Salem's Sight by Eden Elgabri Page B

rhythm.
    Not the case with Robby. The strobe
lights, the music, and his movements blended perfectly.
    Just when I was about to beg off
because sweat threatened, the music slowed. Many exited the dance
floor while other couples arrived. Robby looked into my eyes and
drew me closer.
    I put my hands on his shoulders and
hoped my sweaty palms didn’t stain his shirt, until I noticed he
had only one hand secured at my waist. The other sought and tugged
at my right hand.
    Okay so he really knew how to dance.
Rather than just swaying back and forth the way most kids did, we
were really dancing. I understood what my mom meant about being
able to follow a good dance partner.
    Before Robby I never had a boy truly
lead. It was easy to follow, the music helped me anticipate his
every move, and we floated.
    There were couples that were
physically closer, practically molded together. I was glad for the
space. It allowed our eyes to lock and remain focused. We might
have been able to converse, but it wasn’t necessary. Our eyes had a
conversation all their own. One I’m sure neither one of us would
have been able to verbalize.
    When the song was over a fast beat
brought the masses back to the dance floor and our hands dropped.
Robby crooked his finger at me in a nonverbal ‘come with me’ and I
followed him off the floor to the gym doors. Almost hypnotized by
being in one of my fantasies, I would have followed him off a
cliff.
    Luckily, he only lured me out into the
cool October night. We walked a few feet into the lot where pools
of students congregated, standing in groups or pairs, talking and
laughing.
    It was quiet and bright compared to
the loud music and darkness of the gym and Robby’s expression
changed drastically. Did I have on too much make-up? Or had he
suddenly got a good look and realized I just wasn’t that
cute?
    He had the same expression he wore the
first time he saw me – weirded out.
    His hand came up fast and for a second
I thought he was going to hit me. Instead, he lifted my necklace
and bent toward it.
    Then it dawned on me, he worked with
antiques. Of course he’d find a piece like this interesting. “It
was my grandmother’s. Do you like it?”
    He gazed at it like it was a treasure
and I hoped I wasn’t wearing the equivalent of my college fund
around my neck.
    I’d lost one of my mother’s diamond
earrings down the drain once and we couldn’t use the sink until we
had a plumber come. Can you say grounded? Not because I dropped it
down the drain, but because I took the earrings without permission.
Anyway I learned my lesson. Don’t wear expensive jewelry unless you
can afford to replace it.
    “ It’s beautiful,” he said
as he gently placed it back down. “Just like the
wearer.”
    Normally flattery doesn’t fluster me.
But when a guy like Robby calls you beautiful, well I have to admit
I could feel my face start to burn with a blush while my vocal
cords refused to work.
    It hadn’t seemed like we were outside
that long, the night passed so quickly. But before long I saw
Berkley at the doorway looking for me. “Salem, you’ll miss the last
dance,” she yelled.
    Many of the people remaining outside
paused in their conversations and began to move back toward the
entrance to the gym.
    “ Let’s go back then,” Robby
said and soon we merged with the others on the floor trying to
savor the last few minutes of the dance.
    Berkley had been with Alex the entire
time and I’d been with Robby. Still was with Robby.
    The four of us, not wanting the night
to end, waited a little awkwardly for my mother to arrive. As soon
as I mentioned her car was approaching, the boys put more space
between us and said good night. Alex had promised Berkley a phone
call in the morning and Robby managed to ask me to his house the
next day.
    It was a miracle.
    And more than a little weird
considering I had an appointment with his dad first.

CHAPTER NinE
     
     
    Okay, so there was like no way in the
universe I was