69. Why Don't You Kiss Her?

Why Don't You Kiss Her?

He fiddled with his tie and loosened it as he leaned against the wall, along with his friends that weren't really talking about anything interesting, only about who was coming to the dance and who was already here.
“Dude, you look nervous,” Drew commented with a raised brow.
“I'm not nervous,” he snapped back. There was a small silence among the circle of friends before he spoke again, “Why would I be nervous? I have nothing to be nervous about.”
Jack looked at him, “Yeah, but there's always something, you're fiddling your tie to death, and were only 20 minutes into the dance, chill. Just chill.”
“I'm am chill!”
“You're not chill, you seem pretty stressed. We know you better than that.”
He ran a hand through his navy hair, the locks instantly falling back into place. He let out a sighed and put his hands into his pockets, “I just was kind of hoping for someone to be here...”
“Whoa. Someone.. who? I mean all the girls are here....”
A wide smirk grew on Will's lips and he looked at his friend, “Oh there's one person.”
“Who?”
“She's sarcastic.”
“Carson?” Jack guessed.
“She's smart.”
“Carson,” Jack said again.
“She's quiet.”
“..... not Carson.”
“And she lives at the lighthouse.”
Then the name all hit them at once, “Dmitri!”
The boy nodded, his bangs falling over his eyes. He wasn't in the mood to express his thoughts on their comments about the chemistry between them. In fact he'd known it for a while, ever since they were kids, I mean ti was just friendship then, but once they got older he noticed that something else had grown in place of that friendship, he wasn't sure if Dmitri had noticed it, she was much wrapped up in the lighthouse to have any other relationship, other than with just her friends. He saw Carson pass by and pushed himself off the wall.
“Hey, Cari, have you seen Dmitri anywhere?”
The black haired girl nodded, “Yeah, she's around here somewhere. She came just a few minutes ago, didn't you see her?”
“Uh, no. That would be why I'm asking...”
“She was the only girl.... oh never mind. She's probably outside on the roof, you know how she loves to look at the stars. Try and check there,” Carson smiled and winked, “Oh and good luck.” With that the girl walked off into the crowd.
The boy smiled softly to himself and proceeded up the stairway that leaded to the rooftop.
It wasn't long before he reached the roof and when he opened the door he immediately saw a figure leaning on the railing and staring up at the sky. The person must've heard the door open because they turned around slightly to face him.
“.... wow..” his voice came out in a quiet whisper as he stared at the person who he knew as Dmitri.
She wasn't wearing what the other girls would typically wear, in fact it didn't resemble anything close to it. She as wearing a white button-down shirt, a loose blue tie, black pants with a matching jacket, and  her regular everyday shoes. She... was dressed like a guy, yes. But she looked great in it.
Her hair lightly covered her eyes and the ends just brushed her shoulders, in this kind of light, her silver hair held a gleam of teal, making it even more appealing. Her golden eyes looked at him curiously, but they were a darker shade when in the night.
“Hey... Dmitri,” he said uncomfortably.
“Vance...” she said his name as a question, but soon smiled, “hey yourself.” She turned back around and leaned on the railing once more, Vance went to her side to join her, they both looked at the sky.
“It's amazing... how many beautiful things are on this world...” Dmitri smiled, her eyes darting from one star to the next.
Vance nodded as he looked at her caringly, “Yeah...”
He continued to stare at the stars with her, not really paying much interest to the stars, but more to the fact that he welcomed Dmitri's comforting presence, he felt a lot better whenever she was around. Below them they could faintly hear the music, Vance could barely make out the song that was currently playing, but he knew it all too well. Dmitri really didn't notice, as usual she payed more attention the the things that were more important to her. Vance glanced every once and a while at his friend while the song began to play below them.

We're the best of friends
And we share our secrets
She knows everything
That is on my mind

Vance remembered when they were younger, how they used to chase each other around the lighthouse, how they used to tell one another pointless jokes, just to crack a smile on each other's faces. There was one time when something was troubling his young self and Carson asked him what was wrong.

“Hey Vance, you 'kay?”
“Yeah... I've just been thinking about stuff.”
“A girl right?” she winked and smiled, “you don't have to say anything.”
“H.. How'd you..”
“I know you all too well Vance, besides I'm sure she likes you the same way.” She smiled and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He smiled to himself, remembering their childhood days always brought up the fact that there was always something between them, he was just to blind to see it right away.

Lately some thing's changed
As I lie awake in my bed
A voice here inside my head
Softly says

Vance inwardly sighed, he had spent many a night without sleep just because Dmitri had been floating around in his mind. It wasn't horrible, but at first it was irritating because he couldn't think straight, or think of anything else besides her as a matter of fact. He saw Dmitri looking at him, her eyes studying him, “Do you... wanna go back inside?”
Her voice sounded reluctant, but she forged a smile on her face. Vance shook his head, “Nah. It's better out here.” He smiled charmingly as a rosy color dusted itself on Dmitri's cheeks, she nodded and looked back at the stars.

