Over the Moon (9 page)

"Wow, you look fantastic," he declared.

"Thanks, you look pretty good yourself." I laughed to conceal
my disappointment that he wasn't Andrew. He did look handsome
in his gray, pinstriped suit, burgundy shirt, and black tie. We walked
to his car. Tim was sitting in the backseat.

"We still have to pick up Tiff," he said. "If she looks half as good
as you do, this will be the best dance ever."

Tiffany wore an apricot-colored chiffon dress that compli mented her rich olive skin tones. Tim grinned from ear to ear when
he saw her.

"Tiana, that dress makes you look absolutely beautiful," she said

"Thanks. You look fabulous in that color," I responded with a
smile.

Rococco's was on top of a hill covered with lava rock, the black
hill, overlooking the city of St. George and the surrounding area.
This hill was marked by a giant whitewashed D for Dixie State College. I could see the red hill to the north. The locals called it the
Sugar Loaf because it resembled a loaf of bread. Behind this unusual
hill stood a gargantuan mountain. It was covered with pine trees up
to the tree line, where the rocky, gray peaks of Pine Valley Mountain
were exposed. What kind of a name was that? Shouldn't it be Pine
Mountain? It wasn't a valley and a mountain. It didn't make sense
to me, but then nobody had asked for my opinion. The people who
named it were probably the same ones who named Hurricane.

To the east there were a number of purple tabletop plateaus supported by huge lion's paws in rainbow colors. You could see all the
way to the jagged, rocky spires of Zion National Park. It was a very
imposing and impressive view.

The food looked expensive. I wished I wasn't too nervous to
enjoy it. It was pretty, arranged artistically on the fancy china. It was
almost a shame to eat it. I pushed it around with my fork.

Tim and Jordan talked a lot about sports and school. Tiffany
made amusing comments. I was happy to listen and nod occasionally. I tried to laugh convincingly at their jokes. Most of them were
actually funny, so it wasn't too hard. I had to force myself to pay
attention because I wanted to zone out and think only of how wonderful it would be to finally dance in Andrew's arms. I was glad no
one could read my thoughts.

At last, it was time to head back to Hurricane High for the
dance. We were late. I searched the parking lot for Andrew's car. It
wasn't there. My mood fell as I noted the fact that he might not be
here tonight. He could have changed his mind. The gymnasium had
been transformed into a jungle with lots of fake trees and plants. The ceiling was covered with vines and giant, white gardenias made
from crepe paper. There were even a few monkeys hanging from the
fake vines. I love monkeys, but whoever decorated this had gone a
little over the top with the rainforest theme. I almost expected to see
some tigers and gorillas hiding in the corners behind the silk plants.
I looked suspiciously around the room. There they were. The tigers
were part of the table centerpieces. They were cute and fuzzy stuffed
toy tigers. I couldn't help laughing when I spied them. I shouldn't
have been surprised. This was the home of the Tigers. The only
gorillas I could see were on the dance floor with their dates.

The dance floor was crowded, and it was difficult to see in the
dim lighting. Jordan escorted me to the middle of the room. As we
danced, I combed the sidelines for Andrew. I couldn't find him anywhere. I bit my bottom lip. What if he had decided not to come? I
wouldn't blame him if he had, but I really wanted him to be here. I
didn't want to waste all this irresistibility on Jordan.

Jordan wasn't a bad dancer, but I was uncomfortable in his
embrace. It just felt wrong. I tried to make polite conversation. My
mind kept wandering, and my eyes kept searching. He liked to talk
about himself, as most boys do, so I asked a few questions and tried
to listen, or pretend to in a convincing manner. I'd just have to serve
my time in dating hell and try to make the best of it.

