A Cute Little Moment: Chapter VIII: The Love is an Open Door scene :):):):):):)

 

The “Love is an Open Door” scene☹😊

I jump at the sound of the doorbell. I’ve been sitting on pins and needles for thirty minutes after I got ready, waiting for Adam to come and pick me up for the homecoming dance. I was wearing a deep sapphire blue dress, one of the school colors. Adam would be wearing a red tie, our other school color. All of the rest of my friends are just going solo, even Thaddeus, which confused me. I thought that there might have been someone in the school who he liked because he’s kind of been acting all weird lately and I asked him on Monday if he had a date to the dance, to which he replied,

“No. I don’t have anyone here that I really want to take.” So, that was that. Maybe he was just too nervous to ask her. I was still lost in thought for fifteen more seconds until the sound of the doorbell snapped me out of my reverie.

“Oh! He’s here,” I say, feeling flustered as I dash to the front door to answer it. “Hello!” I greet Adam as I beam at him. He gives me a small smile.

“Hi, Lexi,” greets Adam as I give him a hug. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yep!” I tell him excitedly as he walks out of the doorway and to his car and I follow him. I walk to the passenger side and wait, but Adam just walks to the driver side and says over his shoulder,

“You getting in or what?”

I almost say back, “What.” but decide against it and I open my door and get in. On the drive to the school, Adam doesn’t talk much, but I’m a chatter box, so I’m talking a lot. Only when I ask him questions does he really talk, but other than that, he’s silent as a stone. When we arrive, I once again open my own door and Adam and I walk to the doors and head inside. Adam and I open the two big gym doors and walk in arm in arm. I almost instantly spot my friends and I grin and wave at them. They all smile and wave back, though Thaddeus’s smile seems a little forced, like most of his smiles have been of late and I can’t imagine why. Maybe the girl he has a crush on is here with someone else and that’s why he's been so unhappy. Poor thing. I wish there was something I could do to help get through it all because that must be terrible. I take Adam by his left hand and gently pull him on our way to my friends to say hello to them and that’s when the DJ gets on his microphone.

“Good evening, everyone! Now, we’re getting to our first activity of the evening! For thirty minutes tonight, we’re going to do some karaoke! Who wants to go first?”

“You want to go up?” Adam whispers in my ear. I turn to him, a little astonished.

“Sure!” I reply as Adam and I start walking up to the stage. “But, what would we sing?”

“How about- oh, what’s that song from Frozen? Love Is something?”

“Love Is An Open Door?” I finish. Adam nods.

“Yeah, that’s the one!” he declares as we mount the steps to the stage. I just stare at him for a moment.

“That one would be fun, but do you remember who sings that song?” I question.

“Yeah, a really pretty princess who’s an awful lot like you,” he speaks in a soft voice. I can’t stop the smile from creeping onto my face as I agree to the song.

“Hello, you two! What are your names?” the DJ asks. I take Adam’s hand before answering.

“Adam and Lexi,” I tell him as he nods.

“And what will you be singing?”

“Love Is An Open Door from Frozen,” I inform him.

“Oh, okay, you love birds,” the DJ replies teasingly as he looks out to the crowd.

“We have our first singers! Adam and Lexi singing Love is an Open Door from Frozen!” he announces to the whole room before the intro starts playing and I remember I sing first.

“Hey, can I just something crazy?” I start, trying not to laugh. Adam grins, seeming to be in character.

“I love crazy,”

As I begin singing, I see Adam’s smile grow, like he likes listening to me sing and I blush, in spite of myself. Then he starts singing the next bit, oh, wow, he can SING and I didn’t even know he could! As the song went on, I found myself getting more and more smitten with Adam, even though Hans was definitely not a good guy and he was fully lying in this song, but that doesn’t mean that Adam is lying right now. Much too soon, the song reached its end and the next I hear is tumultuous applause. I look over to my friends, but this time, their smiles all looked strained and I found myself wondering what the deal was. What was going on with Thaddeus that was affecting all of them? I notice Breanna leaning over to Thaddeus and whispering something in his ear. What was that about? The next thing I see is all of them walking up to the stage as I start to walk down. Breanna pulls me aside.

“Hey! Come with us! We’re singing Fixer Upper and we need someone to be Anna. Come on!”

I debate this. I imagine Thaddeus will be Kristoff in the song because he’s the only boy and if I’m going to be Anna, that would be SO weird. Oh, wait. We’re just having fun at a dance singing a song. This won’t be weird.

“Sure, sounds like fun!” I say, stepping on the stairs and tripping over my heeled shoes and then someone was there, steadying me back on the step. Turning around thinking I’m about to be met by Adam’s blue-eyed stare, instead I’m met with a pair of bespectacled, sea green eyes. Thaddeus’s eyes. “Oh! Thank you, Thaddeus. That would’ve hurt,”

Before Thaddeus can speak, Adam was standing next to me on the steps and I feel his hands on my waist. “Oh, are you okay, Lex?” he asks, seeming attentive. I nod.

