Taking Chances by Deanna Frances Page A

mid-thigh. Jacquie’s was pink, with ruffles at the bottom, and I was wearing my short white and black dress that Matt had chosen.
    When Spencer came to pick me up from Jacquie’s, Mrs. Tyler took pictures of all of us in our dresses and then she took pictures of us with the boys. When I got into Spencer’s car, he said, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but you look beautiful,”
    I looked at him and said, “You look pretty handsome yourself,”
    He was in black dress pants, a white button-up shirt and a silver vest and tie. I had to admit; it was probably the most handsome outfit I’d ever seen him in.
    I smiled, and kissed him once softly. When we arrived at the school at seven-thirty for the dance, a couple of crowds had started to assemble. We all went to stand over by the bleachers, and I sat down next to Jacquie and began talking to her.
    “I’ve never been to a dance,” I told her.
    “Not even one?” she asked, surprised.
    I shook my head.
    “Well, I have to admit, the IC Homecoming is the best.”
    I smiled. “I guess I’ll find out.”
    “Hey, Jacqs, come dance with me?” Jeremy asked, taking her hand. She smiled and went to dance with Jeremy to one of the first slow songs.
    “Hey,” Spencer said as he came up to me. “Would you like to dance with me?”
    I smiled, and let him take my hand.
    “I take thee at thy word; call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized. Henceforth, I will never be Romeo.” He kissed my hand as if we were at the Capulet’s party where Romeo and Juliet meet. I smiled widely.
    The first few dances were faster, hip-hop songs, and I had fun dancing with Jacquie and Annie on those songs. Then, a slow dance came, and Spencer took me into his arms again. During the next slow song, I danced with Dean. I talked to him about Emily, and he said that he was really happy that Spencer had me in his life because ever since his parents died, he’d been having a really rough time trusting people, and that I was all he could talk about anymore. He trusted me more than anyone else. When that song was over, we all went into the cafeteria to cool down for a while.
    We hung out in the cafeteria for a little bit, then shifted back into the gym. There were a few fast songs, and then there were a few slow ones. I danced with Spencer on the slow songs, and when the songs ended, I didn’t really want to let go. Around ten, the DJ announced that this would be the sweetheart’s dance. Spencer found me when the song started playing, and I was suddenly connected to him. He held me close, and I rested my head on his chest. I wasn’t really paying attention to what was going around us; all I cared about was Spencer and me together.
    “Recognize the song?” Spencer whispered in my ear, smiling.
    I listened to the song as much as I could. Don’t know much about your life; don’t know much about your world. It was “Taking Chances” by Celine Dion.
    “It’s ‘Taking Chances,’” I said.
    “I requested it for you,” he replied. “I was really hoping they would play it. I guess ever since you came, I’ve had a lot better luck.”
    I looked up at him and smiled. “What do you say to taking chances?”
    “As long as I’m with you, I say yes,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. “I need you, I’ll keep you. Everything in my mind is set on you, and your eyes, that stood out the most. You and your wondrous mind help me chase my dreams.”
    “That’s not Shakespeare,” I noted.
    “Nope. That’s all mine. Copyright of Spencer Stevenson.” He smiled, and leaned down to kiss me. He held me close for the rest of the song, and when it ended, he took my hand in his and led me over to stand next to the bleachers with him. We stood there and talked while we watched our friends dance.
    “You don’t really like that kind of dancing do you, Juliet?” Spencer asked me.
    “I don’t…really know how to dance that way, actually,” I admitted, staring down at the gym floor. I