n y c t o p h i☽ i a

| s i x |

"And now, the newly weds
and their court will have the
first slow dance of the night.
After that, everyone will be
allowed on the dance floor
so give it up for them!" the
dj announced.

"We got this Joshua." Caitlyn
smiled up at me as she locked
her arm with mine.

"Oh for sure." I smirked and
headed to the dance floor.

We danced to the slow song
we'd been practicing for, which
I didn't even know the name of.
When that ended, everyone
cheered and flooded onto the
dance floor as another, more
upbeat song began to play.
I went to go sit down along
with Kian and Dallon.
Brendon was dancing with
Sarah and Caitlyn was with
Jenna and the other girls.
I sighed and looked over to see
that Noah was headed outside.
She took out a box of cigarettes
and exited the hall.
I shook my head and decided
to get a drink.

✧☽ ✧

"We're going to slow it down
again ladies and gentlemen so
grab a partner." the dj spoke
through the microphone again.

"Let's go!" Cait took my hand
and pulled me onto the dance floor.
We positioned ourself with my
hand on her waist and hers
on my shoulder and went
along with the music.

"Josh?" I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned around to see Dallon
who was already looking at
Caitlyn with a smiled.

"She's all yours man." I chuckled
and let go of Cait so that Dallon
could take his rightful place.

"I'm gonna go sit down again."
I told Cait.

"No!
Go ask Noah to dance." she
gestured to Noah who was
sitting alone and again playing
with her champagne glass.

"I can't Cait.
She hates me." I rubbed
my neck and sighed.

"Hold on." she told Dallon
and let go of him.

"Josh, go." she turned me
around and began to push
me Noah's way.
She was surprisingly strong
and very persistent.

"Caitlyn I can't." I tried to
reason but she took one
final shove and I landed
right in front of Noah.
She looked up at me and
then at Caitlyn.

" 'Kay bye!" Cait said
cheerfully and skipped back
to her partner.

"I-I'm sorry, you know how
she is." I stuttered.
Her eyes never failed to capture
me no matter what type
of circumstances we were in.

"It's fine." she looked down.

"Do you uh- do you want
to dance?
I mean you don't have to,
I-I just thought I'd ask since
you know-"

"Sure Josh." she put down
her small clutch and stood up.

"What, really?" I looked
at her with wide eyes.

"I'm so tired of being angry
with you all the time.
So let's go before I change
my mind." she took my hand
and I swear I felt electricity run
up my arm when she did so.

We got to an empty spot on
the dance floor and she stopped
me to put her hand on my
shoulder and her other placed
gently in my hand.
I was hesitant to put my hand
on he waist but she nodded to
tell me that it was ok.

"So how have you been?" I
tried to start a conversation.

"Oh God Josh, can we not
do this." she scoffed.
I felt like an idiot now.

"I was just trying to talk to
you Noah." I sighed.

"I'm dancing with you because
I don't want our issues to
interfere with Tyler and Jenna's
happiness anymore.
That doesn't mean our problems
disappeared Josh, it just means
that I'm choosing to push them
away right now for the sake of
others ok?" she glared at me and
then turned away.
I thought of what Caitlyn told
me yesterday at our dress
rehearsal.
She told me that if I really
wanted her back, I'd have to
tell her what happened.
I'd have to tell her how I felt
and still feel about her.

So that's what I was going to do.

I didn't care anymore.

Nothing was worth staying
away from the girl I was
in love with for all this time.
I wasn't going to let anyone
or anything else keep us from
each other anymore.

And suddenly, her parents'
threats didn't even matter anymore.
If they hurt me, well at least she
knows how truly in love with
her I am before I go, whether
that means I get sent away again
or even die.

I need her to know and I was
willing to risk it all for her.

|-/