Cupcake

The rest of the Homecoming Court, Lana included, was already in the front office when I arrived.

“Hey,” Rhys said, “glad you made it. I was starting to get worried.”

“Sorry,” I said. “Got held up.”

He studied my face a moment. “Are you all right?”

I didn’t want to lie, so I deflected instead. “It is what it is. How are things with you?”

“Good,” he said and pushed his hands into his pockets. “I watched that movie you gave me.”

My ears perked at this. “Which one?”

He shrugged. “Actually…all of them.”

“You already watched them?”

“Yeah, I liked all four. But my favorite was the ballroom one,” Rhys said.

I was still trying to absorb the fact that he’d watched every one of the films I’d given him.

“Who was your favorite character?” I asked.

His face turned pensive. “Scott was a talented dancer but kind of dense when it came to seeing people’s true nature. So, I’d have to say Fran. She was a cool chick, with or without the glasses.”

My jaw dropped. “You seriously watched it?”

“Yeah, I about died at the end when the music cut out,” he said. “That would be like getting to the final minutes of the championship game and having all the lights turn off or something. I had no idea what would happen, but it was great.”

“You’re…” I didn’t know how to finish, and my eyes filled because wow. He’d actually watched all the chick flicks I gave him. “Did you like Dirty Dancing?”

“I did.” Rhys lifted a brow. “If that was us, though, you’d be Johnny, and I’d be Baby, aka the one who carries a watermelon.”

I laughed in delight.

“Or actually, I’m more like that Napoleon guy. Even at the end of the movie, he’s still awkward and has zero rhythm.”

“What about 10 Things?”

“Hilarious,” he said. “You were right about the scene on the field. Must’ve taken a lot of guts—though the guy was in love with that Kat girl, so I get it.”

“You did watch them!” I said.

“Yeah, but I already told you that.”

I nudged his arm. “And I think we’ve proven that you do have rhythm. It just took some practice.”

“I’m ready for more practice whenever you are,” he said.

I couldn’t be sure, but I thought his eyes dipped to my lips on the word “practice.” Goodness, I nearly swooned right there.

Ms. Weaver interrupted my staring when she stepped in front of us.

“Good afternoon, Princess Ariel and Prince Rhys!” she said, adjusting the box she carried on her hip. “I’m here to give you a Homecoming keepsake. Enjoy the parade, and remember, always make sure your tiara’s on straight and smile for the crowd!”

She lifted a metal stick out of the box and handed it to Rhys. It was silver, topped with a tiny crown at one end, and sported green jewels. The next thing she pulled out was a dainty-looking circlet that she handed to me. It was silver as well, covered in rhinestones, and the metal was fashioned to look like vines that came to a point in the center. Beautiful, I thought. So beautiful, that despite the conversation I’d just heard, it made me feel like a true princess. Ms. Weaver walked back to the front of the line.

Feeling a bit funny about it, I placed the tiara on my head, then turned to Rhys.

“Well?” I said. “Is it straight?”

“Almost,” he said. “Here, let me.”

As he reached up, I held my breath. His hands were gentle as he adjusted the tiara. When his eyes met mine, he pushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

“You look perfect.”

“Thanks,” I said on an exhale.

Rhys nodded, and we walked forward. Did he even realize how romantic that move had been? Man, I was a mess, and he hadn’t even touched anything but my hair.

I could hear the cheers from the crowd outside. It was the end of the school day, but all the students and teachers had let classes out a few minutes early for the parade. They’d lined up the Homecoming nominees by class, placing the seniors in the back. Rhys and I were the next-to-last couple. And wouldn’t you know, we were put right in front of Lana and Zander.

“Stop twirling your scepter like that,” she hissed at him. “You’ll poke someone’s eye out.”

“Ah, you’re no fun,” he said back.

“Please, just behave.”

“Whatever you say, my lady.”

Lana’s groan made me want to laugh, but I held it in check. Rhys and I were almost up as Ms. Weaver stood at the door and gestured us forward.

“Okay, wait until they’re about five steps out, and then join the procession. Take your time. Remember the slow glide. Good luck, kids!”

Rhys gave her a nod and then offered me his arm. I looked up at him, took a deep breath, and rested my hand on the top of his forearm. It was solid, strong like the rest of him.

“You ready, Princess?” he said.

I nodded.

“Then let’s walk this hall like we own it.”

His confidence must’ve been contagious, because the nerves flew away.

When the couple in front of us was far enough ahead, we stepped out, and the cheers got noticeably louder. My cheeks went red, but I kept up with Rhys. His steps didn’t falter once. People shouted out his name left and right, but Rhys’s frown was set—unlike Zander, who I heard behind us throwing kisses at the crowd.

“Yeah! Go Cupcake! You look gorgeous! Work it girl! Work it!”

My eyes immediately picked Toni out of the crowd. And oh my God—she wasn’t lying about being loud. As we got closer, her hoots rose, and Rhys quirked an eyebrow.

“Friend of yours?” he asked, but I could tell he was just teasing.

My smile grew. “Absolutely not. I’ve never seen her before.”

“I love you, Cupcake!” Toni screamed at the top of her lungs, and I laughed.

“I love you, too,” I said, reaching out to touch her hand as we passed.

Funnily enough, a few other people shouted my name, too—well, my nickname. Some of them even put Rhys’s and my name together, cheering for both of us. “Go Rariel!” was said several times. My eyes widened in surprise.

Rhys’s face, however, was a hard mask. I hadn’t noticed it before and probably wouldn’t have if we weren’t so close. But the way he was clenching his fists, the tension in his shoulders, the sheen of sweat on his brow? He almost looked…nervous.

