Chapter 18

It was a week later and I'm in Riley's room watching her pace back and forth in her room getting frustrated at the thought of not knowing what to wear to the dance. I was getting annoyed at her frustration, so I threw a pillow at her that made her threw a pillow back at me.

"Riles, you need to stop! I told you, just go with the purple dress." I said as I walked over to the bed and picked up the dress I was referring to.

I pulled her over to face the mirror and placed the dress in front of her "See. Look. It looks amazing on you."

"You're really not just saying that, so I'd stop whining?" Riley pouted her lips.

"I'm saying that because I believe you look beautiful in it. Now can you go and sparkle up. I can't believe I got here all dressed up and ready, while your hair is not even done."

"Ok, ok! Just stall my date if he gets here before I'm done." Riley pushed me out of her room and slammed the door behind me.

Just as I was walking out to the living room, the doorbell rang.

"That must be the boys!", Mrs. Matthews exclaimed.

"I'll get it!", I walked over to the door and was greeted by a stunned Josh.

"Josh? What brings you here?" I asked as he scanned me from head to toe.

"Wow...You look amazing." He mumbled under his breath.

I hesitated to reply. "Thank you. Um...Sorry, I'm making you stand there. Come on in."

He walked in, greeted and hugged Mrs. Matthews and Auggie who were eating snacks at the table. He then turned and fixed his gaze onto me.

"I assume you're going out?" He finally asked.

I was about to answer when a voice came from behind me. The door was still open and Lucas and Farkle walked in. Just as they were, Lucas was saying, "I'm here to pick up Maya Hart..." That's when he noticed Josh standing in the middle of the room.

"Oh...Sorry didn't mean to interrupt." Lucas said as he looked back and forth between me and Josh.

Josh put his hands in his pockets, "No, it's ok. I was just about to leave anyway."

"Already? But you just arrived." Mrs. Matthews said.

"I was walking around the neighborhood, just stopped by to say hi."

Josh zipped up his jacket and started walking to the front door.

"I'll get going, bye." He said with a blank expression.

He shot me a watery smile before heading out the door.

Farkle took a seat at the couch and whistled a tune that signaled an awkward moment. I sighed and plopped down next to Farkle.

"If it's a bad time, you don't have to go to the dance with me. It's ok" Lucas said.

"And miss out getting to dance with the Huckleberry himself? No way." I scoffed.

They both smiled. The least I could do was not make the atmosphere seem a little tense. We waited for another ten minutes before Riley came out of her room.

"Hi, Farkle!" Riley greeted him cheerily.

"My lady, you look wonderful! Shall we?" Farkle put out his arms in gesture.

We all bid Mrs. Matthews and Auggie goodbye as we headed out for the school dance.

When we arrived at the dance, Farkle and Riley went straight to the dance floor. Lucas suggested we get some snacks first so we both headed over to the snack table and got ourselves a brownie. We stood there with snacks in hand and laughed about old jokes. Lucas then looked at me and paused.

"You have some chocolate on your face." He smiled and wiped the chocolate smudge off my face with his thumb.

We both smiled at each other. I thanked him but quickly turned away as I felt myself blushing.

"I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but you look really beautiful." He said in a soft tone.

"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself." I said while trying hard not to blush.

"Wanna go out to the fountain outside, we can go see the stars again."

"I'd love to."

We both walked out of the hall to the school fountain and sat at a bench. I realized how much I had missed this moment as we sat there under the night sky and his face glowed while he gazed at the stars. I took a deep breath and smiled at the thought. He turned to look at me and our faces were just inches apart.

"I promise I won't try to kiss you this time." He whispered.

We both laughed as I pushed him away.

"I've thought about it," I said. "I like us this way. Just friends. I know I'm in love with you, but I think it's best if we just enjoy what we have now and live in the moment ya know. Live our lives out as teenagers, stop rushing things. Let's play the long game, you in?"

He smiled hopefully. "Totally in. If it's you, it'll be worth it."

He stood up and put his hands out. "May I have this dance?"

I placed my hands in his and we both danced to the sound of our heartbeats. It was silent but calming and I felt at home.

"I thought you don't dance," I said as we swayed around.

He smiled softly. "I don't wanna dance if I'm not dancing with you."