Chapter Twenty
"I found you Blondie."
I threw my head back and laughed. "I made it easy for you." I placed my arm in his outstretched hand. He led me further down the room, as my eyes wandered in amazement.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"
"Not yet." I say coyly, clearly milking this out.
"You look stunning." His blue eyes shining down at me, his words genuine.
Despite wanting to thank him for the sincere compliment, I decided to mess with him. "I know." I reply smirking. To my relief he chuckles lowly. "I've been rubbing off on you too much." He admits softly shaking his head.
He stops suddenly and I almost bump into his back. "Do you want to dance?" My normal response would be a strong 'no', but tonight was the exception.
"Yes." I found it hard to contain my excitement. Typically I would be worried about my lack of dancing skills and rhythm combines with the novice abilities on heels, yet I forgot about all of that. I was optimistic for once, and the feeling was addictive.
Derric leds me to the dance floor where we were surrounded by tons of sweaty teenagers. I didn't give it another thought. He puts his hands on my waist and instructs me to place mine on his shoulders.
We began to sway in a slow-dance like fashion, the song Only You by Little Mix in the background.
"This isn't really a song for slow dancing." I comment looking past his shoulders at the stares we were getting. "People are looking." I felt compelled to tell him.
"Then let them." He must have sensed my uneasiness, because he added on, "Focus on me and this moment. Don't worry about what they were saying, tonight is about us." He pushed a piece of my hair behind my ear.
"You know for a moment there I thought you weren't coming." He changes the subject. Even in the dim lighting, I could see the nervousness on his face. "I considered texting you again but thought I would give you a break." He joked easing the tension.
"I'm glad you reconsidered because you were two texts away from being blocked." I smiled. "I came an hour late to keep you on your toes and make a grand entrance." I spared him the unnecessary details.
"You certainly are the focus of everyone in the room." Derric remarked staring directly into my eyes. I had the urge to avert my line of sight from his intense gaze, but ultimately couldn't tear myself away.
"Including you?" I asked unsure of where this flirtatious side of me came from.
"You had my attention long before that." My poor heart would not keep up with him. Derric Wilder would be the death of me, and I was surprisingly ok with that.
"The decorations are amazing." My eyes drifting to an ice sculpture behind him. I changed the subject to avoid dealing with his compliment. I didn't know how to deal with blatant compliments, having rarely received them.
"We didn't come this far to talk about the decorations." He reminded me with the hint of a small smile tugging the corner of his lips.
"And what did we come here for?"
"To be with you." Derric informed me. "I wanted the opportunity to talk to you in public without any worries someone might see us. Your mask does most of the work." He taps the edge of it lightly.
"You've seen me without it plenty of times." I mention, we go running practically every day.
"But do I know the girl behind it?" He questions.
"In everything but the name." I reaffirm.
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We danced for another hour and I can't remember when I had that much fun. We swayed and twirled and in general made a fool out of ourselves slow dancing to pop songs. As we spun around in circles and laughed over stupid jokes. Although we mostly poked fun at our dancing, we are both lousy dances.
I had no care in the world, not for the girls whispering or pointing. I was solely focused on the moment and Derric. All of my problems and worries seemed to melt away just by being with him. The feeling was exhilarating.
Although after an hour we began to feel a slight drainage of energy and decided to take a break. "Drinks?" Derric suggested, a slight pant to his voice. I could see a few beads of sweat on his forehead and the light tinge of pink to his cheeks.
"Sounds good." I say trying to catch my breath. Derric left with the promise he would be back with two cold drinks.
I leaned against the table overlooking the dance floor and taking in my surroundings. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, either dancing, chatting or taking pictures at the photo booth. It seemed like nothing could bring me down.
Of course I had to jinx it.
As my eyes swept over the party, I caught sight of Edmon. He turned his head at the right moment and our eyes met, his widened in shock. Now was not the best time for a confrontation. I didn't want to argue with him again.
I saw Edmon walking towards me, intending to approach. Fortunately Derric came back with two drinks in his hands. "Don't worry, it's just soda." He hands me one without looking before catching sight of my face.
"You looked spooked, what's wrong?"
"Edmon." I nodded my head in his general direction.
"Do you want me to tell that piece of shit to go away?" His voice revealing a harsh anger. Nevertheless, I shook my head.
"I'll deal with him later." It was a promise I had every intention of keeping.
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Derric and I took our drinks away from the general party. He led me to a quieter part of the country club, still decorated in all its party glory. We could still feel the pulsing of the music.
We stood by a tall table overlooking a balcony. "Do you want to step outside?" Derric asks with an eyebrow raised.
"It's freezing." I point out, a fact I neglected to feel walking in.
Derric shrugged off his black suit jacket and draped it across my shoulders. "Better?" He asked.
"Just a little." I say. He puts an arm around my shoulder and leads us outside. One cold wind hits our face and freezes us up instantly. One more minute out there and we would have gotten frostbite.
Without a word exchanged between us, we walk right back out. "That was short lived."
"Yeah the cold really ruined the moment." I laughed and he joined in.
There goes that hallmark moment every talks about.
"I like spending time with you." I blurt out, subconsciously wrapping his jacket still on my shoulders tighter. "I can be myself for once without having to hide."
"I don't want you to hide yourself with me. I want get the real and true Blondie." He takes a step closer to me. "And for the record, I like spending time with you too."
He cleared his throat and looked nervous for a second. "I have something I want to tell you, and it's slightly embarrassing if it turns out the way I think it will." He was rambling.
I put a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me." I urge him, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"I can't get you out of my mind Blondie. It seems like every thought I have always finds a way back to you. And I hate that I can't put a name to the face because I have come to know so much about you."
"What I'm trying to say is, I have feelings for you, but I feel it's incomplete without your name."
"Derric-"
"Please don't tell me I've read this situation wrong and made a complete fool out of myself." He shakes his head.
"You're not wrong." I say quietly. It was now or never.
I put my hands on the back of my mask and slowly untie the knotted ribbon. I close my eyes and slide it off, falling into my hands. I was finally ready. The mask comes off and he sees my uncovered face.
"My name is A-"