Music in the Night (Logan 4)

"I'm so glad," he said. "I was worried when Cary was so negative about the dance. I thought he might--"

"Might what?"

"Talk you out of coming," Robert confessed.

"He could never do that. We may be twins, but I still have a mind of my own, Robert."

"That's good," he said, smiling.

"You should know that by now, and if you don't, you will soon," I promised. Even I was surprised at how seductively it came out. His eyes widened with his smile. I turned away quickly, afraid I would become so crimson, everyone at the table would notice.

After we ate, the music got slower and the lights grew dim. I liked this kind of dancing more because I could rest my head against Robert's shoulder and feel his arms around me. We swayed to the rhythm, neither of us wanting to spoil the moment by talking. Occasionally, I felt his lips on my forehead and hair. My heart pounded so hard, I was sure he could feel it against his chest.

"I'm so glad you came to the dance with me, Laura," he whispered.

"Me too," I said.

"Maybe

. . . we can leave a little earlier and just take a ride along the shore. It's a beautiful night," he said.

"I'd like that, Robert."

We moved through the shadows and light. I was dazzled by the glow of the round lanterns, and for a while, it was as if Robert and I were the only ones at the dance. Everyone else just faded away.

That is until I heard Janet Parker's sharp, cold laugh right behind us and turned to see her standing with Adam Jackson, Marsha, Betty, and Lorraine. Brad Laughton and Grant Simpson had joined them as well. Why weren't they dancing? I wondered. Did they come here just to watch and make fun of others? They kept looking our way and laughing.

"What's with them now?" Robert muttered.

"I don't care," I said, but he couldn't stop gazing at them, his eyes filling more and more with fury.

"It's got something to do with us," he said sharply and stopped dancing.

"Robert, forget about them."

"I'd like to know what's so damn funny," he said, taking my hand and crossing the dance floor toward them. They parted, expecting we would walk in between them, but Robert paused.

"Why don't you let us in on your little joke," he said sharply.

"Excuse me?" Adam said with his self-satisfied smirk. "You want to hear a little joke?"

They all laughed.

"What is it with you people?" Robert pursued. I tried to tug his hand, but he was determined to have his say. "Are you trying to ruin our good time? I feel sorry for you if that's all you have to keep you occupied."

"Are you kidding me?" Adam said, surprised that anyone would dare question his actions.

"Well?"

"We just wondered why Laura's brother didn't come to the dance. Couldn't he afford a ticket?" Lorraine asked.

"Robert could have bought him one the same way he bought Laura's," Adam suggested.

"That's not funny," Robert said, stepping toward him. Adam took a step back and held up his hands,

"Hey, take it easy. You wanted to hear a little joke, didn't you?"

"That's not-a-joke. You're a joke," Robert shot back.