Chapter 18 - I Can't Dance ♡︎

Cole's hand stayed wrapped around Olive's as they started down the stairs together, slow and careful, as if the whole world had narrowed to just their steps. Olive clung to him nervously, afraid her trembling legs might give out at any second. But as she took that final step into the living room, her breath caught in her throat when she realized that everyone was watching her.

The room went quiet—completely quiet—for a moment. Nathan, Danny, Jordan, and Isaac all stood frozen, mid-conversation, eyes widening as if they couldn't quite believe what they were seeing. Skylar, who was usually the most composed one of them, even let out a soft laugh of disbelief and said, "Oh my god, Olive... you look adorable." The word made Olive blush instantly, her fingers tightening around Cole's hand as she ducked her head in embarrassment. Her soft curls framed her flushed cheeks, and the shy smile that tugged at her lips was enough to make the entire Walter household melt.

Grace beamed proudly beside Jackie, whispering something that made Jackie smirk, though she was clearly still watching Cole closely—like she didn't quite trust him not to do something reckless. Katherine, on the other hand, had her phone up in an instant, snapping pictures while George stood beside her, smiling warmly. "You all look amazing," Katherine said brightly, her voice full of that motherly tone that made everyone straighten their posture just a bit. "Be safe, all of you. And have fun!"

Olive shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice small as she said, "Thank you, Mrs. Walter." George chuckled and added, "That's Katherine to you, Olive. You're practically family now." Olive's face turned pinker than ever, and Cole couldn't help the grin that tugged at his lips as he watched her squirm under the attention.

Jackie, Grace, Nathan, Skylar, Danny, Isaac, and Jordan all began heading toward the door, laughing and chatting excitedly about the dance. Cole lingered behind with Olive, making sure she didn't trip in her heels as they stepped outside. The cool evening air brushed past them, the faint scent of pine and the sound of crickets filling the quiet country night.

Alex had volunteered to drive, and his car was already waiting. Jackie climbed into the front seat beside him, while Grace, Skylar, and Nathan squeezed into the back, leaving Cole and Olive to sit together. Olive fidgeted with the hem of her dress as Cole opened the door for her, his hand brushing against her arm in a way that made her whole body tense. She slid into the seat quickly, staring down at her lap, her cheeks burning. Cole shut the door behind her, circling around to his side with that slow, confident walk that made it seem like nothing in the world could rush him.

As the car pulled away from the house, Olive found herself glancing out the window, her reflection faint against the glass, her heart pounding harder than it had all night. She could feel Cole's gaze even without looking—his green eyes tracing over her every time the headlights from passing cars illuminated the inside of the car. She turned her head just slightly and caught him looking right at her, the corner of his mouth lifting in that infuriatingly charming smirk.

Olive quickly turned away, pretending to fix the bracelet around her wrist, but her voice betrayed her nervousness when she said softly, "You shouldn't stare."

Cole chuckled under his breath, leaning back against the seat. "Can't help it," he said casually, his voice low and warm. "You clean up pretty nice, tiny."

Her cheeks turned even redder at the nickname, her fingers twisting together in her lap. Before she could respond, Jackie's voice came sharp from the front seat. "Cole," she warned, glancing at him in the rearview mirror, "stop staring at my best friend."

Cole smirked wider, unbothered, his tone teasing. "Relax, Jackie. I'm just admiring her dress."

"Yeah, sure you are," Jackie muttered, rolling her eyes but turning forward again, muttering something under her breath about "typical Walter behavior." Grace stifled a laugh beside her, whispering something to Skylar, who smirked knowingly.___

The drive to campus was filled with laughter and chatter that Olive mostly listened to rather than joined in on. Grace kept talking about what songs she hoped the DJ would play, Skylar teased Nathan for being too nervous to dance, and Jackie and Alex bickered playfully up front about directions. Olive stayed quiet beside Cole, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her heart fluttering every time his arm brushed against hers when the car turned.

By the time they pulled into the parking lot outside the decorated student center, the entire place was alive with energy. The night was cool, the stars just beginning to shine overhead, and the sound of music pulsed faintly through the air.

