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With the start of a new year, things tended to be a little hectic. January tended to be quiet events-wise, to give people time to get everything under control and get themselves sorted to deal properly with the second semester. But when February rolled around, that all changed. That all-important holiday, St Valentine's Day, was just around the corner, and the Events Committee was sure to let everyone know about it.
This year the dance fell a few days before Valentine's itself. Great big heart-shaped posters appeared all over the school, inviting everyone to don their cutest outfits and join in a celebration of fun and romance on the evening of Friday, February 10th in the ballroom.
On the night in question, the ballroom was awash in shades of pink and red. Candles and spotlights had been charmed to take on the colors, and the ceiling was covered in heart-shaped balloons, some of which were also tied to chairs and tables around the outside of a spacious dance floor. The walls were decked with streamers (again in pink and red), and in the corner a DJ was set to fill the room with every 80s ballad ever recorded, a bubble-blowing machine at her side to cover the dancers.
This year the dance fell a few days before Valentine's itself. Great big heart-shaped posters appeared all over the school, inviting everyone to don their cutest outfits and join in a celebration of fun and romance on the evening of Friday, February 10th in the ballroom.
On the night in question, the ballroom was awash in shades of pink and red. Candles and spotlights had been charmed to take on the colors, and the ceiling was covered in heart-shaped balloons, some of which were also tied to chairs and tables around the outside of a spacious dance floor. The walls were decked with streamers (again in pink and red), and in the corner a DJ was set to fill the room with every 80s ballad ever recorded, a bubble-blowing machine at her side to cover the dancers.
Bernadine actually snorted in response and she felt for a moment as if she were channeling her sister's spirit. "How about we take it slow and just make out after the dance?"
"I do not have a problem with this," he replied with the tiniest shrug. They could play it off the next day as a failed experiment, or they could formulate a better plan to get out of this whole thing.
"It's settled!" Thorn said happily and clapped his hands on both of their shoulders, pushing them closer together in the process. "Aren't they they cutest couple in the fucking universe?"
"What do you say we leave these crazy lovebirds alone," Thorn said with that devilish twinkle in his eyes that meant he fully intended to take Cinna back to his dorm and get all kinds of dirty with her.
She inhaled deeply through her nose, trying to remember to breath. She saw a lot in that little kiss, more than she wanted to see. She found herself swaying toward him and leaning against him unconsciously. "Walk me home," she insisted quietly.
He settled his arm around her shoulder, biting the inside of his lip and trying not to look too concerned. If their ruse was going to play off everyone had to think he was walking Abernathy Ford back to her dorm for some making out. He guided her through the ballroom and out to the fresh, cold air.
She felt a little better away from the heat of so many bodies. "You didn't have to... You shouldn't have..." But every thought trailed away as the vision washed back over her memory. She'd seen the past Anastas, the boy who was trying to self destruct. And she saw the potential future, the man he could become.
She also saw his current girlfriend, which left her just about as conflicted as he clearly was.
"I should not have," he echoed, "but I did." He stopped walking and turned to face her, placing his hands firmly on the sides of her shoulders. "I am sorry."
She softened under his hands and more so under his words. She had no way to tell exactly what he was apologizing for, but it was nice all the same that he was making the effort. "I think I know too much about you now."
He frowned, face falling that this potential ally might run off just when things were getting interesting. He couldn't think of anything to say that might change her mind.
She smiled at him entirely lopsided. She set a hand to cup his cheek, their breath fogging out in little puffs. It was too cold to linger here much longer. "I suppose I'll just have to tell you more about me. That way we're even."
He sighed, leaned into the gentle touch of her hand. This was getting stupidly complicated, dangerously emotional. He couldn't get attached to this girl, couldn't do to her or Diana what he did to any of the others. But he found himself taking her hand in his own, twining their fingers once again and walking her home to her dorm. He wanted to leave her at the door with a hug, but she pulled him into her room instead.
"Keeping up appearances," she said. "If this game is going to work, we have to keep up appearances."