Chapter Forty-Nine

The moment we step into the building, the whole room shifts in our direction. The pop of so many different colors from our clique’s outfits start murmurs from the crowd, and with the way I’ve been feeling today, I soak up every ounce of energy. I glance down into Zahra’s eyes, and I feel the excitement in the air.

I didn’t realize how spacious the interior was, and I have to admit I’m shocked. There’s room for everyone to maintain their own space, with a large buffet that includes four different punch bowls and a lot of food. Like, they “pulled out all the stops” type of menu. I hate to be biased, but me and Unk could’ve done better on the selection. We weren’t working this event, though; someone else is in charge tonight. The seafood isn’t up to par, the other meats are questionable, and even the vegan choices are lackluster.

Zahra cuts her eyes in Chrisette’s direction, coming close to sticking her tongue out like she’s ten years old or something. I can’t help noticing the heated stare coming from Ian, but he’s not gonna faze me tonight. He asked for a truce, so we’re honoring the truce—at least, for the most part. There’s nothing in the rule book that says we can’t step into the spotlight and take the shine away from the competition.

Taylor and Tania, once they join us at our reserved table, can’t stop laughing over the glares coming from the rest of the group surrounding the wannabe power couple of Oakwood Grove High. Taylor taps fists with me and Kyle before we take our seats, shaking his head as he continues to laugh out loud. “Did y’all have to break out the top-tier outfits, yo? People started buzzing before you came through the door.”

“Good, because that’s what I wanted to happen,” Kendyl brags, smoothing out her dress so she can get comfortable. “I told you we needed to apply some pressure, and we did that.”

Well, she’s not wrong, and we aren’t the only ones who notice Chrisette seething. As Zahra told me on the way here, Chrisette’s family is one of the six Founding Families that settled in Oakwood Grove two centuries ago. I can imagine that comes with a bit of unreasonable expectations and a bit of entitlement, now that I think about it. The weird part is that none of the children of the other families have been as obnoxious about things, but that’s not in my circle of concern.

We all turn toward the podium on stage as Mayor Lance taps the microphone to get everyone’s attention. He clears his throat a couple of times before he takes the microphone off its stand. “Welcome to the Anniversary Ball, everyone. We are so glad you could all be here for the event. I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer kudos to our talented Oakwood Grove High students for their efforts over the past couple of days.”

Zahra rolls her eyes as the crowd erupts in applause, and I pull her close to kiss her cheek and try to fix the irritated expression on her face. I take my index finger and shift her eyes to meet mine, whispering, “You did that, baby. Take your bow.”

“We did that, baby, but look at Chris trying to stand up like she spearheaded the whole thing,” Zahra points out. “She only focused on the things that would make her look good. I’m over it, and I’m over her.”

“Don’t worry about all that,” Kendyl says. “Once we put this trap waltz on them, they won’t know what hit them.” Kendyl gives up a smirk and a wink to both of us as she continues to clap with the rest of the crowd. “They’re not ready for this smoke, I promise.”

Kyle and I nod along with Taylor and a few of the other boys sitting at our table, which causes the girls to collectively raise their eyebrows. Zahra locks eyes with me, leaning in close so no one else can hear her. “I know that look, Ya-Ya. What do you have up your sleeve?”

Mayor Lance continues his announcements before he gets around to the part we’ve been waiting to hear. “And now, as part of the Anniversary Ball tradition, our young adults will show off their dance skills with the group waltz. I can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with this year.”

Zahra keeps me in my seat while the rest of our crew makes their way to the dance floor. “I’m serious, what are you up to, pretty boy? You’ve been riding high all day, and I can feel it on you. What do you have planned?”

I cup her face in my hands, leaning her forward to kiss her forehead, and shake my head before I place my fingers over her lips to keep her from asking any more questions. “Don’t worry, what we have planned, Ian and his crew will never see coming. We can show you better than we can tell you.”

…

“By Nyati, that was lit! How cool was that?” Zahra shouts.

Who knew putting together a waltz with our own spin on the steps would draw so much attention? I mean, there were only a dozen couples dancing, but the way we were able to stay in sync with each other kept the audience clapping and cheering us on.

And the sour expression on Chrisette and the rest of her group was so worth the effort we put in to get the routine done. I even came up with a few old school steps Unk taught me for the boys to perform that had our girls screaming in surprise. If she thinks that was something, she’s really gonna burst when I spring my other surprise on her later.

