Page 66 of Kissing the Debutant
“I heard that,” Mia called.
Jack couldn’t help but shoot her a grin before turning back to Mr. Garret. “No, it was me.” Was it hot in here? It felt hot. Jack ran a hand through his hair. He’d never shared his choreography with anyone other than Lillian or Mia.
“You’re very impressive, Jack. I hope you plan to pursue what I can tell you’re obviously passionate about.”
“Oh, um, not really. I’m not, um, going to college.” He wished the entire class didn’t have to hear that. Twin Rivers High wasn’t the academy, but most of his classmates would still head off to more schooling after graduation.
“College isn’t the only way to chase your dreams, but it is one. Don’t give up on yourself, Jack.” He reached behind him for some pamphlets. “There are a couple of video competitions you should check out.”
“You really think it’s good enough?”
“Absolutely, now take a seat, and we can see what the rest of the class thinks.” He turned to the class. “Today, we’ll be sharing your videos. I’m impressed with this class, and so very proud of you. Even those who didn’t seem to follow the guidelines.” His gaze fell on Mia, and she shrugged.
Jack slid into his seat and stuffed the pamphlets in his bag. He probably wouldn’t enter, but it was nice to know he could. The video felt too personal to send off to strangers, too real.
Mr. Garret played a few of his classmates’ videos, and they were good, great even.
“He’s obviously saving the best for last,” Mia whispered. “I mean, who could do this better than me?”
He laughed at that. “You didn’t really make a sex tape, did you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Her eyes shone with glee, a look Jack knew too well. She was up to something.
He felt it the moment Mr. Garret began Jack’s video, the tightness in his chest, the tension in his shoulders. He’d never shared his dancing with the school. Male dancers weren’t exactly treated well, and he didn’t look like a dancer, allowing him to skate under the radar.
Running a hand nervously through his hair, he huffed out a breath and stared at his desk.
The music began, and he could see the dance so clearly in his mind. He’d never been as proud of any accomplishment as he was of this single dance. He’d crafted each step to tell a story about the divide between love and hate, how each attracted the other, two sides of the same coin.
He’d wanted the movements to show how quickly one emotion could turn into the other. How a boy could love a girl at the top of a staircase and know they were over by the time he reached the final step.
There was pain in the music, and it echoed inside his hollow chest.
He couldn’t take it anymore, so he lifted his eyes to the screen just as Lillian ran to him, letting him take her into his arms in an intricate lift he was still surprised they pulled off.
When he asked Lillian to be his partner, he hadn’t known if it would work, if two completely different people could ever dance in harmony with one another.
And for a few perfect weeks, they had.
The music ended, leaving the video versions of Jack and Lillian staring at each other. Mia hadn’t needed to edit this part, to infuse the video with emotion.
They’d done that all on their own.
As the screen faded to black, silence surrounded Jack.
Until it didn’t. Until the classmates he’d hidden the most integral part of himself from burst into applause, congratulating him.
Mr. Garret shot him a wink, a proud glint in his eyes.
But Jack couldn’t experience any of it. No pride. No joy. No relief. He stared at the black screen, wishing it held more for him, that the story he’d just witnessed wasn’t over.
Because he was in love with the girl in that video. Whether she loved him or not. Whether they fit into each other’s worlds or would forever be on the outside.
Only Mia seemed to sense his distress. She reached over, taking his hand in hers. “It’s okay, Jack. I promised you Mr. Garret saved the best for last.”
He didn’t understand what she meant, but there was no time to ask because her video started. The screen was black, but Mia’s voice rang out.
“We’re supposed to create a video about the emotions between two people, but since when have I followed the pack?”
