Mark My Words

26 | Finally Facing My Waterloo

Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.

The line for the dance spread from one end of the foyer to the other, and all the way to the cafeteria where the tables were pushed off to the sides of the atrium to make room for the DJ and light set up across the far, brick wall. Homecoming posters were strewn across the walls, and hallway decorations were still in full swing.

The lights were dimmed in the cafeteria as Rosalie approached the payment table. She didn't expect Jamie to pay for her ticket, and so she forked over the money while he was distracted by Blake asking eager questions about his mother from what department she designed for to whether or not he'd be able to set up a coffee date with her to learn more. Rosalie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course Blake would try networking at this occasion.

She didn't blame him, though. She also couldn't blame Jamie for falling right into Blake's snare. It was hard to forget what Jamie had mentioned on her balcony, especially after catching hints of it in the way Jamie-Lee flocked to Blake's side despite the impending retribution that was Lennie Pittmen's fury of finding Jamie conversing with the enemy.

Rosalie waited by the balloon archway and looked out at the people who had already arrived. Underclassmen, mostly, but as she scanned her eyes across the tiled floor, she hoped to find a pair of Joanna's combat boots. Alas, she wasn't there yet.

Ray sidled up to her with Juliana in tow. "Looking for someone?" she asked in a low whisper. Rosalie expected her to sound condescending, but she was relieved that Ray understood.

"Maybe," she confessed, grimacing. "Is that bad?"

"No, I don't think so," Ray said, shaking her head. "At least you have a date, though."

"I thought I was your date," Juliana whined. "I bought you a corsage, too!"

Ray lifted up her wrist where the flower was. She rolled her eyes and nudged Juliana with her elbow. "Yeah, whatever. I'm sure you woulda gone with Sami again if he didn't turn out to be gay."

Juliana huffed, hands on her hips as Sami and Isaiah approached from behind. Sami grinned and slapped his hands onto Juliana's shoulders. She leapt in surprise, and moaned miserably as she looked back to find Sami grinning at her.

"Don't worry, Julie, I still think you're gorgeous," he said.

Juliana flushed all shades of red as Ray threw her head back laughing. Rosalie grinned, her chest swelling with happiness. So far so good.

The moment Sami reached for Rosalie—perhaps for a hug, she wouldn't have been surprised—she grabbed him by the hand and twisted him around, dragging him through the balloon archway. He staggered forward, laughing, and was eager to follow along as she dragged their team towards the dance floor. As soon as the two of them started forward, the others followed close behind. Juliana dragged Isaiah along, wedging him between her and Ray.

Rosalie weaseled her way into the crowd, pulling Sami along with her. She could feel her heart starting to race, the spike of energy from being so close to so many people reminding her of that thrill before games. She bounced on her feet, turning back around to Sami with a wiggle of excitement.

"You ready?" she said, voice shaking, adrenaline racing.

"You know I am," he said.

The beat dropped, and they rocked out like they'd never rocked out before. Lights flashed overhead, spreading out in spurts of white light chopping up the motion of Rosalie with her hands in the air, and Sami shimmying his shoulders. He rocked back and bumped his back into Isaiah's chest.