None Other Than You Read online

  "You look really pretty, Duke." Emma breathes. She didn't see me get ready because I helped her before throwing on my dress.

  I knew my dress was pretty, but I didn't think I'd get a staring reaction.

  I stand there and hug my arms closer, though all that does is make me look bustier. My dress is a dark, dark blue that clings tightly to my frame showing off any curves I might have. The cut is pretty modest, a square formed by the thick straps speckled with fake diamonds that sparkle in the dim lights of the dance. Made of a satin material, the dress isn't all that warm, hence my cold state. A strap the same width as the straps in front runs across the middle of my shoulder blades while the rest of the dress comes back together five inches or so above my tailbone so it doesn't help to brush the cold off much either. The material is somewhat scrunched up over my behind, but it looks elegant. Simple to say, my back is quite bare.

  "You can stop staring now." I say a moment later. I've said it before, I don't like being the center of attention, but that's exactly what is happening.

  Jake gives a low whistle at the same time as Carrie. The two look at each other and laugh. "You clean up good, Duke."

  "Well." I correct him, nudging his ribs. "You don't look too bad in that tux yourself, Zidichowski." He grins, putting his arm around Carrie just to swing her onto the dance floor where quite a few other students are have already begun forming clusters of dancers.

  Grinders might be a more appropriate term for the groups however, as the hard beat of the music and the influence of M.T.V. makes 'dancing' lately a pretense for dry humping.

  Our group migrates to the floor at the edge of the clusters where I catch site of Allison in her skin-tight pink dress. Did I mention the giant slit up her leg? It ends a good way up her leg. I think if somebody could catch it right they just might see inside that slit to something I for one certainly don't want to see. I'm most definitely staying away from her tonight to avoid seeing that.

  Also because she's a bitch, but hey, we all know that much. Except for Patrick, poor kid. It's not like we haven't tried getting him to give her up, he just thinks that she's capable of change, unlike any of us believe.

  Emma and Ryan bully me into dancing in our tight circle as we slowly migrate toward the middle of the dance floor. I think that almost every dance has found my brother and best friend bullying me into dancing with them.

  Except this time it seems like everyone is couple up.

  Even looking around the dance floor I notice there are more couples at this dance than any in the past. There have always been more people coming stag than in couples and now, part of the outnumbered in the crowd, I feel completely out of place. I dance meekly as our group migrates more, simply moving my feet and arms to the music, not really enjoying it.

  Standing on the edge of our circle, I try to ease my way out to at least sit at a table instead of numbly dancing, but hands encircle my waist and begin to move me more to the rhythm of the music. I flip my head around to find myself face to face with Jake, grinning like an idiot.

  "Jacob Zidichowski!? Where is your date?" I scan our circle for Carrie but can't spot the spunky girl anywhere.

  Jake chuckles behind me and sways me more. "She went to the bathroom and told me to get you to dance." Turning me around in his arms, he begins to swing dance with me, our bodies swaying past each other. "I'm obliging her wishes." He says with a wink. "Now follow my lead." He grins wolfishly and spins me around twice before twirling me back into his arms and dipping me so low that my hair, wound up in bobby pins, touched the floor. When he brings me back up, his grin is even wider and his eyes are sparkling.

  I grin back just as hard, my eyes grinning as well. "You better not drop me, Zidichowski, or there'll be hell to pay."

  He shakes his head. "I just want you to dance, Duke. I know you can do it 'cause Ryan's dragged me to your recitals, and I've seen that you've got more in your than this." At that, he mocks my dancing before his intrusion. I laugh at what I looked like. "It doesn't matter if you enjoy the company you're with, though it helps. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and the music."

  With one last devilish grin, Jake leaves me to go find his date at the restrooms.

  He's right I realize. I can just dance for myself and curse whatever anyone else thinks. Joining back in the circle in between Tyler, Avery, Ryan, and Emma, I simply listen in to the beat of the music. I get the rhythm and start swaying my hips, letting the notes guide my movements as the swell or diminish. Throwing my arms into the mix, I bring them above my head and close my eyes, letting the sounds wash over me.