As they walked toward the entrance, strings of fairy lights hung from the trees, glowing softly against the darkening sky. Students laughed and mingled around them, dressed in glittering outfits and pressed suits. The closer they got, the louder everything became—the thrum of bass, the chatter of voices, and the faint scent of sugary drinks and floral perfume mixing in the air. Olive hesitated at the door, her wide eyes taking in the crowd. There were so many people, and everything felt a little too bright, a little too loud. Jackie noticed immediately and squeezed Olive's hand reassuringly.

"Hey," Jackie said gently, leaning in with a smile, "it's just a dance. You'll be fine, I promise."

Olive nodded quickly, her throat tight, and murmured, "I know... I'm just not used to this many people."

Cole, who was a few steps behind, heard her and smirked softly. "Don't worry, tiny," he said with that teasing, easy confidence. "If anyone gives you a hard time, I'll handle it."

Olive looked up at him, her cheeks warming, and Jackie shot Cole a look that was half warning, half exasperation. "You are not scaring anyone tonight, Cole," she said firmly. "Behave."

Cole just chuckled under his breath, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Whatever you say, Jackie."

Inside, the venue was breathtaking. The dance floor shimmered with soft lights, and a disco ball cast flecks of silver across the walls. Tables with white tablecloths and little centerpieces of candles were scattered around the edges, and the faint scent of punch and cologne lingered in the air. Students were already dancing in groups, some laughing loudly, others swaying close together under the lights. Grace and Skylar immediately grabbed each other's hands and squealed, disappearing into the crowd. Nathan followed them reluctantly, shaking his head with a small smile.

Jackie turned to Olive, still holding her hand. "Do you want to dance, or do you want to sit for a bit?"

Olive hesitated, her eyes darting toward the crowd, then to the tables along the edge of the room. "Maybe I'll sit first," she said softly, feeling her heart racing.

Jackie smiled understandingly and brushed a strand of Olive's hair behind her ear. "That's okay. I'll stay close by. I just want to dance with Alex for a minute, okay?"

Olive nodded quickly, her fingers twisting together. "Okay. Go ahead."

Jackie smiled again, squeezing her shoulder before turning and walking toward Alex, who was already waiting for her near the dance floor. Olive watched them join hands and move into the music, looking so effortlessly happy together. It made Olive's chest ache a little—not in a bad way, just in that quiet, wistful way that reminded her of how new all of this was.

She found an empty table near the edge of the room and sat down carefully, smoothing her dress out over her knees. The music pulsed around her, and she could feel it in her chest, in her fingertips. People were laughing, shouting, taking pictures, and dancing like they didn't have a care in the world. Olive felt small in the best and worst way, like she was watching something from a distance, part of it but not quite inside it.

Her eyes wandered over the crowd—she saw Grace spinning in circles with Skylar, both laughing so hard they nearly tripped. Nathan was watching them from nearby, clearly amused. Jackie and Alex were dancing together near the middle of the floor, their movements easy and natural, as if they'd done this a hundred times before.

Olive smiled softly, resting her chin in her hand. She didn't mind watching. It was enough just to see everyone happy. Still, a small part of her wished she was brave enough to stand up and dance, to not care how silly she might look.

Her gaze drifted until it landed on Cole across the room. He was standing with Isaac and Danny, both of whom were joking about something, but Cole's green eyes weren't on them—they were on her. He stood out even in a room full of people: tall, confident, and effortlessly relaxed.

She tugged softly at the hem of her dress, her chest rising and falling with quiet, measured breaths. Olive didn't mind being alone; she was used to it. But sitting there beneath the twinkle of the lights, with the soft hum of a slow song beginning to rise, she felt that familiar ache in her chest again—the one that whispered she didn't quite belong.

Then, a familiar voice broke through the noise.

"There you are, tiny."

She looked up and saw Cole walking toward her through the crowd, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his dark suit. The dim lights caught in his green eyes, making them glint like sunlight through glass. He had that relaxed smirk again, the one that seemed to always know more than he let on.

"Why are you sitting all by yourself?" he asked when he reached her table, leaning slightly so he could meet her eyes. "Don't tell me you're planning to spend the whole dance hiding in a corner."

