The Dance

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

This is one of the only stories that is fully finished which I’m actually satisfied with. I only wrote in 1st Person because it seemed like the best way to tell the story, it’s not actually supposed to be me, though some parts were derived from personal experience. Here’s part 1 of 6:


The loud, thumping music blared through the school gymnasium that was decorated with balloons, streamers and a broad banner that had the words ‘Year End Dance’ painted on it. All of the people had left the chairs lined up at the sides of the room, and gathered onto the newly waxed dance floor. The boys paired off with the girls and moved to the fast pace of the song in the dim light. Some of the teens that were not dancing whirled around glow-sticks that were available to purchase at inflated prices in the hallway outside the gym. Some of the helium balloons taped to the wall with streamers escaped and slowly floated to the ceiling. Occasionally there were high pitched, squeaky voices from the jokers who released the helium from the balloons into their throats.

All of the chairs were deserted, except for the few exhausted teenagers that had been dancing constantly, and one sixteen-year-old boy named Brian that sat out every dance. That was me. I was very shy, and shunned by my peers. I was partially glad for this, because I didn’t want to be involved with most of the idiots that surrounded me anyway. But I also longed for friendship, I wanted to have someone that I could talk to. I didn’t want to be known as the outcast geek, and I hated people whispering and joking about me behind my back.

The only reason I was invited to the dance was because of pity. I felt silly just sitting on the sidelines while everyone else had fun, but I was incredibly nervous about asking a girl onto the dance-floor. I wanted to, desperately, but I was afraid of being rejected once again. I wouldn’t have even come, but I knew that Donna was going to be there. Donna was the most stunningly beautiful girl that I had ever seen. I had known her since before kindergarten, and had instantly loved her from the moment I first saw her hypnotizing blue eyes, and silky, dark blonde hair.

Many people think that the phrase ‘love at first sight’ is just a flimsy line used to quickly describe an infatuation. This was anything but an infatuation. Even though I didn’t know her when I first saw her, and I was so young, I truly did love her at the first moment I laid eyes on her gorgeous face. I felt honored that my imperfect self could even be in her presence.

I wasn’t always this way, being the isolated, companionless nerd. Donna and I used to be the best of friends. We spent all of our free time together, and we did our homework with each other. I didn’t know why such an amazing girl would want to have a friendship with me, but regardless of what I thought of myself, she was fond of me. I was grateful for every moment that I spent with her.

Back then, I wasn’t exactly popular, but I wasn’t excluded from the rest either. But when the other boys noticed how close I was to Donna, they began to tease me about it. Over time the teasing intensified and even became cruel. The girls put Donna through pressure as well. She wasn’t used to being teased and soon broke under the pressure. She spent less and less time with me, and finally ignored me completely. After that, I was devastated. I tried to get over her, but it was impossible. No one else interested me. Donna was my one and only desire. All my other friendships dissolved as I was rejected by everyone. It’s ironic how I became an outcast. At first I was teased because I was friends with a girl, and later I was tortured even more because I didn’t have a girlfriend.

Donna and I had never talked since. At least, not on personal terms. Being in the same class, we were occasionally were paired off for school projects, but we never talked closely. She just got the job done and once again left me alone.


I sat motionless in my chair through each song. My only movements were my eyes following Donna across the dance floor, watching her every graceful move. A silver locket hung from her neck. She wore it every day without fail. I had always wondered what she carried in that locket, if anything at all. I assumed that it was a picture of some infatuation of hers, perhaps a celebrity she admired or something along those lines. That reminded me of the pictures that I had of her. I had a class picture of her from every school year. With each passing year, her features changed, becoming more mature, and her portrait became increasingly radiant.