  This is what I truly enjoy.

  For the next half hour I simply let the music move and bend me to its will. The entire group surrounds me as well as the entire congregation of the event, but I dance alone. The only parts of the room I am concerned about are the floor that my feet glide across, the music coming from two large amps to my right and left, and myself, dancing fluidly on the floor.

  Another body creeping up behind mine once again interjects my solitary dance.

  Sighing but not slowing my dance, I say, "Jake, you've already made me dance, I don't need another pep talk to get me going."

  "I'm not Jake." A distinguished voice says. Flipping around quickly, I find myself face to face with Teigan. Is it just me or does this situation keep popping up lately? I immediately stop dancing and move out of his arms' reach.

  "Then can I help you with something because if I'm not mistaken, you have a date that will probably have a very catty attitude toward me if you don't move back towards her in about five seconds." I scour the floor for a glimpse of Lily's bright green entourage. Finding her, I see her sitting on the lap of Dane Allbrook, yet another of the brainless, good-looking male population of Oakridge.

  I let out a low whistle. "You've been ditched for Allbrook?" He nods curtly. "Ouch."

  "No kidding." Our gazes catch and he holds mine as long as he can. It's hard not to get lost in those dark blue eyes of his when they're searching so intently in mine for something. What he's searching for eludes my mind, but his eyes are the color of the ocean, a sight I never tire of seeing.

  The song changes to a slow one, and Teigan's mouth twitches into a soft smile. "Dance with me?" He asks softly.

  "Using up your one free dance already?"

  "This isn't the last dance."

  I smirk, "So then I don't have to accept."

  He gives me his puppy-dog pout, holding a hand out for me to accept. "I've just been ditched by my date at the Winter Ball," He says dramatically. I hold back a snicker. "Have some sympathy for a pathetic excuse for a man."

  "Man? I'd say you're still a boy."

  "Only you and my mother would stick to that saying. She doesn't want me to grow up and you see me as immature." He shakes his head with a small grin. "Now will you please give me the pleasure of a secondary dance to your promised first?"

  Eyeing his hand suspiciously for a moment, I slowly take it. He smiles softly and pulls me close to him, still leaving space in between us. My arms are atop his shoulders, and his hands on my waist. My real waist. Even with the space, I can feel the heat radiating from his body. I keep my face turned to the side and away from his shoulder. The height difference between the two of us is noticeable to say the least, his chin could easily rest on the top of my head.

  "See, Ace, this isn't so bad." He keeps the distance between us resolute.

  I have to look up to see his face to find him looking down at mine. Our noses are barely a half inch apart as we stare into each others eyes in close proximity. At the same moment, we both look the opposite direction to recover from the near contact.

  It felt like he was debating with himself whether or not to kiss me.

  The rest of the slow dance I avoid looking at his face.

  At least what part of the slow dance we could finish.

  "Why are you dancing with her?" Comes the accusing voice of Lily Parett.

  Teigan shrugs lightly under my
hands. I begin to separate but Teigan holds me in place. "You were busy with another guy. I figured I could give someone without a date a dance."

  Oh yes, pity party for Delaney.

  Lily's face turns a light shade of crimson. "I can go off with other guys. You aren't supposed to go with other girls. Don't you know the rules?"

  Shrugging again Teigan says offhandedly. "Actually I don't know the rules, but if you're that upset with me about it then I'll just dance with Duke here until eleven."

  "I plan on leaving at ten." I pipe in.

  "Hush." Teigan hisses in my ear. What?

  Lily attempts to bore a whole in me with her glare. "Back off my date you whore."

  I glare at her under the flashing lights of the D.J. "Don't use those insults on me. I'm not the one who's slept with half the males at our school."

  "And where did you hear that from?"

  "Every male at our school." I retort.