“Yeah, I just nearly fell up the stairs before Thaddeus caught me.”

“Oh, right. Thanks, dude.” Adam says to Thaddeus. Thaddeus gives Adam a closed-lipped smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Sure.” He replies, sounding distant and there’s something else in his voice that I can’t quite read. I see something in the way Thaddeus looks at Adam and it almost looks like… anger. Fury. Hatred, even. Why would Thaddeus feel that way toward Adam? What had Adam done? Oh, gosh. Tonight was going to be interesting to say the least.

“Well, we’re just going to go sing Fixer Upper for karaoke, so if you could move,” Breanna says, sounding a bit salty as she speaks. Adam just nods and moves off the stairs as we walk up. Why was everyone in such a bad mood tonight?

“Hey, all,” the DJ says. “What are we singing tonight?”

“Fixer Upper from Frozen,” Breanna tells him.

“Ooh, we like Frozen tonight,” he replies before he tells the whole room what we’re singing and the music starts.

“What’s the issue, dear? Why are you holding back from such a man? Is it the clumpy way he walks?” Breanna starts.

“Or the grumpy way he talks?” Kaylee continues.

“Or the pear-shaped-square-shaped weirdness of his feet?” Bridgett sang. Gabrielle smiles.

“And though, we know he washes well, he always ends up sort of smelly!”

“But you’ll never meet a fella who’s as sensitive and sweet!” All of the girls chorus. “So, he’s bit of a fixer upper, so, he’s got a few flaws!”

As the song goes on, I see that Thaddeus is blushing furiously and I get it. It must look weird to his crush that it looks like they’re singing this song about him and me. Though, I must admit, this is kind of fun, just singing with my friends even though I’m not singing much. Eventually we get to the part where Kristoff and Anna are divided because they have to get them ready for the troll wedding and I hear Thaddeus say Kristoff’s part.

“Enough! She is engaged to someone else, okay?”

Wow, he was really in character for that. He actually sounds like he’s struggling with Kristoff’s dilemma. I see my friends form a circle of sorts like the troll’s do in the movie.

“So, she’s a bit of a fixer upper,” Bridgett sings in a softer voice.

“That’s a minor thing,” Kaylee sings next.

“Her quote ‘engagement’ is a flex arrangement,” Breanna continues.

“And, by the way, I don’t see no ring!” Gabrielle sings in an interjecting sort of voice and I can’t help laughing a little. Then they break out of their circle formation and turn back to Thaddeus.

“So, she’s a bit of a fixer upper, her brain’s a bit betwixt!” they sing in louder voices. “Get the fiancé out of the way and the whole thing will be fixed!”

Thaddeus buries his face in his hands and grumbles softly. Only that didn’t seem like acting and I start to get confused again as my friends all of the sudden circle me.

“We’re not saying you can change him, ‘cause people don’t really change,” Breanna leads. “We’re only saying that love’s a force that’s powerful and strange! People make bad choices when they’re mad or scared or stressed, but throw a little love their way!”

Breanna hits a high note as all of the rest of my friends join in. I can’t help clapping because dang, that was awesome! However, I’m also confused because this clearly is a song about getting two people together, so, why aren’t we doing this with Thaddeus’s crush? Oh, tonight is just a mystery. I was so lost in thought that at first, I didn’t realize that Breanna and Gabrielle were pushing me to center stage and Kaylee and Bridgett were pushing Thaddeus. Then Breanna was standing in front of us.

“Do you, Anna, take Kristoff to be your troll-fully wedded-“

I cut her off because it’s time for my part. “Wait, what?”

“You’re getting married.” Breanna says like it’s obvious as the song ends. Everyone in the crowd was clapping and cheering so loudly. I search the crowd for Adam, but I can’t find him anywhere. After we all got down to the ground again, I went to find him. Fifteen minutes had me going back to the parking lot to see if he was by the car, but the car was gone. I try and catch my breath. Where could he have gone? Would he come back? Just as I’m sitting down on the sidewalk because I’m not ready to go back into that crowded gym, I hear the school doors open behind me.

“You alright?”

That was Breanna’s voice. I turn.

“Adam left.” I reply and Breanna gasps.

“What? He left you here by yourself?”

I nod, three tears slipping from my eyes in small waterfalls. Breanna comes and sits down next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” I sniffle as I rest my head on Breanna’s shoulder.

“That’s okay. We don’t have to.” she says soothingly, rubbing my back. For a while, we just sit there, tears still coming down my cheeks and Breanna doesn’t say anything. She’s just there if I need her.

“Thanks,” I say as I pull her into a hug.

“Anytime,” she replies. Then she offers her hand. “Come on. We’re going to go cheer you up.”

