The Light and Fallen by Anna White Page B

are beautiful."
    He was studying her so intently, the
sensation of his touch overwhelmed every other thought. "So are
you," she stammered.
    "I'm beautiful?" he asked.
    She peeked at him from beneath her eyelashes.
"Don't take it the wrong way," she said, "but for a guy, you kind
of are."
    The light turned green and Lucian looked away
as he hit the gas, but he continued holding onto her hand. It was a
short drive to the school, and they could hear music throbbing from
the gym as soon as he turned into the parking lot.
    "So this is Homecoming?" he asked. They drove
slowly past three girls in skintight, glittering dresses and a few
couples threading their way through the parked cars.
    "Yes," Samara answered. "And I hope you're
ready, because we're going to have the whole experience. We're
going to dance, and drink watered down punch, and take pictures in
front of a cheesy background. We are doing everything!"
    Although it was still early, the parking lot
was almost full. Lucian pulled into one of the parking spaces
farthest away from the gym doors and looked at Samara
uncertainly.
    "Having doubts?" she teased.
    "Maybe." Lucian peered out the window as two
whooping football players ran past. "I was expecting something a
little more romantic."
    "I tried to tell you!" Samara unbuckled her
seatbelt and threw open the passenger door. She dangled her feet
out the side of the truck and dropped gingerly to the ground. "This
is a critical element of the high school experience. You want to
have the whole experience, so let's make the most of it."
     

Chapter 38
     
     
    They walked arm in arm past boisterous groups
of students to the gym doors. Coach Dobbs was sitting behind a
battered folding table just inside the door. Lucian passed him
their tickets, then put his arm around Samara's waist and guided
her through the crowded foyer.
    As they squeezed into the gym, a wall of
sound smacked him in the face. Loud dance music was blaring from
speakers on stands in each corner of the room, there were flashing
strobe lights on the stage, and a multicolored disco ball spun from
the ceiling. The bleachers had been folded against the wall to
create more floor space, but even with the extra room, the gym was
packed.
    Samara tugged on Lucian's elbow, and he
followed her as she edged away from the doors. She pushed her way
past a cluster of gyrating couples and found an empty space beside
one of the speakers.
    "What do you think?" she shouted.
    "What?" Lucian leaned down and put his ear
next to her mouth.
    "I SAID," she shouted directly into his ear,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
    He looked across the gym. Groups of students
were milling around the edges of the room, and a few disinterested
chaperones stood with their arms crossed beside the punch bowl.
Center court was covered with students shaking their arms and legs
at one another and bobbing up and down.
    "What are they doing?"
    Samara pressed her lips together and he could
tell she was trying not to laugh. "They're dancing."
    He pointed to a girl who had hiked up her
dress and was twisting her hips in circles. "That's dancing?"
    Samara surrendered to her giggles and turned
her back to the dance floor. "I've been wondering if you knew what
you were getting into," she said. "Do you even know how to
dance?"
    "Yes!" Lucian said indignantly. "Duncan
taught me!"
    "Who?"
    "Duncan!" Lucian spluttered. "My guardian.
And it did not look like that!" He looked back out onto the
floor; the girl had turned her back to her date and was rubbing her
shoulders into his chest.
    Before he could decide if he wanted to risk
asking Samara to dance, Carin dashed up to them, dragging her date
behind her, and flung her arms around Samara's shoulders. "You're
here!" she shrieked. "You look so beautiful!"
    She stuck her hand out to Lucian and shook it
frenetically. "Hi, I'm Carin. I know who you are, you're Lucian!
But we haven't actually ever met." Without waiting for a response
from either of them, she grabbed the sleeve of the