about listening to the words and not worrying too much about the rhythm, I realize the song is “Stairway to Heaven.” This means it’s the last song of the night and the dance is almost over. I survived. I wish I could say the same about Curly’s mouse.
I have my hands on Sadie’s waist, and they feel like they’re getting kind of clammy. I try to pull them away just a little so some air can get in. She rests her head on my shoulder. The top of her head touches my cheek. Her hair smells like bubble gum. She must have a lot of product in it, because it kind of sticks to my face. As we pivot in circles, I glance over at the couch to see what Ryan’s doing, but he’s gone.
Molly and Sam dance over toward us, awkwardly shuffling between couples. When they get close, Sam gives me a dorky thumbs-up. I pray no one else saw.
Where’s Ryan?
I mouth.
He shrugs.
When the song gets faster, I take Emma’s advice and keep dancing nice and slow, but Sadie steps back a little and starts fast-dancing. I don’t know what to do! I decide to try to copy her. She twirls in a circle when the song says something about winding down the road, as if she’s acting out the words. I look around to see what everyone else is doing. Some people are slow-dancing and some are dancing wildly, like Sadie. I copy what she does, my face burning the whole time. I’m sure I look like an idiot. Sadie grabs my hands and starts swinging me around, laughing. She doesn’t seem to care how she looks. She’s just enjoying the words and the music. Pretty soon, I am too. When the song slows down again, we’re both out of breath. She leans into me, and this time I don’t feel awkward, even though I’m even more sweaty. She rests her head on my chest again, and I relax a little. Whoever said this is the longest song in history is right. But I’m actually kind of glad. I forget all about the mouse, and worrying about Emma, and where Ryan might be, and try to focus on this moment, because who knows if it will ever happen again?
Eventually the music stops and someone turns on the lights. The Tank barks orders to start cleaning up. I still don’t see Ryan anywhere, so I help clean and figure he’ll turn up eventually. When the Tank finally tells us the room is tidy enough, we all go outside to wait for our rides. Sam and I find Ryan sitting on the steps, looking crabby.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asks.
“Nothing,” he says, all moody. “There’s your dad.”
“Be right there.” Sam runs off to find Molly and gives her a hug.
Ryan rolls his eyes and looks completely put out at having to wait a second longer. He is the worst when he’s in a mood.
Emo,
I think. Because really.
The drive home is totally awkward. Sam talks nonstop about Molly, and his dad keeps high-fiving him in the front seat. It’s so embarrassing. The whole time, Ryan stares out the window, brooding.
“So,” Sam’s dad asks, “did you boys dance with anyone?”
“Just once,” I say.
Ryan doesn’t answer.
“I think Sadie likes you,” Sam announces.
Ryan moves uncomfortably in his seat, as if he just discovered he’s sitting on something gross.
“Curly killed a mouse,” I say, to change the subject.
Sam’s dad makes a disgusted sound. “I still can’t believe the school allows that cat to live there.”
Now I wish I hadn’t said anything.
“Curly’s great,” Ryan says, still staring out the window. “She’s the best thing about that school.”
“Molly said Lily is allergic to her,” Sam says.
“Well, they’ll have to get rid of her, then,” Sam’s dad says matter-of-factly.
“No, Dad. Lily doesn’t want them to. She isn’t going to tell anyone, and you can’t either.”
“Hmm, Sammy. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Sam’s dad talks to Sam like he’s a five-year-old whenever they disagree about something. It’s so annoying. It’s like if he uses that tone, it will make Sam feel little and afraid to argue.
“How can she
I have my hands on Sadie’s waist, and they feel like they’re getting kind of clammy. I try to pull them away just a little so some air can get in. She rests her head on my shoulder. The top of her head touches my cheek. Her hair smells like bubble gum. She must have a lot of product in it, because it kind of sticks to my face. As we pivot in circles, I glance over at the couch to see what Ryan’s doing, but he’s gone.
Molly and Sam dance over toward us, awkwardly shuffling between couples. When they get close, Sam gives me a dorky thumbs-up. I pray no one else saw.
Where’s Ryan?
I mouth.
He shrugs.
When the song gets faster, I take Emma’s advice and keep dancing nice and slow, but Sadie steps back a little and starts fast-dancing. I don’t know what to do! I decide to try to copy her. She twirls in a circle when the song says something about winding down the road, as if she’s acting out the words. I look around to see what everyone else is doing. Some people are slow-dancing and some are dancing wildly, like Sadie. I copy what she does, my face burning the whole time. I’m sure I look like an idiot. Sadie grabs my hands and starts swinging me around, laughing. She doesn’t seem to care how she looks. She’s just enjoying the words and the music. Pretty soon, I am too. When the song slows down again, we’re both out of breath. She leans into me, and this time I don’t feel awkward, even though I’m even more sweaty. She rests her head on my chest again, and I relax a little. Whoever said this is the longest song in history is right. But I’m actually kind of glad. I forget all about the mouse, and worrying about Emma, and where Ryan might be, and try to focus on this moment, because who knows if it will ever happen again?
Eventually the music stops and someone turns on the lights. The Tank barks orders to start cleaning up. I still don’t see Ryan anywhere, so I help clean and figure he’ll turn up eventually. When the Tank finally tells us the room is tidy enough, we all go outside to wait for our rides. Sam and I find Ryan sitting on the steps, looking crabby.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asks.
“Nothing,” he says, all moody. “There’s your dad.”
“Be right there.” Sam runs off to find Molly and gives her a hug.
Ryan rolls his eyes and looks completely put out at having to wait a second longer. He is the worst when he’s in a mood.
Emo,
I think. Because really.
The drive home is totally awkward. Sam talks nonstop about Molly, and his dad keeps high-fiving him in the front seat. It’s so embarrassing. The whole time, Ryan stares out the window, brooding.
“So,” Sam’s dad asks, “did you boys dance with anyone?”
“Just once,” I say.
Ryan doesn’t answer.
“I think Sadie likes you,” Sam announces.
Ryan moves uncomfortably in his seat, as if he just discovered he’s sitting on something gross.
“Curly killed a mouse,” I say, to change the subject.
Sam’s dad makes a disgusted sound. “I still can’t believe the school allows that cat to live there.”
Now I wish I hadn’t said anything.
“Curly’s great,” Ryan says, still staring out the window. “She’s the best thing about that school.”
“Molly said Lily is allergic to her,” Sam says.
“Well, they’ll have to get rid of her, then,” Sam’s dad says matter-of-factly.
“No, Dad. Lily doesn’t want them to. She isn’t going to tell anyone, and you can’t either.”
“Hmm, Sammy. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Sam’s dad talks to Sam like he’s a five-year-old whenever they disagree about something. It’s so annoying. It’s like if he uses that tone, it will make Sam feel little and afraid to argue.
“How can she
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