Olive blinked, startled by his sudden presence. "I—I'm just taking a break," she said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really dance."

Cole's brows lifted slightly, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You don't dance, huh? I don't buy that."

She frowned, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. "It's true. I can't dance. Not like everyone else here."

Cole tilted his head, his gaze softening as he studied her. "You don't need to dance like everyone else," he said, his tone quieter now, almost coaxing. "You just have to move with the music. It's not about what it looks like, it's about how it feels."

Olive looked at him uncertainly, her heart thumping faster. "I-I don't think I can do that either."

"Yes, you can," he said with a low chuckle, holding out his hand. "Come on. Just one dance. I'll make sure you don't trip."

Olive's eyes darted from his hand to his face. The way he looked at her made it impossible to say no. It wasn't teasing this time—it was patient, kind, but still undeniably Cole. Finally, hesitantly, she slipped her hand into his.

Cole smiled as he helped her stand, his touch steady but gentle. "There we go," he murmured. "See? That wasn't so hard."

As they stepped onto the dance floor, Olive felt her stomach twist in knots. There were people everywhere—laughing, spinning, talking—but when Cole turned her toward him, the world seemed to blur at the edges. The slow song that had started moments ago wrapped around them like something fragile, tender.

"Relax," he whispered, his voice close to her ear. "Just look at me, okay?"

Olive nodded shakily, her hands trembling where they rested against his chest. Cole smiled faintly and lifted one hand, tilting her chin up so her eyes met his.

"Only me," he said softly. "Don't look anywhere else."

Her breath hitched. The closeness of him, the calm steadiness in his tone—it made everything else fade away. She felt her heart racing, unsure if it was from nerves or the way his green eyes caught hers and refused to let go. They began to move, slow and deliberate, Cole's hand at her waist guiding her gently in rhythm with the music.

Olive's steps were hesitant at first, stiff and uncertain, but Cole moved with such quiet confidence that she found herself following his lead without realizing it. Each motion drew her closer to him—close enough to feel the warmth radiating off his body, close enough to catch the faint scent of his cologne, like pine and something darker, richer.

She looked up at him, her lips parting as if to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Cole's gaze softened, his thumb brushing the side of her hand lightly. For a moment, it almost felt intimate—like the air between them had shifted, like the music had slowed just for them.

"You're doing fine," he murmured. "See? You can dance."

Olive blushed deeply, glancing down. "You're just saying that."

"I'm not," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're perfect, tiny."

Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to look away, but his hand was still beneath her chin, gently keeping her eyes on him. There was something in his expression she couldn't name—something that made her chest tighten, her breath catch, and her thoughts scatter. For a second, she almost forgot where they were.

And then, suddenly, a loud voice cut through the air.

"Cole! Is that you, man?"

Cole blinked and turned, his hand slipping from Olive's as a group of tall, laughing guys approached. Olive stepped back instinctively, her face flushing from both relief and disappointment.

"Holy crap, it is you!" one of them said, clapping Cole on the shoulder. "Didn't think we'd see you at this thing! Where have you been hiding?"

Cole laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I've been busy. College life and all."

Another one grinned. "Come hang with us for a bit! We've got a table near the back. Drinks, music—the usual."

Cole opened his mouth to respond, but Olive beat him to it. Her voice was small, hesitant. "It's okay," she said softly, looking down at her hands. "You should go talk to them."

Cole looked at her, his brow furrowed slightly. "You sure?"

She nodded quickly, though her heart felt oddly heavy. "Yeah. They're your friends. Go have fun."

For a moment, he hesitated, as if trying to decide something. Then he gave her a small smile—half teasing, half gentle—and said, "Don't go anywhere, tiny. I'll be right back."

Olive smiled faintly, but her voice barely carried over the music. "Okay."

As Cole turned to join his old teammates, Olive stood alone again at the edge of the dance floor. The crowd swirled around her, full of laughter and light, but her gaze lingered on him—on the way he laughed so easily, so effortlessly, with everyone else. She tried to convince herself it didn't matter. That it had just been a dance. But the echo of his words, the warmth of his hand, and the memory of his green eyes made it impossible to forget.