Chapter 4 // "I also come wrapped in sparkling silver paper with a bow on top"
"Right you bunch of losers get on your feet" Coach Grant shouts.
Coach Grant is the kind of coach who would make you run 2 extra laps if you came last. The kind of coach who loves watching you running in the mud and falling face flat. The kind of coach who definitely should NOT be teaching you social dancing.
It is the last 4 week lead up to Christmas and this is where hell begins.
"Sir there's no point in doing this, when in my life am I ever going to formally dance with a girl?" Alec shouts out. Coach really doesn't like it when people shout out, actually come to think of it coach doesn't really like people at all.
"Crawford stand up" Alec gets up on to his feet. If it was anyone else in his position they would be shaking with terror.
"So Crawford do you have a mommy and a daddy"
Alec can't hold back the smile on his face but nods trying not to laugh. Coach puts his arm around Alec.
Elliott and the 4 other boys sitting just behind Alec wiggle their eyebrows at him.
"Well, my boy. One day mommy and daddy, or daddy and daddy, or mommy and mommy. Or even a single mommy or single daddy. Or a parent that doesn't specify a gender, will want their little baby to get married. And when he gets married he needs to dance with his lovely wife or future husband. And if you don't listen to your wife you won't have enough time to start making babies before she dumps you. The moral of the story is that you must learn to dance. Got it"
The room is filled with laughter from the look that is placed on Alec's face.
"Mr Grayson, do you find this funny? How about you and Mr Crawford here give us a demonstration?"
Elliott rolls his eyes acting as though he doesn't care. He stretches his arms up nonchalantly and yawns. His 6 six-pack and biceps stick out his incredibly tight shirt, like I mean seriously is he wearing girl's size 0, P.E top? That aside I also see Aribella staring with hungry eyes at him.
She really needs to stop wearing so much mascara. One day her eyelashes will stop trying to hold up the mascara and just fall off.
I imagine her with no eyelashes and laugh inside my head.
"Join up boys. Clasp your right-hand side together and Alec place your left hand on Mr Grayson's waist"
Alec's face is mortified, while Elliott's chest is erupting with laughter.
"Why do I have to be the girl" Alec whines.
"Cause your shorter" mocks Elliot.
All the girls are holding their hearts as they gazed at the 2 boys.
"This is the polka position that we will use at the end of the dance"
I see Winter giggling with her evil minions.
"Oh my gosh this is like so hot" One of Winter's minion's swoons.
"He is so yummy" Minion 2 squeals while she fans herself.
"Now boys you'll be happy to hear it's your favourite dance. The Gay Gordan's" The coach booms through the hall.
"This dance was originated...." We hear this story every year. Year in year out. "....from Scotland. As we all know that's where Mrs Alter came from and she brought her cultural dances with her"
"So boys, we begin with one hand up and one hand down" Even I can't help but laugh at the scene unfolding in front of me.
Our school prankster Aiden Parkerson whips out his phone. This will definitely be shared all over Facebook. Actually it might go down in facebook history.
"Boy put your phone away and I don't want this going up on Facechat or Snapbook not even twiddle"
I bite my lip trying to not burst out laughing. Well, I guess that proves how old our coach is.
The slow music descends through the PE large hall.
"Forward two three four, spin around, back two three four"
Both boys try and follow coach's instructions but it doesn't seem to be helping.
"Shit bro you just stood on my shoe" Cries Alec wincing.
"I'm sorry if you have two left feet and no sense of coordination" Elliott shouts above the music.
"Coming from you Elliott who can't even ride a bike"
"Spin him around Grayson. Elliott Grayson do you not know what I mean by spin?" Coach sighs shaking his head.
"All I know it means is to turn in a circular motion. What kind of spinning do you do?" Elliott and Alec are completely jumbled up. Their faces were both scarlet I can bet they won't open their mouths to coach again.
"And now polka for 8 beats"
Aiden and Daniel are drumming the floor with their feet as tears of laughter are pooling from their eyes.
"I mean this from the bottom of my heart boys. You're my main men on the football team but my grandmother can dance better than you two and she is in her grave. Now everyone up on your feet"
Everyone groans as they slide themselves up off the floor.
"You lazy bunch get up and join up with the opposite gender, they don't bite!" His voice may as well be a foghorn because he is breaking my eardrums.
