He showed our tickets, then turned me toward the dance floor with one flick of his pinky on my shoulder. I cringed against that pinky and dragged my foot behind me.
"I've got all night," he warned grimly.
Eventually he towed me out to where his family was caught up in an elegant twirl. I watched in horror as they danced.
"Fredward." My throat was so dry I could only manage a whisper. "I honestly can't dance!" I could feel a panic bubbling up inside my chest.
"Don't worry, silly," he whimpered back. "I can." He put his arms around my neck and lifted me to slide his feet under mine.
And then we were whirling, too.
"I feel like I'm five years old," I laughed after a few minutes of effortless waltzing to the Usher song.335
"You don't look five," he murmured, pulling me closer and placing his face against my Parisian-whore neckline.
"I feel like I'm five," I repeated, "with sunglasses on."
Alice caught my eye on a turn and smiled in encouragement—I smiled back. I was surprised to realize that I was actually enjoying myself... a little.
"Okay, this isn't half bad." I admitted.
Fredward laughed and pulled me closer, his mouth resting within my earlobe. "I told you," he whispered. "I told you it would be a good time. You need to trust me, Bella. Trust that I am going to show you a good time." He paused. "I think you know what'll happen if you don't," he continued; I swear that I felt his teeth gently press upon my earlobe.
Suddenly, Fredward jerked his head back and stared toward the doors, and his face was angry.
"What is it?" I wondered aloud, pushing my mouth closer to his ear. I followed his gaze, disoriented by all the spinning, but finally I could see what was bothering him. Squaw Black, not in a tux but shirtless, sporting only jean cutoffs and not even wearing shoes, his hair slicked back into his signature ponytail. He was crossing the floor toward us, cutting through several couples, just pushing them aside.
335. Most likely "Think of You," 1995