But Jake’s gentle and encouraging smile swept the horrible memories back into the hidden corners of her mind. She weakened all over when he whispered into her ear, enticing her to move to the pulsating rhythm. With his hands on her hips she easily danced in sync with him. “Good,” mouthed Jake as he backed away, sliding his hands back into the partner dance hold. She panicked for a moment hoping she didn’t look like an idiot but if you were going be an epic fail you should at least do it with style. Calling on her supermodel persona, power surged through her body. If she could rock the runway to any beat thrown at her while wearing a bra, panties, and a pair of giant angel wings attached to her back—she could do this. “That’s it. I knew you’d be a natural.” He wouldn’t say that if he knew about her disaster of an 8th grade dance. Tall, gangly, and new to the school, not even her years on the pageant circuit could save her from the awkwardness of being five inches taller than any boy there.