It wasn’t any surprise that she gave me a photo of herself annually. I got a picture from every one in the class. It had been a tradition since Grade one that everyone got one school picture of everyone else in the class. But Donna’s were the only ones that I treasured dearly. I always pored over them, staring at her gorgeous smiling face. It was about the only smile I could ever receive from her. I was mentally reviewing the ten photos I had of Donna when my thoughts were drawn back to the mystery of her locket. It seemed painfully familiar. I don’t know why it kept recurring in my mind, why should a simple locket bother me like that? But for some unknown reason, I knew that I had seen that specific locket somewhere before in my distant memory, and I wracked my brain trying to place it. But eventually, I gave up on the subject, as I always had before when I could not recall why it seemed so familiar.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

I let out a heavy sigh, and closed my eyes, trying to remove myself from the sorrow that constantly suffocated me, by transporting myself into memories of when Donna and I were close. My recollections of her were still as vivid as when the had occurred, not faded by the erosion of time. I felt a spark of warmth flow through me as I pictured her in my mind’s eye.

But of course no pleasure in my life could last for long, and it was sucked away as Bradley, one of the guys who had pestered, no, plagued me incessantly like a cloud of parasitic locusts, laughed and announced to everyone, “Ha! Look! Brian fell asleep! If that’s all you’re gonna do, why don’t you go back to your crib at home.” He pointed at me and cackled wildly, and was imitated by his group of cronies. My last ounce of dignity crumbled away with his discrimination. You’d think that after so many years of going through this, I’d be used to it, but it still hurt to be plagued with harassment. Bradley soon tired of laughing, and went back to flirting with a group of girls.

I hated him with a passion. I despised him as much as I loved Donna. Day after excruciating day of being ridiculed by that heartless fiend grated on my nerves. I don’t like to hate anybody, and I don’t wish harm to come to anybody, but I made an exception for him. I couldn’t have cared less if he spontaneously combusted. Actually, I prayed for it. I would make a silent prayer to ask God to smite that arrogant... ugh, there isn’t a word to describe that horrible person... off the face of the earth. That was all I ever asked, just that one favor and I would be eternally in His debt. A lightning bolt... a lion escaping from a zoo... a falling anvil would be a funny cartoonish effect... but of course, being a God of love, none of that would ever happen, so I just had to cope.

It was past eight o’clock, and I was debating whether or not to leave. I decided that seeing Donna’s pretty face was enough to keep me there. I scanned the wide room for her. She was wearing a low-necked white blouse and tight blue jeans that flared slightly at the bottom. She was the jewel in the crowd. But I couldn’t locate her on the dance floor. Then my passing eyes caught a flash of white through the crowd. There was an opening between the dancing kids and I saw Donna sitting alone on the other side of the room. I couldn’t believe my luck: I finally had a chance to ask her to dance. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t. I was paralyzed, and my heart pounded. I could barely breathe. I knew that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, so I made myself stand up and I wove through the crowded people toward Donna.

When I broke through to the other side, she was gone. I looked around for her and saw her being led onto the dance floor by Bradley, of all people. Why him?! He put his arm around her and held her closely as they rocked back and forth to the slow song. My heart was felt like it was torn out of my body and trampled to a pulp. I wanted to do the same to him. Even though I didn’t own her, and I didn’t wish to think of her as my property, I felt a great pang of jealousy seeing her so intimately close with him. I turned away from them and bit my lip, trying suppress the anguish that I felt. I kicked myself inside for hesitating. She probably wouldn’t have danced with me anyway, I thought.

I flopped back into my chair, and furrowed my eyebrows when I saw her with Bradley. How could she possibly want to even touch that slimy vermin? After that song, she sat down with her friends and all of them smiled and giggled with her. I assumed they were talking about her dance. Donna shook her head, and the other girls looked confused. Donna held the silver locket that hung from her neck, looking at it with a soft smile and tentatively revealed its contents to the others. They gasped and quickly deserted her, some with disgusted scowls on their faces. I had no idea what could be so bad that they would abandon her. That was the first time that I had seen her looking so sad and alone. She was usually chatting with her friends or doing something, but never alone.

