The Eventful Spring Fling

Saturday March 21, 

We made the decision to meet each other at the dance instead of going together. I stand with the boys in the back of the gym. Garrett is saying something about how the soccer team is going to win their game next week. Aaron then elbows me in the side, I look up and him and he points to the gym entrance. 

It felt like the world stopped spinning. Cora walked in, everyone else disappeared and suddenly it was just the two of us. Her brilliant blue eyes met mine, and she smiled a blinding smile. We started to walk towards each other. We met in the middle of the dance floor, and the world started to spin again. 

“Hey.” I breathed out.

“Hi.” She giggled. 

I grabbed her hand and pulled her off to the side away from the middle. She over my shoulder and started to giggle. I turned around to see what she was laughing at. It was the boys, they were making kissy faces at us. I could feel my face get hot. I turned to look back at Cora. 

“You look beautiful.” 

 “You don’t look half bad yourself.” 

I smiled down at her. I could feel someone staring at me. I started to look around, my eyes met cold blue ones. It was Cody, Cora’s twin brother. It was Cora’s turn to turn around. 

“Don’t mind him.”

“I’ll try not to.”

A song that neither of us knew was playing so we stood off to the side and talked.

“How is baseball going so far?” Cora asked. 

“It’s going alright, I’ve got a good feeling we are going to win the next game.”

“I’ll have to see if I can go then, is it at home or away?”

I smile, “It is a home game. It is going to be a good game, it is the rivaling school.”

“Well sounds like I can’t miss it.”

We continued to talk about sports. I learned that Cora is a big basketball fan, but when it comes to playing she  prefers the swim team over the basketball team. When the next song came on Cora’s face lit up.

“Liam, we have got to dance to at least this song.”

So I let her pull me onto the dance floor. Sure it wasn’t actual dancing, it was more like jumping around and moving our shoulders, but it was still fun. Cora and I were having a blast until her ex boyfriend walked up to us. I moved Cora so I was in between them. 

“What do you want, Xaun.” 

“Can’t I come up and start a conversation with my girlfriend.”

“Ex girlfriend, and I really don’t want to talk to you.” Cora spits. 

“You heard her, you can go now.”

Xaun began to walk closer. Both Cora and I knew immediately that he was drunk. Xaun isn’t a nice guy when sober, I am kind of worried about what he is like drunk. He starts towards me and pretty soon he is close enough that I can smell the alcohol from his breath. Faster than I had anticipated he stuck me. Cora shrieked. I could taste the metallic taste of blood, and with a spring in my step, I moved to strike him back. However, Cody and the boys showed up, and Cody being over six feet tall took care of Xaun, whereas the boys made sure both Cora and I were okay. 

A teacher had also come up to see what the problem was. We told her what happened, and she told me to go find a place to sit down while she went to go find some ice. Cora gently grabbed my face and angled it in the light so she could see. Her blue eyes became glassy with tears. From the look on her face, I knew she felt guilty. I moved my hands so they were over hers.

“I am so sorry.” She looked like she was going to cry.

“Don’t be.”

The boys fake gagged and said something about this being too lovey-dovey. I didn’t care, I looked down at Cora. I knew that in that moment that I loved this girl. I leaned down to kiss her, but the teacher walked back with the ice. Cora and I each looked the other way, faces as red as the tulips. The teacher just chuckled then handed me the ice pack and began to walk away. Probably to find Cody and Xaun. 

Cora took the ice from my hands and moved to where Xaun punched me. She held it there. I looked down at her lovingly. Cora met my gaze and smiled shyly. I slowly leaned down in my second attempt to kiss her. Although Cody chose that moment to walk over to us. I groaned and Cora laughed. Cody looked at me with an unidentifiable look. He muttered what I assume was a thanks. I just looked up at him confused. He put his hand behind his neck and nodded towards Cora. 

“If you hadn't put yourself between Cora and that pig who knows what he would have done to her. So thanks for taking a hit for my sister.” With that said Cody walked away.

I looked down at Cora and she looked up at me, her eyes glimmering with emotion. We held each other's gaze for what felt like a lifetime. Making attempt number three to kiss the girl of my dreams, I leaned down and she got on her tiptoes, to meet me part way. When our lips connected it felt like fireworks were exploding all over. Cora pulled away sooner than I thought. Her face was dusted pink, she looked back up at me. Before I knew what she was doing, she grabbed my tie pulling me back down to her level. She planted a kiss onto my lips. I grabbed her hips and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.  For the second time that night, the world had stopped spinning and it was just Cora and me in the gym.