The girls crowded around the দেওয়াল squealed with delight, then ran off to tell their boyfriends and other friends. As soon as they cleared the way, I saw what they were অভিনয় so giddy about. Another poster to remind everyone that the dance was coming up পরবর্তি Friday. These posters were everywhere! I grimaced to myself. Another dance, where even if আপনি don't want to go, আপনি were made fun of for not having a date. Micah came up behind me, and followed my gaze.

"Ah. The dance... আপনি going?" he asked.

"I highly doubt it," I said, turning to head home. He followed close behind and chuckled.

"How come? I'm sure you'd have fun!"

"Uh, no I wouldn't. And 'sides, no one would ask me. Why does it matter?" He shrugged happily. "Dances are just contests to see who can get the best তারিখ and where the best dress. It's all so stupid, for a lack of a better word." Micah rolled his eyes. Then he picked up the pace and then walked in front of me. He turned around to stop me in my tracks.

"What if আপনি went with me?" he asked. My jaw dropped. Crap. Crap, crap, crap. It'd been a while since Micah had showed any sign of liking me আরো than a friend. The stupid dance blew the whole thing!

"Uh... what about those other girls that asked you? Caroline? Tracy? What about Liz? She's nice, right?" I suggested quickly. Then I felt bad, cause it seemed like I wanted to do anything else than go to the dance with him. Which was kind of the case, but for different reasons. Micah shrugged.

"I don't really like any of them. I mean, they're nice and all, but..." he stopped. "...But I'd rather go with you; my best friend." I breathed a subtle sigh of relief.

"I don't know... আপনি know I hate dances." He smiled darkly.

"Exactly," he laughed. I punched his shoulder, but he just laughed it off; I'm such a friggin' weakling."C'mon, please?" he asked.

"No, I don't want to." He lightly punched my arm.

"Please?" he asked again.

:"No."

After about a half ঘন্টা of this, despite my protests, turns out I am going to the dance. I groaned in defeat.

"You'll have fun. Promise," Micah assured me. I rolled my eyes and folded my arms.

"Yeah, whatever," I said.

***

It was the দিন before the dance, when I remembered that I had forgotten one tiny detail. I still needed to ask my parents if I could go. I went into Mom's room, where she was sitting on her bed, watching TV. Her comforter was wrapped around her body like a giant winter coat. Her hair was a mess, but she still looked beautiful. I crawled across the বিছানা and sat পরবর্তি to her. She smiled weakly.

"Mom?" I ব্যক্ত quietly. "Would I be able to go to the dance tomorrow?" She turned to look at me like I was high অথবা something.

"You?" she whispered. "To the dance?" I nodded. She frowned apologetically. "I'm afraid you'll have to ask your father..." I know she didn't want me to have to, but if she ব্যক্ত I could go, she'd get hell for it. I didn't like it, but I understood.

"Ok," I said. I kissed Mom on the cheek and patted her hand. Then I slid off the বিছানা and went downstairs to Dad, who was পাঠ করা the paper.

"Dad?" I asked. My voice was already. shaking. He grunted to let me know he was listening, but still kept his eyes on the paper. "Uhm, the school dance is tomorrow. Would it be ok with আপনি if I went?" He laid the paper down on his lap and looked up at me. He exhaled deeply through his nose.

"Who are আপনি going with?" he asked.

"Just a couple friends," I ব্যক্ত quickly. Black little spots started to appear in my peripheral vision. I blinked to keep them away. Dad laughed.

"What friends," he muttered under his breath. He looked back up at me. "Just this once. Don't think that because I let আপনি this one time that আপনি can do whatever আপনি want. Got it?" he asked sternly. I nodded real fast.

"Yes sir," I said. He waved me away and turned back to his paper. I ran away up to my room, where I had to breathe deeply. Even though I had escaped unscathed, I still felt no relief; like the worst was yet to come.

***

That Friday night, I met Micah outside, fearing Dad would see that I was going with a boy. Even though he was just a friend, Dad would jump to conclusions and forbid me to go.

Mom got me a dress, which I don't know how, she barely ever leaves her room. It was long, and blood red. Over it was a thin layer of black জরি the was over the entire dress, and then extended around my shoulders and down my arms. I liked it, which was shocking to even me, because I hate wearing dresses.

"You look pretty," Micah ব্যক্ত when he arrived. I laughed.

"So do you," I said, commenting on his suit. "I mean, আপনি look... handsome." We both laughed.

"Ready to go?" he asked. I nodded. Since neither of could drive yet, we walked to school just like we had this morning.

At the dance, people were everywhere. I hadn't expected this many people to প্রদর্শনী up. Everyone either had a formal date, অথবা were in ginormous groups of বন্ধু giggling and laughing. I stepped closer to Micah, afraid of anyone seeing me in a dress.

"You're fine," he promised. He looped his arm around mine, and walked over to the side of the gym, away from most of the people. I clinged to his side, flinching at any fast movements people made. We stood দ্বারা ourselves for a while, talking about যেভাবে খুশী things. I was relieved that no one really noticed us; we just got to be in our own little world. Soon, there was only about an ঘন্টা of the dance left. Micah held out his hand.

"Would আপনি like to dance?" he asked politely. My eyes widened. He chuckled. "It's easy; I'll help you." I numbly followed him out towards the center of where everyone was dancing, careful not to make eye contact, yet at the same time not bump into anyone. The songs had slowed down a while ago, and everyone that didn't mind was slow dancing. Great... Micah held out his hand, and took mine in his. I put my other arm around his shoulder, and he put his around my waist. He began swaying us side to side, in a small circle. It was weird at first, and my face felt like it was on fire, but after a while, it wasn't that bad. It was actually kind of nice.

Too soon, I hate to admit, the dance was over. Micah smiled and led me out of school, and we started out way home.

"Did আপনি have fun?" he asked. I sighed, and he raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Shut up," I said. He laughed.

"See? I told আপনি you'd have fun!" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, I had fun. আপনি don't have to rub it in," I ব্যক্ত sarcastically.

He walked me home, and then we got to my porch.

"Thanks for taking me," I sighed. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gone." He smiled.

"Yeah, I know আপনি wouldn't have." He smiled at me for a while. Then he leaned in and kissed me. For real. It was insane, there are no words to describe it. And it didn't feel like I was স্নেহ চুম্বন a brother; it felt like I was স্নেহ চুম্বন someone who deeply cared about me, and loved me for who I was. It was amazing.

Then I heard the front door open. I pulled away quick, but not quick enough. Dad stood in the doorway. The light was coming from behind him, so it was a little difficult to see his face, but his voice held his expression.

"Alessandra আপনি get in this house right. Now," he demanded. I looked to Micah, and he looked shocked, but not scared.

"Bye," I whispered. I stepped in the house.

"Young man I suggest আপনি get প্রথমপাতা now. It's late," Dad ব্যক্ত to him. I winced. I wanted to scream when he slammed the door shut and turned to face me. But I kept my mouth shut; Micah was probably still in earshot. "You filthy whore!" Dad shouted at me. He raised his hand and swiped it across my face. I recoiled, my face felt iron hot now. "You ব্যক্ত আপনি were going with friends! Not a boy! How dare আপনি lie to me!" he seethed. "You are grounded for a month! Get your গাধা upstairs now!" I ran upstairs before he could have another hit at me, and locked my door. I sat on my bed, thinking.

And even though my face hurt like hell, I didn't regret it. I felt wonderful inside, despite the pain. I smiled to myself.

Because Micah kissed me.

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Blah, sorry for the sappiness হাঃ হাঃ হাঃ :P