Three weeks later, it was announced at breakfast over the loudspeaker that a dance would be held that weekend in the gym. Josh gulped, he knew this day would come, but not this soon. Looking over to where Kayla was sitting with her friends, chattering about who they would ask to the dance, he knew he had two choices. Either man up and ask Kayla out like he promised, or wimp out and pretend he had forgotten about his and Nancy’s deal.
But despite how tempting the second option was, he knew Nancy might not be his friend anymore if he did that. Standing up from his table he approached Kayla and tapped her on the back, because he was too short to reach her shoulder. Kayla turned, and smiled upon seeing it was her crush who wanted her attention “Hi Josh, need something?” Here I go, Josh thought, no turning back now. “Actually, Kayla, I wanted to ask you something.” Kayla grinned. “Of course, Joshie, anything for you. What do you need?”
“Well...I...um...I was was wondering...” Josh struggled to form the words he wanted to say, and he ended up blurting them out really fast “Would-you-like-to-go-to-the-dance-with-me?” Just as Josh had predicted, Kayla’s response was to grab him in a bone crushing hug, followed by several affectionate licks on his face. “Kayla...you’re hurting me...” Josh wheezed. Kayla immediately released him from her grasp, setting him down back down on the floor. “Oops. Sorry Josh, but yes, I’ll absolutely go to the dance with you!” they both agreed to meet outside the gym at seven, and as Josh went back to his table, he heard Kayla talking to her friends about their date. One of them even said “Are we invited to the wedding?” She may have been joking, but even still, it made Josh nervous.
Not long after sitting back down, Nancy came up to him and asked “So, did you make good on our deal?” Josh nodded, and Nancy patted him on the back “See? I knew you could do it.” Josh, however, wasn’t so confident. “Yeah, I did it, and I bet you she’s already planning our wedding and thinking up names for our children.” Nancy scoffed “Oh come on Josh, she’s not that bad. Come the weekend, you might even end up liking her back.” Josh hesitated before responding “I don’t know, I mean, I know you shouldn’t judge people or monsters by their appearance, but look at her, then look at me. She could eat me if she wanted to for crying out loud! Wouldn’t you be nervous too in my position?”
“I see your point, believe me I do.” Said Nancy “But like I told you before, She’s a really nice girl, and I’m sure you two will have a great time together.” Josh sighed “For my sake, I hope you’re right.” After breakfast the day went on as usual, with Josh attending his classes, eating lunch in between, then heading back to the boy’s dorm to relax before dinner. Unbeknownst to Josh, the news that he had asked Kayla to the dance had spread through the school like wildfire, with several of the other students placing bets on whether or not he’d actually show up.
When the weekend rolled around, Josh found himself standing outside the gym around seven o’clock, waiting for his date to arrive. He didn’t have anything really fancy to dress in, so he just wore his street clothes. For several minutes he stood there as other students of all species filed into the gym, until he finally saw her.
To his simultaneous surprise and relief, Kayla had also worn her regular outfit to the dance. At least now he wouldn’t have to worry about his nightmare coming true. “Thanks so much for asking me to the dance Joshie!” Said Kayla as she gave Josh another affectionate lick. “No problem.” Said Josh, wiping drool onto his sleeve “Shall we head inside?” Kayla responded by grabbing his arm and practically dragging him into the gym.
The inside of the gymnasium was at least ten times the size of any school gym in the human dimension. So needless to say, there were quite a lot of students, human and monster alike, dancing to the rhythm that was blasting over the jumbo sized speakers at the DJ’s table.
Kayla looked down at Josh with an ear to ear smile “Wanna dance?” Josh gulped “Well, actually, I was thinking we could...” But Kayla pulled him onto the dance-floor before he could finish his sentence. “Kayla wait!” Said Josh as he was being dragged to the center of the gym “I don’t really know how to dance!” “It’s not that hard.” Said Kayla “Just follow my lead.” for the next twenty minutes, Josh danced with Kayla, following her moves step by step, while trying not to make it look like he was just copying her. When they were finished, they went over to the refreshments table to take a break. “See, now was that so bad?” Asked Kayla as she took a drink of punch. “Not really.” Said Josh as he scanned the table for something that would be edible to humans.