I take her hand and she leads me back inside and into the gym again. “I’ll be right back,” Breanna tells me and she walks to the DJ. I see her exchange a few words with him and then she walks back over to where I am. A few seconds later, Did I Mention starts playing. I smile at Breanna and throw my arms around her. Of course. She knows this is my “cheer me up” song. Breanna smiles back at me and runs to the center of the gym and I chase after her. We scream the whole song and join the mosh pit. By the end of the song, I feel much better. The next song I hear is another one of my favorites. You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift. This one was the one Breanna, Gabrielle and I used to scream when we were eleven. Or well, Gabrielle was ten. This one also made me feel much happier. After all, who cared about boyfriends when you had your best friends by your side?

When I hear Enchanted by Taylor Swift come on, at first I get excited. This is one of my all-time favorite Taylor Swift songs! Only then do I remember that Adam isn’t here to dance to it with me. I debate going and sitting out in the hall until the song is over, but I think better of it. I want to enjoy it with my friends. I give my dress a twirl and dance over to where the girls and Thaddeus are. I let the lyrics and dreamy melody take over my soul and body and begin to dance around in a soft, romantic way. Oh, this song is so dreamlike. I twirl around and around, and I don’t stop. Even when I’m dizzy. I saut de chat (a jump I do in ballet) across the floor and then I pas de bouree into fourth position and I do a pirouette, one of my favorite steps. I smile and chiene turn across until I’m so dizzy and I find myself running into somebody and I hear a grunt.

Oh, no, I think in horror as I look up to see who I ran into. Thankfully I see a familiar face. “Aah, Thaddeus! I’m so sorry!”

Thaddeus shakes his head as he smiles at me. “No, Lex. You’re okay. Your dancing was beautiful, Fangirl.”

I smile back at him at the compliment. “Thanks, Thaddeus,” I reply, brushing my hair off my shoulder. “Oh, this song!” I exclaim in hushed delight. Thaddeus’s eyes crinkle in a smile again and I can’t help beaming at him. Only his smile was short-lived because it faded just as fast.

“Where’s Adam?” Thaddeus asks. I frown.

“Breanna didn’t tell you?”

Thaddeus shakes his head. “Tell me what?”

“Adam left,” I tell him, my eyes welling with tears again. Thaddeus gasps softly, his eyes going wide before they fill with emotion and I see that fury again. Then I see an almost protective look join the vehemence. I could tell that he wants to say something, but is fighting it. He bites his bottom lip; quite hard it looks like.

“How awful,” he finally says. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I mumble, willing my tears not to spill over. Thaddeus stoops down a bit so that we’re eye to eye.

“No, it’s not. Adam shouldn’t have done that. I mean, that’s just preposterous!” Thaddeus says, and even though it’s dark, I make out the tinge of red on Thaddeus’s cheeks. He’s embarrassed. 

“I mean, who cares?” I whisper, one tear slipping down my face. Then another. Only I feel it swiped off my cheek and a hand lifting my chin.

“I care.” Thaddeus says firmly. I rarely ever see him like this, so set in an opinion. “And I will not have you dance to this song alone.”

Thaddeus takes my right hand in his left and moves his right hand to my waist. I blush as I instinctively move my left hand to his shoulder and he leads me in a slow circle around the gym. I feel a sensation of heat in my chest as he twirls me out and then in again. My breathing starts getting a little shallow. “Are you alright?” Thaddeus asks me in concern.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I tell him. Because I am. I feel better. Much better. “You’re a great dancer,”

“Oh, thanks, Fangirl,” Thaddeus says, sounding pleased with himself.

“Of course.” I reply, grinning up at him. Just when the song ends, Thaddeus bows to me like I’m a princess and he was pleased to have a dance with me. I curtsy, holding my skirt in my fingers.

“It was a pleasure dancing with you, good sir,” I say in a mock British accent. Thaddeus smiles.

“The pleasure was all mine, dear lady.” he says in an accent like mine, only his comment didn’t sound nearly as teasing. I giggle, smiling again.

A few songs later, when another one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs came on (I Knew You Were Trouble), I see the door open from the other side of the room and who should walk in but Adam. I gasp softly but I run over to him anyway. “Where have you been?” I say, shoving him in the chest. Adam’s eyes go wide, but then he grinned.

“I went to get these for you,” he explains, pulling out a bouquet of white roses. I just stand there, fully aware that my mouth was hanging open, utterly shocked.

“Oh. I thought you forgot about me,” I admit.

“Well, I did,” he says, then he smiles at my shocked expression. “I’m just kidding!”

“Oh! You had me going for a second,” I say, my breaths coming in shallow gasps.

“Yes, you’ll find I can be very convincing. Anyway, here you go,” he says, handing me the roses. “These are your favorite flowers, right?”

“They’re very pretty, Adam. Thank you.” Truthfully, ever since I read The Hunger Games, I kind of started hating white roses, but Adam didn’t need to know that.

“You’re welcome,” Adam replies. “Oh, and by the way, I need to go now, so you can come or you can find another ride.”

“Oh,” I say. “I’ll just come with you, then.”

“Great!” Adam says, taking my hand almost forcefully, and leading me out of the doors before I could even utter a goodbye to my best friends.