After we had been dancing for what seemed like almost forever,
Andrew walked in. I gulped. He could have walked off the cover
of GQ in a lightweight navy suit with a silver shirt and a tie that
matched the color of his eyes. He seemed to have an aura of light
around him, and it was impossible for me to see anyone else when
he was in the room. He smiled and waved at me. I felt queasy and
slightly dizzy as I watched him make his way to the edge of the
room. He found a folding chair and leaned back against the wall.
Again, his eyes found me in the crowd, and I felt his magnetism
pulling me to him.

Abruptly, the music stopped; the lights flickered and then went
out. A few girls screamed. Someone shoved me to the floor. It must
have been an accident. Why would anyone do that on purpose? The lights came back on again in a matter of seconds. I tried to get up
from my awkward position on the dance floor. My ankle twisted, I
felt a sharp pain, and I went down again. I blushed to my beet-red
level ten on the mortification sliding scale. I felt like everyone in the
room was staring intently at me. The sudden silence that engulfed
the gymnasium made it infinitely worse. I wanted to fade away into
the wooden floor boards I was sprawled over like a rag doll.

In less than a second, Andrew was there. He lifted me like I was
weightless and carried me to a chair. He removed my shoes. The
music started playing again, and people began murmuring.

"Where does it hurt?" he asked as he held my feet gingerly. Jordan joined us and appeared to be about to explode.

"She's my date! I'll take care of her!" he shouted. Andrew ignored
him.

"It's my left ankle," I said. "Someone pushed me down when the
lights went out."

The DJ announced that the next dance was a girl's choice. Alexis
sashayed out of the crowd, looking like the "it" girl again in a tightly
fitted silver and black designer gown. She even had a shiny tiara in
her hair that was covered in rhinestones. She really looked like a
drama queen tonight.

"Jordan, will you dance with me?" she asked sweetly, taking his
hand in both of hers and making sad, puppy-dog eyes at him.

"Go dance with her," Andrew told him without even glancing at
Alexis. "I'll watch your date."

Jordan hesitated with narrowed eyes. "I don't know-"

"I promise I'll give her back," Andrew interrupted him.

"Please, Jordan?" Alexis begged, looking like she might cry if he
said no. Her lips quivered, and she fluttered her too-long-to-be-real
lashes at him.

Satisfied, Jordan followed Alexis into the crowd and disappeared.
She turned and flashed me a twisted, evil smile. It was pure irony
that she didn't know she was doing me a ginormous favor. Imagine
that! The snooty beauty queen was clueless.

Andrew gently massaged my ankle. I felt the warmth from his
hands spread from my ankle to the rest of my body.

"How's that?" he asked.

"How did you do that?" The pain was completely gone.

"I have magic hands." He pulled me to my feet. "We should
give it a test drive on the dance floor to make sure it is truly better."
He held me so my feet barely touched the floor. I melted against his
chest as he pulled me closer. "How's the pain?"

"What pain?" I was feeling no pain whatsoever. I was more
than content in his arms. This felt so exactly right. I was ecstatically
happy. This was even better than any fantasy I could create. I hoped
he couldn't hear my heart hammering and racing beyond my control.
I tried to calm its pace, but it paid no attention to me.

"You look beautiful tonight, Tiana. I wish I were your date.
Maybe the wicked witch will cast an evil spell on Jordan and turn
him into her mindless minion again. Then I could take you home,"
he whispered in my ear, sending a wave of heat swirling through my
overworked circulatory system.

"I'd like that," I answered him.

We danced two more dances before Jordan reappeared to cut
in. It was far too soon. I had really hoped Alexis had worked some
magic on him and made him forget I was his date.

"I guess I have to give you back now. I did promise." He left me
there with Jordan. I felt like Cinderella when she had to leave her
prince at the ball, only I had to go home with Jordan because this
was no fairy tale. At least I would never have to go out with Jordan
again, and I wouldn't have to pretend that I liked him after this endless evening.

Eventually, the DJ announced the last dance. I couldn't see
Andrew anywhere. Jordan and I left the jungle with Tim and Tiffany.
Thank heavens this night was almost over. I wanted to go home and
relive the part where time stood still for just a few magic moments
and I got to dance with the most wonderful guy in the world.

