The Captain's Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 95: Chapter 95 - Away From Him

Good, Roxie thought.

Then her chest twisted because it did feel good, but it also hurt.

She had wanted Zac to look at her tonight. She had wanted him to see the dress, the earrings, the shoes, every borrowed piece of her lie. She had wanted him to look like he had under the bleachers, like she was where he wanted to go first.

Instead, he had been standing beside Janice.

Noah leaned closer just enough to speak over the music. ”You okay?”

Roxie looked back at him. ”Yeah.”

He followed her gaze. ”Prescott?”

Roxie’s face warmed. ”Why would you say that?”

”Because he looks like he wants to tackle me, and we are indoors. I told you to leave me out of this petty drama. I want to live.”

Despite herself, Roxie laughed.

Noah smiled. ”You’re lucky you’re pretty today.”

”I’m always pretty. And It is a homecoming dance. Everyone is dramatic.”

”Sure.”

”Noah.”

”I support whatever answer keeps me alive.”

Roxie smiled, but the smile faded when the song ended and Noah released her with a small, exaggerated bow.

”Thank you for sparing my shoes,” she said.

”Thank you for sparing my life if Prescott asks.”

”He won’t.”

Noah looked past her. ”He might.”

Roxie turned.

Zac was walking toward her.

Finally.

Her pulse jumped before her anger could stop it.

He moved through the crowd with his eyes fixed on her, black suit open, tie loose, face tight enough to make people shift aside. Mason watched from behind him, grinning again. Dylan’s gaze followed Zac, quiet and sharp.

Roxie stood still.

This was it. He was going to reach her. He was going to ask for the dance he had asked for under the bleachers. He was going to say something, and she was going to decide whether to be cruel or honest.

Then a hand touched Zac’s arm.

Janice stepped into his path.

Roxie saw the moment Zac stopped.

Janice smiled up at him and said something, her hand still resting lightly on his sleeve. Zac looked annoyed, but he answered her. It was only a few seconds. Maybe less.

Roxie did not care.

The anger rushed back so fast it cleared every soft part of her.

She turned away before Zac could see her face.

Angela was already there. ”Roxie.”

”I’m dancing.”

”With who?”

Roxie looked around, found the nearest available person, and landed on a boy she’s sure was one from one of her class whose name she was fairly sure was Lucas. He stood with a group near the tables, holding his phone and nodding along to music he was barely dancing to.

Roxie walked up to him. ”Dance with me.”

Lucas blinked. ”Me?”

”Yes.”

His eyes widened, then he looked behind her like he expected a trap. ”Sure.”

Karen appeared beside Angela and muttered, ”That boy is about to become a casualty.”

Roxie ignored her.

The next dance was messier. Lucas had no rhythm, but he was enthusiastic. Angela danced beside them, laughing so hard she had to hold Roxie’s arm for balance. Karen joined after a minute, mostly to stop Lucas from elbowing Roxie in the face.

Roxie laughed too loudly.

She knew it was too loud.

She knew Zac could hear it, or at least see it.

The whole room felt sharper now. Every light seemed brighter. Every glance from Zac felt like a dare. Every time Janice drifted near him, Roxie danced with someone else. She danced with Angela. With Karen. With Noah again when he returned from the snack table and lifted both hands like he was innocent. With two cheer girls who pulled her into a circle. With a freshman who looked terrified when Angela shoved him toward them for a joke and then thrilled when Roxie smiled.

Each time, Zac got closer.

Each time, Roxie moved away.

He tried after the third song, catching her near the edge of the floor.

”Roxie.”

She heard him.

Her whole body heard him.

She turned to Angela instead. ”Bathroom?”

Angela’s eyes widened at the sharpness in her voice, then she nodded quickly. ”Yes.”

Karen fell into step behind them.

They crossed the gym, and Roxie could feel Zac stop behind her.

In the hallway, the music became muffled. Girls stood near the bathroom mirrors fixing lipstick and hair. Roxie went inside, leaned against the sink, and stared at herself.

The emerald dress still looked perfect.

Her face looked hot and angry.

Angela stood beside her. ”Okay. Say it.”

Roxie looked at her through the mirror. ”He was with Janice.”

Karen crossed her arms. ”He was standing near Janice. There is a difference.”

”She was touching his arm.”

Angela winced. ”She does that to everyone.”

”Of course she does.”

Karen’s eyes narrowed. ”Did he ask you to come with him tonight?”

