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But Billy didn't leave. Instead, he took Stormy's hand and placed his other hand around her waist. She smiled with delight, and he returned a flashy grin. Before I knew it, he was slow dancing with Alexander's little sister.
A tear welled in my eye as I saw my brother dance bravely with a girl in front of the entire school. It was so weird watching my little pesky brother holding a beautiful girl in his arms. The two moved back and forth, not always in time with the music, but nevertheless together. Stormy leaned her head on his shoulder and the tear ran down my cheek. Then several more Dullsville Middle School students raced onto the dance floor as if they'd been waiting for some courageous soul to start the night off. Within a few minutes a dozen couples had joined Billy and Stormy. The music changed to an upbeat dance tune and even more students joined in. Alexander turned to me. "Getting misty on me?" he said. "I guess you can't hide your fondness for the little guy." Embarrassed, I wiped the tear from my face and patted my mascara and eyeliner in hopes that they weren't going to run.
"Want to dance?" Alexander asked. "I can't let my sister have all the fun."
"Of course!" I exclaimed.
Alexander took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. The younger students smiled at us as they, too, bobbed to the high-spirited music. Alexander spun me around, and I was so dizzy from spinning and being in his company that I forgot where we were. My handsome boyfriend gazed down at me with all the love I'd ever seen from one person. He drew me close and kissed me with such passion that I thought I'd gone to heaven.
When we stopped kissing, we looked up to see all the students' and faculty's eyes on us. Several teachers and other chaperones cleared their throats and shot us dirty looks. Then the students cheered and applauded us. I beamed proudly while Alexander grinned awkwardly.
Several of Billy's nerdmates came up to him and Stormy and talked and danced the night away. I sat back, watching my baby brother score the popularity I never had with my peers.
When the dance was over, Alexander and I walked our siblings out to the car. I watched as Billy again held the door open for Stormy. It was as if he had come into the dance a boy and came out a young man. Billy was beaming, displaying more confidence than I'd ever seen in him.
"That was so much fun!" Stormy said as we drove home.
"Yeah, and the best part was when our chaperones almost got kicked out for making out on the dance floor!" Billy exclaimed.
Our siblings laughed while Alexander and I tried to cover our embarrassment.
"I want a picture of us together, Stormy," Billy said when we pulled up to the Mansion. "Raven, you can take it with my cell phone." My heart broke a little then. It was Billy's first dance, and he wouldn't have a picture of his date. I wasn't sure what to say.
We all climbed out of the car.
"I don't like pictures," Stormy said.
"But why?" Billy asked. "You're so pretty."
She blushed ruby red.
Billy stood next to Stormy and tossed me his phone. "Take it," he commanded.
Stormy was still glowing from Billy's compliment. I looked to Alexander for help. But the pair appeared so happy, neither one of us wanted to be the ones to break their spell.
Alexander shrugged his shoulders and I quickly snapped one picture and tossed it back to Billy. He checked it and stared at it oddly.
Stormy tapped him on the shoulder, distracting him from the camera.
"Good night, Billy. I had a great time," she said sincerely.
"I did, too," he said.
Stormy gave him a quick kiss on his cheek as Jameson opened the door for her.
My brother's face illuminated like a Star Wars lightsaber.
Stormy waved to him as he headed to our car to wait for me. Alexander gave me a long good-night kiss and I, too, was buzzing from our magical evening.
As I drove away, Billy stared back at the looming Mansion like I had many times, gazing at it until it disappeared as we turned the corner.
"So, did you have fun?" I asked.
"The best night of my life." He stared out the window with a huge, boyish grin.
For once, Billy and I agreed on something. There was no better time than that spent with the Sterlings. I was hoping Billy didn't get too attached to Stormy, though. If someone in the Madison household was going to be turned into a vampire, I had first dibs.
I was really proud of my brother. I'd always been the risk taker, the one who did things against the grain. Though he was more conservative, I realized now that when pushed, he, too, could be fearless. It must have been in our blood.
Chapter 10 Starry Night
After the night of the dance, Stormy was dying to see Billy again, and though our younger siblings were clearly old enough to spend time by themselves, Alexander was mindful of his little sister in a foreign country. So on their next adventure together, a few evenings later, Alexander and I followed close behind.
We went to Evans Park, where Billy, Henry, and Stormy hung out by the swings while Alexander and I sat atop the hill. The park was the one Becky and I frequented, with a swing set, a run-down tennis court, and lush grassy areas for picnics or hanging out. We were all eyeing the stars; Billy and Henry were showing off Henry's telescope, and Alexander and I were lying on a blanket gazing at the sky as we held hands.
But the star that most intrigued me was my own boyfriend, whose handsome face was only a few inches from mine.
I continued holding his hand and softly stroked his lean, strong arm. I still couldn't get over how lucky I was to have Alexander in my life. He was everything I wanted in a guy; when he was in my company, I had to touch him to make sure that fous ster in ahe was in fact real.
We took the opportunity to share some kisses privately. His lips were always as tender as imaginable.
I heard the trio talking down by the swings, but I couldn't make out their conversation.
"I wonder how our lives would have been if I'd met you when we were younger," I said, staring into Alexander's dreamy chocolate-colored eyes.
"Like when you were in middle school?" he asked, knotting his fingers around mine.
"Yes. Wouldn't that have been cool?"
"Or when we were kids. We could have played in the sandbox together. I could have pulled your hair."
"And I could have pulled yours," I said with a laugh. "Would you have liked me then?" I asked. "I know I would have had a crush on you."
"Really?" he asked. "Even then? Even if you didn't have to sneak into my house and check out the new guy in town?"
"Uh... I was sneaking in that house for years," I said. "Of course I would have snuck in if you'd moved there earlier. Think about it. We'd have had so much more time together."
