Just a party

Anastasia James

“I can't believe you kept waiting for me.” I laughed huffily and crossed my arms below my breasts.

“What's wrong with that?” Matthew asked, while driving the truck. “We're going to the same place.” He shrugged, smiling broadly.

“So what?” I narrowed my eyes. “Going to the same place doesn't mean we should arrive together.” I rolled my eyes and stared at the street through the car window.

“Here you go, belittling my kindness.” He sighed, making me look at him. He pouted, pretending to be hurt, so I laughed in derision.

I deserve it.

We arrived at Rachel's in two minutes-literally, since I live extremely close. As soon as Matt parked the car, I wanted to dig a hole in the ground and never get out of it. Steph had just arrived with Johnny and they both recognized the truck, so they stopped to look.

“You're going to stay there, huh?” Matthew roused me from my reverie.

He simply smiled and jumped out of the car, leaving me no choice but to do the same. Well, nothing much happened yesterday. In fact, nothing happened at all, so I don't need to be afraid of anything. I took a deep breath and got out of the truck, slamming the door behind me. Steph arched her eyebrows in surprise, but I did the Egyptian thing and smiled.

“Good morning, folks.” I greeted them and walked into Rachel's.

As soon as I reached the practice room, I let out the air I didn't even realize I was holding. Why am I so nervous? Get lost, Anastasia! I rolled my eyes and sat down on the floor to put on my sneakers. As I opened my purse to get them, I looked at my cell phone. I haven't checked it since last night, so I decided to do it now. The guys are talking out front, so I have some free time.

I unlocked the phone and the first message I saw was from Bethany, who said she missed me. Seriously, I need to get organized soon and make another video call with her. While I was typing a reply, a thought suddenly hit me: What if I invited her to come and watch the championship? Would she accept? It is so far away…

“You bitch!” I received a slap on the arm, which made me jump in the same place.

“What a fright!” I looked at Steph, who was smiling at me.

“What happened yesterday, huh?” She narrowed his eyes. “Did you sleep together?”

I frowned, but soon remembered.

“I know! Get lost!” I snorted.

“So you didn't sleep together?” She raised his eyebrow. “Because Matt said you were late because you had to wait until your father left the house to come over.” She pointed with his forefinger toward the living room door, making me want to claw my own eyes out with my bare hands.

“We literally slept through it.” I took a deep breath. Steph sat down beside me, visibly curious.

“In the same bed?” She stared at me, and when I nodded, she smiled mischievously.

“Shut up!” I rolled my eyes and decided to ignore her.

“If it wasn't for that, why was he here late last night waiting for you?” She questioned. “Did you know he didn't even lock anything in here? Everything was open!”

“What?” I widened my eyes.

“Yes, he did.” She nodded. “Luckily no one broke in or took anything.”

I sighed, relieved.

I guess in the state Matthew was in yesterday, it would have been impossible for him to even hit the key in the lock. No wonder I had to drive, because he wasn't even decent enough to do that. Matt was really bad yesterday. I don't even know how he is standing today! If it were me, I would just be waiting for them to bury my remains, but he seems ready for another one!

“Are you going to tell me what happened or do you want an invitation?” Steph huffed, making me look at her. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my sneakers from my backpack.

“He told me about his past.” I said simply, as I put on one of my feet.

“He did?” She raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”

“I don't know…” I shrugged, tying the ribbons around my ankle. “All of it?”

“Everything!?” Steph's jaw dropped. “Like everything, everything?”

“I don't know what you consider everything, Steph.” I snorted.

“What exactly did he mean?” She stared at me intently. I sighed.

“He practically told me what happened back then, his mistakes, the pregnancy, the hit-and-run accident…”

“Holy shit.” Steph laughed, incredulously. “He's told you more than I know!” She exclaimed. “What's all this about mistakes? What mistakes?”

I looked deep into her eyes and smiled at the curious glint in them.

“I'm not telling you that.” I said, and smiled mischievously as she used the same argument. “It has nothing to do with me.” I gave him a wink and ended up laughing in his face.

Before Steph could even give me a very rude answer, the boys burst into the room, drawing our attention. She glared at me and pointed at me, as if to say, “our conversation is not over”. All I did was laugh at the situation and stand up.

“Okay, guys.” Johnny said as he sat down in his chair by the door. “Before we start rehearsing the set, I want to see how the solos are going first.” He looked directly at me. “Ana? Matt?”

I looked at Matt, who nodded and took his place in the center of the room, just waiting for me to do the same. I took a deep breath and walked to the corner, next to Kaleb, since my entrance is later.

“Kaleb, turn off the lights, please.” Johnny asked. “I want to get a sense of everything with the light set on them.”

“Okay.” He nodded, and soon all the lights were turned off.

I did the count, which ended exactly when the first sounds of the music came on and the spotlight shone on Matt. He raised his face and began a few movements in one place, following the slow beat, with some piano notes mixed in with it. The purpose of the solo dance in this first moment, is to show that the dancer – Matthew – was going on with his life as usual and was good at what he did, until he had his path crossed with a dancer – myself.

