Chapter 6: The Dance
The next day, I found myself in the midst of chaos. Students rushed back and forth down the halls, excited conversations filled every corner, and there was a palpable energy that could be felt throughout the school.
Today was the annual college dance, and everyone seemed ready to make the most of it.
As I headed towards the gymnasium, where the dance was being held, I couldn't help but feel out of place. I had been invited by Jamie to come with him, and while I was excited for the opportunity to spend more time with him, I wasn't sure if I really belonged. I hadn't prepared an outfit like everyone else seemed to have, nor did I feel comfortable dancing in front of strangers.
I looked toward the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jamie walking in. But the constant flow of students kept me from catching sight of him. I knew he had said that he would be a little late, coming straight from circus practice, but the dance was already almost an hour in.
A pang of disappointment clenched my heart, but I shook it off. I knew I was being silly. I tried to enjoy the music as it invigorated the crowd, but I remained awkwardly on the periphery, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I glanced down at my outfit—a plain button-down shirt and well-worn jeans—and couldn't help but feel underdressed.
It seemed like everyone had taken this opportunity to spruce up their attire, with dazzling party dresses and sharp suits. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair nervously, wishing I had Jamie by my side. I looked over the crowd, hoping to find Jamie, but instead caught sight of Sophia.
She wore a revealing tight red dress and moved sensually to the music, surrounded by a group of other girls. They looked like they were having a great time, moving their bodies in sync with the beat.
I realized she was scanning the crowd in the same manner I had been, searching for a glimpse of his golden hair and dazzling smile. Sophia then caught sight of me.
"Hey, Robin," Sophia waved me over. I hesitated, but before I knew it, I had been swallowed up by her group of friends.
"Jamie's really late. Didn't he say he was coming? Does he usually show up to these things?" she asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at Sophia's tone, as it wasn't like I had control over Jamie's schedule or attendance at this event.
"Well, Jamie did say he might be late, since he had circus practice today," I defended, trying my best to remain polite despite the tension.
Sophia rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "Ugh, what's keeping him? I swear, he plays so hard to get." Sophia huffed, shimmying in her red sequined dress as she continued to scan the crowd, ignoring my previous response.
I didn't respond, trying to hide my frustration. I didn't want to get into an argument. I just hoped Jamie was okay and that he would show up soon.
"Don't worry about him, guys. Let's go dance!" Another girl in the group urged, and they all linked arms together, dancing together, moving away from me.
I was glad. I didn't want to be here, not without Jamie. I checked my phone, hoping to see a message or call from him, but there was none. I tried texting him, but no response. He had said he was going to be here tonight, right?
The rest of the night passed slowly. I fiddled idly with my phone in my pocket, hoping for a message or a call from Jamie that would explain his absence. My mind wandered, trying to think of what could be keeping him- maybe he had a prior engagement, or perhaps he simply forgot the time. Whatever the reason, I couldn't help but feel hurt that he wasn't here with me.
Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer.
I stepped outside the gymnasium, seeking the cool freshness of the night air to calm my nerves. I leaned against the brick wall, closed my eyes, and tried not to worry too much about Jamie. I told myself he would be here soon, and I needed to trust him. Plus, I wasn't much of a dancer anyway.
I could still hear the music thumping through the open doors, but I was grateful for the quiet solitude I found outside. It helped me think.
Why was I so worried about what other people thought of me?
I asked myself. But I knew the answer.
Ever since I was a child, I’d always been that shy, introverted, awkward kid who struggled to fit in and make friends. And now in college, far away from home, those same instincts still lingered inside me.
I looked down at my phone for the umpteenth time, hoping for a reply from Jamie. But the screen remained stubbornly dark. I had tried texting him again, but so far no response.
Where could he be? Was he okay? It wasn't like him to ignore my texts.
My heart beat faster as anxiety crept in, and my fingers tapped restlessly on my leg. The music got louder as the doors of the gym opened, and a group of students spilled outside. I put on a smile and greeted them politely, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of disquiet within me.
I couldn't focus on the music or any other distractions around me. I kept racking my brain, trying to figure out what could have kept Jamie from showing up or responding to my messages.
The logical part of me reasoned that maybe it was something simple, like a dead phone battery or the chaos of his circus practice. But another part of me couldn't overlook the intensity in his eyes the other night and his past traumas. I recalled the tender emotion I had seen behind his smile and how deeply it resonated with me.
As more people left the dance and made their way outside, I felt increasingly isolated. The music faded into the background, and my thoughts grew darker. After what felt like an eternity, I finally got a notification on my phone.
My heart leapt as I grabbed the device, quickly unlocked the screen and anxiously scanned for a new message. But it wasn't from Jamie. It was from Rouge, apologizing she couldn't be at the dance tonight, but was hopeful things were going well with Jamie. Frustrated, I stuffed the phone back into my pocket and leaned my head against the wall with a heavy sigh.
But then, just as I was about to lose all hope, I heard a shuffle next to me. I looked up and saw Jamie in his practice outfit, out of breath, slightly disheveled, but otherwise unharmed.
"Jamie!" I said, a mixture of relief and concern in my voice.
I noticed a slight bruise on his cheek and the strained look in his eyes.
"Hey, Robin," he replied softly, glancing at the dancing crowd.
"You're really late, and you didn't answer my texts!" I tried to keep my tone light, but I couldn't help but feel hurt and worried.
Jamie looked at me with an unreadable expression before averting his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Robin.
I got caught up in practice and then... my phone died." Jamie paused, looking away.
His tone was unconvincing, but I decided not to press the issue any further. I could tell that something else was bothering him. There was a weight in his eyes that hadn't been there before, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
"Are you okay, Jamie? You seem upset," I said gently, trying to keep my own worries at bay.
He shook his head, still avoiding eye contact. "It's nothing.
Just some...circus stuff," Jamie replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
I wanted to push him, to ask more questions, but I knew better. Jamie had a way of closing himself off when he was overwhelmed, and I didn't want to make things worse. Instead, I tried to steer the conversation back to something lighter, to give him some space.
"Did you have fun at practice tonight?" I asked, trying to pry a smile out of him.
Jamie hesitated, then smiled weakly.
"Yeah, you know me. I always enjoy practice."
I sensed there was much more to the story but decided not to press him further for the time being, even though I was still upset about his tardiness.
"So, let me guess, you guys were practicing some new insane stunts, right?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood and draw him out a bit more.
Jamie's lips curved into a faint smile in reply, revealing the absence of the usual vibrant light in his eyes I had become accustomed to seeing.
"Just some routine maintenance, but nothing too dangerous," he said dryly, sounding exhausted.
"Well, it's nice to see that you made it here, despite the chaos," I said, hoping to hide my disappointment and worry. I decided not to bring up the texts he had ignored or the delayed response to the dance.
Jamie nodded, and his gaze returned to the dancing crowd. I could tell he was distant, and my instincts were telling me there was more to the story, but I also knew now wasn't the time to press him. I still needed time myself to absorb his unexpected appearance and find my bearings once again.
I wasn't sure how to react or what to say to Jamie after what I had thought was a significant absence. My heart was racing, and my mind was a mess, but I tried my best to hide my unease and appear calm and collected.