Winter Dance

[Alicia Atwood]

Alicia had just finished setting up the large activity room for the first dance of the year, and she glanced down at her watched as she tied one end of a long string of silver papper to a balloon in the centre of the room.
Perfect, she had finished just in time.
Glancing towards the door, she hoped that she would have a decent turnout for the social get-together.
Stepping down from the stepping stool, she clapped her fingers together as she surveilled her work.
She wished that she had found more staff by now to help her around the academy, but she felt accomplished at the same time that she had been able to take the lot so far from what it had been.
Striding over towards the stage at the far end of the room, she switched on the colourful lights and chose a new song from the computer, turning up the volume, but not so loud that it would overwhelm anyone.

Now we just need people.

She smiled down at her little border collie, Marcus, the campus pet, who looked back up at her, his long pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, his ears perked forward.
Patting him on the forehead, she strode towards the door, opening it and locking it open, making sure that the wind wasn't entering the room.

[Tanisha Crowlay]

Tanisha walked across the cobblestone pathway, brushing a lock of her dark brown hair out of her face as she made her way to the games room for the winter dance, being careful not to get her designer shoes wet in the snow.
Hearing the steady beat of the music, Tanisha prepared herself for the bright lights and the pounding thumps of the speakers.
Entering the loung-style room, Tanisha flattened out the violet surface of her brand-new dress, looking around the room.
Realizing that the room was still quite empty, Tanisha looked around for any signs of life at all.
She noticed Alicia Atwood, but so far no other students.

Good, I'm the first one here.

She smirked, happy that she had found yet another way to look down on the other applicants of Willow Creek.
Ever since she had found out about Willow Creek from the internet, Tanisha had been waiting for her entry forms, not that she had any doubt that she would be accepted.
Her family owned Germany's top breeding farms, and she was proud to say that she had won many events with her prized stallion, Leading Rebbelion.
But now she just had a lame horse, Quick Pace, whom her mother had made her to bring instead of her practically unbeatable horse.

I just hope that some freak doesn't try to intimidate me here.

She laughed to herself as she walked over to get a drink from the huge punch bowel at the far end of the room.

[Jace Lasiter]

Jace walked into the game room and looked around, grimacing a little at how empty the room was. Jace looked nothing like what he usually wore, he wore black slacks and black dress shoes as well as a simple button down shirt. There was no influence of his usual western style. Simple, yes but when was there ever a real need to get all dressed up for a school dance, especiall when it all came off anyway, he said smiling to himself as he laid the jacket to his suit over a chair. Thats when he noticed her, he grinned, he had noticed Alicia but Tanisha caught his eye first. Though instead of approaching her he decided to sit down in a chair and wait for the party to get started besides he was expecting a friend of his anyway.

[Elita Baysinger]

Elita walked towards the game room her fingers mindlessly twisting the gold band around one of her fingers though she continued to walk. She paused inside the door and looked around. It was beautiful, Alicia had done well with the decorations. She nodded a greeting to Alicia and glanced at the girl by the punch bowl. She continued to look around till she saw a familiar face. She walked up and sat down in an empty chair at the table Jace was at. Hey there, Jace . she said smiling at her old friend as she rested her purse on the table and looked around the room. She hoped it would get more active around here, and hopefully she would meet some new people as well.

[Vannessa Cross]

Vanessa strode in through the doors, wearing her casual hoodie and skirt.
Her long blonde hair was pulled up into a neat bun, and she had taken the opportunity to put on some maskara and eye-liner, something she usually didn't have time to do.
She was hoping that she would meet up with some friends she had made, but so far, no one appeared familiar to her as she walked over to the table at the far end of the room to grad a bite to eat.
Picking up a sugar cookie, she took a small bite, smiling as the dough melted in her mouth.

Who made the food? It's delicious!

She asked a pretty girl standing next to her, who had been standing by the table before she had arrived.
Swallowing the last bite of the pastry, she grabbed a glass and poured herself a small amount of the tasty looking red fruit punch.

[Taylor Sinte]

Standing outside in the moonlight, Taylor played with the strings of his new hoodie nervously.
He hoped that Vanessa would be there, she was really the only person that he had had the chance to become friends with since he had arrived, other than Jace, who he had only had a brief chat with earlier that day.
Taking one last deep breathe, he reassured himself that he didn't want to push their friendship anymore than just plain old friends, before he pushed open the doors to the Games Room.
The bright lights and loud music made him pause to get his bearings for a few seconds before he was able to make out a few silhouettes amongst the dark room.

It only took him a few seconds to pick out Vanessa's form amongst the few people.
Swishing his long blonde hair out of his eyes, Taylor strode across the floor to the food and drink table where Vanessa was swapping a few words with the girl standing next to her.

Hey Vanessa! What's up?

He said, smiling warmly as he neared the table, taking the time to grab a drink from the puch bowel.
Glancing around his friend, Taylor took the time to look over at the other girl who appeared to be one of the spoiled type.
She was well over-dressed, and appeared to be mocking the food at the present time.
He would be sure to stay away from her if she tried to talk to him or Vanessa in anything but a nice tone.

[Tanisha Crowlay]

Turning her head around slowly at the sound of a voice beside her, Tanisha glanced down at a blonde girl, who appeared to have been talking to her about the food... Who sits and talks about who made the food and how it tasts?
Glancing down at her manicured nails, Tanisha looked over at the girl through her black eyelashes.

Are you talking to me?

She asked, narrowing her eyes ignorantly as she watched a boy join the blonde at the table.
Watching as the boy greeted her, she smirked. This could be fun.
Crossing off what she had been planning to say, she strolled over the the boy and put her arm around his shoulder, pushing him slowly away from the blonde girl.

