Chapter 50

I caught glimpses of other couples elegantly dancing on the shimmering snowflake-covered floor.

They seemed to effortlessly glide across the dance floor, lost in the grace of the music.

I, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel anxious about the prospect of dancing in front of so many people, especially with Lucas, who was such a notable figure at our school.

I didn't want to let him down or make him look bad in any way.

"I have a confession to make," I said to Lucas who was still holding his hand out to me.

"What's that?" he asked.

"I can't dance," I whispered quietly, turning to look away, suddenly feeling ashamed.

"What was that?" Lucas asked, stepping closer to me. "I couldn't hear you."

"I don't know how to dance," I repeated louder this time, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I've never danced before."

"You're never danced before?" Lucas started to laugh, and I punched his shoulder, prompting him to stop.

"Why are you laughing at me?! This is serious."

"Shana, everyone's danced before. You're telling me you've never danced in your room to music or in the shower?"

"That's different," I said. "I'm alone and nobody can see me."

He smirked. "Don't worry, this is just slow dancing. You don't have to do too much. Just hold my hand and everything will be okay."

As we joined the other students, I sensed my lack of dancing skills becoming more apparent. The music started, and people began to sway gracefully to the rhythm, while I struggled to find my footing.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I could almost imagine the laughter of the people around me, even if it might have been just my own anxiety playing tricks on me.

Lucas noticed my distress and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it," he said reassuringly. "It's just a dance, and we're here to have fun, remember?"

I nodded, trying to compose myself. "I know, but everyone seems so graceful out there, and I'm just... not."

"What are you talking about? You're doing just fine." He chuckled softly. "Don't think about it too much. Let's take it one step at a time, okay?"

With a warm smile, he took my hand in his and began to guide me through some simple dance steps. At first, I stumbled a bit, but he patiently helped me find the rhythm, and slowly, I started to relax.

"See? You're doing great," Lucas said, encouragingly. "Just let the music guide you, and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. This is our night, and we're going to enjoy it together."

His words eased my anxiety, and soon, the dance floor felt less like a daunting challenge and more like a space for us to have fun.

As we moved together, the distance between us seemed to vanish, and I could feel our connection growing stronger with each step we took.

I looked into his eyes, and for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of us in our own little world.

"I'm going to try to dip you now," Lucas said, his hand snaking its way down to my waist.

"Um, are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked, holding onto his shoulder tightly. "What if you drop me."

"Shana, please." Lucas scoffed. "I'm not going to drop you."

Reluctantly, I trusted Lucas's assurance and took a deep breath, trying to let go of my worries.

As the music swelled, he guided me into the dip with grace and confidence.

For a moment, I felt weightless, supported entirely by his strength and presence.

It was both exhilarating and frightening, but as I looked up into his eyes, all my fears melted away.

"You see?" Lucas said with a playful grin. "I told you I wouldn't drop you."

A genuine smile spread across my face, and I couldn't help but laugh. "You were right. That was... surprisingly fun."

"Want me to do it again?" he asked.

"Maybe I can dip you now."

He let out a laugh, throwing his head back. "Now you would definitely drop me."

"I would not!" I argued as we continued to dance. "I've been training."

"Oh, really?" Lucas raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Show me your moves, then."

With a playful glint in my eyes, I decided to play along. As the next song began, I took a deep breath, trying to channel my newfound confidence.

"Alright, here it goes," I said, trying to sound serious.

Lucas chuckled, playing along with my little act. "I'm ready. Show me what you've got, dance master."

I twisted my body, attempting to dip him, but he wouldn't even budge. I tried again, moving him to the side, but still, no success. He was fighting against me, resisting my efforts to dip him.

"Damn, you're not making it easy on me, are you?" I teased him.

"I'm sorry. I'm just scared that I'm going to fall flat on the floor."

"Can you just trust me?" I asked him, sweetly blinking my eyes. "Please."

Lucas chuckled and finally relented. "Alright, alright, I trust you," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But if I end up on the floor, you owe me an ice cream sundae."

"An ice cream sundae?" I quirked a brow with a laugh. "Okay, sounds like a deal to me."

Taking a deep breath, I summoned all my courage and confidence. I slowly led Lucas into the dip, making sure to support his weight while maintaining a playful and dramatic pose.

For a moment, it seemed like he might actually fall, but with a burst of laughter, he steadied himself, showing off his impressive balance.

"Well done, dance master," he said with a grin as I brought him back up making me giggle.

"See? I told you I could do it," I replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Though, I might have wobbled a little."

Lucas shook his head, still smiling. "Not at all. You were fantastic, and you didn't drop me. Thankfully, that could've been very embarrassing for the both of us."

I blushed at his praise, grateful for his trust in me.

The playful moment had only brought us closer together, and I realized that this was one of the reasons why I enjoyed him so much—

the way we could share silly, lighthearted moments without judgment or fear.

As the dancing continued, I couldn't help but notice the genuine joy in Lucas's eyes. It was as if he was genuinely enjoying our time together, regardless of my dancing abilities.

It was in those moments that I realized how lucky I was to have him as my friend.

Eventually, the dance lessons turned into playful twirls and laughter. We danced and spun around the floor, not caring about how we looked to others.

All that mattered was the happiness we found in each other's company.

After a particularly lively dance, I excused myself to go to the restroom.

And as I was about to leave the stall, I overheard a group of girls talking, their voices unfamiliar to me.

"Have you seen Lucas's date?" one of them asked, curiosity evident in her tone.