A Change Of Heart

Chapter 28: Part Two

"Hey." Zane says once he approaches me.

"Hi." I say without a smile.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

I turn back to my family, but my mother says it's fine and they'll wait for me in the lobby. Zane and I stand off in a secluded area. I don't really know what to say to him. Last night he didn't want to talk to me yet now he does? Why does everything have to run on his terms?

"We have to be quick. I don't want my family waiting for me for too long." I tell him as I lean on the wall.

"You look very nice tonight." Zane compliments with a friendly smile.

"Thank you."

"And you did great. I seriously didn't know you were that good," He adds. "I was honestly shocked. But then again, what aren't you great at?"

"I don't know if the last part was supposed to be sarcastic, but thank you. I take pride in the things I put work into." I say to him. "What are you doing here?"

"You invited me, remember?"

"I invited you before we stopped being friends," I remind him. "And I never even told you where and the time."

"I know you didn't."

"So how did you find out? And I want the truth as to why you are here, Zane, because last time I checked we are not speaking and you made that really clear to me last night on the phone. I refuse to be a puppet to you and your stupid little—"

"Raven told me." He interjects.

"What?" I am confused by his response.

"Your friend Raven...she called me last night."

Oh, Raven. What have you done?

"And what did she say to you?"

"That's not important." His face grows expressionless and it makes me wonder what that girl said to him. I know she can be very...intimidating so I can only imagine what she said. "But she told me when and where your recital was going to be and I decided to come."

"I'm still not understanding why, though."

"I'll get to that."

"Really? When?"

"After you agree to letting me take you to the dance." He smiles.

"Ha!" I laugh. "No."

"I'm serious."

"And so am I."

"Zuri, if I last remember, you asked me to be your date to this dance and I agreed. Therefore we are going."

"Zane, are you not understanding how psycho you seem to be in my eyes right now? Do you not realize that you were not only rude but extremely mean to me and told me to leave you alone? And now you want to go to the dance with me?"

"I know how it seems, but it's not like that at all." He shakes his head.

"And you expect me to believe you?"

"Yes."

"Listen, you can have my tickets. But I'm going to go out to dinner with my family." I reach into my purse for the tickets, but he declines them.

"I have a proposition," He says.

"This oughta be good." I mutter.

"Go to the dance with me and I'll explain everything to you. I'll be 100% honest with you and tell you any and everything you want to know."