The night was nearing 9:30 and the liveliness of the party was just starting to heat up. I saw a girl with shoulder length black hair walk toward me. Her name was Shaylene. She was one of the girls that had walked away from Donna. She was pretty, but she couldn’t compete with Donna. All she wore was black: her jeans, sleeveless blouse, shoes and eyeliner. She just had a thing for black, I guess. She was highlighted by bright green eyes and a flashing white smile. I assumed that she would walk right past me, but she pulled up a chair and sat next to me.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” she asked me. “I’ve been watching you all night and I haven’t seen you twitch. The only way that I could tell that you were alive was your eyes moving around.”

I stared at her, surprised to have her voice directed at me. I shrugged and said, “I don’t really dance that well.” That was a lie. I could dance, but I just said the first thing that came to mind.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

“Are you thinking of Donna?” she asked. I looked down at her in surprise, wondering how she knew. “Are you feeling guilty dancing with me?” My awe for her intuitiveness increased. “You think that you shouldn’t be with anyone but her? Maybe feeling guilty for . . . thinking . . . about someone else?” She looked deeply into my eyes, as if she could read my soul from what must have so obviously been expressed in them.

“How did you - ?”

She smiled weakly. “You seemed relaxed before, especially when you looked straight into my eyes. When you looked at me in that way, and when you started to lean down to me. I guessed that you were going to kiss me, only because I wanted to do the same thing too, for some reason.” My eyes widened in astonishment from her admission. “From the way you talk about Donna, it’s plain that you really love her. And when you were about to kiss me, it must have made you feel like you betrayed your relationship with her, kind of, even if it is nonexistent.” She immediately attempted to rectify what she had just said, “No! I didn’t mean it that way.”

I nodded forgiveness to her, but I still hung my head low in my extreme transgression and failing of self-control.

“Don’t worry about it, Brian.” With her arms still around my neck, she stroked the hair on the back of my head to comfort me. And surprisingly, it did. “You’re only human. After all these years of thinking of only one girl, you’re bound to think of someone else eventually, especially after the way things have been going between you two. Actually, I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.” She smiled consolingly. “I’m flattered that you’d think of me in that way. I know that I’m probably not much in comparison to Donna.” I began to protest, but she shook her head, not wanting me to say any more. “I know how attached you are to her. But is good that you were considering moving on, you know? Not being hung up over someone forever who’s not brave enough to show her emotions.”

I stared at her questioningly at her. “You mean, she really does . . .?”

“Well, if she does have any, or whatever it is that’s causing her to act that way.” She looked away momentarily, but then resumed, “But what’s really admirable, is that even though you did - stray a bit, you still want to be faithful to Donna, although you, uh,” she stumbled again over a polite way to word it.

I finished it for her, “Even though we don’t really have anything at all, anymore.”

She tilted her head, turning things over in her mind. “Don’t be too sure of that.” Just as she said that cryptic remark, the song concluded and she let go of me. I did feel better after we were separate. She thanked me for the dance and looked up at me. “You’re a good guy, Brian.” She reached up and kissed me lightly on my cheek. I knew that it didn’t exceed the bounds of friendship, so I didn’t resist. I hoped that we could remain friends, nothing more, because even a little awkwardness and uneasiness would be a welcome change to total isolation. As long as nobody got the wrong idea about Shaylene and I.

But I gave it a second thought. Should I really cling to the notion that perhaps someday Donna and I could patch things up? Was that realistic? Or should I move on, try to get on with life? I knew that Shaylene had initially said that she had no romantic interest in me, but later, the way she touched me, and looked at me, seemed to say otherwise. She even admitted that she wanted to kiss me! Now it seemed as though she was nudging me toward staying with the idea of Donna. But should I? I reviewed what I knew of both girls. Shaylene was very kind, considerate, and helpful, not to mention beautiful, but I hardly knew anything else about her. I loved Donna. I knew that she was ignoring me, and we hadn’t talked in a long time, but she was the one I cared most for. I couldn’t toss away years of waiting for her for another girl that I had suddenly become attracted to. I made up my mind to stay faithful to Donna. Perhaps Shaylene may be able to help out matters, as she said she would try to do. I really admired her graciousness over it.

