Free First Night: by Anna Antonia Page A

asked, knowing perfectly well the answer.
    “Gabriel Gordon.”
    I managed a shrug while still keeping my hands loped around my partner’s neck. “I doubt it. He’s probably ogling some cheerleader behind us.”
    “Hmm, I don’t think so.” Bryan, a very nice boy who was often my science lab partner, turned us a bit so I could see for myself. “No cheerleaders or skanky chicks behind us. He’s definitely looking at you, girl.”
    “Doubt it. I don’t know what he’s looking at. Anyways, it doesn’t matter.” My heartbeat skittered. Gabriel was looking at me?
    Did he really want to be here with me? Why when he’s had his pick of anyone?
    “I think his eyes are getting meaner the longer I dance with you. You’re not going to get me killed, are you? I mean, you’re really cool but while you’ve already turned eighteen—I haven’t. I’d like to live a bit longer.”
    “Sorry, Bryan. I’ll totally protect you from his evil stares.”
    “I’m not worried about the stares. Just the fists. You know his reputation for blowing his lid…”
    Although I hated having to say it, especially because of how Gabriel was behaving, I offered, “You don’t have to dance with me anymore. I mean, Jessa was so sweet to lend you to me for a couple of songs. We can just sit down, you know?”
    Bryan’s shook his head, sending long hanks of coal black hair to swish across his chocolate-brown eyes. “No way. I’ll take my beating if I have to because you’re my friend.”
    Giggling despite my best intentions to appear cool and collected, I waited until he spun once before saying, “Thanks.”
    It was hard but I forced myself to ignore the glowering angel staring daggers at Bryan. The music changed, bass thumping and demanding we all move faster. We clasped hands and swayed our hips in time to the fast beat. “So tell me, are you going to State or Tech next year?”
    “What?”
    I leaned closer, getting on my tip-toes while Bryan bent his head from a considerable height. “Are you going to State or Tech next year?”
    “Tech!” he yelled, trying to be heard over the music. “What about you?”
    “I’m going with whoever gives me a full ride!”
    “I hear that!”
    Before I could say anything else, I felt a large hand clamp down on my shoulder. A warm rush of air teased the back of my neck. I knew who it was, my body painfully aware of anything concerning Gabriel Gordon.
    “Can I have this dance, Emma?” he whispered gently in my ear.
    My eyes fluttered shut for an aching moment. Dimly, I felt Bryan drop my hands. I reached out, but he gave me a goodbye wave and melted into the crowd, leaving me alone with my exquisite tormentor.
    I guess he’d rather live to see eighteen than take a chance with me. Can’t say I blame him. Still, what does it say about me that I’m glad Bryan left?
    Tethered only to the beautiful boy behind me, awareness skated up and down my spine. I wanted to touch Gabriel, to lean back against his strong body and give into temptation.
    I should’ve said yes when Gabriel asked me to be his prom date. What would it have been like to be by his side all night? To take pictures together, to eat together? To have the right to be with him…
    Temptation to say “yes” pressed hard on me. What would it hurt? Gabriel had been waiting for me in the student parking lot and eating lunch with me nearly every day for a month. It probably wouldn’t attract too much attention.
    One dance. You know you want to.
    I happened to catch sight of Amy Crent glaring daggers at me. Any burgeoning softness disintegrated as memory resurfaced. Gabriel had dated Amy late last year for a few weeks. Rumor had it that she’d been circling around him, angling for an invitation to be his date at the same time he was circling me.
    It would always be this way. There would always be a girl waiting in the wings, doing her best to lure Gabriel out of his lunacy and back to her posh orbit.
    What chance did I have and why