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I wished someone would turn down the bass in the sound system, but then I realized it was my heartbeat throbbing in my ears. The rumors were confirmed; I was officially nervous.
"Calm down, bro, it's just a dance," said Steve.
"Sure, Steve," I said through gritted teeth. "Just a dance... for you, maybe. Half the girls here want to dance with you. We're not all teen Casanovas, y'know."
"You'll be fine, Tony," he replied. "Just walk up to her and give her the goodies. Girls love chocolate. Then ask her to dance." He winked and added, "And after a couple of dances you ask her to go for a walk in the moonlight!"
I rolled my eyes. "Please. Orc girls don't go for that corny romantic stuff. Especially high orc girls. They like big tough jocks." I shook my head. "I can't believe I'm doing this. I don't even know if she likes me!"
"Oh, she likes you, bro," said Steve. "She's crazy about you. I see the signs. Some girls like sweet, studious guys. Can't you see how she lights up every time she looks at you? Dude, you can totally hit that."
"Thank you, O master of romance," I said. The crowd suddenly parted, and I saw the cause of my discomfiture in all her glory. Arikah Blackspear, exchange student from Arcadia. High orc track-and-field goddess, her voluptuousness herself in the deliciously ample flesh. I stopped in my tracks and barely restrained myself from shaking. There she was, a dozen strides away chatting with a couple of her fellow exchange students (a lamia and catgirl) and -- no surprise -- not paying attention to me. "I can't do this," I mumbled. I tried to turn around and walk away, but Steve stopped me.
"Can't let you do that, bro. No way am I letting you walk away from paradise." He locked his arm around my shoulders, spun me around, and said, "Evenin', ladies!"
"Hi, Steve!" the catgirl and lamia cooed. Arikah smiled -- was that a blush? -- and said, "Hi, Tony."
Steve pushed me forward, and Arikah met me halfway. I thrust the gift bag in front of me like a shield and listened in horror as my mouth acted without my permission. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
Arikah's smile grew brighter as she took the offering. "Thank you. I love Lindor truffles."
"Wha... how do you know what that is?" I asked. "You haven't even opened it yet!"
"I can smell it," she said. She then reached into her handbag and pulled out a small card. "Here, I got you something, too. Go on, open it!" While I was peeling the envelope open the band launched into a sensuous slow jam. "Ooo, I love this song! Come on, let's dance!" She grabbed my wrist and dragged me out onto the dance floor.
Arikah held me tight, and the difference in our heights meant my head was pressed firmly against her breasts. We swayed together, her arms around my shoulders and mine wrapped around her waist, while the other dancers spun around us. When the song ended and another began I tried to lead Arikah to the punch bowl, but she only held me tighter. "More," she growled.
"Okay," I agreed. I tried to ignore the pleasantly musky smell wafting off of her -- I'd been told about high orc pheromones, but I still couldn't believe she was that excited about me. "Uh, Arikah..." I said.
"Call me Ari," she interrupted. "People I really like get to call me Ari."
"Ari," I corrected myself, "About that card... 'Be My Alentine?'"
Arikah giggled and leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I'll give you the 'V' later." She moved my hands down to her butt and started swaying in time to the music again.
I gulped and let her press my head back onto her bosom. I guess Steve was right, she really does like me. For once in my life I decided not to question my good fortune. Tonight was a good night to just shut up and dance.