“I’ll see what I can do about Donna,” she said. I sat down and watched Shaylene approach her. After she asked her the question, Donna shook her head. They appeared to be arguing for some time. Shaylene tried to convince her but Donna continued to refuse and turned away. Shaylene gave up and walked back to me. “I’m sorry, Brian,” she put her hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, she just . . .” she seemed to be at a loss for words, as confused as I was about Donna’s behavior. She caressed my shoulder, trying to comfort me, but it didn’t work.

I stood up and resolutely walked over to Donna. I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do or say, but I knew that I had to do something. I was tired of this crap. I needed to find out once and for all what was up with Donna. My heart pounded so hard I thought that everyone would be able to feel the floor quake. But I wasn’t going to let my timidity get the best of me this time.

It seemed as if fate was on my side for once in my life, and another slow song began. I stopped in front of Donna, feeling myself tremble being so close to the girl of my dreams. She didn’t even seem to notice me.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

“Donna?”

She faced me and her eyes widened as she saw me standing before her. “What do you want?”

“I was wondering... if you’d like to dance,” I struggled to keep my voice stable.

All of Donna’s friends surrounded her, watching avidly, expecting her to brush me off. She couldn’t fail to deliver what was expected. “With you? Is that a joke?” She snickered along with her friends. “Why do you want to dance with me?” she said, as if she were way out of my league. I knew that she was, but that wasn’t the point. “I already told Shaylene to tell you no.”

A frown dragged down the corners of my mouth. I wasn’t going to take this from her anymore. I cast off my nervousness and I burst out, “What is wrong with you?” Donna recoiled, my outburst caught her totally off-guard. Good. “Why are you acting like this? I know that this isn’t you. You never used to be like this. Now you’re all stuck up and putting up a front for your friends.”

Donna glanced around at her friends, at a total loss for words. Then she just stared at me agape.

Bradley swaggered up to me and ordered, “Leave her alone, freak.” With a muscled arm, he shoved me and I toppled backwards to the floor. All of the spectators howled with laughter and turned away, taking Donna with them. She glanced back apologetically at me and went along with them. Even after I confronted her she still didn’t do a thing.

I stood up and rubbed my elbow that I’d fallen on. I glared at Donna, clenching my teeth. My face must have been beet red. I didn't know what do do, I just needed to leave. I stomped out of the gymnasuim toward the exit of the school. Shaylene jogged up to me, but I was in no mood to be consoled or comforted by anyone. I shrugged her hand off my shoulder. “I need to be alone,” I said, straining to quell my tears. This wasn’t the first time I had been turned down, but I couldn't handle any more. I shoved open the door and winced when the cold outside air hit me. Then I just ran. I pumped my legs and bolted away to burn off my anger.

I heard the door open behind me, and a voice called out, “Brian, stop!”

“Leave me alone!” I shouted back. I pushed myself to run faster.

“Brian, please! It’s me, Donna.”

"Especially you!” I screamed back, wondering how she had the gall to talk to me now. She began to chase after me. Even though I was far down the street, her long legs carried her swiftly up to me. She grabbed me by the collar and forced me to stop.

“Just listen to what I have to say,” Donna begged. I struggled to wrench free from her grasp, but she was much stronger than she looked.

“I don’t want to hear it, let me go!” I snarled at her.

She slapped me hard across the face and told me firmly, “Shut up and let me talk!” In contrast with the forceful tone she had just applied, she mildly expressed, “Brian, I’m sorry for the way I treated you.”

“You didn’t treat me any way. You totally ignored me! What is wrong with you?” I stared at her coldly.

“Brian, please. Don’t act this way. They were putting us through hell just for being friends back then. What was I supposed to do? I was only eight years old!”

“Do you think that makes it all right? I had to put up with all that torture even after we weren’t friends. I have been completely alone for years!” I sobbed through clenched teeth.

“I am so sorry for that. Just because we were apart, it doesn’t mean that I stopped caring for you.” The moonlight reflected in her iridescent eyes.