The routine was only supposed to be ten minutes long, but the way we executed, it felt like we were only out there for a few seconds. By the time we glided off the dance floor, the roar of the crowd was overwhelming. And when I say we glided, I mean I couldn’t feel the floor. It wasn’t supposed to be a contest between the groups that danced, but the conservative versus contemporary style was on full display.

Zahra’s sitting in a chair as I return with a drink for her, and she’s glaring at Chrisette as she trudges over to our table. She gives her the quick head-to-toe glance, and I already know it’s gonna be pressure the minute she opens her mouth to speak. “Is there something wrong?” Zahra says. “Are you lost, little girl?”

Chrisette huffs, stopping mid-stride as she regards Zahra’s hostile body language. “I guess there’s no truce tonight after all, huh?”

“There might be a truce between our boyfriends, but make no mistake, I don’t need you in my space under any circumstances.” Zahra grits her teeth, and I know she’s trying to keep her temper under control. Imara doesn’t need to rise to the surface any more than Gamba needs to if I’m in the same situation. “So move along, lick your wounds from the L you just took with the waltzes, and figure out what else you plan to do with the rest of your evening.”

Ian rushes over to the table, and for a few seconds, I’m ready to react to whatever energy he’s about to give off. He has a concerned expression on his face, like he didn’t expect his girlfriend to come over. “Whoa, okay, there’s no need to pull the claws out, right? What Chrissy meant was y’all did your thing with that trap waltz. Had we known it would’ve been approved, we could’ve come up with our own version.”

“Nobody told her to come over like we’re cool and everything, either.” Zahra frowns as she stares Ian down. “I had to put up with her all week under protest, and I made the best of it.”

Kendyl slips into a chair next to Zahra as she gives up her own menacing expression. “Let’s make this loud and clear for the people in the back. She wants both of you—hell, we all do—to stay in your damn lane. The audacity you’re coming with like we’re supposed to be cordial is high comedy, I promise you.”

Chrisette’s about to respond to Kendyl, when she notices Zahra’s index finger in the air. I don’t know about anyone else, but this isn’t gonna end well. “We’re not friends anymore, and I’m able to tolerate you in small doses when we’re in public spaces like this, but whatever redemption arc you think you’re on, this ain’t it. You’re gonna have to come better than empty congratulations.”

“Okay, fair enough, but you understand that things flow much more smoothly when Ian and I are at the top of the power structure.”

Umm, what? She can’t be serious right now.

“If we have to tolerate each other—your words, not mine—then we need to make sure the natural order of things is acknowledged.”

Before Zahra can get up to take things up a notch, I hold my hand out to her, flashing the widest smile I can to distract her. It must’ve worked because she’s caught in my stare, and it’s like no one else is around us in that moment. “I know we just rocked the trap waltz and everything, but would you like to dance, my beautiful one?”

She doesn’t say a single word. We’re still staring at each other, and her eyes switch to this shade of red, and I know what’s going through her mind now. Kendyl’s tapping her left shoulder, but I don’t think she’s noticed at all. She finally manages a nod, wearing a smile on her face that threatens to melt me right there on the spot.

The music kicks in before she can get her bearings as I lead her out onto the middle of the dance floor. I take as much care as I can despite my body wanting to be much more aggressive. I place my other hand at the small of her back, holding her close to me, the jasmine-and-honeysuckle scent on her skin sending me deeper into the zone we’re in.

I remain captive to her gaze, but she’s literally spellbound by whatever I’m projecting to her. “What do you see?”

“Your eyes…they’re this rich color of cobalt,” she utters, reaching up to kiss my lips. “I can’t stop staring. They remind me of the Aegean Sea, like in the pictures I saw a few weeks ago.”

“You’re one to talk. Your eyes have a shade of red, like they’ve been replaced by garnets,” I remark, still unable to break from our shared gaze. “I guess I should be asking what you’re thinking instead of what you’re seeing.”

I pull her closer, staying in the moment with her, not wanting to leave for anything on the planet. I can’t resist asking the question in my mind, but it begs the ask. “I have a feeling I was saving you from killing Chrisette when I came back. You know she’s trying to fight for power, and she knows she’s losing.”

“What is it your uncle loves to say? ‘Not my monkey, not my circus.’” She leans against my chest, listening to the music swirl as we sway with the rhythm. “She’s trying her best to stay on top of a hill that means nothing to me.”

