Page 5 of That Secret Something

Lily snickered, shaking her head.

“An STD?” Shannon asked and fidgeted under Kieran’s grip.

“What? I didn’t!” His cheeks flushed as he glanced between us.

Rebecca shook her head. I didn’t know how she was keeping a straight face. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Kieran, but you should make sure you get proper treatment. Chlamydia can have some pretty nasty side effects, as poor Betsy’s finding out.”

Kieran’s impossibly red face went even redder. “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”

Shannon pushed his arm away from her. “I should’ve listened to what Hannah said about you.”

Kieran shouted after her, but Shannon was already huddled in her friendship group, whispering in their ears. I doubted Kieran would be welcomed into popularity’s open arms when those rumours got out.

He turned back to Rebecca, ginger bushy brows drawn together in a scowl. “What the hell was that about?”

She just smiled, letting his emotions stew. “Come on, let’s go,” she said to me.

We pushed our way back through the swarms of people. “Oh my god. Oh my god. I can’t believe you did that,” I said, catching all the curious looks in our direction.

Lily crossed her arms, but a glimmer of admiration shone in her eyes. “Yes, Becca, I can’t believe you did that.”

Rebecca shrugged. “Sometimes the only way to get through to jerks like that is to play them at their own dirty game.” Rebecca glanced at me. “You okay?” she asked, putting her hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, unable to form words to articulate the swirl of emotions. “Yes, thanks. That was…that was…” I exhaled, relieving some of the unease. “Awesome.”

She beamed. “Good. Now where’s Tyler? Let’s get some drinks down us and get this party started.”

After a few swigs from Tyler’s flask, and various others that were being passed around the dance floor, the four of us danced and mingled as the DJ surfed through a slightly better-than-average playlist. Lily relaxed as the night went on, either from alcohol or from simply accepting Rebecca’s presence, and we goofed around until our stomachs ached from laughing and our feet were sore from dancing.

I didn’t see much more of Kieran, but the rumours had spread fast, and intermittently our group was interrupted by someone gossiping about his diseased groin. That only made us laugh more.

The DJ shifted into a slow song, and despite groans from the crowd, people started to pair off. Fear crept up my spine. I didn’t want to be that girl standing at the edge of the dance floor, all by herself.

I looked down at the sticky floor, hoping nobody was staring at me, and a pair of brown shoes stepped into my eyeline.

I glanced up. Rebecca held out her hand, her smile dazzling. I hesitated, considering the probability of it being a prank at my expense, but she kept her hand out, unwavering.

“Come on, Grant. Don’t lead me on here.”

I shook my head at the childhood nickname. The Lawsons had found it hilarious to call me after one of the Eastenders’ Mitchell brothers, as a play on my last name: Mitchell. A middle-aged bald man, who always seemed to get himself into trouble, couldn’t have been more different from me. I think that’s why they enjoyed doing it so much.

“I told you not to call me that.” I pursed my lips but took her offered hand.

“Well, if you behave, I won’t.” Rebecca spun me into her, and I gasped, much to her amusement. “You’re so funny, Jess. It’s like everything in life always takes you by surprise.”

When my hands hovered awkwardly, Rebecca placed them around her neck, then let her own hands drift to the small of my back. We rocked to the slow beat of the music, with the couples around us mirror images, Tyler and Lily included.

I wondered if their hearts were beating as fast as mine, as I thought about Rebecca Lawson’s hands on my body and the thin layer of clothing separating us.

She led our steps…one, two…one, two…like she’d danced a thousand dances before. I mean, knowing Rebecca and the rumours around her dating life, maybe she had. I tried to stop my mind descending into the pit, but when I thought about the placement of her hands, I couldn’t breathe.

I glanced over her shoulder, conscious of the other dancers and what they were doing. Most were looking up into the eyes of their partners. If I looked into Rebecca’s, I’d collapse onto the floor. Best avoid that.

She moved one hand up my back and took my other hand in hers, pushing us a little further apart. I missed the warmth of her body and felt more exposed with the space between us.

Don’t look into her eyes. Don’t look into her eyes.

Rebecca twirled us around as the song hit an upbeat instrumental, grinning when I stumbled across her feet, unable to keep up. She was relentless in her movements, spinning and spinning us and catching me after every stumble.

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