"Haha, " Melissa said as the people around her howled in laughter.

My eyes looked straight into hers. I flattened my mouth so that it would look defiant. I had to seem like I was telling the truth. 

"Wait, are you serious?" she said as her mouth flew open.

"I am."

"Well, what's his name?" Melissa asked, still looking like she didn't believe me.

"Ummm..." I said searching my mind to come up with a name. I wished that I could say that it was Cyrus. The thought of his strong arms wrapped around my waist was not only tempting. It was divine. Yet, one touch of his soft skin was aeons away. He was safely tucked away in Sasha's arms.

"Alister,"  I said.

"Last name?" Melissa asked, arching her thick eyebrows.

"Tilney, " I said, glancing at the copy of 'Northanger Abbey' which I borrowed from the library. Melissa wouldn't have suspected. She's too busy running people down to read.

"Must be desperate to go out with a girl like her," I heard Sasha say.

"Shut up Sasha, " Kegan snorted. "Alister is the luckiest guy in the world to have a girl like Bianca." He clutched my hand with his strong fingers.

"She's intelligent and emotional and_." He didn't get to finish that sentence. That's because Melissa spat, "worthless."

"She's a million times worthier than you, " he said.

The moment Kegan said those words, Melissa burst into a sea of tears. I smiled. I liked Melissa. I dreamt that I could talk like her, sit with her, be like her. But I didn't want Kegan anywhere near her. She then walked away to the nearest washroom.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kegan asked. He turned to me, as he let me see the shine in his black eyes.

"Tell you about what?" I asked.

"About Alister," he said. "I thought you liked Cyrus."

"I did. I still do love Cyrus, " I said hoping that Kegan wouldn't stop helping me in my pursuit of him. "Yet, there is just something about Alister, that makes me feel so..."

"So what?" Megan wanted to know.

"So special. He makes me feel special."

I thought I saw Kegan's eyes shimmer in the soft evening light. His hand was still in mine. It created the toughest armour between me and misery. Although misery wasn't haunting me, they were swimming in his eyes.

"So when will I get to meet him?" Kegan said. "Is he coming for the dance?"

My eyes flickered to his face. I guessed he had lost his razor because dark stubble had conquered his face at an alarming rate.

"Oh, no. He's a college student, " I lied. "He doesn't live here."

"Which University?" Kegan asked.

"Uh. Witwatersrand, " I said, my heart beating fast.

Kegan, I knew, was a human version of a lie detector. His eyes always narrowed whenever Melissa told him that she loved one of his favourite football teams.

"So you really like him?" Kegan asked as his arms entwined with my skinny ones. Warmth poured through me. His touch made my skin tinge a thousand times. I expected him to be happy for me. Yet, sorrow was stuck on his face.

"You okay?" I asked.

"You didn't answer my question, " he said looking down at his mud-stained sneakers. Why didn't he look at my face? "Do you love him?"

At that moment Cyrus strode right past us, chatting to a few other boys on the debate team. They all waved at Kegan as they passed. To them I was nothing.

Cyrus wore spotless black loafers and a walk that oozed with confidence. That confidence was yet to befriend me.

As his eyes just rushed past me, my heart shattered. Here was the man I loved. The man whose beautiful image haunted my dreams. Yet, he was a million miles away. He would always be that way unless I proved to him that I was worthy.

"Kegan, if love is intensity then I'm drowning in it. With Alister I know I always feel safe."

Kegan slumped his shoulders. This was unusual since he usually walked with the type of confidence than could terrify Cyrus.

"Well, I hope you are happy with him, " he said. "You are beautiful Bianca and I'm not just talking about that smile on your face." He looked right at me. It was a look that would melt diamonds.

I felt myself glow. Like sunlight on a summer day. Why was it that Kegan always made me feel this way? It puzzled me. It made me feel that despite living in a cosy apartment, it wasn't home. Home was with the people you would die for. And the people who would die for you. My home was with Kegan.

"Go on, " I said flicking a glance at his strong jaw.

"You're the most kind-hearted soul I have ever know and your smile, " he said staring at me. "Your smile can light up the galaxies."

"Galaxies? Really?" I laughed. "You read too much sci-fi."

"At least sci-fi isn't one of those disgusting gooey romances you read, " he said. "At least sci-fi isn't filled with emotional drama."

I laughed threatening him with the prospect of reading more romances with me. He smiled back. Yet, his smile lacked all the brightness it generally had.

"Kegan, are you alright?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah, " he said looking at his hands. "It's just that I wanted to ask you to the Christmas Dance. You know, back before I knew about Alister."

"You can go with Melissa, " I suggested, although praying that Melissa will never get him. "Or any of the girls in the drama club. I hear they're dying to go out with you."

"Nah, " he said. "I'm not into theatre types. Besides, if I can't take you, I'd rather go by myself. Anyway, will you be going?"

I had decided not to. Then my mind buzzed like an alarm. The Christmas Dance was a great opportunity. An opportunity to look like a queen. An opportunity to impress Cyrus.

"How would I miss it?" I said. "In fact, I was just on my way to buy a dress. Joining me?"

"Sure."

A few minutes after the last bell squealed, we made our way to heaven's gate; a boutique that sold the most gorgeous dresses in Port Elizabeth.

Kegan continued to look miserable, but to me, misery was far from possible. A sea of dresses stretched out towards the distance and as soon as my hands clutched a bronze two-piece dress, Kegan held out a red one. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement. It was heavenly.

Yards of red silk clung to me like glue as I walked out of that dressing room. It was the red of blood and roses and deep, fiery passion. And it looked good on me.

"You're beautiful, " Kegan said as he fixed his eye on me like I was an addiction. An addiction he found impossible to cure.

As I opened my lips to thank him, soft music floated from the stereo system. The softness of its notes was a protective canopy, locking Kegan and I at this moment.

'As long as music exists, ' I thought to myself, 'I can never be unhappy.'

After a moment of thoughtful expressions, Kegan held out my hand and after a moment of appreciation, I accepted it. And before I knew it, we were waltzing. Waltzing amidst layers of satin and sequin. Waltzing to the soft, soul sounds of music.

The dresses around us were beautiful. But they were nothing compared to the look on Kegan's face. His smile was surrounded by dimples and stubble and a strong jaw.

My feet were firm on earth's soil. Yet, with Kegan, I was in heaven.