  She glowers and her cheeks burn. I honestly didn't think she was capable of feeling embarrassment over her actions. "Get the hell away from my date, Duke Knight, or you'll regret it."

  "What, you'll get the whole school to gossip about my awful reputation? How I slept with someone after the dance? Will you use Teigan in the comments too?" She says nothing. I continue, "Guess what, it won't work. I don't care if people talk about me. I have my friends and family and there is nothing you could do to hurt me."

  "Oh but there is." Lily says with a glint in her eye. When I say nothing she goes on, "You forget that Jessa used to be your friend and that she is completely loyal to Allison. I know about your past Duke. I know all about your families little secrets. And I can use them against you."

  I know I pale as she speaks, backing away from her and Teigan. I glance at the boy before looking back at Lily. The threat is real.

  "Don't you dare." I whisper not even knowing if she hears me.

  "Oh I will. Get away from my date."

  "Gladly." I say, retreating towards the bathrooms. My heart's sped up and my breathing has become ragged. How date she bring up memories like that? How dare she threaten to release my families past without realizing what it would do to both Ryan and I? I grab a drink from the table as I pass it and down it quickly.

  "Delaney." Someone whispers behind me as I stop for a moment by a pillar. I turn around, facing Teigan.

  I stare up into his eyes and shake my head. "Go back to Lily. I'm not about to chance what she said she'll do. She meant it and I can't have her telling everyone about my –"

  "Delaney." He says again, softer and kinder. "I threatened her right back. She won't say anything if she values her own status. And you know she does."

  Still looking into his eyes, I curse him. "Ever since you came to this school you've turned everything upside down. I can't escape you and everyone keeps noticing me now that you're here. You talk to me and people look. You say you like me and girls get jealous and suddenly hate me. You're causing so much trouble and you don't even realize it!"

  "If you don't want me here then I understand, Duke." He turns to leave but I grab his arm, sighing.

  "That's not what I meant."

  Turning back around he waits for me to speak. "Thank you, for helping me." I whisper. I don't know if he can hear me over the pulse of the music.

  "Delaney, you're doing something to me that I'm not used to. I'm sorry if I come off as a jerk, but that's how I keep people from getting too close. You've somehow wedged your way in there—"

  "Hey you two!" Jake says with Carrie, Tyler, and Avery trailing behind him. "Guess what we just saw."

  He says, his eyes glinting with amusement.

  "What?" I ask, relief flooding my frame as Teigan's confession is cut short.

  Carrie grins and says, "The first kiss between your brother and best friend."

  I grin widely and ask quickly, "Where?"

  The six of us head around the corner to where the couple was last seen and, sure enough, there they are. Emma is pinned against the wall and running her hands through Ryan's hair while Ryan's hands hold her close around her waist, their mouths connected in a long, passionate kiss.

  "I think we should leave them be."

  "Oh c'mon. We have a right to watch," Jake says. "We've been trying to get them together for what, three years?"

  I chuckle. "Good point, Zidichowski."

  We watch for a while longer but nothing else happens. Drifting back towards the dance floor we pass Lily conversing with Allison and Jessa. The three of them glare at me as Teigan protectively places himself in between the girls and I.

  I shake my head in disbelief. It seems as though I've made three new allies, but against Allison Hawley, that's not much.

  The end of the dance comes after more long dances of pulsing beats, a few more slow dances shared with Teigan, Jake, and Tyler in turn, and many pointed glares from girls all throughout the dance floor.

  The last song comes much sooner than I expected, having much more fun with my group of Jake, Carrie, Tyler, Avery, Teigan, and occasionally Emma, and Ryan when they decided to take a break from making out with each other in the corners of the expansive room.

  Emma and Ryan are nowhere to be found as the song begins, and Jake and Carrie, Tyler and Avery quickly group together, enjoying their last dance.

  Teigan looks down at me with his big blue eyes and holds out his hand for me to take. I place my hand in his slowly and he pulls me gently forward. This time, the space he had left between us during all the other dances is foregone and he holds me close against his lean frame. My arms looped around his shoulders once again make it difficult for me to do much else with my head except to lean it against the crook of his neck and arm. The stance makes for a comfortable moment.