Or unwell.

“You feeling okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “Why?”

“It’s just that you’re kind of pale, and I remember your mom saying something about doctors. So…”

Rhys brushed me off. “It’s nothing.”

As we kept walking, we were about halfway down the long hall when another face jumped out at me. Kendall was standing with a group of her friends, frowning as we approached. Our eyes connected as her lip curled.

“Pathetic,” she said, but it might as well have been a shout.

I somehow lost my footing. My ankle rolled, and I knew I was about to fall. I’d humiliate myself and Rhys in the process, my nightmares realized.

But somehow, he caught me.

Grabbing my waist with one hand, the center of my back with the other, Rhys stopped my free fall.

“No worries. I’ve got you, Princess,” he said.

It was almost like our dip at the end of the waltz, I thought. Except this fall was unplanned, Rhys had reacted with catlike reflexes, and I was currently wide-eyed, hovering mere inches above the ground. The crowd ate it up, loving every second, banging on lockers and cheering.

“Nice catch,” I said.

He gave me that disarming half smile. “All that football has to count for something, right?”

“Guess so,” I mumbled.

I could’ve stared at him for hours, but he helped me straighten up moments later.

“You good?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Thanks for that.”

Rhys nodded, offered me his arm again, and I took it. But as I went to step on my right foot, a twinge rang out in my ankle that I couldn’t ignore. I hopped quickly back to the other foot with a gasp.

“Everything okay?” he asked again.

“Yeah, fine.”

We took a couple more steps, but he was watching closely this time as I winced and hobbled along.

“You’re not fine,” he said, pointing to my leg. “What’s going on there?”

“I rolled my ankle a little.” I waved a hand through the air like it was nothing. “Just need to walk it off.”

“We don’t have to finish this parade, you know,” he said. “You’re hurt. Ms. Weaver will understand.”

Yeah, but then it might ruin your chances of being king, I thought. And I wasn’t about to let that happen.

“I’m okay, Rhys. Really.”

“If you two are done chatting, can you please move?” Lana was smiling as she spoke through clenched teeth. “For goodness’ sake, she’s fine, Rhys. You’re holding up the parade.”

I nodded. “Yep, we’re going.”

As I met his gaze, Rhys looked concerned.

“Okay, Princess, if you say so.”

He gave a decisive nod, but before I could say a word, he’d scooped me up into his arms bridal-style.

“Rhys!” I hissed. “What the heck are you doing?”

“I’m not letting you walk on a busted ankle,” he said.

“Seriously, put me down.”

I went to get out of his hold, but his next words stopped me.

“I didn’t want to tell you this,” he sighed, “but I also may have seen a spider near your foot.”

I froze instantly. “What?”

“Yeah, and it looked like a big one. I know how freaked out you get about bugs. So I didn’t want to worry you.”

My eyes searched the ground as I clung to his shoulders.

“Still want me to put you down?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I guess this is okay. As long as I’m not too heavy… I wouldn’t want to injure you or make you feel emasculated.”

“I don’t know; I’m feeling pretty masculine right now.” He pulled me closer to him as I squeaked. “Let’s go, Princess.”

I ducked my head in the crook between his shoulder and neck as he carried me the rest of the way down the hall. If the cheers were loud before, they were deafening now. Rhys held me like it was effortless. It made me wonder if he wasn’t a superhero after all.

Even when the parade was over, he insisted on taking me to my locker.

“That was completely unnecessary,” I said, blushing as he carefully placed me back on my feet. “I could’ve walked.”

He looked like he didn’t believe it, so I amended.

“Okay, I would’ve hobbled, but I’d have made it.”

“I know,” he said, “but I was there and glad to be of assistance. Also, full disclosure, the spider thing was a lie.”

My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I just said that so you’d let me help.”

“Well…thanks for being honest about lying…I guess?”

“You’re welcome. And come on, admit it: you liked me carrying you.”

“I admit nothing.”

Looking away, I couldn’t contain my smile. He placed a hand under my chin and gently lifted.

“Have you made your decision yet?” he asked.

There was no mistaking that he meant the date.

“I’m still thinking,” I said quietly.

“Okay.”

I looked up at him. “Is it really?”

“Yeah.” Rhys placed his hand on my cheek, the rough pads of his fingers feeling lovely against my skin. “You’re worth the wait.”

As he leaned closer, my eyes shut on their own, hoping for another earth-shattering kiss. But what came was even sweeter. Rhys’s lips pressed against my forehead, and I felt the touch everywhere.

“You keep thinking. And ice that ankle when you get home, okay, Princess?”

With that, he left me, breathless, alone, and staring after him.

A throat cleared and brought my attention to Mrs. Reeves, who was standing in the door to her classroom with a yogurt in her hand. She was looking straight at me.

“I should’ve probably stopped that,” Mrs. Reeves said. “I like you a lot, Cupcake. But as a teacher, it’s my duty to write up students for PDA.”

“Oh, please don’t, Mrs. Reeves,” I said. “We weren’t—”

“But,” she cut in, “as a hopeless romantic, I had no choice but to let it play out.”

My mouth snapped shut, and she smiled.

“Rhys Castle?” she said. “Really, Ariel?”

“I know.”

Mrs. Reeves shot me a wink. “Just make sure he deserves you.”

The funny thing was I’d never even thought of it that way. I’d only ever seen Rhys as out of my league, on another planet altogether, in another galaxy.

But now he was real to me in a way he never had been before.

A real person and friend.

A real possibility.

Somehow that made it even scarier.