Tear

As seductively as possible, I twisted to the ground and skimmed my heeled foot in between his legs, kicking to the right and left before turning and standing. Once my back was to him his arms moved slowly down my shoulders and then down my stomach as he grabbed my legs and wrapped them backwards around him.

The sensation of dancing with him was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

The song ended. We were both winded. People clapped. My laughter broke the spell. It had to be the most fun I‘d ever had in my entire life. For once, Alec joined in, his face coming alive with joy. I’m sure it stunned everyone else just as much as it stunned me. He was gorgeous, absolutely perfect. No guy should be that good-looking.

“I think I may have a crush on this Alec,” I joked.

“This Alec?” He looked confused, sweat trickled down the side of his face. Dang, it was hot.

“The one who seduces girls on the dance floor and puts Justin Bieber to shame… hey, um, can I have your autograph?” I fluttered my eyelashes.

His mouth gaped open and then he cursed. “You suck.”

I was still kind of in his arms, we both threw our heads back and laughed, he twirled me twice and then tugged my body against his again.

The music switched to a slow song. I put my head on his chest. He sighed heavily and we finished the dance in silence.

“Nat, I—”

The lights flickered, interrupting his thought.

A knowing grin spread across his face. “I’ll be right back.”

And just like that he left me alone on the dance floor.

The principal walked to the microphone and tapped it twice, causing an ear-splitting sound to emanate from the speakers. “Sorry about that, folks. The dancing will recommence after this special performance.” He cleared his throat and looked around the crowd. “It is my pleasure to announce, AD2!”

Everyone screamed. Everyone but me. Demetri? Was he back? Why didn’t he tell me? What was he doing?

The stage went dark.

And then lit up like a Christmas tree. Demetri was standing in the middle of it. My heart thumped wildly in my chest. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him. I wanted to run onto the stage and tackle him.

“Nat,” his voice rumbled in the microphone. “This one’s for you.”

Alec was suddenly behind him with a guitar, a microphone in front of his face too.

The tune was haunting. Not at all like their usual techno beats. Everyone in the room began to sway with the slow beat.

“Torn Like Rain,” Alec said into the microphone not once taking his eyes off of me.

Brown eyes, blond hair, I can’t help but stare. She’s got me hypnotized. I need her, like oxygen, I can’t explain the way she makes me feel inside. Like rain, washing my fears away, she makes me feel like I can say all those things I’m too scared to say.

Breathe in, breathe out, sometimes you just gotta shout your love. Shout your love. Inhale, exhale, the beauty of your love will always be enough. Enough.

I watched as Demetri’s lips moved the words into the atmosphere of the room. Everyone was silent, just as transfixed as I had been the first moment I read the lyrics. As expected, it was Alec who sang the bridge. His voice was so different than Demetri’s, yet they complimented each other so well.

His eyes never left mine as he sang come back to me. I wanted to hate him for staring at me, for trying to convey to me some secret message of his desire to have me but his stupid inability to do so.

I didn’t know I had been staring at him, or that anyone had seen.

My eyes flickered back to Demetri. He saw the entire thing. As if it spurred him on even more, he belted out the final part of the chorus. Tears stung at the back of my eyes.

When they were done, it was impossible to hear yourself think. People went crazy. They wouldn’t stop clapping.

And then both Alec and Demetri were gone.

“May I have this dance?” Demetri whispered in my ear from behind me.

I turned around and threw my arms around his neck. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I wasn’t sure I could.” Demetri held me in his arms and kissed me softly across the mouth. “I found out around noon that I could make it up here, but I’ve gotta fly back out in a few hours.”

“You flew here for me?” I gulped.

Demetri laughed and nuzzled my neck. “I would do anything for you. Don’t you see that already?”

Guilt flared in my chest again, my eyes were swimming with tears, and then I saw Alec across the room. He gave a slight nod as if giving permission and I hated him for it. I hated him and loved him so much it hurt.

How did this happen in the real world? I always laughed at people who said they liked more than one guy at the same time. Well, what about love? Nobody could tell me what I was feeling wasn’t real. If anything, it was too real, too much, and so fast. I felt like I was drowning.

What do you do when you’re drowning but the only way to be free is to hold on to the one thing in all the world you’re afraid won’t be able to keep both of you afloat? That was how I viewed Demetri. He was all over the place, unreadable, uncontrollable.

I sighed heavily into his chest.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Demetri laughed and kissed my forehead.

I shrugged. “I just miss you, that’s all.”

“I miss you, too.” His eyes brightened as his mouth descended and covered mine. His kiss was welcome. It helped me forget Alec. I kissed him back, hard, as hard as I could without mauling him on the dance floor.