17 - One Dance

ADRIEN’S POV

June stood near the table of drinks beside Jules, her yellow dress catching the warm party lights.

For a second, the noise around me faded into the background.

I was speechless.

“Bro, are you even listening to me?” Theo frowned.

I heard him say, “oh damn” and that snapped me back into reality.

“You didn’t tell me your fake girlfriend looked like that?” He muttered.

I didn’t answer.

I caught James looking at her, like she was a sheep he could devour.

Before I knew it, my feet had found their way to her.

“You came,” I said simply.

“As you can see.” She replied.

“Didn’t know I was invisible.” Jules spoke and I turned to face her. She was in a matching dress with June, just a different color.

“My apologies. Hi Jules.” I greeted her.

Theo suddenly appeared by my side, “You both look gorgeous.”

June muttered a thank you but Jules rolled her eyes.

Theo looked oddly entertained every time Jules insulted him.

“No appreciation?” He turned to Jules.

“I don’t trust football players,” she responded.

“That hurts. Deeply.” Theo replied sarcastically.

Me and June watched them go back and forth.

I looked at her from the corner of my eye, she was breathtaking.

Shit, I hadn’t complimented her.

“I’ll be gone now, you’ll be fine June.” She assured June before leaving and Theo followed.

“Want a drink?” I offered.

My brain stopped working temporarily. Offering her a drink was the only thing I could think of.

“Sure.” She responded. I extended my hand for her to take it.

“Charming.” She rolled her eyes before letting her fingers slip into mine.

“You look…” I started, struggling to find the perfect word. She looked at me, waiting for me to complete my sentence.

“Magnificent. You look magnificent.” My voice came out quieter than I expected.

“Thank you.” She said with a smile.

“June!! Come dance!” I heard Jules call out to her, sounding a bit tipsy.

“No thank you. You know I don’t dance.” June replied. I noticed her hands grabbing the canned drink I had given her earlier.

Her hands were shaking.

“Come on, I’ll go with you!” I took her hands in mine and we followed Jules to the dance floor.

She reluctantly took my hand.

She joined Jules and she was forced to dance.

I couldn’t stop watching her.

The lights casted a soft hue on her, once again it felt like everything had faded.

She was a work of art.

She was the only thing I could notice.

“Staring, are we?” Max broke the silence in my head.

“Huh?” I managed to say.

“You look at her differently, for something that’s not real.” He added.

“I do not.” I replied.

“Alright man, whatever you say.” He said with a chuckle before walking onto the dance floor.

I noticed James walking towards June. I watched him touch her waist. I couldn’t watch him do more.

My hands slid around her waist protectively.

The heat of her body radiating through her skin was distracting.

“Hey.” I said softly as I turned her around to face me.

“June.” I heard James try to tap her shoulder but she paid him no attention.

He tried to touch her waist again but I grabbed his hand.

“We’re in the middle of something mate. Back off.” I said harshly.

I didn't know why I sounded harsh. It was unlike me, but I was more irritated by James’ presence to care about how I sounded.

June wrapped her arms round my neck, cast a side eye at James and rolled her eyes.

Soon, he stormed off.

Her perfume smelled sweet. Not overwhelming but enough to cloud my senses.

“You look nervous.” I told her.

“I’m not nervous.” She retorted.

“I thought you said you couldn’t dance, that’s not what’s happening right now.”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“Looks like you’re enjoying this.” I said.

Her eyes lifted to mine for a second.

A little too long.

I lowered my head instinctively, drawn in without even realizing it.

She noticed too. Her breathing had changed.

Neither of us moved. My lips hovered just inches from hers.

Then Theo’s loud voice cut through the moment.

“ADRIENNN!”

June immediately stepped back while Theo appeared beside us completely unaware.

“You need to settle this argument right now. Max thinks he can beat me in FIFA.” He said.

I stared at him blankly, mentally facepalming.

I wasn’t sure if I should thank him or kill him.

“I’ll be right back.” I said and made sure Jules wasn’t too far from June.

“Did you not see us?” I said to him as we walked.

“Huh?” He replied confused.

I snatched the controller from Theo and began playing.

“So, you and June. What’s really going on?” Theo sat beside me.

“I already told you. We’re fake.” I responded.

“Didn’t look like that to me.” He laughed.

“I told him the same thing. He looks at her like…” Max started. “I don’t even know but they sure as hell don’t look fake. Or, the acting is phenomenal.”

My eyes moved from the game to both of them.

I thought back to what happened at the dance floor.

The way her fingers tightened around my neck.

The way she looked at me and didn’t move away.

“Adrien,” Theo waved his fingers in front of me. “You’ve been staring at the screen for thirty seconds.”

“I’m literally winning.” I responded.

“Look up.” Max spoke this time.

Shit.

“You like her.” Max added.

“No, I don’t.” I responded, leaning back into the sofa.

Why was everyone acting like this was something serious?

June and I weren’t real, I had clearly told them.

But why did James touching her make me want to break his hand?

Why did kissing her almost feel natural?

And why the hell was I thinking about it?

I searched the room, wanting to look at anything aside from Theo and Max.

I found her near the kitchen laughing with Jules.

Then she looked up straight at me.

And suddenly, I contemplated breaking the boundaries we set.