression serious, intense. "We're bonded, M. I don't think anything can change that. At least, I hope not."

I hoped not, too. I couldn't even imagine life without Rigel now, and I didn't want to. "I love you." The words were out of my mouth before I had time to worry about them.

A slow smile curved his perfect lips. "I love you, too, M. More than life itself. And that's saying a lot, since life is pretty special now that you're a part of it."

And then he kissed me and I knew that no matter what the future might bring, we were going to face it together. Me, the most unlikely princess ever, and Rigel--my very own star and the most wonderful guy on Earth.

THE END

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