“Well, look who actually showed up.” Said a cold voice from behind them. They turned to see Malcolm and Morgan, much to their dismay. “I never would have thought that the human would be into the tall and furry type.” Malcolm said, with a cocky smirk. “Go suck a blood pack you overgrown leech.” Said Kayla with a growl. Morgan stepped in, her hands alight with flame “Watch what you say to my boyfriend, you flea-bitten mutt.” Kayla, not the in the least bit intimidated, being twice Morgan’s size, loomed over her and bared her teeth “You’re the one who should watch what you say to mine, you soul sucking little skank.” Before Morgan could retaliate, Josh stepped in between the two, not wanting them to make a scene. “Hey hey hey, break it up! Morgan, Malcolm, the both of you had better get lost, or I’m reporting you to Ms. Redthorn.”
Ms. Redthorn was the headmistress of the school, and also happened to be a gigantic, fire-breathing dragon. Her office had to be built underneath the school, and she was known to swallow anyone who broke the rules whole, and let them sit inside her belly until she felt they had learned their lesson. Both Morgan and Malcolm, being the trouble makers that they were, had found themselves in that predicament on multiple occasions.
Glaring at Josh and Kayla, the two of them left without further conflict. Josh couldn’t help but feel conflicted. On one hand, he was still kind of afraid of Kayla, but on the other, she had just stood up for him against the two meanest monsters in the school. She ruffled his hair with her dinner-plate sized hand. “Nobody messes with my Joshie.” She said proudly. Josh looked up at her and smiled half sincerely “Thanks.”
“Okay, this next song is for all you loving couples out there, time for a slow dance.” Said the DJ over the speakers. Kayla smiled down at Josh “Feel like one more dance?” Josh shrugged, he had come this far, one more wouldn’t hurt. Stepping out into the center of the gym, Josh placed one hand on Kayla’s hip, and the other in her paw, and they began to slowly dance in a circle amongst the other couples. “This has been the best night of my life thus far, Joshie.” Said Kayla with a loving expression on her face. Josh smiled up at her “Me too.” He had to admit, tonight had been quite enjoyable. Even if Kayla was kind of scary to look at, she was really a good monster in her heart, especially towards those she cared for.
After two more hours of dancing and enjoying each other’s company, the dance was over. Kayla and Josh held hands as they exited the gym and entered the school courtyard. “I had a wonderful time, Joshie.” Said Kayla as she gave Josh yet another lick on the cheek. “Do you mind if I ask you something?” said Josh, hesitating slightly. “Of course, anything.” Kayla cooed “What is it about me that you find so attractive?” Kayla was taken aback by this question, so much so that she just stood there and blinked for several seconds before responding “What?”
“Why do you like me the way you do? What do you see in me that other girls don’t?” Josh explained, to which Kayla exclaimed “Are you joking? What girl wouldn’t want you? You’re sweet and caring, you have an open mind, not to mention you’re pretty cute, being so small and all.” Josh chuckled “Well, you’re the first girl to say all that stuff about me. In my old schools, most of the girls wouldn’t so much as acknowledge my existence, let alone date me.” Kayla hugged Josh to her chest “Well, forget those girls. They don’t deserve you as a boyfriend, they wouldn’t know a good guy if he was staring them in the face apparently.”
Josh hugged her back, barely even wrapping his arms around her torso “Thanks Kayla.” She gave him a final lick on the nose, and they bid each other goodnight before going back to their respective dorms. The next morning, Josh was just sitting down to eat breakfast when Nancy came up to him.
“So, how was your date last night?” She said, giving him a light hit on the shoulder. Josh shrugged “Actually, it was better than I thought it would be.” Nancy smiled “See? I told you it wouldn’t be so bad. Do you feel any different about Kayla now?” Josh hesitated to answer. “Well, on one hand I think I’m over my fear of her. But on the other, I’m not so sure I want to officially call her my girlfriend.”
“I understand.” Said Nancy, patting him on the back “Take it one step at a time.” “I just hope Kayla will be as understanding as you.” Said Josh as he looked over to where Kayla was sitting with her friends. She must have sensed she was being watched, because she turned around to look at him and winked before blowing him a kiss.
Josh waved back and smiled. Maybe he and Kayla could be an item after all. Crazier things have happened than that, such as all humankind living alongside creatures they thought were only myths. If that could happen, who knows, they could have a chance together. Maybe.