Chapter 23

Micah, Joe, Claudia, and Foster get to the dance a few minutes before the rest of the group. They get in line and wait for their peers. Foster stands behind C, hands on her waist and chin on her head. He loves how perfectly she fits against him. Claudia sinks into him. She can feel his muscular chest pressed against her back. She turns around so that her breasts are pressed against him. He smiles and gives her a kiss on her forehead before whispering in her ears.

"Not right now C. We are in front of our friends. We are literally at the school building. We can't do that here." Foster nibbles on the outer shell of her ear. C gets goosebumps.

"So. Why can't we have fun right now?" C whispers back. Foster knows that if they keep this up he isn't going to be able to keep it together for long. 'Are any of the classrooms unlocked during dances?' Foster thinks to himself, trying to think of a plan in case C continues teasing him like this.

"You know why we can't have fun. Do you get off on being a little brat? Does that make you feel good?" Foster smirks against her ear before placing a quick kiss on that spot. C has to hold her breath to keep from whining.

"Should we keep waiting or should we just meet them inside?" Joe asks impatiently, trying to get away from the lovey-dovey couple.

"I mean, I don't see why they wouldn't just be able to find us inside," Micah responds. Claudia nods, pulling Foster along behind her. Upon entering the gymnasium, waves of heat roll off the crowd of students before them. Foster and C leave their stuff at a table. C drags Foster into the crowd of dancing teens and pulsing music. Some girls are just swaying to the music, some are dancing a bit more provocatively for their partners. Foster snakes his arm around her waist, just wanting to hold her, feeling the beat from the floor. C wraps her hands around one of his arms, laying her head back against his chest, taking it all in. The smell, the sound, the heat, the movement. It's intoxicating. She turns to face him, standing on his shoes so her feet don't touch the floor, letting him lead her.

Foster just sways along with some of the other partygoers for a bit. Suddenly, one of his favorite songs starts blaring from the speakers. The crowd dissipates, only leaving those students that enjoy this type of music. Foster turns C back around, encouraging her to listen and mosh along. "I love this song. I didn't think they would play it at a dance like this, but I guess enough people are into it," Foster shouts towards C. She nods, jumping up and down. She shakes her head side to side, really getting into it. She closes her eyes to just feel the music as it moves her. Foster watches her. C's movements pull him closer. She takes his hand and they eb and flow, matching the beats of the music and the movements of the mosh. Everyone moves like one machine. Some individuals add their own flair, others just stick to a simple jumping movement. When the song ends, C allows Foster to hold her again.

A slow song plays, C wraps her arms around his neck, and he goes back to holding her waist. They talk about the dance, gossip a bit about some of the peers around them, and joke back and forth about who will go home with no shoes and who may not make it to their own home at all. They just enjoy each other's presence. Each relishing in the beauty of the other. Despite how good it feels to be dancing and held by Foster, something sits at the back of her mind, preventing her from fully enjoying the moment. Foster can sense that she isn't totally enjoying herself so he leans down to speak into her ear, wanting a more private conversation, hoping the music will cover their words to keep out unwanted listeners.

"What's wrong C?"

"N-nothing," she stutters, trying to forget about her worries.

"That doesn't sound like nothing. What's bothering you? Can I help?" Foster maintains.

"Well, earlier at the house. I heard some things and they sort of bothered me. I know they probably aren't true, but I'm just feeling insecure," C responds.

"Can you tell me what you heard?" Foster plays with her curls, waiting for her to open up about what she is feeling.

"Well, Julia and Angela were talking about you."

"Me? Why were they talking about me?"

"They said that you have a reputation. I know you have joked about it before but is it true? Have you had a lot of flings with the girls around here?" C hides her face in his shoulder, ears burning, waiting for some kind of confirmation that she doesn't need to be worried.

"Well, I mean, I haven't ever had a steady girlfriend before, but I have done some things that I'm not proud of. I wouldn't say I slept around; it was more like I just needed some kind of release. Before you came along, I wasn't always as nice." Foster tilts her head up to see her eyes. Small tears fill the corners of her beautiful golden orbs.

"I'm sorry Claudia. I should have told you that before we started doing things together. I didn't think it would matter," he trails off.

"Didn't think it would matter?" He can hear the hurt in her voice. "Do I matter?" This question tugs at his heart.

"Claudia, you are the only one that matters. Something about spending time with you, joking with you, even just sitting silently beside you, something about all of that feels right. I haven't ever felt that way about anyone before. I haven't ever felt the way you make me feel with anyone else. I'm at home when I'm with you." Foster kisses her forehead, wiping away the tears from her eyes with his thumbs before continuing. "I had never felt love before I met you. I love you." Almost all of her fears wash away when she hears this. Only one fear sticks.

"Am I as good as the other girls?" This question throws him off.

"What do you mean are you as good? There isn't any comparing. You are the best I've ever had. You are all I want." Foster frowns, wishing he would have taken things a bit slower with her. She nods, the pain in her chest easing the more he comforts her.

"I'm sorry Foster." C apologizes for overreacting.

"Don't be sorry C. It isn't your fault. You did nothing wrong. I'm the one that's done everything wrong. I should have shared these things with you before we did anything together. I should have been more careful. I hadn't really thought about sex as something more than a release before. With you, it's fun and intimate. I get to hear you and see you and feel you. I get to find ways to make you feel good and to push you over the edge. I haven't had that with anyone before. With my previous partners, it was quick, emotionless, and empty. It was selfish. I didn't care about them or their feelings. I only cared about getting it in. I guess I just wanted to feel something but sex never really helped with anything other than the release. It's not the same and it isn't fair to try to compare yourself and your worth to others. You deserve better than that. You deserve better than me." Foster looks away from her now, utterly ashamed of his lack of concern for her. Ashamed of how he treated those before her. Ashamed of who he is as a person. He was so lost in thoughts of her body and how to please her, that he wasn't actually thinking about her feelings.

C is the one forcing Foster to look at her this time. With a gentle smile, she places a soft kiss on his lips. Holding onto him, she continues the kiss until she feels the tension between them dissipate. It was silly for her to get worked up over shit like this. Locker room gossip doesn't typically bother her. She just hadn't expected that he had other experiences before her. She shouldn't have assumed that he was like her. She could have done more to learn about him before they did those things together. They both could have done things differently. She is just happy to be here, dancing with him, having his full attention in this moment. She knows that he is only focused on her. He hasn't even glanced at any other human being in this room.

"Are we okay now?" Foster searches for answers in her dazzling round pools of gold.

"Yeah, we are okay. Thanks for telling me the truth." C gives him another gentle peck before resting her head on his shoulder to enjoy the rhythm of the music and the feeling of his body on hers.

Once the round of slow songs end, C and Foster exit the dance floor. C takes a seat at the table and Foster goes to the concessions to grab some drinks. With how hot it is in there; it would be easy enough for anyone to pass out from dehydration. He secures the refreshments and makes his way back to their table. After re-hydrating, C and Foster sit and relax. Holding hands, they watch their peers enjoy themselves, happy to be here together.

Micah finds C and borrows her from Foster. The two girls make their way to the dance floor together. Laughing and smiling, excited about what the night has in store for them. Foster can't take his eyes off his stunning girlfriend. The amount of joy she is expressing warms his heart. Just watching her enjoy herself is enough for him.