The Mystery Girl's Dance
The Bells of St. Anthony's Ep. 17
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The Mystery Girl’s Dance
As told by Lucius
It's not such a bad thing to go to a dance alone. After all, it's not like they're going to kick you out if you arrive without one. For someone like me, it's an opportunity to hang out and party and get to know some girls outside of school.
That is, if there were any girls to get to know. So many girls in my class had dates, and the one I really wanted to get to know never showed up. There were also a ton of juniors and seniors, and like heck any of them were going to give me the time of day.
"Heck, even Barnowl has a date," I said.
"If she didn't," Bonnie said dryly, "would you dance with her?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that. There was a reason we called her "Barnowl," and it wasn't because of her adorable plumage.
"See, this is why I get jealous of you and Zeke," I said. "Whatever happens, you've got each other."
Zeke appeared with cups of punch for me and Bonnie. "Here you go. Lucius, I don't think Augusta and Rustin are too attached. You could try her."
"Eh... Maybe..."
"How about Swift?" Bonnie said.
"Did you see her earlier? She can dance just fine by herself. Besides, she's so tiny, I'd feel like I was dancing with somebody's little sister."
Zeke pointed at the bleachers. "How about her?"
I turned, and there stood an exquisite beauty in a crimson dress with dark hair wound up in a bun, less like a high school student and more like a model out of a magazine. They must have rolled the red carpet when she arrived. Was she seriously here by herself? "Who is that?"
"You got me," Zeke said. "I don't think I've ever seen her before."
"I can't believe I felt overdressed earlier." Bonnie started chuckling. "Go for it, Lucius."
"What? No, she's totally out of my league."
"Bonnie's right, Loosh." Zeke grabbed my shoulders. "Come on, opportunity's knocking, you gotta answer."
"Who knows?" Bonnie was still breaking into short bursts of laughter. "She may surprise you."
The 80's pop song ended, and something slower and warmer began to play.
Zeke began to push, and I began to move. That girl in the crimson dress was a speeding car, and I was the harmless squirrel in the path of its tires.
Zeke let me go with a shove, and I careened toward her.
The girl turned and grinned. "Hello."
"Hi." I set the cup of punch on the bleacher, spilling a few drops on the way. "I'm Lucius. Want to dance?"
"Sure."
The next thing I knew, her arms were around me, and mine around her, and we were swaying to the music. This girl... This enigma... Was mesmerizing me with her sly hazel eyes. How was I supposed to talk to her without sounding like an idiot?
And yet her eyes were commanding me to say something.
"You look nice," I said. Please don't be mad.
"It's a lot of work," she said. "You're not so bad yourself."
"Eh... You know." The lights from the disco ball swarmed over the gym. The spotlights flashed a highlight of green on the girl's face. "You still haven't told me your name."
"Guess."
"Okay, well, do you go to St. Anthony's?"
"Yep."
"No kidding." So why hadn't I seen her before? "Are you a senior?"
She shook her head. "Sophomore."
"Seriously? So am I. I must not have any classes with you."
"Oh, we do."
That just left me even more lost. I would know for a fact if I had any classes with this incredible starlet. "Okay, I give up."
"I'll give you a hint." She let go of me, and placed her hands flat over the sides of her face, partially obscuring her eyes, but showing her nose and lips.
I let go as she grabbed back onto me. "Helena?"
"Mm Hmm."
"Helena Markovsky?"
"The one and only."
She got me. She absolutely got me. I'd only ever seen Helena with her hair down, hanging over her face like some kind of veil. She just constantly has that look like she doesn't want anyone to bother her. Bonnie's hung out with her a few times, but the other guys joke about how she flies out and sucks blood every night. How was this girl hiding behind all that?
And Bonnie—she knew, didn't she?
I'd be furious if Helena weren't so gorgeous right now. Does that make me shallow?
"It's just such a pain," she said, "to do my hair every single day. But for special occasions like this..."
I couldn't complain too much. She was still the most beautiful girl in the room. Now that I was dancing with her, I could almost accept that Esslie wasn't here.
Zeke and Bonnie were coming back from their own dance when I met up with them. "Enjoy your dance?" Bonnie said playfully.
"With Helena? Yeah." I told her, "You're evil, you know that?"
She giggled. "Not my fault you've never seen her whole face."
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