Chapter Eighteen

"Prefect! Now I want you two back over there." She beamed as she got back into position to snap away.
They both carefully came next to each other as they prepared to get themselves in the pose. He carefully takes her hand causing her entire arm to shoot with electricity and a shaky breath came out of her. He gently pulls her to his side where they nearly touched, their body heat coming off them in waves as they became hyper aware of one another.
He slides a hand around the lower part of her back, scorching his touch through the fabric of her dress and she couldn't help but hold in her breath at that moment. She didn't understand her body's reaction all the sudden and why they seemed to be more intimate than any other time they have spent together, minus that first night they had met.
She hesitantly placed her hand over his chest where his heart laid, feeling the thundering beat under her palm. Her eyes snapped up to his, realizing that he was just as nervous and affected as much as she was. Her hands began to sweat a little at that knowledge and she quickly averted her stare to his chest instead.
He pulls her a little bit closer to him, putting his own hand softly over hers on his chest. He slightly squeezes it in comfort but instead it only caused her head to go a little fuzzy by the action.
"Alright, look at me you two." Her mother's voice suddenly seems so far away, and she tried to bring her full focus back to what they were doing.
They both look to her and give a genuine smile that she couldn't help but stare at. Jared's atmosphere had completely done a one eighty. He was way more relaxed, more comfortable looking, more himself as he stood next to Mila. Unlike with Kristan he's body wasn't stiff at all and was in fact calm in his posture.
And the smile on that boy's face!
He looked both elated and lovestruck. A facial expression that he wasn't hiding at all and was letting all out for anyone to see. She was momentarily flabbergasted at the expression he was showing. She shook her head to clear it and smiled again.
"On the count of three." She counted and snapped the photo. "Much better than the last one you did Jared." She gave him a smirk at that meaning making him rub the back of his head in slight shame.
They continue to take a few more pictures and just as she was about to tell them it was time to wrap things up and get going, she stares at the two of them, watching as Mila reaches up to fix his bowtie smirking at the color he was wearing.
"Nice color choice there." She jabbed at him.
He just snorted at her, allowing her to fix it for him. "Thank your grandpa. He gave it to me to wear."
Julie secretly took another picture, both of them completely oblivious of what she was doing. They both laughed at whatever had been said, both smiling hugely at one another that she couldn't help but take another.
"Alright, you guys, it's time to head out." Then she walked away back into the kitchen.
Mila realized that Jared was still holding onto her and hasn't bothered to let go. She looked back up at him to see that he was staring down at her with a small frown of confusion. She wasn't sure what he was thinking about right now, all she knew was this moment seemed to be important, but she didn't know why.
She pulled herself away from him, breaking their contact. Then footsteps were quickly coming down the hall making them step further apart even more.
"Come on you, guys! Let's go, the limo's been waiting!" Selena nearly yelled at them, seeming to be in a rush.
Selena didn't bother to let either of them know that she had come back a little while ago to find them taking pictures. She didn't want to disturb the moment, but she definitely needed to have a little chat with her brother. She had watched his face the entire the time and she hadn't mistaken it. There was definitely something there. But it would have to wait. Because tonight wasn't the night to discuss his feelings and what they could mean.
After another series of pictures in front of the limo they head for the dance. During the car ride they talked, they laughed, they complimented on each other's attire and thought how funny it was that Jared and Mila were wearing matching colors even though they weren't going together. They even made jokes.
They all headed to the school gym where lights, music, and people were heard. They all started to have a good time while going around saying hello to their other friends that also joined them. Mila danced with Evan, laughing at his jokes about the decorations or the way some of the teachers were being weird standing to the sides thinking no one was paying any attention to them.
Selena and Ian never left each other's side throughout it all as some of the girls threw heated looks in their direction, jealous that he had taken her to the dance. He was a popular boy with good looks and a sweet personality. And the fact that she had his full attention was rubbing them all wrong.
At one point during a song, they were dancing too, one of the girls said something loudly to where they could hear them. Something that caused Selena's smile to falter a little, but she didn't react to their vicious words.
Instead, Ian pulled her closer to him and kissed her right there on the dance floor for everyone to see. Her face flushed with happiness as he pulled away, smiling. Jared was scowling and twirled Kristan next to them.
"I'm not going to have to break your nose, do I?" He said sweetly, making Ian's face turn a deathly pale.
"Jared, stop that!" His sister hissed at him, then laughed when his face morphed into a grin. "You're horrible!" She pushed his shoulder to get him away from them.
"He didn't mean it Ian. He's just jealous because he can't kiss the girl he wants." She cheekily stated, peering her eyes at him in a knowing way.
He suddenly went completely still staring at her with slight dread. All smiling gone from his face.
"Of course, he can!" Kristan nearly yelled out and before anyone knew what was happening she grabbed his cheeks and kissed him right there on the lips.