• CHAPTER 82 - IS IT PROGRESSION IF YOUR FIANCÉE SHOWS UP AT PROM?

    Make friends at prom? Yeah right.

    "Those jerks," I mumbled as I watched Kira disappear down the road in Matsuda's car.

    This totally sucked; I was dumped at prom all by myself at night and with no coat so I could "make friends". They caught me completely off guard, as they always do. Maybe I'm too gullible. I was horrible at making friends. I probably only had one or two acquaintances and that's about it. It was always Aya that had the social charm everybody envied. I suppose being a vegetarian can mess you up in both physical and social ways. Curse my vegetarianism!

    I could feel the eyes of my peers burning into my exposed back as I entered the gymnasium by myself. They were all scanning me up and down, probably surprised at my new attire. I wouldn't blame them; I never dress elegantly. It was only Seniors at this graduation prom so there weren't as many eyes plastered on me as their is on a daily basis. It's pathetic that even the Freshmen pick on me when they have the opportunity. I'm too weak to defend my vegetarian self.

    "Welcome back to Hell," I greeted myself.

    I stumbled over to the empty side of the gym in my two and a half-inch heels and leaned against the wall. I fondled with the bump under my left glove which turned out to be my engagement ring. I sighed again and Kai came up to thought immediately; I missed him already. I wanted him to stop his shopping and come rescue me.

    This would be a long night; three hours alone is a burden for most people. The last place I wanted to be on my Saturday night was at school. I was relieved, however, that I was graduating in another week and a half. I could finally rid myself of this Hellhole!

    If I can pass my exams.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~

    An hour and a half already; is it over yet? At least the gazes stopped burning into me.

    I was finally adjusted to being alone on the empty side of the gym until two frozen, broad arms coiled around my waist. The two hands with the extended fingernails locked together and I was pulled back gently against a steel body. A pair of soft lips pressed feather-like against my ear and my heart sped up.

    "Good evening, mademoiselle," the voice whispered into my ear.

    I perked up straight and whipped around, only to meet up with an elegantly dressed Kai. My heart immediately jumped and I embraced Kai tightly.

    "You came to rescue me!" I squealed.

    Kai chuckled and rubbed my lower back in small circles. I lifted my head and finally took in what he was wearing. A sleek, black tuxedo with a white collared shirt underneath. A corsage with mini snowy white roses and a soft red ribbon was pinned on his heart and a small, black bow tie coiled around his neck. His earrings were changed a little too, except for his fang earring on his left ear and the large silver clasp on the right ear.

    Kai smiled, "Taking in the image of me in my monkey suit?"

    "Kai, you look..." I scanned him again, "so formal."

    He kissed my forehead, "And you're so overwhelmingly beautiful,"

    My cheeks turned pink and I frowned after a few seconds; Kai was here for prom, not to rescue me from it. My eyes were now level with his chin, thanks to my heels. I felt so much taller but my feet were aching and I still wasn't very close to Kai's height. No matter what, I'll never match Kai's towering height.

    "Here," Kai slid a corsage that matched his on my left wrist, only mine had a soft green ribbon instead of a soft red one.

    Before I could say anything, Kai drug me about seven feet from the wall I was leaning against earlier and he slid his hands onto my hips. I followed my instincts and locked my hands together behind his neck. Kai started swaying us lightly from side to side and in small circles. I started panicking internally at the fact that I couldn't dance and I'd only embarrass myself.

    "Just follow my lead," Kai smiled at me.

    "I can't believe you actually came," I whispered. "I thought you were grocery shopping."

    "Technically I was shopping," he clarified. "Tuxedo shopping."

    "You and Matsuda did a good job," I smiled. "You look amazing."

    "And Orihime did an astounding job,"

    "Thank you," I blushed.

    "Oh, I almost forgot," Kai released his hands from my hips and dug into his tuxedo jacket pocket.

    He pulled out a velvet blackish-blue box and opened it up. I nearly broke down when I saw what was inside. Inside the box were the pair of slim triangle earrings with the row of four diamonds that I coveted when we were shopping for Kira. He actually bought them...for me.

    Kai removed the silver hoops I was wearing and he gently slid the new earrings on me. My eyes never left him as he stowed away the box and the hoops I was just wearing beforehand.

    "You...got me the earrings," I whispered and touched my new earrings that must have cost more than a fortune.

    Kai stared at my hands and frowned, "One more thing,"

    He gently grabbed my right wrist and pulled the glove off and dropped it gracefully to the floor. He repeated the same process with my left hand and my engagement ring was revealed. He rested the palm of his right hand against my left and partially slid his fingers between mine. He slid his other hand to my lower back and pulled me close.

    "Is this too close?" I asked him, remembering what he said about his self-control this afternoon.

    "No," he shook his head and fondled with my fingers. "I adore the feeling of your skin."

    "Same here," I admitted, "but your skin is so cold." I giggled.

    "Yours is particularly warm," he kissed my palm. "Very warm."

    He kissed my palm a few more times and turned my hand over to kiss my ring. I glanced around the gym and damn near everybody was staring. I didn't care anymore; I was almost out of here anyways. The gazes kept burning, but I managed to look away from them. I even managed to ignore the girls without dates who were staring at Kai.

    "You're so precious, Arisa," Kai pressed my palm against his cheek. "I can't believe I was able to wait so long for you to come along."

    I wrapped my arms around his neck and lowered him to land a light kiss on his soft lips. I pressed my forehead against his and closed my eyes, unable to find the right words to emphasize how much more precious he was to me and I was to him. Either way, we couldn't let go of each other.

