Self Discovery: Chapter 32

The gym was decked out with red and white balloons and paper streamers. A stage with a DJ was set up across the way and near that was a red and white archway made of balloons where couples were having their pictures taken.

"Leslie! Hannah!" I turned around, watching as Darin and Mel walked towards us, Mel wearing a normal looking red dress with a split up the side showing off her legs; Darin wearing a pair of loafers, slacks and a collared shirt with a tie.

I smirked once they reached us. "Wow Dare. You clean up nice."

"So do you. Hard to believe I haven't seen you in a dress since we were in seventh grade."

I snorted. "Oh come on. I've worn a dress since then."

"You mean since we've been in high school? Yeah, I'm going with no on that one."

Hannah laughed, turning to me. "Okay, really, how long ago was it? Because I'm just a bit curious myself."

I ignored the jab, counting on my fingers. "Let's see...the last time I remember wearing a dress was to Bobby Marc's birthday party--"

"Which was in seventh grade."

I grumbled, admitting defeat. "Okay, yes. The last time I wore a dress was to Bobby Marc's birthday party, which was in seventh grade. Fine. You got me."

Darin smirked in satisfaction.

"Oh, isn't it wonderful?" Mel twirled around us, swooning. "The whole school coming together for a night of fun and dancing and romance." She got teary eyed. "It's just so sweet and romantic it makes my heart want to break."

Hannah and I started. "Uh, Darin?" I asked. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but...is Mel okay? That was a bit over the top. Even for her."

He shrugged. "She's fine. Just a little to caught up in the romance. She'll come down from the romantic high eventually."

"You might want to grab her," Hannah pointed out. "She's headed for the punch bowl."

"So?"

"I'm pretty sure I saw a guy spike the punch. And if Mel acts like this on a regular basis..."

"Aright!" Darin and I chorused, sharing a high five.

"Uh..."

"Oh yeah! I never told you, did I?"

"Tell me what?"

"Well, you know how when most people get drunk, they're overly hyper and/or obnoxious most of the time?"

"Yeah."

"Mel's the opposite. When she drinks, it actually makes her normal. Or, you know, as normal as Mel is."

"Basically, she doesn't twirl around or swoon as much over things when she's drunk. It's kind of a nice break for us," Darin added.

"Ah."

"Although there was that one time she overdid it on the punch at that one dance about two years ago."

Darin's eyes widened. "Crap! I gotta go grab her!" He sprinted over to the punch bowl before Hannah and I could say another word.

"What happened two years ago?" Hannah asked, intrigued.

"Long story. I'll tell you some other time."

She shrugged. "Alrighty."

"Like hey." I cringed at the voice behind me and was about to turn around when Hannah grabbed me by the shoulders, pushing me behind her.

Her voice was low. "Patricia, what the hell did I tell you about--"

"Oh like, relax. I just came over to like, say hey and stuff." She was dressed in a bubblegum colored dress complete with white tights and some strange looking white dress up shoes. "Besides, my date should be here, at like, any moment."

"Date?" Hannah dropped her guard.

"Yeah. He's--"

"Hi baby." Some guy I had never seen before came up behind her, grabbing her around the waist. "Been waiting for me?" I cringed; he looked greasy and just...gross.

"This is, like, Ethan." Patricia casually pointed behind her, taking the requisiste stick of bubblegum from her pink handbag and popping it into her mouth. "He's like, pretty cool and stuff."

"Come on baby. Let's go dance."

A pink bubble inflated out of her mouth before popping. "Kay." She turned to us. "Like, see you later."

I waited until they were out of earshot. "Eww. He was gross. Did you see how greasy his hair was? It looked like he dumped an entire bottle of oil on his head." I smirked. "Remind me to go to him when my car needs an oil change."

"Heh."

I came out from behind Hannah, studying her. "Babe, are you alright? You don't...want to go back to her, do you?" Oh great; way to sound needy and vulnerable. That's attractive.

"What?! No!" She blinked at me. "Leslie, I would never go back to her." She took me in her arms and held me close. "I was just watching her and wondering what the hell I saw in her and why did I ever date her in the first place?"

I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You were lonely. You dated the first person that came along who took an interest in you."

Her voice cracked. "But if I did that with Patricia, then how do I know things with us will--"

"Because I won't let them. Hannah, I love you. I will always love you and I will always be there for you. No matter what." I kissed her, reveling in the feeling it gave me.

She pulled back and I swear her eyes were shining. "You love me? That's the first time you've ever said that to me."

I kissed her again. "I say it because it's true." She wrapped me in a bone crushing hug, burying her face in my neck.

"Don't ever let me go okay?"

"Never."