Page 105 of Cloudless
A stray hair around Lila’s face tickles my cheek as I lean closer to whisper, “When is Posey’s group supposed to dance?”
Her mango scent washes over me as she turns slightly. “She should be next.”
The music fades as the dancers take their final poses on the stage. Sweat coats my palms as I try not to crush the bundle of roses in my arms.
I take deep, even breaths as a nervousness takes over that’s more severe than anything I feel before a game. I can control my performance and live with the mistakes I make. I just don’t think I can watch Posey mess up her dance, knowing the embarrassment that she would feel and look back on for the rest of her life.
A line of pink files onto the stage with a practiced efficiency. My eyes move past the boys and girls until my eyes land on Posey in the middle of the group.
Her gaze sweeps across the rows of seats before settling on ours. The wattage of her smile grows with every seat she sees that’s filled with people who love her. Warmth blooms in my chest as she sends us a little wave before taking her starting position with her classmates.
The pounding of my pulse nearly overrides the music I’ve grown so used to hearing her practice with in my living room these past few weeks.
I anticipate each movement and step in my mind as they follow the music. Her happiness shines as brightly as the lights that illuminate her smile as she dances. Lila’s fingers find my leg in the darkness as she digs her fingers into the fabric. I sit up straighter in my seat asthespin draws near.
I lost count of the times Posey fell in my living room as she tried to master a spin that always seemed just out of reach.
My breath stalls in my chest as I intertwine my fingers with Lila’s. Posey’s feet are sure under her and her ankle is stable as she raises her arms above her head and spins.
I count every turn.
One.
Two.
Come on, Posey. You can do this.
Three.
Come on. One more.
Four!
Our group releases a collective breath as I fight to stay in my seat. Our shouts of celebration, however, flow freely through the theater as Posey’s smile doubles in size.
My heart pounds in my chest as the music fades. I have no idea if our row is the only one standing. I don’t look around at anyone else as Posey exits the stage with a triumphant smile. To be honest, I don’t really care what anyone thinks about our group.
My only focus is clapping and cheering loud enough for Posey to hear me.
CHAPTER 50
GRABBY TERRORS
LILA
My palms tingle with anticipation as we walk up the driveway to the craftsman style house. My steps are careful as I ascend the stairs of the front porch that’s overflowing with burgundy mums. The last thing I want to do is meet Kam’s mom after I’ve just face planted in front of her house.
The late November air is cool against my face despite the midday sun. The skin on my arm burns from my frequent scratching along the itchy fabric of my sweater dress.
Maybe I should have worn the thinner yellow dress instead.
It's too late to worry about that now.
Ellie’s quick elbow to the ribs nearly makes me jump out of my skin from the sudden contact. “Hey, don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine.”
Her words don’t carry the calming effect she hopes they do. It’s not the words she says that freak me out, it’s the words she doesn’t. If I were bringing Kam to my house, to meet my parents, I would have said, “Don’t worry! They’re going to love you!”
She must not be confident enough in our Thanksgiving lunch to utter those words to me.