I stand next to Emily. This was the worst part of social dancing. Pairing up.
Aribella walks up to Conner Ryder. She glances towards me and gives me a sly grin as I grind my teeth together,"Don't show your jealousy, Cress"
Winter grabs Elliott. Well, they must have worked things out then.
Eventually after the embarrassment of not having a partner coach places us with 2 boys whose names I don't even know.
We run through the dance twice until coach barks again.
"We're going to make this a progressive dance and we're going to add some modern music" He wiggles his eyebrows at us all; I wonder how he still has such bushy eyebrows though he has no hair left on his head.
I look ahead to my future partners and my heart jumps into my mouth; it includes Elliott and his friends.
I move on to the next partner ready to begin the dance.
I'm feeling sexy and free. Like glitters raining on me.
Really coach. What a song to pick.
I feel dizzy as we progress through the partners. Boys really don't know the hassles of being a girl and being spun around like a spinning top. My heart tightens as I realise who my next partner is.
Conner Ryder.
Conner is the bad boy of our school. He has the motorcycle. He has a record with the cops. He has been caught with the illegal drugs.
And I have had a crush on this boy my whole life. My heart flutters at even the sight of him.
His blonde hair looks so soft that I would die to run my hand through it. And his eyes. They make me stop breathing every time I looked into them, they are a greyish-blue colour, though they are beautiful there is something so heartbreakingly cold about them.
He is also the Captain of our school football team. The second top player after Elliott. If I was in charge I would crown him as the next president.
He is the definition of perfection.
Don't you know you spin me out of control.
I move along to Conner. He places his hands in mine and I'm attacked with the scent of lemon and a hint of lavender; sweet yet sour.
Crescent stop hyperventilating. He'll think you're a fish.
I let out a breath. My palms were sweating like a pig, it is absolutely disgusting, why am I such an embarrassment all the time.
Boom me like a bass drum.
Sparkin' up a rhythm
To be honest I want this moment to last forever. I am dancing with THE Conner Ryder.
Suddenly his hands are around my waist and I feel my breathing completely cut off.
Don't faint! Don't faint!
"Pick up the pace you incompetent bunch of sissies or I'll teach you how to twist your leg around your neck" I jump at the sound of Coach's vicious voice.
"Ow" Shouts Conner wincing slightly.
You did not just stand on his foot. You are such a idiot Crescent!!
Did I mention his voice is so deep and so hot? The way he just said 'ow' is making my brain melt into soup.
Stop thinking about his voice and apologize!
"Oh my god! I am so sorry" I think this is the first time I have ever spoken to him.
He gives me a smile "It's all right"
He just smiled at me. I think my heart is pumping at 100 mph.
Can we just take a minute out to appreciate how hot his dimples are?
Dirty dancing in the moonlight
Take me down like I'm a domino.
I feel the loss of warmth as I am twirled on to the next person.
Aiden Parkerson. Elliott's partner in crime.
"Aiden" I spit with venom. He spins me around with extra enthusiasm.
"Dawson" He smiles at me with his deep dark chocolate eyes. You shouldn't be fooled by his appearance. He looks like the boy next door your parents would approve of until you realise he's the most devious and mischievous person ever born.
"I heard you got a lift with Elliott today" He wiggles his eyebrows at me and makes kissing noises.
"I heard you have cooties"
"Still the same old Crescent aren't we"
He puts a tight grip on my waist and decides to polka around so fast that we hit the pair in front of us.
"Sorry" I apologise.
"Could you not be a bit more careful" I sigh. He runs a hand through his golden blonde hair.
"Come on little C have some fun. Where has that fun attitude you once had gone?"
"It died along with every brain cell in your head" I move along to the next, and hopefully final partner. But I don't forget to 'accidentally' step on his foot before I move forward.
My heart beats out of time
I'm seeing Hollywood stars
It feels as though this song has dragged on for ages.
My next partner is the school's Golden Boy; Carter Dickson.
His name definitely defined his personality. He was one son of a dick.
He is an airheaded jock who believes the world revolves around him. His parents are REALLY well off and he thinks he can have anything and everything.
But his record is clean and perfect, never getting into a spot of trouble. He is the only boy out of all of them that can keep a girlfriend for just over a month.
