Xander vs Josh

The club was so alive that night. The dance floor was full of people as any would imagine. The night had just begun for many who were there. Mandy wondered if the club was still letting people in. The place already looked packed that even the bar seats were occupied. The upbeat music was blaring, mixed with the laughter and chatter of the people inside the club. The lights, however, were starting to hurt Mandy's eyes but she sucked it in. She is determined to have fun tonight.

Xander was leading Mandy to the center of the dance floor, holding her by her hand. Mandy didn't protest. For some reason that she was yet to discover, he let him. He kept looking behind, making sure she wasn't letting go and that she wasn't being squished by the crowd. She smiled. She was beginning to like him.

When they reached the center, Xander twirled her around and caught her by the waist, hugging her closely. Before Mandy could react, he let her go. Soon after they got to the dance floor, Jane and Carla arrived, laughing at something they saw as they were making their way to the dance floor.

"Is this fun or what?" Jane asked Mandy, at the top of her voice.

"Yeah, it is," Mandy replied. She was honestly having fun. All the jealousy she had felt when she saw Josh and Alynna arrive at the club together has somewhat disappeared — and Xander was a big factor of why that was so.

"Where's Rae?" Mandy asked Carla who had found a dancing partner from heaven knows where.

"I don't know. Maybe she stayed at the couch," Carla barely finished her sentence because the guy she was dancing with pulled her close to him. And then they were drawn into another part of the dance floor.

Just then Josh arrived at the dance floor. Jane didn't notice him so he surprised her. He took Jane by the hand and spun her. Jane laughed.

Mandy heard Jane so she looked at her, She saw Josh and Jane dancing but she didn't mind. She knew that were friends — that and Josh already has Alynna.

Mandy focused on Xander. He was saying something to her but she couldn't make it out.

"I beg your pardon?" Mandy asked Xander, her face close to his ear. She had to tip-toe a bit because Xander was tall.

"I said you look beautiful tonight," Xander repeated to her ear. But he didn't shout it. It was almost a tender whisper. He said it so softly that Mandy doubted if she heard him right. She wanted to ask him again just to make sure but decided not to. She just smiled.

"You look… Different. But in a good way," Mandy said but then she was embarrassed when she realized what she had just said.

"What I mean is…"

"I'll take it as a compliment," Xander stopped her mid-sentence.

"You should, because it is," Mandy said and then gave him her sweetest smile.

"Then I should say thank you."

Mandy laughed.

"You dance really well," Xander teased.

Mandy laughed again. Everyone who knew her knows she cannot dance. But she loved dancing, even if it would seem that all her moves are off-beat. She was so aware of it and had accepted that fact that she never gets offended when someone comments or criticizes her dance moves.

Xander spun her and caught her by the waist and dipped her, his other hand on her nape to support her. Mandy was caught off guard that she wrapped her arms around Xander's neck and clung on tight to his nape because she thought she would fall on the floor. Xander kept the position for a few seconds until Mandy loosened her arms from his neck.

As Mandy loosed her arms, Xander slowly moved his head backwards so he could see Mandy's face. She looked scared and innocent at the same time. But her beauty was undeniable.

Mandy's heart raced and her breathing grew heavy.

"Is he going to kiss me?" Mandy thought to herself. She was so confused. Part of her wanted him to but another part wanted to push him back.

Xander didn't want to kiss her — at least not at that moment but she looked so beautiful it was so hard to resist. He drew his face closer to Mandy's.

Mandy realized she was about to get her very first kiss. Suddenly, the blaring music seemed to quiet down with all the people around them. Mandy closed her eyes.

And then just like in the movies where somebody seemed to have stepped on the brakes of a speeding car, Mandy was suddenly lifted to her feet and in a split second, she was standing. Mandy opened her eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mandy heard Josh's voice. She looked around and saw him standing behind her.

"We were dancing, jerk!" Xander shouted, annoyed at Josh for ruining the moment.

"That doesn't look like dancing to me. You were about to kiss her! And that's out of line!" Josh walked past Mandy so he could stand face to face with Xander. Mandy realized they were almost as tall as each other.

"And what's that to you? You are not her boyfriend. From what I've seen tonight, you're the one who's out of line here! Why don't you go back to your girlfriend there!" Xander retaliated.

Josh remained silent as if somebody had poured cold water over him.

Some people are starting to gather around them so Mandy took Xander away while Jane took Josh back to their table.

Alynna looked at Josh and then to Jane and then back to Josh.

"What happened at the dance floor? We heard some people talking that there was almost a fight back there. Did you guys see who they were? Where are they now? I hope there won't be any fighting here tonight. This is the first time I went out in a long time and I don't want anything to ruin my evening." Alynna babbled. She took a long sip of her drink. When she realized Josh and Jane didn't answer her, she asked again.

"So? Did you guys see who almost fought?"

"Yeah, but they already went out. And they didn't fight. They were just, uhm, talking," Josh answered Alynna before Jane did. He then gave Jane a look which meant that she just go along with whatever he told Alynna.

"I see. Well, it's a good thing they went out. Or else they will have ruined the night for everybody."

"I think we should go," Josh said to Alynna.

"Already? But we just got here. And besides, it's still early. I haven't even finished my first drink yet," Alynna protested but Josh wasn't listening. He stood up and grabbed Alynna's purse.

"Wait! I said I don't want to go yet. Did something happen that made you want to go home?" Alynna asked, just as she realized Mandy and Xander didn't go back to their table yet.

"Did you and Xander had a fight?"

"No, we did not," Josh answered Alynna, avoiding her eyes. "But we almost did," he said under his breath.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Nothing. We need to get home because you need to rest. You're still recovering, remember?"

"I know, Josh. And I do not need a constant reminder of how weak my body is right now," Alynna looked away as she said the words. She was fighting back her tears.

Jane felt awkward so she excused herself and pretended to get something from the bar. Are followed her.

Josh sat down again when Jane had gone. He pulled Alynna close to him so he could look into her eyes. He stroked her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I am just worried that you'll tire yourself tonight."

"I just want to spend some time with you, Josh. That's all I want."

"How about we get out of here and just go to a quieter place?"

"Let me guess, like a coffee shop?" Alynna smiled.

"Yup, you read my mind."

"What about the others?" Alynna looked around. There was no sign of anyone they were with that night.

"They'll understand. I'll just call Jane and tell her we already left."

"Okay, then. Let's go," Alynna smiled at Josh and hugged him. Josh kissed her on the forehead.

They stood and walked out the exit, hand in hand.

Josh didn't know that Mandy could see them from afar. She saw the tender moment they had. She saw Josh stroke Alynna's cheek. She saw how his face softened as he talked to Alynna. She saw him kiss her on her forehead.

At the moment, she felt jealous again.

Mandy looked at Xander who was trying to cool off after the argument with Josh. Xander caught her looking at him.

"Sorry about tonight. If I hadn't insisted on sitting with you guys at your table, this probably wouldn't have happened."

"Don't be silly. It's nobody's fault," Mandy paused. "It was the alcohol's fault." Mandy joked and then smiled at Xander.

Xander took her hand and kissed it.