D E J A
I jumped as the school bell rang, I gained my thoughts as I looked around the room to see it was time for lunch.
I picked up my books as our history teacher told us we had a quiz on Monday, but nobody listened because this weekend was the Winter Dance for the whole high school, even the freshmen were allowed to go, which is what I was.
All the girls batted they're pretty eyes and the boys fell at their feet as I walked down the halls, it seemed like everyone was being asked.
I looked up from the ground to see Louie Zamperini running down the hall.
No one paid much mind to the troubled kid, but I smiled at my old friend.
He stopped for a second, skidding in his tracks.
"Golde, I've gotta make this quick," He spoke out of breath as he stood in front of me, holding my shoulders.
"Will you go to the Winter Dance with me?" He asked, a smile grew on my face.
"Of course I will, Zamperini." I spoke happily, I felt whispers behind me, people already starting to talk.
"Good, good, I'll pick you up at 7, alright?" He asked and I nodded before we heard someone else running down the hall.
We both looked to see a teacher running down the hall, clutching a piece of paper, what it had on it was beyond me.
Louie took off, much faster than the man chasing him.
"Zamperini!" Teacher McGregor shouted as he stopped running to catch his breath.
He took off again, I felt someone pinch my sides and I turned quickly.
"Arthur, hi." I smiled as I held my books close to me.
"Hey, cutie. Was that boy giving you any trouble?" He said gesturing towards Zamperini who ran by seconds earlier.
"You know him, he's always bugging her." Danielle joked as she walked up to me.
A few kids stood around me as I put my books away, "Louie is a good guy. You guys need to give him a chance." I sighed.
"He stole out of your parents store, Deja." Danielle said giving me a blank look before I closed my locker.
"And he apologized and returned the money he took." I said leaning on the lockers. (A/N so Louie paid for the necklace he stole 😍)
"Let's forget about that loser," Arthur said leaning over me, his arm on the lockers behind me.
I glared at Arthur, he was a jock who has the world in his palm-- in high school.
"You won't be calling him that when he goes to the Olympics." I smirked and he scoffed.
"Anyways," He exhaled loudly, "I'll pick you up around 7:30 tomorrow?" He said and I gave him a weird look.
"Is that how you ask me?" I said looking up at him, my eyes slightly squinted.
He gave me a weird look, "So the quarterback and cheer captain aren't going together?" He laughed, like it was a given.
"No, they're not." I said giving him a bewildering look, speaking of myself as a third person.
"Fine, fine. Will you, Deja, go to the Winter Dance with me?" He asked as our group of friends giggled as they watched Arthur slightly bow, offering his hand to me.
"Sorry, I already have a date." I smiled before I lightly brushed past the boy.
My friends mouths hung open as I walked away, while I was smiling widely.
--
I exhaled quietly as I walked into the gym, make-shifted into a dance floor, and a punch table while a local band played for the teenagers and chauffeurs.
We heard quiet murmurs as I walked in with Louie Zamperini, I held onto his arm.
Even a few teachers gave us dumbfounded looks.
"Would you like to dance?" He asked, turning to face me.
I cringed because I couldn't dance worth a hoot.
"You can step on my toes, I won't mind." He smiled, his eyes endearing as he looked at me.
I took his hand and he lead me onto the floor.
Time flew as he showed me some dance moves- which involved laughter and me stepping on his toes.
We decided to take a break and he took my hand in his, leading me to the punch table.
My 14-year-old heart could hardly take his blue eyes in his suit as he went to get some punch for me.
"Deja, you look amazing." I heard Arthur speak and I turned to see him scan my body.
"Uh, thanks Arthur." I spoke awkwardly, moving my hands uncomfortably.
"Where's your date?" He cleared his throat.
"Oh, Louie is, uh, getting some punch." I said glancing back at my date but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"So the rumors are true- you did come with the loser." He laughed.
I looked up at him, angry.
"Stop calling him that." I said turning to walk away from the rude boy.
"Uh-uh, you owe me a dance." He grabbed my wrist tightly and pulled me up against him.
"I don't owe you anything.." I said as I tried to push away from him, "Stop playing hard to get, baby." He snickered.
"Are you deaf or drunk? I said no." I spoke in a hushed whisper as I pushed him harshly, finally getting out of his grip.
"So now what? Are you going to run to your dumb little boyfriend?" He laughed, "He can't stop me, now." He scoffed.
My heart sunk as I swallowed, "What did you do?" I asked, trying to seem tough.
He smiled before whipping out his flask and taking a drink of it.
I shoved him, causing his lightweight tolerance to make him tumble to the ground.
The school looked at the drunk doofus before I noticed some of Arthur's goons were missing.
I quickly ran out of the gym, down the hallway and towards the parking lot.
I pushed the door open with a loud clang, I looked from left to right before I saw Arthur's boys pushing Louie against a wall.
I tossed my heals into the grass as I ran over to them, "Hey!" I shouted at the two jocks looked my way.
"Let go of him and get out of here before I call the cops." I warned, because they both knew my dad was the sheriff of Torrance.
They let go of Louie before they bolted, I ran to Louie as he fell to his knees, grass staining his dress pants.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked as I kneeled down so I was at his height- finally.
"Yeah, yeah. Are you okay?" He looked up at me with a busted lip, "You have the mordacity to ask that after you get beat up?" I chuckled.
"I saw Arthur walking up to you, I didn't know if he tried anything." He said as we stood up.
"I'm fine.. Just worried about you." I said before we went back into the school where I cleaned his lip.
I felt his eyes staring at mine, I leaned closely to try and be precise so I didn't hurt him any further.
A/N baby Zamperini