“That doesn’t erase eight years of horrible pain,” I growled sardonically. “Do you know what it feels like to be absolutely alone in the world? Fighting away pain and loneliness every single day? Being ignored by the only person that you love in the world?!” Tears now flowed freely from my eyes. I stared at Donna, whose bottom lip quivered and a single glistening tear streaked down her cheek.

“Yes, I do know what that feels like. You may not realize it, but you do exactly the same thing to me. You have never spoken to me once. You never even tried to talk to me, and that hurt. After that, it was too painful to even look at you. It killed me to not be able to be with you. I want you so much. I love you, Brian.” She put her hand on my shoulder.

“How can you say that to me right now?” I stepped away from her. “You knew how I felt about you. If you loved me why didn’t you say so before? Why did you wait?”

“I was afraid!” she sobbed.

“Afraid of what?!”

“Of this! Look at what you’re doing right now! I thought you’d be mad at me for doing that to you and you wouldn’t feel the same way about me. I... I didn’t want to get hurt again.” She buried her face in her hands and cried.

I hated to see her this way. It tore my heart out to see her in pain. “You really love me?” She nodded her head. She clutched the locket that hung from her neck and showed me the photo that dwelled inside. I stood silent in shock. A tiny school photo of myself from that year was neatly fitted inside.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

“I put a new picture in every year,” she said, and carefully closed the delicate doors of the silver locket. I couldn’t believe that over all these years of painful separation, she had always carried my picture with her. Suddenly it hit me why that locket had seemed so familiar. I don’t know how I could have forgotten it. I bought that for her in the third grade as a last ditch effort to win her back. I had used all my savings to buy it. I suppose I didn’t need to win her back. She had still cared for me the whole time right up until now, but was both forced to hide it and later too afraid to reveal it again.

“I really do love you, Brian.”

I stood gazing at her in amazement. I was literally speechless, left with a mouth hanging open. I just wanted to take her in my arms and catch up on all the years we'd missed, but she struck me frozen.

Donna walked closer to me and looked deeply into my eyes. A soft breeze fluttered through her hair and the near-full moon behind her seemed to give her angelic blonde hair a glowing quality. I stroked her soft cheek and wiped away the tears that drowned her eyes. But removing the tears by no means removed the sorrow that was so obviously expressed in her glistening blue eyes. Even though they shone brilliantly, there was still a darkness to them, an emptiness. She asked softly, “Do you still love me?”

I chuckled, wondering why she would need to ask that. Nevertheless, I truthfully said,
“I love you more than anything. There aren’t enough words in the English vocabulary to fully describe how I feel. You are the most important person in the world to me.”

“I feel the same way.” I was so pleased and relieved when I finally saw the dark burden being lifted from her expression and the true happiness that radiated from her bubbling smile.

“I don’t understand how this is happening.” I said incredulously.

She put her arms around my neck. “You’re not supposed to understand love. You just express it.”

I sighed, “This seems too good to be true,” more to myself than to her. She pulled me against her and our lips joined. Her soft, moist lips kissing me was the most inconceivable, indescribable sensation I could imagine, and it felt like I was in a dream. Her familiar scent that I had once smelled so long ago once again wafted up my nose. Her aroma, flowery and slightly spicy, like a rose-bed sprinkled with cinnamon, had never changed at all.

I could taste her luscious lips that smothered my mouth. I had never believed it when someone would say that a kiss was sweet, but I could distinctly taste a warm, soothing sweetness melting from her lips. I had never experienced anything before in my life that had impacted all five senses so intensely. Even when I was driven to kiss Shaylene paled with this utopian feeling.

Our kiss reluctantly broke apart, yet our mouths were barely separate. I proudly held her, and couldn’t believe that the girl of my dreams was in my arms, and I was in hers. I almost expected her to dissolve in my grasp and evanesce into the night, but she remained with me. Donna gazed into my eyes with genuine love, and her warm breath gently crept into my mouth as she whispered, “It’s true.”