ᴸᵃˢᵗ ᶜʰʳⁱˢᵗᵐᵃˢ
“I don’t know, MJ. You remember what happened last year. He didn’t even show up.” You closed your locker, staring at your shoes.
“I wasn’t there, but I guess I remember. Anyway, you’re right. He’s probably a real douchebag, so why would you waste your time on him?” MJ justified.
“What? No! You should go! I know Peter, he’s a really nice guy. Like, actually. He felt so bad after last year. I heard him tell Ned about it the next day.” Betty combated.
“Guys, I don’t know. Maybe he’s just trying to put salt in the wound. What if he doesn’t show up again?”
The two girls looked at each other, as if they knew something you didn’t.
“What was that? What was that look? That look, you two just gave each other.”
“Nothing!” Betty tried to reassure you. “Besides, why would he go through the elaborate trouble of putting that note in your locker to ask you to the dance if he didn’t care?” She rambled out.
“Our lockers are right across the hall—“ MJ began, but Betty clamped a hand over her mouth.
Just then, the bell rang.
——————————————————————
The dance was loud, filled by the sounds of overplayed pop music from the 2010s and the chatter of your classmates.
You stood awkwardly off in the corner, regretting even coming. You should’ve just stayed home, God it would’ve been so much easier to do that. Or you could’ve went to MJ’s, and criticized overdramatic films just for the hell of it.
A tap on your shoulder dragged you from your bitter thoughts. You turned around, meeting his eyes. A beautiful brown, warm and welcoming; beautiful like the leaves on the ground on a cool autumn day.
“Hey,” he stammered out awkwardly, fidgeting with his hands.
“Hi.” You replied back, not sure what to say. “I…didn’t think you’d show up.”
“Why would I not—oh, oh my God, no, m’so, so, so sorry about that. Something came up, but I really wanted to be there, and I tried so hard to make it on time, but I couldn’t—“
“Relax.” You chuckled. “I’m not that mad. Really.”
Neither of you said anything for a moment.
“Do..do you wanna..dance?” He asked awkwardly. “I can’t promise you I’m good at it,” you warned, but he just smiled.
“It’s okay. Neither am I.” He held out his hand for you to take. You obliged, and he led you towards the crowd of dancing teenagers.
Just then, a slower Christmas song came on. It was obviously a piano version of a popular song, but you couldn’t place your finger on it.
Everyone around you began to slow dance to it. You looked at Peter, your hands instinctively went to his waist. He blushed, and you drew your hands back.
“Sorry, I just—“
“No,” he stopped you, smiling boyishly and shyly at the same time. “It’s okay.” Using his own hands, he guided yours back to his waist before he put his hands on your shoulders. You got a few strange looks here and there, mainly from Flash, but it didn’t stop either of you as you swayed together.
“I’m glad you showed up this time.” You murmured, feeling heat rise to your cheeks.
“Ye-yeah. Me too.” He chuckled. You were positive there was a reason behind his absence last year, but for now, you weren’t too upset about it.
Especially when you kissed him as you dropped him off at his house. You weren’t too upset about that, either.