  After a time of swaying slowly back and forth, I close my eyes. Soon after that, Teigan rests his head delicately atop mine, and I notice his breathing quickens.

  I loose myself within the words of the song, one I don't recognize.

  Feels like I have always known you

  And I swear I dreamt about you

  All those endless nights I was alone

  It's like I've spent forever searching

  Now I know that it was worth it

  With you it feels like I am finally home

  I suddenly remember how Teigan and I used to play when we were little. I don't know how I could've forgotten him with all the times he tortured me, chased me around, and put worms down my shirt. Having him hold me in his arms like this, makes it seem as though he's completely different then he was back then.

  Falling head over heels

  Thought I knew how it feels

  But with you it's like the first day of my life

  Of course I know he's changed, but it's because he's grown up. I can tell that behind that ego of his is someone who may genuinely care about me.

  'Cause you leave me speechless

  When you talk to me

  You leave me breathless

  The way you look at me

  You manage to disarm me

  My soul is shining through

  Can't help but surrender

  My everything to you

  I didn't think anyone could make me feel this way. Butterflies seem to be stirring up in my stomach and my heartbeat quickens with his. Without even thinking, I pull my arms tighter around his neck. He automatically tightens his hold around my waist, bringing us even closer.

  I thought I could resist you

  I thought that I was strong

  Somehow you were different from what I've known

  I didn't see you coming

  You took me by surprise and

  You stole my heart before I could say no

  I didn't think anyone could catch me off guard as much as he has.

  Falling head over heels

  Thought I knew how it feels

  But with you it's like the first day of my life

  You leave me speechless

  When you talk to me

&n
bsp; You leave me breathless

  The way you look at me

  You manage to disarm me

  My soul is shining through

  I can't help but surrender

  Oh no

  My everything to you

  I can feel myself giving into his charms as he holds me and sways with me back and forth, back and forth.

  You leave me speechless

  (the way you smile, the way you touch my face)

  You leave me breathless

  (it's something that you do I can't explain)

  I run a million miles just to hear you say my name

  Baby

  I'm falling for Darren Teigan…

  You leave me speechless

  You leave me breathless

  The way you look at me

  You manage to disarm me

  My soul is shining through

  I can't help but surrender

  My everything to you

  The song's last note resounds throughout the room and I look up into Teigan's eyes, searching them to see if he feels the same.

  "Delaney, I—"

  "Ryan! How could you?!" Comes Emma's unmistakable voice from the edge of the dance floor. Both Teigan and I whip around to see what the commotion is about. The entire dances' occupants seem to be watching the couple as well.

  Emma has tears in her eyes and is hauling towards the coat room fast. Ryan is running behind her and trying to get her attention.

  "Emma, really. I didn't mean it! Please!"

  "No! I thought I could trust you but obviously not!" She barges into the coat room and comes out a second later, heavy coat, clutch purse, and high heels in hand.

  "Emma—"

  "No! That wasn't something you could use against me."

  "But Emma—"

  "Just stop Ryan." Her lip quivers as more tears stream down her face. "Just. Stop." With that she walks out of the building, leaving Ryan stunned behind her.

  I look up at Teigan, his face expressing the same confusion as mine. Reluctantly he lets me out of his embrace. "I'll go after Em. Will you take care of Ryan?" He nods and with a quick kiss on the top of my head we part ways.

  Chapter Eleven: The Aftermath

  Ryan and I sit in my room, pillows creating a sort of fort around us, and equipped with large mugs of hot chocolate and marshmallows. We sit in silence as I wait for him to speak. He knows I'm waiting for an explanation about the dance. After he attempted to run after Emma, he ended up storming into his car and I had to follow him home. When I got there he was already in the shower. He stayed in there for about forty minutes and I just prayed he wasn't trying to drown himself.