Wallflowers

Adam looked across the gymnasium to where Fiona was standing, alone. Holly J decided to stay home, still exhausted from her dialysis earlier in the day. Clare and Eli weren't speaking, so Eli also stayed home while Clare was off somewhere with Alli.

Without his friends and without a date, Adam was bored. Looking at Fiona, he knew she was too. The school dance was in full swing around them, however they were both standing in opposite corners. He couldn't help thinking how gorgeous she looked, standing under the soft lights in her dark purple dress. Letting out a deep breath, he slowly crossed the long room.

"So, what are the perks of being a wallflower?" he asked as he approached her.

She jumped at his voice, turning to look at him. "Adam. Hi."

He smiled automatically. "Hi. Why aren't you dancing?"

"With who?"

He shrugged. "You have your pick of girls."

She sighed softly. "Not exactly. I could say the same about you though."

He laughed. "Yeah, right. I can't even get one." He hadn't meant to say the sentence out loud, but he realized he had when Fiona flinched.

"Adam, I'm sorry. What I did… what happened between us…"

He shook his head. "It's not your fault. You can't help who you're attracted to, right?" he said, looking into her eyes.

She quickly dropped her gaze from his eyes. "Yeah, I guess."

Adam sighed softly, looking down at his shoes as an uncomfortable silence fell between them. He put his hands into his pockets as a slow song began playing.

"Uh… I should…"

"Do you…"

They both spoke at the same time. Fiona laughed uncomfortably as Adam ran one hand through his hair.

"What were you saying?" he asked after a moment.

"Oh, that I should probably call Holly J. See how she's doing."

He checked his watch. It was beginning to get late. "She's probably asleep now, right?"

She nodded sadly. "Right."

He let out a slow breath, gathering his nerve. "Do you want to dance?"

"What?"

"With me," he clarified. "Do… do you want to dance with me?"

"Adam," she sighed.

"As friends," he told her. "Come on, the song's almost over." He held his hand out to her.

A ghost of a smile crept onto her lips as she put her hand into his and he led her to the dance floor. He put his hands on her waist as hers went to his shoulders. They stood far away from each other, with nearly enough room between them for another couple to dance.

"So, we're friends?" she asked after a moment.

He looked into her eyes. The attraction he'd felt toward her was undeniable. As they danced, all he could think about was pulling her toward him and kissing her. Though he now knew she hadn't meant it when she told him she loved him, he had when he said it back. He knew there was no chance for them. He couldn't be who she wanted. "Yeah," he said after a moment. "We're friends."

Fiona smiled and pulled him in for a tight hug.

He hugged her back, wondering if he could see her as just a friend. "There's a cute girl in the LGBT club you might be interested in," he said after a moment.

She shook her head. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

"Yeah, I heard that before," he teased.

She shrugged, pulling back slightly to look at him. "Maybe if the right person comes along."

The End

AN: I just have to say, I don't really believe Fiona's 100% into girls. Notice the last line ; )