09-Dance of Distraction

The music was louder than I was used to, an upbeat song that I wasn't sure I'd heard of, but that didn't stop me grinning from ear to ear. Adie was dancing a few feet away, her gold trimmed black dress rustling. She kept smiling and begging me to come and join her, but I turned her  down, preferring to watch others than make a spectacle of myself. I'd laugh occasionally when she bumped into someone else, but no one seemed to mind. Tonight was not a night for anger. My own dress was longer, a wrap around blue that Adie had found me. It had a wide white sash that I slid my hands into. Dylan looked very smart in his navy black tux, glasses down his nose. He, like myself, wasn't dancing, but I think it was from  lack of confidence rather than ability.
I was scanning the crowd, faces and sounds blurring together when I saw that all too familiar face stand out. Over by the far wall, next to the entrance was Arin. He was leaning back, arms folded, a kind of suave smile on his face, like he was in on a joke. His amusement only grew when he saw me watching, until he made the move through the throng towards me. I was part way through assessing his clothes (suit jacket over his normal white shirt, and dark pants) when Adie interrupted me vision by giving him a once over herself. She turned back to me with a sly smirk.
"So, who is he? You found out yet?"
My mind was indecision, knowing full well that Adie was going to talk to him whether I liked it or not, but not wanting her to get involved with him. I wasn't sure if Arin was safe to be around my other friends. Before I had chosen, he had arrived.
He looked to me first. "Isa." He nodded.
Adie looked a bit hurt, but offered her hand. "I'm sorry, Isa hasn't introduced us. I'm Adie."
He shook deftly, after a moment of confusion. "Arin. Pleasure to meet you."
Almost imperceptibly he turned so he could see my eyes, questioning. I automatically sent back a look I hoped said 'don't hurt her'. It was a few moments later, listening to the conversation they had started up, that I figured out he had been asking if Adie was a threat. I was a bit shocked, but then thought that it must be normal for the Isadore he knew. I mumbled something about going to get a drink, needing time to clear my head. I didn't look back, feeling Arin's glance follow.
When I returned, holding my cup as to not spill it on my dress, I immediately knew something was wrong. Adie had her arms folded protectively over her chest, pouting. She was glaring at something behind me. I looked over my shoulder, but when no explanation could be found, I sidled up to Dylan.
"What's up with her?"
For a moment he looked shocked to have my attention, but he quickly recovered. "Her pride is hurt. Your friend left her." That quiet voice informed me.
"How did that happen?" I asked, throwing another fleeting look in the direction of Adie's death stare.
"Oh, well nothing really. Things were going fine, she was really into her conversation with Arin."
"...I bet she was."
"But then, he became kind of distracted. He had the oddest look on his face. Then with no warning, he just walked off. Adie spluttered a bit and went after him, until she saw what he was after."
I searched for Arin in the crowd of parttiers, a sinking feeling in my stomach. When I finally spotted him, he was making his way towards the dance floor. My heart skipped a beat when I saw his expression. I started towards him, going as fast as I could through the assembly.
"I wouldn't bother! He saw a girl he recognised!" Dylan warned.
I ignored him. I knew that look. That was his danger face, decision face, the expression he had worn when he had dispatched the Resident that had attacked me. There was one problem with what Dylan had said, one gaping flaw. Arin didn't know anyone in this time. The only way to account for his reaction, was if someone from his time had appeared. He had stopped on one side of the dance floor, where an unnatural circle had formed in the crowd. Near the centre, was the girl he hadn't taken his eyes off.
I faltered. She was tall, definitely a year or two older than myself. And she was beautiful, dead gorgeous. Long strawberry blonde hair cascaded down to the small of her back. Her skin was fair and there was quite a bit of it showing in the gaps of her dress, which was a sheer red with some sort of fishnet fabric on top. There were chunks cut out at random points. She wasn't doing a very good job at blending in, she reeked of difference. Arin had picked up on it, but I knew better. She was smiling politely and beckoning to a few of the boys, which were abnormally shy. She had that affect on a lot of people. The only ones that were'nt dulled by her charasmatic glow, was Arin and myself. She noticed this and after a quick nod in my direction she walked calmly towards Arin. Her movement revealed her grace, one that a dancer would have envied. From my knowledge, it was probably the disguised elegance of a killer.
My breath quickened. -This is so bad. Soooo bad.-
The students moved quickly out of her way as she made her way to the exit, Arin following close behind. He spared me one last important look as the door shut. As soon as they were gone, it was like the room let out it's collective tension. The music, which had been forgotten, returned and people talked about the incident.
What just happened?
Where did she come from?
Do you think I would have a chance with her?
Who was she?


I knew. Her name was Diana.