    Kai wrapped his arms around my waist and we danced. A man and his fiancée at prom. Normally, being engaged in high school meant you were in a tight situation. In my case, it was because I couldn't go any longer without Kai. There is no human nor other creature on earth more passionate than a Vampire who knows all, excluding an Angel. The pull towards Kai was almost unbearable when I first realized my feelings for him. Of course, we're not freakishly obsessed with each other and we didn't fall in love at first sight like that couple in that Twilight story Aya pressed me into reading a couple of years ago (Writer's Note: LAWL).

    Kai laughed, "What?"

    I smiled, "It's nothing,"

    "You obtain an interesting mind,"

    "I do," I giggled.

    We continued to dance slowly, even during the faster songs. We only spun in slow circles and Kai ignored the times I accidentally stepped on his feet, even though I knew he couldn't feel it. Our slow circles continued with our eyes locked. Neither of us said a word to each other. We were so absorbed into each other that the rest of the world was detached. Did anybody else in the world have a chemistry like this, excluding Matsuda and Orihime?

    "Can we leave?" I whispered. "My heels are killing me."

    "Of course,"

    Kai scooped me off of my feet and glided out of the school. He carried me to the farthest corner of the parking lot and set me on my feet to open his door. He picked me up again and sat in the driver's seat with me his lap and he shut the door.

    "Why aren't I in the passenger seat?" I giggled.

    "Just because," Kai smiled and shrugged.

    I pressed my forehead against his and closed my eyes, "Thank you for showing up,"

    "I set the whole thing up," he admitted. "I wanted to dance with you."

    "That's sweet," I smiled, "but I still can't dance."

    "Doesn't matter,"

    He wrapped his arms around my waist and pecked my lips. My arms coiled around his neck and I pulled my lips to his again. He coasted his hand into my hair and pulled out the bobby pins holding up my hair and my hair fell freely over my shoulders. I hadn't realized how long it had grown since I've been with Kai.

    I snapped out of my daydream as soon as I felt Kai's tongue delve into my mouth. I managed to keep up with him and copy his actions. I ran one of my hands through the spikes in his hair as he slid his hand from my hair to my exposed back. The kissing was heating up and it was difficult to catch my breath.

    "Bre...breath," I gasped between rough kisses.

    Kai stopped the kissing and he moved to my jawline and my neck. He kissed me where my hickey was and I flinched slightly from the soreness. I kissed Kai's left ear and finally caught my breath.

    "Are you still bound under your abstinence vow?" Kai whispered into my ear.

    I locked up my body and my breathing and I snapped my eyes open, "What?" I whispered, barely audible to myself.

    "Your abstinence promise," he whispered again and buried his face in my neck.

    "What?" I whispered again, although I clearly heard him the first time.

    "Arisa..." he sighed sentimentally.

    "Kai, you're-you're asking me if I still want to be abstinent...?" I was probably taking this the wrong way.

    "Arisa, you're such an amazing girl," he sighed. "I love you so much."

    "Kai, what are you implying?"

    "I want you," he cupped my left cheek. "I want all of you."

    I squeezed my eyes shut, "I thought you never wanted to because you would hurt me,"

    "It's a possibility, but I'm confident I would gain authority,"

    "Kai--,"

    "You're just so precious," he kissed my chin.

    "R-right now...?" I stuttered and choked on my upcoming tears.

    Kai paused for a long moment before he kissed my throat, "Yes,"

    I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut again and he held me closer. He sighed and kissed my neck and my collarbone repeatedly. My head was spinning and I was incredibly dizzy already. Even though I was sitting on Kai's lap, I still felt as though I were falling backwards. It was too much to take in at once; Kai wants to make love to me.

    I shook my head and tears finally poured, "I can't,"

    "I understand," Kai kissed my neck again.

    "I-I'm sorry, but I-I'm just--I'm just scared," I cried.

    "I know, I know," he tried to calm me. "I just wanted you to know."

    "I love you too, Kai, but I just can't," I continued to cry.

    "I won't pressure you," he rubbed my back, "not at all."

    "I'm just--I'm just not ready," I sobbed. "I'm scared."

    He cupped my face in his hands, "I know, I know," he kissed me. "I'm sorry."

    "It's not you," I opened my tear-drenched eyes.

    "Yes it is, Arisa. I shouldn't have brought that up." he sighed. "I shouldn't have assumed you'd give up your promise."

    I embraced him again and covered my mouth and cried. It was so unexpected for him to bring that up, but it's better if I know how he truly feels. He's willing to hold back his extreme lust just for me. He knew how scared and unprepared I was so he was willing to wait until I was ready.

    "I'm sorry," I sobbed into his neck.

    "It's okay," he rubbed my back. "You did nothing wrong."

    I pulled back and wiped away my tears and Kai played with my hair, "Are you afraid of me now?" he asked.

    I stared at him and he looked down with guilt and depression on his face and in his bronze eyes, "No,"

    He kissed my lips and my throat and he reposed his right hand on my left hip, "I'm so sorry,"

    I shook my head, "You're fine,"

    We sat in silence for the longest time possible. His thumb traced circles around the circumference of my hip bone that protruded from my body. I ruffled his hair lightly and kissed his cheek every now and then.

    "Can we go home now?" I murmured after seeing everybody exit the gym at the end of prom.

    Kai nodded and I slid onto the passenger seat. Kai extended his arm behind his seat and brought his black and white faux fur-collared jacket up front and he draped it around my shoulders. We waited in the line for a few extra minutes so some of the other cars could leave the parking lot. The drive home was silent and the first thing I did when I got back was slip into my pajamas and crawl into bed, leaving my prom stuff on the floor. I curled up into a ball under the covers and cried silently. I was probably overreacting, but I couldn't help it. It's hard, knowing your fiancée wants to make love to you and you don't and it's harder in knowing that when you yourself are afraid of sex.

    I wasn't ready for such a relationship...I don't think I'll ever be ready...not even for Kai.