When the beats softened and became more constant, I raised my arms above my head and stood on tiptoe, whirling toward him. He stood still in the same place, just watching me. I had a certain prominence in the dance, and as I moved, I risked a glance at Matt. He was smiling, but it wasn’t a debauched smile. Dare I say he was impressed? I don't know.

The beats gradually quickened, so we joined together and began to dance. He walked up to me, looking deep into my eyes, and walking around me, I followed him, turning my head every time I lost sight of him. When the song reached its climax, just at the part where everyone else would come in to dance with us, my choreography and Matt's became similar. They seemed to be the same steps, but each of us did them in a different style, which surprised me greatly. I never thought that they could be so similar.

In the next part, I remember well that Steph and I agreed to do a kind of “freestyle”, even though it was all very well choreographed. After all, our goal was to bring the feeling of a battle, like in the dance club. So I ran and did a triple jump, smiling broadly at the boys' reaction.

Since the next part wasn't defined yet, and we didn't have time to see it yesterday, Matt and I stopped dancing right away. The lights were turned on again, bringing a momentary disturbance to my eyes.

“Man, this looks amazing.” Scott was the first to say. “I never thought I would say this, but, I love ballet.”

“Your timing is amazing.” Johnny commented, smiling.

“Yeah, it's good.” Steph sighed. “But, I feel like we're missing a little more contact.”

“Contact?” Greg asked what everyone in the room was asking themselves.

“Yeah” She nodded. “You two are just dancing two different and almost similar things.” She shrugged. “You need to have a little interaction.”

“I thought we were already doing that.” Matt blinked a few times.

“How about back to the center of the room, hm?” Steph smiled, causing me to narrow my eyes. What's her deal? “When you're doing the free part, do it together.”

“How's that?” I frowned.

“Get in position to do the jumps.” She indicated and I obeyed. “You stand next to each other on this part and separate. Instead of separating, come together.”

“Do you want me to go jumping like a gazelle with her?” Matt snorted and I glared at him.

“You just need to keep up with her.” Steph rolled her eyes.

“I don't think that's going to work.” I laughed nasally. “He can't handle it.”

“I can't handle it?” He raised his eyebrow at me.

I shrugged, staring at my own fingernails.

“Come on. Let's do it.” Matt said firmly, taking up position behind me.

“You're too far away!” Johnny snorted. “How do you expect to carry her like that, you moron?”

Matthew rolled his eyes and took a few measly steps forward. Our gazes met in the mirror, causing me to swallow hard. Why is that so strange? His hands positioned themselves on my waist, and immediately, I felt a shiver run through my body.

“Okay, now, Ana is going to do that leg pose, like she's attacking someone, you know?” Steph's explanation of the ballet step was so comical, it made us laugh, easing the tension.

Matt's warm breath trailed down my neck, causing me to press my lips together. That tickles…

“Yes, and Matt's going to roll with you.” Johnny pointed at me.

“I get it, you want me to dance the ballet.” Matthew grumbled. “You'll miss all the fun of the solos.”

“Says who?” Steph stared at us boredly. “Then you'll come back with the solo steps. You just need to have a minimum of interaction, right?”

“Yes.” Johnny agreed. “Interact and then split up, following the solo step from before.”

“They could meet again, how about?” Steph suggested, waiting for Johnny's opinion.

“A good one!” He smiled broadly.

“Okay, let's do it soon.” I sighed impatiently.

Matthew nodded, and we got into position, waiting for the music. A few moments later, the beat echoed through the speakers, the part before what we were going to do. As soon as the appropriate part came on, I was lifted into the air and whirled around the room in his arms. We separated, I did the triple jumps, and as soon as I landed on the floor, I did the final spin. I was surprised when I opened my eyes and found myself face to face with Matt. Our breathing was irregular due to the exertion.

“The music slowed down. What if they struck a pose?” Johnny commented.

“Yes.” Steph practically shouted. “Matt, hold Ana's hand and waist. She's going to throw her leg up and her back behind her.”

And that's exactly what we did. But when it was time to return to the starting position, Matt pulled me up, startling me. I thought his eyes were completely brown, but from this position, I can see the greenish tint through his irises. I swallowed hard and stepped away, huffing.

“I think it's perfect, Steph.” Johnny smiled mischievously.

What's theirs?

“I got it!” Kaleb shouted, drawing our attention to himself. “Thank me later, but I have some tickets for the Color Party tonight. Who are we going?” He smiled broadly, showing us his cell phone screen.

“What's that?” Steph frowned.

“The biggest color party in Sturgis.” He said as if it were the obvious.

“Wow, I love these parties.” Scott was excited.

“What are these parties?” I asked, curious.

“You've never been to one?” Johnny asked, surprised. I shook my head negatively.

“Then you must come with us!” Kaleb exclaimed.

“I don't know…” I scratched my forehead.

“Oh, come on! It'll be fun, and sometimes it's good to take your mind off things.” Johnny insisted.

“These parties are only good for getting clothes dirty.” Matt rolled his eyes.

“Then wash them.” Steph retorted, making me press my lips together to keep from laughing at his face.

“Are we going or not?” Kaleb snorted.

“Let's go.” Johnny said firmly. “If even I'm going with this shit on my foot, I'm going. Why don't you fools with two good feet go?”