I don't want that.
Travis looks forlorn as I walk away from him, and I wince and give him an apologetic look. He takes my seat, downing the contents of his Styrofoam cup.
Roman ends up being the one to pull me, yanking me until we're in the center of the gym. Directly underneath the disco ball we stand, listening to the last few notes of a song I'm unfamiliar with. It's upbeat, and Roman doesn't seem to be in an upbeat mood right now.
The first notes to REO Speedwagon'sI Can't Fight This Feeling Any Longercomes on, and Roman snaps his arms out and wraps them around my waist, pulling me against his chest. My arms go around his neck automatically, my fingers lacing together at the base of his head. My fingers tickle against the messy hairs that have grown too long, threading through the soft strands. He bends down, crooning the notes in my ear, singing so softly, his voice so low and raspy, a tone that has recently turned deep, manly, and I melt. Every inch of me melts into his arms.
Our feet go from left to right, an easy two step that takes little effort or concentration. "Why do you have to fight this? Why would you go to a dance without me? With him?" he mumbles into my ear as he pulls me even closer.
My insides weep from his sad voice. I curl into him, wanting to hop inside his chest so I can hold him, cuddle him, make every inch of him better.
"You hurt me." I nuzzle against his chest.
"I didn't mean to." He pulls back, his hand going to my jaw as he tilts my head up. "I never meant to hurt you. I just couldn't handle it. I can't take it, Luna."
"Can't take what?"
"I can't watch you with someone else. All it takes is one guy, one moment, and maybe you'll realize they're the one."
I shake my head before his sentence is even finished. "It would never be like that."
He narrows his eyes. "How would you know? You met me, and you say it only took a second for you to realize I was going to be your best friend. You say you're an old soul, that maybe we were supposed to meet. But what if someone else is an old soul, too? What if Travis is an old soul, and he was the love of your life in a past life?"
I want laugh and snort and cry and scream at the same time.
"You know very little of me if you think that's how it'd ever be. You are my soulmate. Couldn't you tell from the moment I met you? All those years ago, you told me you could feel it. Don't you feel it, Roman?"
He takes a shaky breath, the hand on my jaw trailing to the back of my neck, his fingers gentle and tantalizing as they tickle from my neck and down my spine. "I feel it, Luna. I've always felt it." His hand moves down my back to my hips. His hand slips down over my hips, grazing my backside ever so gently.
His eyes widen, and his footsteps halt. He brings his hand up, and my eyes widen at the look on his face. I glance over, seeing a streak of red on his hand.
Oh, shit.
I start sweating, my body popping with goosebumps as a shiver racks my spine. My jaw becomes unhinged, and I swallow, mouth opened, as I realize what this means.
Roman snaps into action, spinning me around and pushing me through the crowd of people. We don't stop to tell anyone we're leaving. He just pushes me out of the gym and into the hallway. His fingers are strong against my arms, so tight and slightly shaky. I start sweating. I'm panicking, tremors making my teeth chatter as I come to terms with what's going on.
I got my period.
My mom kept saying it was taking a while. My sister got hers in the summer from sixth to seventh grade, and I'm in the middle of eighth grade and still haven't gotten it.
Well, I guess now I have.
It makes sense, though, why I've had the gnawing in my stomach all day.
Oh my God. I'm bleeding through my dress.
Did everyone see?
I look over my shoulder, seeing everyone dancing and talking and partying like they usually would. No one is staring. No one is pointing. It's just another dance for them. A teen dance with a ton of hormonal teenagers.
"Oh, no." I start to cry.
"Shhh." Roman rips his suit coat off his shoulders and wraps it around my waist. "You're fine." He's acting calmer than I am, even with his palm full of red.
Nora even got her period over the summer. Roman has been dealing with her PMS attitude one week a month for a while now, but it's still gross.
Andembarrassing.