50. I Was Practically Born With Two Left Feet
"Are you sure I look okay?" I asked Shayley probably for the thousandth time.
She, clearly annoyed by my nervous bickering just rolled her eyes. "Yes Khalan, you look amazing. Now stop fussing so much and let's hit the road before the party's over."
I sighed, taking a look at myself in the red long sleeved dress I was currently wearing. I don't even know why I was so nervous. Oh right, because I wasn't sure how the night with the guy I was crushing on was going to go. I guess I just wanted to know how he really felt.
"Have fun!" my mom shouted before we left.
"Will do mom! Thanks Mrs. M!" Shayley and I yelled back. She was in a beautiful mint-green strapless dress.
"I'm nervous," I admittedly blurted out when we were almost there.
"Why?" she asked.
I sighed. "I don't know. Things were great the last time we hung out. I guess I'm just scared I'm falling too fast. What if he doesn't even like me?"
"Oh trust me, he likes you," she assured me.
"You don't know that," I told her.
"I know that, you know that, heck just by watching you two even my dog would know that!"
"Alright, alright," I laughed.
She shook her head, focusing on the wheel once again.
Shawn's house was decorated beautifully when we got there. I stepped out into the cold and couldn't wait to get in. It was much fancier than I expected. Shayley gave my hand a squeeze and I smiled at her.
"Wow he's loaded," she gaped when we walked into the hall...or ballroom or whatever rich people call it. Right, she hadn't been inside before.
My eyes lit up when I spotted Shawn heading my way. He smiled but was aggressively whisked away by some blonde girl. He gave me an apologetic look and I just shrugged, indicating that it was okay.
"Well that didn't go as planned," I muttered.
"Oh hush," Shayley told me. "He may be dancing with a bunch of girls tonight but trust me, he'll be looking at only you."
I blushed and let out a small laugh. "Shut up, let's just go find the others."
We found them chatting beside the giant tree in one corner of the room.
"You guys look amazing," Jessica squealed before giving me a hug.
"As do you," I smiled. She was wearing a beautiful purple dress with sparkles.
"Wow," Jacob said.
"You like?" Shayley teased and gave a playful courtesy.
"I love," he laughed.
"If the whole thing with Shawn doesn't work out," Liam winked. "I'm just one call away."
I laughed, ignoring his tease. "I'll remember that."
The evening was going great, except I hadn't even had one conversation with Shawn. Liam and Jacob were on the dancefloor probably chatting up many girls that were present. My three best friends were waiting for me because I was waiting for Shawn.
I sighed. "You guys can go dance, really. It's fine."
"Sure?" Austin asked.
I nodded.
He and Jess smiled at me before making their way to the middle of the room.
"Well," Shayley said linking our arms. "I don't have a partner either so I'll wait with you."
"You sure?" I asked.
"Hell I'll wait till he asks you to senior prom if I had to."
I laughed before spotting him switch from the blonde to some other brunette. I rolled my eyes at her flirtatious attempts.
"Khalan," Logan approached.
"Oh hi Logan," I greeted.
"Ehem?" Shayley nudged me.
"Oh, Logan this is my friend Shayley. Shay, Shawn's brother Logan," I introduced.
"Well hello there Shayley," he said.
"Pleasure to meet you," she smiled.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked her.
"Of course," she chirped.
I looked at her. "What happened to senior prom?"
"Oh come on, please," she begged.
I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Go on."
"I love you," she grinned before taking Logan's hand.
"Nice seeing you Khalan!" he said as they walked away.
I smiled again and sighed.
"Care to dance?" someone asked.
I turned to face Jacob with his hand stretched out.
"You can't wait for him all night you know," he pointed out.
Oh screw it, he's right.
"You know what?" I said and placed my hand in his. "You're right, let's go."
We joined the others and danced.
"You're really good at this," I told him after he spun me.
He dipped me perfectly. "I might have a few tricks under my sleeve."
I chuckled. "You do this often?"
"Not really," he explained. "My grandmother made my sister and I take cotillion when we were younger. Most horrible moments of my life."
I giggled. "Well something good came out of it."
"I guess," he agreed.
It was time for that switch thing people did. I spun and found myself face to face with Liam.
"Hi," he grinned.
"Hi."
"I hope you're good at this," he told me. "Otherwise excuse my dancing."
I laugh. "I suck at this too, I just had a good partner."
"Then we'll just make it work," he laughed.
"Ow," I whispered when I felt pain on my foot.