Why don't you kiss her
Why don't you tell her
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide
Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside

He had never thought about it like that, that if he never told Dmitri how he really felt she could just float away, and they'd stay friends forever, instead of something more. He'd been harboring these feelings for a long time, he was too embarrassed to voice them. What if she didn't feel the same way, or laughed at him. Vance Gleardex wasn't one to get flustered over a girl, or one to get embarrassed, but Dmitri was something special to him, he didn't want to let her go.

Oh, I'm so afraid
To make that first move
Just a touch and we
Could cross the line
And every time she's near
I wanna never let her go
Confess to her what my heart knows
Hold her close

“So, you're here alone?” Dmitri asked, looking at him.
“Well I'm here with you, aren't I?” he replied smartly, a smile on his face. Dmitri playfully nudged him as she chuckled, “That was extremely corny Gleardex.”
He chuckled too, “Hey, I like corn.”
“Of course Gleardex, of course,” she looked at him softly. The boy stared right back at her, wondering what she was staring at, then he thought maybe this was his chance to tell her, he opened his mouth but she brought her hand up and brushed away his bangs that were covering his eyes.
“You're hair was messy,” she said quietly, “I know you hate it when you're hair's messy.” Her hand lingered by his temple for a moment. Vance felt the soothing warm of her flesh, it made him smile inside. She brought her hand down and returned it to her side, she looked back at the stars, her eyes still studying each shining light.

Why don't you kiss her
Why don't you tell her
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide
Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside

There was a faded explosion and Vance turned to look at the sky, there with the stars were bursts of color, below them all the people that attended the dance were staring at the colorful display and a few were scattering up towards a hill for a better look. Vance glanced at Dmitri, her eyes full of wonder and childhood excitement, her face had suddenly lit up and her smile was captivated by the bursts of color in the sky.
“I love fireworks,” she said happily, “They're like stars, only louder, bigger and more colorful.” The boy agreed and smiled as he continued to watch the firework display. Watching it with Dmitri made it even more enjoyable.
He found that now would be the perfect chance for him to make a move and admit his hidden emotions.
“Hey... Dmitri?” Her name came out as a question and his voice wasn't as steady as he wanted it to be.
She turned her head to look at him, “What is it Vance?”

What would she say
I wonder, would she just turn away
Or would she promise me
That she's here to stay
It hurts me to wait
I keep asking myself

“Before the dance is over, there's something I want to tell you first,” he steadied his voice. Nothing was going to make Vance Gleardex nervous, nothing had up until this point anyway.
“Sure, you can tell me anything,” she nodded and gave him a reassuring nod.
“I've been delaying this for a while, I dunno maybe I was nervous, or embarrassed or maybe just confused. I'm not sure which, maybe all three,” he flushed, hearing himself ramble as a mistake, but he had to get this over with before she was out of his grasp.
She smiled, “Go on.”
“I .. uhm....w-well..” Oh god, now he was stuttering. How could Vance Gleardex become a stuttering blob of jello, he was nervous, his tuxedo felt all to hot and tight and he was going to admit his deepest feelings to his long-time friend.
“Come on Vance,” her voice was soft and so much like a mother's, “you don't have to be nervous it's just me.”
'That's just it. It IS you, that's what makes this so difficult...”
“Well... wh-what I'm trying to say is...”

Why don't you kiss her (tell her you love her)
Why don't you tell her (tell her you need her)
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide
Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside

“I..... really ....” he diverted his gaze away from her to the fireworks, “.... want to know how the lighthouse is doing.”
Dmitri frowned and leaned off the rail to look at him, her hands inside her pockets, her eyes held a tinge of anger and sadness.
“Vance,” her voice was stern, “stop avoiding the question. You know I hate it when people beat around the bush. If you want to say something then say it Gleardex.”
“What if what I say isn't enough...” he asked her. She rolled her eyes in return, “Stop being all mysterious. You know what they say, actions speak louder than words. If you can't say it, then show it.”
“Dmitri...” he chuckled as he said her name, “stop being so rash. If you want it straight. I'll give it to you straight.”
Dmitri smirked happily to herself, thinking she won, “Good!”
“I love you.”
Dmitri could've fallen off the roof at that point, her arms were hung limp at her sides and her hair swayed slightly with the breeze, her eyes were full of mixed emotion. Happiness, confusion, shock, all wrapped into one.
“.... You what?” her voice came out in a whisper, “I mean... I... I feel the same way but I never knew...”

Why don't you kiss her....

And that's what Vance did. He kissed her.

.:c) Nikki/Chiaki::.</i>