I have to admit he is very attractive. With his luscious blue eyes and his perfect light brown hair. But that doesn't give him the excuse of being a complete and utter dickhead.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
We can do this all night
Damn this love is skin tight
Baby, come on
Before my dance with Carter has begun it's already done and I'm spun into familiar arms.
"Nice of you to drop in" My brother grins at me, as he catches me in his arms. His voice is filled with laughter. We clasp up, and we both pretty much know the dance to go along with it by now. I look at him closely. Daniel is never this happy, like ever, he is actually grinning at me, but his eyes are red-rimmed.
"Daniel, did you smoke weed before coming here?" I sigh.
My brother pouts at me and whispers to me "I did but I had to, you of all people know how much I hate dancing. And I knew Aribella was going to choose me. She's like my own personal slime"
I laugh at that and pat his shoulder "Aww poor baby Daniel being harassed by girls"
He frowns at that "I want a drink, I need a drink. Do you still have that vodka in your locker?"
I look at him with wide eyes, that vodka is like a million years old. And no way am I going to let him drink in the middle of the day. Instead, he shakes his head "With booze, ya lose, with dope there's hope" He sings.
"You really are high" I laugh as he does each step of the dance over dramatically.
He brings his finger and puts it on my cheek. "Look you have a dimple, do I have a dimple? Cress, I don't have a dimple. Oh no, we're not twins anymore until I find my dimple"
I laugh at him and take his hand away from my face "One, Daniel we're fraternal twins meaning we don't have to look exactly the same and two you have the dimple on your left cheek like me" I place his hand there.
"Ohhhhh, I love you Crescent, Cress why do you have such an ugly name?"
"MOVE ON YOU DIMWITS" Coach booms through the hall.
"No don't leave me, sis" He cries as I have to move on to the next partner.
He nearly tumbles to the floor as I move on to my next partner
I look at who my new partner is until the music is suddenly cut off.
Great, this is just great.
"You know Dawson if you roll your eyes too much they'll fall out"
"Shut up Elliott or I'll poke your eyes out with a pen"
We get ready to move on to the next dance.
The patt-a-cake polka. My favourite *rolls eyes*. Sadly this wasn't on each of those progressing dances so I am stuck with Elliott, I mean how lucky can I get.
Please note the sarcasm.
"So why are Aribella and Winter both staring daggers at you" I look in his direction and catch Aribella's evil glare. She narrows her eyes when she sees me looking at her.
"How should I know your the one sleeping with both of them"
"Ouch someone sounds jealous"
Elliott casually places his hand on top of mine and gently clasps his fingers around them, his hand is ever so slightly rougher than mine. I realise we are both staring at our hands and I am the first to look away.
I never thought me and Elliott could ever have a normal conversation together let alone be dancing together. I would have thought that by this time we would have our hands around each other's collar and be trying to throw each other to the floor, judo style.
"You're making this more awkward than it is," He tells me pulling me in closer to him.
His hand is slowly moving, getting lower and lower.
"Elliott...."
"Yes" He grins at me, unable to hide his expression.
"Tell your hand to keep within its boundaries"
"Are you busy on Friday night". Elliot asks. I look him straight in the eye.
"Why are you asking me on a hot date. Should I wear my pearls?" I snigger.
"No, one of the guys from the football team is having a party. I was wondering if you wanted to come? And by the way, girls wearing pearls is a really big turn on"
"Do you have to turn everything sexual? And no I don't go to high school parties. Winter will bury me alive then Aribella will dig me up and burn me on a stake"
"Why the fuck are you so scared of them? What did they do to you?"
The sudden protectiveness in his voice makes me jump back slightly.
"What does it matter to you? You were once just as bad as them. Who do you think you are, my brother. Don't worry I all ready have one protective brother, I do not need another"
My throat is hurting trying to shout above the music.
"That was the old Elliott. This is the new Elliott. I also come wrapped in sparkling silver paper with a bow on top"
This makes me laugh and I completely forget how annoyed I am with him.
"Okay I'll go but only if you promise to hold my hand" I joke.
"Slow down we don't want to take things too fast. Next thing we know I'll have your name tattooed on my butt"
"I bet you already have one"
"Would you like to see it?"
I wave my hands in protest "No definitely not. Keep your pants on"
"Your loss" Elliot shrugs but he is still grinning at me. His shiny blue eyes looking into my boring brown ones.
Maybe we can stand each other for more than 5 minutes.
Edited.