I'll show you to where you should be.

She said, leading the way to the middle of the floor, glancing back long enough to give to girl a look that said, "gotcha".

[Jace Lasiter]

He looked up when people started to walk in, he didn’t recongnize the blond girl but the boy that came in after her he knew was Taylor his room mate. Jace turned in seat when he heard talking though nodded a greeting to Elita who sat beside him. He smiled when he noticed the girl saying something to Tanisha as well as Taylor. He wondered what she would do. As he watched he noticed that Tanisha started to push Taylor towards the floor. Feeling the need to protect his friend he called out Hey Taylor, Over here! Hi, Tanisha. he said gesturing to the table, considering Taylor had greeted Vanessa when he walked in and assume he went to see her after he left their room he figured Taylor didn’t want any part of Tanisha’s schemes, besides Jace knew he could handle Tanisha.

[Taylor Sinte]

Trying to ignore the brunnette as she made her way towards them, he tried to strike up a conversation with his friend.

So, you wanna go for a ride sometime? Maybe a trail?

He asked Vanessa, shuffling sideways, trying to create somemore distance between himself and the new girl as she neared him, a devilish look in her sparkling dark eyes.

I'll show you to where you should be.

What? He narrowed his eyebrows in objection as the brunnette wrapped her long slender arm around his shoulders, guiding him away from the table in a persistant manner.
He looked back in confusion as he stifled a chuckle at the fact that this girl thought that she could get away with him that easily.
Stopping as they neared the middle of the floor, Taylor shook loose of the girls grib and took hold of both of her hand, looking down into her eyes.

Hey there, what might your name be, beautiful?

He said, glancing over at Vanessa, hoping that she would understand that this was all a game, a trick.
Bringing her hands down to his waist, he twirled her around to the beat of the music, a new song that had just started to play.
As he turned around, he caught his roomate's gaze.
Smiling in responce to Jace's greeting, he looked over at the girl in front of him questioningly.

You know him? He's a great guy.

He smiled, pretty sure that these two hadn't exactly become the best of friends.

[Jace Lasiter]

Jace watched as Taylor and Tanisha made their way onto the dance floor. A little smirk on his face when he noticed the look in Taylor’s eye. He shook his head slightly as he walked over to the refreshment table and got himself something to drink. His dark brown eyes wandered over to the dance floor and watched the two dance. Taking a sip of his drink he looked to the girl who stood at the table, the one Taylor had been talking to. Hi, I’m Jace. he said nodding to her in greeting, he figured he might as well introduce himself.

[Tanisha Crowlay]

Tanisha smiled wryly as Taylor willingly took hold of her hands and began twirling her around, asking her what her name was, a sparkle in his eye.
Looking up at him, she smirked quickly over in the other girl's direction before shifting her eyes back to Taylor's.

My name? Tanisha. Tanisha Crowlay.

She said, stretching out her name the second time so that she didn't have to repeat it again, trying to give him the full effect of her stare.
It didn't take too much effort to recognise Jace getting up and making his way over to where the blonde girl stood in dismay as she watched them dance on the floor.
She hoped that she really was getting a rise out of this girl, and that the two weren't playing some kind of game with eachother that would end up making Tanisha look like an idiot.
Oh well, she though, putting the idea aside. Who cares? If they are, I'll just find some way to cover it up. No one wouldn't believe me anyway.
She was so self-confident that she didn't catch the silent exchange of grins from the two friends, the blonde and the boy she was dancing with.

[Vannessa Cross]

Vanessa watched as Taylor took the strange girl's hands into his, unsure what to think at first about him abandonning her by herself.
It wasn't until she saw him wink in her direction that she realized that it was all a joke.
She relaxed and giggled as she overheard Taylor's words, enjoying the funny sight of the unsual pair dancing.
Suddenly, a voice beside her made her jump, and she turned around to see another young man approach her, a warm smile on his face.

Hey, I'm Vanessa. It's nice to meet you.

She said happily, introducing herself warmly.

[Jace Lasiter]

He nodded in reply to Vanessa’s greeting. So you’re friends with Taylor, right? he asked glancing at her as he took another sip of his drink. Starting a conversation couldn’t hurt he figured as he waited for some sort of reply. His eyes watching the couple on the dance floor before flicking over to where Elita still sat at the table Hey Elita come here, please! he called across the floor again and gestured for her to come over.

[Elita Baysinger]

Elita looked up when she heard her name and smiled at Jace and shook her head. After a moment she got up and walked over to the table and stood next to him and the other girl. What do you want Jace? she asked glaring a little at him before turning her green eyes on Vanessa. Hi, I’m Elita, most people… she said turning to glance at Jace call me Eli. she said smiling warmly at her. Do you think she knows she’s being played? she whispered to them as she gestured slightly to the floor as she settled herself with the group standing around the table.

[Vannessa Cross]

Yup, I just met him the other week.

She said, still facing Jace, though she watched Taylor and the girl twirl around in the darkened dance floor, the bright lights flashing around them.
They sparkled off of the girl's heavy make-up and glistened on her new clothes.
Glancing around herself, she caught sight of who she presumed was a good friend of Jace's striding towards them.
Vanessa mirrored the girl's warm smile as she introduced herself to her.

It's nice to meet you Eli. My name's Vanessa.

She said warmly, turning her eyes distractedly back to the couple on the dance floor laughing inside of her head as Taylor spun the beautiful brunett around. He looked everybit the gentleman he was pretending to be.

I don't think so, she's to slutty to realise, I think.

She said in responce to Elita's question, lowering her voice towards the end of her sentence so as to not let the girl hear them talking about her behind her back.