A Dance to Remember(Ridenour Academy Chronicles)

“Naoko!”

He knows Seina’s voice anywhere. The class president’s heart rate triples hearing his vivacious classmate and former friend breaking free from the circle of the rest of the brightly dressed mages of the advanced arts department.

 Even without her shouting from across the room, Naoko could spot Seina in a dark room with her neon green tights and electric blue shorts in the sea of students present at the Valentine’s Day dance. Dressed in a black suit and tie for the occasion, Naoko appeared dignified as he made sure people keep their distance from each other or set anything on fire with their magical abilities. He and Seina appear to be night and day with her flashy electric green platform boots and her electrifying blue hair that matches her striking eyes. Seina is a fascinating, beautiful goddess to him who glides into her own rhythm of life. She is a fairy and nymph among mortals.

“God, she looks so gaudy,” Ivelisse Abernathy, the proud fire mage of the freshman council and the niece of the headmistress, states with a frown. She pats Koda. “Good luck.” Ivelisse walks away to stop a couple who are too close.

“Hey! This isn’t a brothel!” Ivelisse screams, racing over to the other side of the gym, the red train of her dress flying after her like a matador’s flag.

“What crawled up her butt?” Seina comments, watching Ivelisse leave. Her voice is now at a reasonable volume. Her eyes scan him. “Why are you dressed like the president of the states? It’s a party. Relax and dance.”

Seina loops her arm through his. Her bright blue eyes search him curiously. “Better yet, you wanna dance with me? If it’s your first time dancing with a pretty girl, I’ll take it slow.” Seina purrs, widening her smile at him, causing Naoko to suck in a light breath. 

God damn her.

He removes his arm and responds sternly, “No, I’m monitoring the dance. I promised the headmistress that I would monitor things. She’s counting on me.” His grave tone before looking toward the clock at the back of the gymnasium, so he wouldn’t have to look at the girl he was so attracted to. Seina smacks her lips, shaking her head. “Dude, take a chill pill. You don’t have to be so serious all the time. This party is the raddest dance we’ll probably have before the finals. You’re being hella lame.” 

Seina taps her foot and points to the back of the gym. “Plus, old lady Abernathy is back there having fun.” It was true their thirty-one-year-old principal moved with a surprising grace in her pink pantsuit.

“Holy crap, she’s dancing with Headmaster Thorne.” Seina whistles, watching over her shoulder. “Didn’t know they were banging each other. Huh, I guess old people can fuck too.” Naoko winces at her crudeness. Therefore, people made up rumors about her. Seina always said what was on her mind, regardless if it was appropriate or not. “I’m sure they’re not …fu- sleeping together, Seina. They’re just dancing together. That’s all.” He turns his attention back to Seina. His eyes flickered from her face to the top of her head. 

He would not look directly at her, damn it!

 “Do you always have to be so vulgar when you talk about things? Maybe you’re the one that needs to take a chill pill.” He responds, attempting to keep his formal tone with her. Seina waves her hand at him. “Guys, do it all the time. Why can’t I? Especially the ones you’re on the Hex Hitters team with.” Seina says cocking her eyebrow at him pressing her lips together. Shit, she had him. Naoko was silent. “Okay, fine. So, what? It’s just weird when a girl says stuff like that.”

“Why?” Seina said, crossing her arms.

“It just is, okay.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Well, it’s my answer.”

Seina rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say, man. If you guys can do it, I can do it too. Especially for you.” She adds flirtatiously. Naoko sucks in his teeth lightly. That girl was never the subtle one. As much as he found her attractive and enchanting, the trajectory of his academic and future political career would not allow for romance. Especially with a girl like Seina.

Someone like Ivelisse Abernathy or Vyx Wooddrox, who are Naoko's social equals, would be more suitable for his future political career.

However.

Naoko finally meets Seina’s eyes and his heart races.

Fuck.

“Don’t you have something better to do than bother me?” He replies, keeping his cool.

“I would, but you keep turning me down to do you,” Seina counters. “Plus, just admit you like me.” She flashes him a cunning smile.

“W-what the hell are you talking about? Tch, stop saying weird things.” Naoko tears his eyes away from her face, attempting to conceal a blush. “You’re not even my type.” He replies, causing Seina to laugh, placing her hand over her mouth.

“Really? that’s not what I heard, Mr. Class President.” Seina tilts her head, looking up at the flustered water mage.

“Tch, whatever.” Naoko frowns as a slower song is played by Whitney Houston.

“Ohhhhh, my gosh, this is her new song!” Seina squeals. Several people turned around to look in their direction. “Gosh, Seina, you don’t have to scream,” Naoko attempts to shush her.

“And oh my gosh! The scene with the bodyguard in the movie was so cute! Naoko! Did you see it? The colors were so fabulous! The color scheme really set the-” Embarrassed, he grabs her hands dragging her to the dancefloor.

“You’re so annoying sometimes.” He sighs, shaking his head. Surprisingly, Seina is the one who becomes tongue-tied and flustered.

“O-oh, um sorry.” Seina stammers. He places his hands on her hips. “Will you shut up now? I’m dancing with you, geez,” Naoko responds.

Seina places her hand on Naoko’s hand, and his stomach tightens as he catches the aroma of vanilla and roses, becoming hyperaware of how much shorter and cute she is.

“Keep the appropriate distance!” Naoko reminds her, attempting to sound nonchalant but comes out as a squeak.

How uncool of him.

“I am, don’t have a frigging cow, man.” Seina snipes at him, looking away. The two are silent for the first minute. The silence is comfortable and reminds him of the simpler times when the pair was always together back in middle school at dances before the social hierarchy of Ridenour Academy changed things drastically.

Seina is the first to break the silence.

“You know, we haven’t really danced together since middle school or, you know, hung out. Got too cool for me?” Seina finally brings up the drift between their former friend group since entering Ridenour Academy. Her flirtatious tone is gone and her voice sounds with sincerity. “Our classes aren’t that far apart from each other, you know?”

“Yeah, things have been really with student council,” he adds lamely.” Plus, you know, I don’t think you would like people in the student council versus your crowd. They seem more carefree.” He says looking behind her at the advanced art mages who were all dancing in a circle laughing despite the romantic mood the song had set.

“Yeah, but,” Before Seina could finish, Ivelisse cuts in. “Nao-ko, me and Koda caught a couple of students doing something inappropriate in the bathroom. Can you come help us?” Her tone sounds aggravated as if seeing her friend and fellow student council member interacting with Seina was a crime.

Naoko sighs, giving Seina an apologetic look. “Sorry, I’ve got to-”

Seina releases her hands from his shoulder. “Yeah, I know. I get it. Thanks for the dance.” A soft, sad smile hovers on her lips. “Maybe we could do this again sometime.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Naoko’s tone does not show much promise as he is practically dragged away by Ivelisse to the bathroom.