We spin slow and easy; each move feels effortless even though we’ve never had the chance to dance this closely before. I release my grip on her hand, slipping it on my shoulder so she can clasp her fingers around my neck while I lock mine around her waist. We fall in step with each other, letting the flow of the songs control our movements. It feels so perfect being in this space with her, creating the energy between us.

“Tonight is not about anyone but you and me,” I declare. I study her face, and I can’t avoid the smirk spreading across my lips. “And I’m looking forward to creating some more magic with you tonight with no distractions, no interruptions.”

“I love the sound of that.” She raises her left eyebrow, curious about the tone in my voice. “So what’s the surprise?”

I shake my head, removing one of my hands from her waist to lift her chin, and I lean down to press my lips against hers. It’s soft at first, my silent request for permission. She smiles through the series of kisses, nodding her approval for me to kiss her the way I really want.

We deepen our embrace, and for a few minutes, the landscape changes the same way it did when we were in my studio. I have a little better control over things this time around, and from the grin on her face, she looks like she’s ready for the trip this time.

I watch as she wiggles her toes against the cobblestone beneath our feet, and I smell the salt in the air and the heat on my skin as we notice the sunset from the top of the island. She casts her gaze toward the buildings as they slope down the hillside and lead out to the beach.

The surprise in her voice is worth the trip. “Wait a minute, how did you—?”

“Do you know where we are?” I ask as I press my lips against the nape of her neck. “Surprise.”

“We’re in Santorini, Greece. I’d know this place anywhere. I was just thinking about it when I— Oh, you’re gonna get it when we get back.” She leans her head back on my chest, tapping her hand against my arm as we take in the picturesque scenery. “How in the world did you pull from my thoughts and bring us here when we’re supposed to be back in the Grove? All I did was look into your eyes and the color reminded me of this place.”

“A magician never reveals their tricks—at least, not yet.” I spin her around to face me, and her smile melts me in seconds. “I wanted tonight to be special, special, and I actually have one more surprise when we get back.”

We travel back, finding ourselves still on the dance floor, among the crowd as the music continues to flow. I offer the crook of my arm for her to take as I escort her to our table, where Kendyl, Kyle, and the rest of our group are staring at us like we made a whole spectacle of ourselves.

“So you two had one of your moments again, huh, sis?” Kendyl’s the first one ready to act up. “I’m gonna need y’all to keep all that to yourselves, please and thank you. Ain’t nobody got time for you two to create whatever you just had out there so we can sit back and be jealous and stuff.”

“Yeah, I could’ve sworn there was this purple glow around y’all while you were dancing, like you were the only ones on the floor,” Tania remarks as she takes a fan to cool herself down. “I don’t know what y’all got going on, but I’m low-key jealous that we can’t get in on whatever you’re doing.”

Zahra can’t stop laughing, giving me a sideways glance the whole time. I shrug it off like it’s nothing. Sounds like a personal problem to me, real talk. “I’m sorry, sis. The next time we decide to have our moment, we’ll try to make sure you’re not witnessing the magic.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. So what else do we have left to do tonight?” Kendyl smirks like she’s got something up her sleeve, and Zahra’s glaring at her like she wants to wring her neck. “I know this food ain’t it, so maybe we need to head into Savannah and grab something to eat.”

Unk and Ms. Lennox stop by the table for a few moments, and Unk taps fists with the boys before offering his arm for Ms. Lennox to take. “Okay, so now that we’ve seen what we came to see, we’re about to head out. I’m glad the steps I taught you boys flowed so well. You had the crowd shook.”

“We appreciate the lessons, sir. It was a good look out there,” Kyle says to him. “Maybe we’ll cop a few more moves from you for next year so we’ll have more time to put our own flavor on it.”

“Bet. Ya-Ya, we’ll see you at home later. Be safe out here, all right?” Unk advises before they pivot and stroll toward the exit. “And congratulations to you all. This week has been very entertaining and well organized. Proud of y’all.”

Once they leave, Kyle and I share glances real quick, and I nod that now’s the time to handle that last surprise I have in store for Zahra. We get up, kiss our girls on the cheek, and head toward the exit with all due haste. “We can roll up outta here, definitely, but there’s something I gotta grab first, and I need my ace to help me with it. Be right back.”