"Before I take you home, I want to show you the view from the
top of La Verkin Hill," Jordan said as we got into his white Chevy
Blazer.

"It's late," I protested. "I should be getting home." I really wanted
to go home and be done with this whole charade and escape from
this never-ending date.

"It won't take long," he said as he drove off in the wrong direction. "It is so worth it." Tim and Tiffany readily agreed. I was outnumbered. We climbed the steep hill and were turning into the
lookout parking lot when a deer bolted in front of the headlights.

"Look out!" I cried.

The frightened animal froze in the direct path of Jordan's car. He
swerved to miss it, muttering obscenities. The car hit the embankment and rolled down into a dark ravine. I heard Tiffany scream. I
hit my head, and then everything went black.

When I regained consciousness, I was alone in the car. It was
so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I could feel the
deployed airbags. There was an intense pain in my right leg. It had
to be broken. I tried to move it, but it was pinned under the metal
door. The door must have folded in on itself when the Blazer rolled.
I tried to scream, but I couldn't find my voice. It was like I was paralyzed in a nightmare. Where was everyone? The smell of gasoline
was sickeningly strong.

"Where's Tiana?" It was Andrew's voice I could hear. I must be
dreaming. I tried hard to wake up. I pinched myself. I felt it.

"She's stuck in the car! We couldn't get her out! She's unconscious," Jordan yelled back. "We called 911. The ambulance is on
its way."

"Go up to the road where they can see you. I'll get her," he
commanded.

He came in through the driver's door. "Tiana, can you hear me?"
I tried to respond. I still couldn't speak. I heard the sound of grating,
twisting metal as he forced it off my leg. He took me in his arms and
carried me to the top of the hill. He turned to look back at the car. I
opened my eyes to a huge flash of blinding light. It was accompanied
by the booming sound of an explosion. Jordan's car was on fire!

I heard the sirens whine and increase in urgency as they approached
the scene of our accident. I decided I was definitely awake. My head
and my leg hurt too much for me to be dreaming. I was still in
Andrew's strong arms. We were looking down at Jordan's burning
car. I had been trapped in that very same car only minutes before.
That could have been me burning or bits of me among the flaming
wreckage. I was going to pieces right now as I realized the explosion
probably would have killed me.

"Dude! Your car just blew up! Cool!" Tim exclaimed a little too
eagerly. Tiffany slugged him in the arm. "Ouch, what was that for?"

"You're not supposed to be enjoying this. Tiana could be seriously injured, and Jordan's car is totaled," she insisted.

"My dad is going to kill me!"

"Only if I don't kill you first!" Andrew spoke though clenched
teeth.

"Be nice. It wasn't his fault. There was a deer." I had finally found
my ability to communicate.

"Tiana, are you all right?" Andrew turned his attention to me.

"I think my leg is broken, and I have a massive headache," I said.
I was really glad I wasn't blown into a thousand tiny, charred pieces.

He sat me on the seat in his car and used his magic hands to
carefully feel my legs, my arms, and my pounding head. He even
checked my ribs for broken bones. I was almost enjoying this part. I
would have if I wasn't freaking out over nearly being blown to bits.

"You're going to be fine. No worries. There are no broken bones."

"Are you sure?" I said in disbelief. "I swear I felt the bone sticking out of my leg."

"No, you're wrong. Nothing's broken, I promise. You are in shock
and understandably so. You could have died in that explosion. I'm so
thankful I got you out in time. Close your eyes and try to relax. The
paramedics will be here soon." His voice was strangely hypnotic. I
shut my eyes and thanked heaven that I was still among the living. I
had a hard time believing that I had been rescued just seconds before
the explosion that transformed Jordan's Blazer into a mass of burning, molten metal. It was miraculous that I had survived. Andrew
was my hero as well as my Prince Charming.