in the center of a hundred peers' watching eyes. I actually felt bad for him. I was afraid he'd freak out - run off the dance floor or even faint.
Whispers echoed throughout the gym. And then students started to laugh.
Billy watched as his classmates sneered at him and his date. His face flushed red. I guessed at any moment he'd hightail it out of there and we'd have to take a tearful Stormy home.
But Billy didn't leave. Instead, he took Stormy's hand and placed his other hand around her waist. She smiled with delight, and he returned a flashy grin. Before I knew it, he was slow dancing with Alexander's little sister.
A tear welled in my eye as I saw my brother dance bravely with a girl in front of the entire school. It was so weird watching my little pesky brother holding a beautiful girl in his arms. The two moved back and forth, not always in time with the music, but nevertheless together. Stormy leaned her head on his shoulder and the tear ran down my cheek. Then several more Dullsville Middle School students raced onto the dance floor as if they'd been waiting for some courageous soul to start the night off. Within a few minutes a dozen couples had joined Billy and Stormy. The music changed to an upbeat dance tune and even more students joined in. Alexander turned to me. "Getting misty on me?" he said. "I guess you can't hide your fondness for the little guy." Embarrassed, I wiped the tear from my face and patted my mascara and eyeliner in hopes that they weren't going to run.
"Want to dance?" Alexander asked. "I can't let my sister have all the fun."
"Of course!" I exclaimed.
Alexander took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. The younger students smiled at us as they, too, bobbed to the high-spirited music. Alexander spun me around, and I was so dizzy from spinning and being in his company that I forgot where we were. My handsome boyfriend gazed down at me with all the love I'd ever seen from one person. He drew me close and kissed me with such passion that I thought I'd gone to heaven.
When we stopped kissing, we looked up to see all the students' and faculty's eyes on us. Several teachers and other chaperones cleared their throats and shot us dirty looks. Then the students cheered and applauded us. I beamed proudly while Alexander grinned awkwardly.
Several of Billy's nerdmates came up to him and Stormy and talked and danced the night away. I sat back, watching my baby brother score the popularity I never had with my peers.
When the dance was over, Alexander and I walked our siblings out to the car. I watched as Billy again held the door open for Stormy. It was as if he had come into the dance a boy and came out a young man. Billy was beaming, displaying more confidence than I'd ever seen in him.
"That was so much fun!" Stormy said as we drove home.
"Yeah, and the best part was when our chaperones almost got kicked out for making out on the dance floor!" Billy exclaimed.
Our siblings laughed while Alexander and I tried to cover our embarrassment.
"I want a picture of us together, Stormy," Billy said when we pulled up to the Mansion. "Raven, you can take it with my cell phone." My heart broke a little then. It was Billy's first dance, and he wouldn't have a picture of his date. I wasn't sure what to say.
We all climbed out of the car.
"I don't like pictures," Stormy said.
"But why?" Billy asked. "You're so pretty."
She blushed ruby red.
Billy stood next to Stormy and tossed me his phone. "Take it," he commanded.
Stormy was still glowing from Billy's compliment. I looked to Alexander for help. But the pair appeared so happy, neither one of us wanted to be the ones to break their spell.
Alexander shrugged his shoulders and I quickly snapped one picture and tossed it back to Billy. He checked it and stared at it oddly.
Stormy tapped him on the shoulder, distracting him from the camera.
"Good night, Billy. I had a great time," she said sincerely.
"I did, too," he said.
Stormy gave him a quick kiss on his cheek as Jameson opened the door for her.
My brother's face illuminated like a Star Wars lightsaber.
Stormy waved to him as he headed to our car to wait for me. Alexander gave me a long good-night kiss and I, too,