Page 67 of Kissing the Debutant
The class laughed as the voiceover continued, but this time, it wasn’t Mia speaking. A familiar soft lilt fell on Jack’s ears.
“Sometimes the more important dual emotions are within ourselves.”
A light appeared in the center of the screen, and an image neared. When Jack could finally make it out, he sucked in a breath.
Lillian danced slowly, using the same moves from their partner dance, the ones made to depict love and hate. But she’d changed them, slowing the pace.
“Regret.” Lillian’s voice was somber. “And love. Two emotions entwining to embrace us in pain.”
Lillian continued dancing, her movements seemingly at odds with each other. It was mesmerizing.Shewas mesmerizing.
He’d seen her dance many times now, but never like this.
Her eyes closed as she rose up on her toes, stretching a leg out behind her before turning.
“Sometimes,” Lillian’s voiceover said. “When a world no longer fits us, we have to create our own.”
The video ended, and Jack could finally breathe again. He sat back in his seat, stunned into silence. No one spoke for a long moment as Mr. Garret rolled the screen away.
“She…”
Mia leaned across her desk. “It was her idea, Jack.” She pinned him with a look. “And her words.”
When a world no longer fits us, we have to create our own.
But could they?
Jack couldn’t be here anymore. “Mr. G., I uh… need to go.” He jumped from his seat, grabbed his bag, and practically ran from the room. Once in the quiet hall, he let himself slow.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned to face Mia. She held up a paper. “Mr. Garret wanted you to have this.”
It was a grading sheet. “I got an A.” Putting a grade to that video didn’t feel right.
Mia smiled. “He gave me a B. A B? I know I didn’t follow directions, but I totally should have gotten an A for being a good friend.”
“Mia.” He groaned, stopping to lean against the cool cinderblock wall.
Mia sidled up to him and bumped their shoulders together. “You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“She misses you, Jack. And she’s sorry.”
“What if it’s too late? I didn’t give her a chance to explain after the ball. I assumed she would always betheLillian Preston, a girl who’d never give a guy like me a second glance.”
“But she did. And she wanted—wants—you. Maybe she doesn’t want to have to betheLillian Preston. I think she just wants to be Lil.”
“I think…” He closed his eyes. “I haven’t felt right all week. It’s like Ineedher. I don’t know if I’m okay with that.”
“Because you’re used to people needing you. Your parents. Your siblings.Me. But it’s okay for you to need someone too.”
She was right, as usual. Sliding an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you.”
She shoved him away. “Go get your girl.”
As Jack ran out the front door and down the steps, he realized there was no way he’d get onto the academy’s campus during the school day. But this couldn’t wait. Pulling his phone free, he dialed the one person who could help him.
“Hello.” Wylder sounded like she’d just woken up. “Who calls at… nine in the morning?”