Roxie looked down.

Angela went quiet.

Karen’s expression changed. ”Roxie.”

”He asked to pick me up.”

”That is different,” Karen said.

”I know.”

Angela spoke gently. ”Maybe he thought you would say no.”

”I would have.”

Karen lifted both hands. ”That is irrelevant.”

Roxie laughed once, sharp and bitter. ”Exactly.”

Because that was the problem.

She would have said no, but he still should have asked. He should have made her refuse. He should have made it clear that Janice, Kendall, Bianca, and every other girl orbiting his life had no place beside him tonight.

He should have asked.

Instead, Roxie had walked in alone, wearing a borrowed lie, and found him standing beside Janice in a matching green dress like the universe had a sense of humor and hated her personally.

Angela touched her arm. ”You look too pretty to spend the night upset in a bathroom.”

Karen nodded. ”Cry later if needed. Destroy now.”

Roxie looked at her.

Karen shrugged. ”Emotionally.”

Angela pointed at Karen. ”We are keeping it legal.”

Roxie stared at herself again. ”Ofcourse.”

The green stones in her earrings caught the light. The satin held smooth over her waist. Her hair framed her face exactly the way Mrs. Robinson had helped her pin it.

She looked expensive.

She looked wanted.

She looked like a girl who could walk back into that gym and make Zac Prescott regret standing beside anyone else.

Roxie straightened.

”Fine,” she said.

Karen opened the bathroom door. ”Let’s make him suffer with school appropriate dancing and just enough pettiness.”

They went back inside.

The DJ had changed the music again, and the dance floor was fuller now. The lights moved over everyone in red, black, silver, green, white, blue. The room smelled like punch, perfume, warm bodies, and too much hair spray.

Zac was near the court area again, but this time Mason and Dylan were both with him.

Mason was talking with his hands, laughing like he had already decided the entire situation was entertainment. Dylan stood closer to Zac, speaking low near his ear. Zac’s face remained tight. He answered Dylan without looking away from Roxie.

Dylan glanced at her.

Their eyes met for a second.

Roxie looked away first.

She barely knew what to make of him sometimes. Dylan had a way of watching people like he understood more than he said, and tonight, beside Zac, he looked almost careful. He said something again, and Zac’s jaw shifted. Whatever Dylan told him, Zac rejected it with one shake of his head.

Mason saw Roxie looking and lifted his cup toward her with a grin.

Roxie rolled her eyes.

Then she walked onto the dance floor with Angela and Karen.

The next few songs blurred together.

Roxie danced until her feet hurt. She smiled until her cheeks did too. People came up to her again with compliments and good luck wishes. Someone asked for a picture. Someone else asked where her dress was from, and she said New York without hesitating. Angela called it Jovani like she was Roxie’s personal publicist. Karen told one girl that price was a tacky question, which saved Roxie from lying again.

Through all of it, Zac watched.

Sometimes from the edge of the dance floor. Sometimes near the court table. Sometimes with Mason laughing beside him. Sometimes with Dylan speaking near his shoulder while Zac barely seemed to hear him.

Janice appeared near him twice more.

Each time, Roxie’s smile sharpened.

Each time, Zac’s patience thinned.

By the time Mrs. Gonzalez tapped the microphone again, the room had grown hot and crowded, and Roxie’s feet were beginning to ache inside Mrs. Robinson’s gold sandals.

”Attention, everyone,” Mrs. Gonzalez called.

The music faded.

A loud groan moved through the students, followed by excited whispers when people saw the envelopes in her hand.

Angela grabbed Roxie’s arm. ”Oh my God.”

Karen stood straighter. ”Here we go.”

Roxie’s heart started pounding.

Students moved toward the platform. The football players gathered near one side. Cheerleaders drifted closer in sparkling dresses and fixed smiles. Teachers lined the walls, watching with patient exhaustion. Phones lifted across the gym.

Roxie looked toward the court table.

Zac was already looking at her.

This time, Janice stood beside him again.

This time, Kendall stood a few feet away in white.

Mason was behind Zac, still smiling, though quieter now. Dylan stood near his shoulder, expression unreadable as the whole room shifted toward the platform.

Mrs. Gonzalez smiled into the microphone and lifted the first envelope.

”Briarwick,” she said, voice bright over the speakers, ”it is time to announce your homecoming king and queen.”

Roxie’s breath caught.