"Oops, sorry about that," he apologized. "I was practically born with two left feet."
I laughed it off. "It's alright."
"May I cut in?"
Shawn.
"It's not time for the switch yet," Liam said.
Shawn just gave him a look.
He sighed and let me go. "Alright, alright."
"Thanks for the dance!" I genuinely told him.
He winked. "No problem."
"Shall we?" Shawn offered.
I took his hand and we began dancing.
"Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you tonight," he began. "My family's kept me busy."
"Oh it's alright," I said with a smug smile. "That blonde really took a lot of your time didn't she?"
He laughed. "What? Michaels, she's my cousin."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Awkward.
"Oh," I quickly said. "What about that brunette? The one practically stared at you like you're a giant plate of pizza."
He rolled his eyes. "Oh, Liv."
"Liv," I echoed. "Nice nickname."
"She's the daughter of one of my dad's business partners," he groaned. "Dancing with her was an obligation."
I laughed a little. "One that wasn't so bad."
"Please," he said. "She's pretty and all but she really isn't for me."
"She isn't your type?"
He shrugged. "She's nice but she talks so much. I spent the entire time looking for some sort of off button. She's a little too loud and has a way bigger ego. And that's big coming from me."
I laughed. Shawn had dominant personality, so it's only natural he didn't exactly need someone who would clash with him.
"So are you okay now?" he smirked. "Done being jealous?"
"Me? Jealous?" I playfully scoffed. "Why would I be?"
"I don't know," he teased. "You tell me."
I stuck my tongue out at him and he just laughed.
"I have to admit something though," he said sheepishly.
"What?" I asked, a little nervous.
"The other day...before Shayley's party," he began. "I kinda knew there was a chance of a snowstorm."
"What? Why didn't you tell me then?"
"Because you would have said no to going out and moped around in your room all day," he answered.
I rolled my eyes with a small smile on my face. "No I wouldn't have."
He chuckled. "Being completely honest, I may have just wanted to spend time with you."
Did he jut say that?
I smiled, not bothering to hide my red cheeks. He had probably seen me blush a thousand times by now.
"I um...I have to tell you something Mi-"
"Time to switch," someone pointed out, cutting Shawn off.
"Really?" he asked his brother.
"Yup," Freddie grinned.
I chuckled and took his hand, letting go of Shawn.
"Oh," I stopped to say. "You were about to say something?"
He shrugged. "It's nothing. It can wait. You look really beautiful tonight by the way."
I smiled. "Thanks," I responded and turned back to Freddie.
Christmas at Shawn's with my friends was fun. We danced, and ate and laughed. Usually I spent my Christmas evenings curled up on the couch in the living room watching a movie with the rest of my family, but this was definitely a nice change.
"I'll be in the car," Shayley told me when it was time to go.
"Okay," I sang. "I'll be right there."
I put my phone in my clutch and got up from my seat, scanning the room for Shawn. I couldn't see him. Oh well, I'll just call him from the car then, to let him know we're leaving.
Immediately I stepped outside the hall I heard him call my name.
I turned. "Oh, I didn't see you. I was just going to give you a call."
"Yeah," he began. "I was busy with someone. Almost forgot to give you this."
I got confused when he pulled out a small rectangular box from his pocket.
"You got me something?" I asked and he nodded sheepishly. "Well now I feel bad, I didn't get you anything."
He shook his head. "Don't, this is just to thank you."
"I feel like you're always thanking me," I snickered.
"Yeah well you've done a lot," he said, putting his hands in his pockets. Are my eyes deceiving me or was Shawn Mitchell's face actually reddening. "Tutoring and all."
"Right," I stated. According to Mr. Walden Shawn's grades were way better now. He didn't need any tutoring after the break. I was a little sad about that though, but hey, we could still hang out.
"Go ahead, open it," he told me.
I opened it and saw the prettiest bracelet ever. It had little dangling pink beads and a small plate with the inscription, 'Wild at Heart'.
"Shawn," I gasped. "It's beautiful. I love it, thank you."
"Really, you like it?" he asked and scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not exactly good at gifts and stuff so-"
"It's perfect," I cut him off. "Wait, was this one of your last minute gifts?"
He chuckled. "Nope...it was way last. I didn't exactly know what to get you so I asked Lilah to help."
"Well I love it," I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Shawn."
"Merry Christmas Michaels!" he said when I turned to leave.
I smiled at him. "Merry Christmas Shawn."
A/N
Up there is how I picture their dresses. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please keep voting and commenting :).
- amani