POV: Hex
I escaped upstairs with what little dignity I had left.
Juice dripping. Pride shattered. Mila witnessed everything.
Fantastic.
Inside my room, I closed the door and leaned against it.
Silence.
Then I looked down I tal? Something deep? Something emotional? My brain was currently producing absolutely nothing except panic.
I dragged a hand down my face.
"Relax," I muttered to myself.
That did not help.
I went to shower.
Under the water, I replayed everything.
The fall.
The boys laughing.
Jay praying for my downfall.
Mila standing there.
And then—
The poem.
Right.
The ceremony.
Dancing is fine.
Dancing is movement.
Movement requires no emotional exposure.
But a poem?
On "That one person in everybody's life."
What am I supposed to say?
"Hi everyone, I panic when she looks at me"?
No.
Absolutely not.
I turned off the shower.
Wrapped the towel around my waist.
Stared at myself in the mirror.
"Think, Hex."
Say something cool. Calm. Powerful.
Not desperate. Not obvious.
Definitely not embarrassing.
I dried off and wore blue shorts and a black singlet.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Emotionally stable outfit.
Unlike me.
I ran a hand through my hair.
Okay.
Confidence on.
Brain off.
I went downstairs.
Mila and Jay were talking near the couch.
Keifer was sitting straight like he owned the house.
Yuri leaned against the wall quietly.
Rory and Edrix still whispering tech secrets.
Drew and Blaster arguing about whether my fall was cinematic.
Ci-N scrolling through music.
Josh and Mayo just peacefully existing.
I cleared my throat.
"I'm done."
Keifer looked up. "So what song are you guys dancing to?"
Good question.
Blaster shouted, "Do something dramatic!"
Drew suggested, "Slow dance. Suspense."
Eman said softly, "Something rhythmic."
David calmly added, "Preferably something he won't trip to."
Very funny.
I had opinions.
Strong opinions.
Blaster suggested a song.
"No," I said instantly. "That's overused."
Drew suggested another.
"Too loud."
Edrix recommended something instrumental.
"Sounds like background music for elevators."
Ci-N suddenly lifted his phone.
"Why don't you guys use this one?"
He played it.
I opened my mouth to criticize.
But Mila gasped slightly.
"Yes! That's perfect."
Excuse me?
She walked straight to Ci-N.
"Let me see the choreography."
They both bent over the phone, watching closely.
Traitor.
One of the boys muttered, "Can Hex even dance?"
I shrugged dramatically. "No. I can't."
From across the room Jay's voice cut in while she was talking to Keifer.
"He's lying."
I turned. "I can't dance. Not at all."
Yuri's calm voice entered.
"Then how are you Mila's partner?"
Ah.
Yes.
That story.
I waved my hand casually. "During team selection she had no partner. The teacher assigned me."
Mila turned slowly.
"That's not what happened. You were c—"
I moved fast.
Covered her mouth.
"Mmmpfh!"
Whispered urgently, "Please don't tell them. If Jay finds out I almost got detention again, I'm dead."
Mila blinked at me.
Why are her eyes this close?
Focus.
"Promise me," I whispered.
She rolled her eyes.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
She pointed at my hand.
Still. On. Her. Mouth.
Right.
I removed it quickly.
"Sorry."
I turned around.
And froze.
Everyone was staring.
Smirking.
Drew raised his eyebrow.
Blaster whispered loudly, "INTIMATE."
Ci-N grinned. "We saw that."
David calmly said, "Smooth."
Yuri just shook his head.
"Ohhh," Felix dragged out.
Keifer smirked. "Interesting."
"Mila," Jay said confidently, "Hex can dance very well. Don't mind him."
Mila turned to me.
"Can you?"
Lie.
No wait.
Maybe don't lie.
I sighed dramatically and dropped onto the couch.
The ceiling suddenly looked very interesting.
Mila walked closer.
"Come on, Hex. We only have one week to prepare."
One week.
One week to dance.
One week to write a poem.
One week to not embarrass myself again.
I am absolutely going to embarrass myself.
I covered my face with a pillow.
This ceremony is going to destroy me.
And somehow…
They're all enjoying it.
End of Chapter 109 😌🔥