Free Sing to Me by Michelle Pennington Page B

intense emotion because he felt that way about me. The final lines of the song hummed in my brain long after they had faded away.
    “ I’m blown away by the strength of your love
    Hold me tight or I’ll get carried away.”
    Then I had nothing to do but wait – though f or what, I wasn’t exactly sure. Sienna came back with a soft expression on her face and Lee’s arm around her waist. She got her camera and disappeared into the crowd. I felt as if I had disappeared as well.
    Somehow, I had become a spectator at my own prom – there, but not really part of it. Couples drifted by my dark corner and a group of guys stood talking nearby as they tried to look cool while avoiding the dance floor . A few people sat at the tables around the room, looking bored despite the cookies and punch in front of them. But they were all still part of prom , even if they weren’t out dancing .
    I was somewhere else, alone.
    When Micah took back over for Olivia, I could tell that he was a little put out at what a hit Olivia had been. There was a tightness around his mouth and a mocking tone in his voice as he encouraged the crowd to cheer for her as she bowed and left the stage . A few seconds later, I realized he was jealous of Colby too.
    Looking over at him, Micah said, “So, Colby, my man – it looks like you have some fans out there.”
    A chorus of screams erupted from the girls around the stage, and I could see Colby’s expression flick er between surprise and dismay before finally settling on a weird combination of embarrassment and satisfaction . He nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the cheers he was receiving, and waited silently – and impatiently – for Micah to get on with the show.
    Talking to the audience again, Micah said, “Well, even though he’s so popular, he’s flying solo , so he’s not in the running for the first of tonight’s award s. I’ve been asked to announce the winner of the Best Dressed Couple competition .” He tore open an envelope and laughed as he read the names. “Actually Colby, you’ll like this one. The Best Dressed couple is Brian Gibbons and Rylie Butcher.”
    There was cheering and whistling. I could see Brian pumping his fist in the air as he went up on stage. My brain didn’t quite catch what was going on until hand s were grabbing mine and pulling me towards the stage.
    “What are you waiting for?” Olivia ask ed me, her eyes shining with excitement and laughter. “Get up there.”
    I had never been more reluctant to do anything in my life. I would rather have faced a spider infestation than stand next to Brian with Colby watching, and no bug ever made my skin crawl like his arm slipping around my waist did. I reached behind me and tried to push it away, but he was determined. He pulled me close to his side, and I glanced frantically at Colby as I clawed at Brian’s hand on my hip.
    The anger I saw burning in Colby’ s eyes startled me . Surely, any chance I’d had of working things out with him was gone now . Angry and sick with the pain in my chest, I elbowed Brian ’s stomach enjoying his pained grunt as he let go of me and hunch ed over. I got off the stage somehow, despite my blurry eyes and high heels. I could hear a roar of laughter behind me as I pushed my way through the crowd to the exit, and over it all, Micah was on the mic calling, “Go get her, man! Um, I guess the band will be taking a break. Hey, DJ, take over, will you?”
    I made it through the series of doors and finally outside, a rock song crashing in the gym behind me. I wanted to hide, get out of the lights flooding the school park ing lot – away from everyone and everything and be alon e . I hurried to the corner of the school and had just escaped the pool of white light around the door when I heard footsteps behind me.
    “ Rylie ! Wait.”
    My heart jerked, and for a second I almost ran, but my traitorous feet stopped and waite d for him. There in the shadowed twilight , his hands came