Page 66 of Snake

And here I thought she was a professional dancer. No, wait, that’s the other one, isn’t it? I glance across as Mason and Mariella flow over the dance floor, moving effortlessly between the other couples.

I frown down at Cecelia. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she whispers back, but with her head still down. Her feet shuffle clumsily between mine, and she yelps when I stand on her toes.

I know I’m doing it right—Mason taught me to dance last year. It was the first time I attended the Feast of Ashes dance. Stuff like this isn’t exactly popular when you don’t have the money to rent a tux, never mind own one.

So I’m pretty sure I’m not the one fucking up here.

“Jesus, can you even dance?” I snap, the third time I crunch over her foot.

Cecelia plucks her hands out of mine and rushes off the dance floor in a flurry of skirts and what could have been a strangled sob. I watch her go, shrugging my shoulders inside my tux and feeling relieved I don’t have to put up with her anymore.

When I feel eyes on me, I’m sure I’ll look up and see Knox. But when I find our balcony, it’s Nim up there watching.

For fuck’s sake. Is that disappointment on her face?

When a casual glance doesn’t show me where Cecelia ran off to, I trudge off the dance floor to look for her, muttering all the way. I’d catch hell from Knox if she disappears, so I tell myself this was unavoidable.

I find Knox’s sister a minute later, cowering in one of the alcoves littered around the dance floor. The town hall is an old building, and I’m pretty sure it was constructed out of an old theater. It definitely doesn’t look the part of a municipal building, what with the balconies and the elaborate stage where an orchestra is currently leading the dancers in a jolly little foxtrot.

Now that’s a dance I never could get the hang of, no matter how many times Mason tried teaching me. It felt like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle or something.I imagine, anyway.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

Cecelia pulls her hands away from her face, staring at me in shock. I guess she didn’t expect me to follow her. I wouldn’t have, if Nim hadn’t given me that look. “Nothing,” the girl mumbles. Then reluctantly adds, “Sorry I was such a terrible dancer. My feet just...Normally I’m...I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

I do. But Christ, it’s not my fucking place. Or is it? I was close with Lettie, but we never really got into the nitty-gritty shit like this.

“Look, Cecelia. I’m going to be straight with you, okay?”

Cecelia’s lips tremble when I take a step closer, her cheeks going pink. “Okay.”

“I know about...” I clear my throat, looking away as I try to figure out how the fuck to broach this. “I know you have a crush on me.”

Cecelia gasps, and then buries her head in her hands again. I grab her wrists, pulling them away, and she flinches at my touch. “I don’t—where did you—?” Her voice fades as she throws me a miserable look.

I swipe away the fat tear rolling down her cheek. “I’m too old for you. Way too old. Like, I’d go to prison, too old. You should be with someone your own age, okay?”

“Boys are stupid.”

“I guess. I was, at your age. But trust me on this—nothing good can come from dating someone almost ten years older than you.” I cock my head at her. “You know it’s illegal, right?”

“I’m not an idiot,” she mumbles, her chin dropping to her chest.

“No. You’re pretty, and you’re smart. Smart enough to make a better choice than me.” I wash a hand down myself. “You don’t want to be with someone like me.”

Her glistening eyes make it apparent that I’m not swaying her.

“Plus...” I duck my head forward a little, lowering my voice to a whisper. “My heart belongs to someone else.”

Her eyes go wide. “You do?” Then narrow suspiciously. “You’re just saying that.”

“It’s true.” I tilt my head. “You don’t believe me?”

Cecelia shakes her head, looking sulky now. “I’m not a kid. You don’t have to lie. I get that you don’t like me, but don’t—”

“I’m not lying.” Honestly, I was just saying this shit to get rid of her. But as the words come out of my mouth, they don’t ring hollow like I expect them to. And Cecelia must hear it too, because her pout slowly fades. “See that girl up there?” I use my chin to point at the balcony where Nim’s standing. She’s not looking in my direction anymore—for all I know, she lost sight of me when I started searching for Cecelia.

---