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They’d been on and off for years from what I’d heard. . So how is she still so surprised when he acts like this?
Although I don’t dwell on that for too long since I’m a little shocked myself. Did Noah defend me just now, or is my imagination playing tricks on me?
Stacy pouts through dinner as everyone else attempts stilted conversations, tiptoeing around Noah because clearly…he’s in a mood.
“I can’t say I remember Homecoming being like this last year,” whispers Kyle, and I giggle…because I imagine not.
Noah’s glower deepens when he hears me laugh.
Finally, the miserable dinner is over and the staff come to collect our plates.
Stacy recovers from the fit she’s been throwing as soon as it’s clear that the Homecoming Kings and Queens are about to be announced. She takes Noah’s hand and drags him towards the stage where the principal is making some kind of speech that I’m trying to drown out.
I manage to keep myself from watching them walk away.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say you probably aren’t a dancer,” says Kyle, a dimple in his cheek as he smiles that I hadn’t noticed before.
My first instinct is to agree with him, to tell him I prefer to watch rather than do…anything. But as soon as I open my mouth, disgust floods through me, because honestly…I’m sick of always being that person.
And maybe tomorrow I’ll be back to being that girl, but tonight I’d like to pretend to be someone else.
“I’d actually love to dance,” I respond lightly, enjoying the surprise in his eyes just as the principal announces that Noah and Stacy have won King and Queen of our grade.
Kyle’s mouth curls up in disgust. “Shocker,” he spits. My gaze automatically goes to the stage where Noah’s standing next to Stacy, a scowl on his beautiful face, like the win has actually disgusted him.
“He doesn’t look happy up there,” I murmur absentmindedly, and Kyle hums next to me.
“He’s always been an asshole, but he’s definitely taken it to another level lately.” Kyle’s face is thoughtful, and his stare darts from Noah to me, and then back to Noah, his lips pursed in thought. “I wonder…” he murmurs, before his voice trails off.
Whatever he’s about to say, I forget, because they’ve just announced that Daisy’s won queen of her grade even though we’ve just started at this school. I leap from my seat and cheer for her as she ambles up to the stage slowly, not looking the least surprised at her win.
For a second I imagine it’s me up there, in a different life, if I was a different girl. I can see the admiration in everyone’s face, feel the touch of the fake crown on my hair. I see it all in my mind’s eye for just that brief moment.
And then I blink and, of course, it goes away, because there's no chance that something like that would happen to me in this lifetime.
I watch wistfully as one of Daisy’s dates twirls her around the dance floor. She throws her head back and laughs with such exuberance that the whole room can hear it. I wonder what that would feel like, to be able to laugh like that, with such abandon.
All eyes are on her…except for one pair.
Noah’s.
He's dancing with Stacy, but her back is facing away from me. She's nestled against his chest, and his eyes are locked on mine, like he's not really dancing with her…like he’s actually dancing with me.
I realize something then, something I hadn't before. Where everyone else might miss me in the shadows, Noah sees me. He’s seen me since that first time I met him.
And I'm not sure what to think about that.
When it's time for everyone else to join the homecoming court on the dance floor, Kyle takes my hand and leads me there, wrapping his arms around my waist, and holding me a little bit closer than I'm comfortable with.
We start dancing, and I try to forget the heat of Noah’s gaze. I pretend to listen as Kyle talks about basketball practice, and when his first game starts, but it’s only when he mentions the college scouts he hopes will see him this year that gets my attention.
"You want to leave the island?" I ask, surprised.
I had Kyle pegged for a lifelong hometown boy through and through. There's a community college on the other side of town where most of the students end up attending before they begin their lives as fishermen or whatever else people do on this island.
Kyle shrugs. “I mean, what guy who plays basketball doesn't dream of playing pro? And that definitely requires getting out of Thatcher’s Bay.” He gazes around the room wistfully. "But you’re right. I’ll miss this place the second I’m gone. I can't imagine leaving it forever."
I stare around the converted gym, trying to see what he sees. I picture the small town, the smell of salt in the air, the waves licking at the rocky shore. I just can't see the magic that he does.
