The Book of Masks (Vol. 5)

Dance Hall Daze

Previously: "A Kind of Artillery Volley" 

[text by rugal]

You're ready to go, you said you'd go... but a part of you is still worrying about your curfew. Because despite what you'd said you wonder if you actually should risk breaking it. You're making friends with these group of people and how lame would it be if you then had to tell them that you can't do anything on account of being grounded? Well, that's if they'd call you up wanting to do anything. So you check your phone and see it's around ten and you must make a face because the girl's voice cuts in.

"You good?"

"Oh, yeah, I am," you answer. "You go on without me. I'm gonna hang out here a little longer."

"You sure?" she asks. "OK, well, maybe we'll see you later then."

She takes off and you're left by yourself once more. Your mood is beginning to sour as you realize that you're pretty out of your depth here which you also noticed back at the restaurant. Everyone else is so outgoing and confident or if they're not confident they at least seem to be able to relax. They can talk, they're comfortable, even someone like Tiffany is in the center of things, not pushed out to the margins like you were earlier. So now you just want to take off and head home.

The night isn't a total bust for you've, seemingly, made some new friends but your actual goal of getting with some girls seems to be out reach. But you should at least go around and say your goodbyes. You're on your way to where Tiffany is when you pass by Patrick and his group on the dance floor when he calls out to you.

"Yo, we're gettin' ready to head out. See ya there?"

"We?" one of the girls, a brawny looking blonde, questions jokingly. "We're staying here. You're going."

"Really? 'Cause you all— well, Will's comin' out with me ain'tcha?"

"Uh, actually I'm not—"

"Yeah, see, he's staying too!" one of the girls says as she tightly grasps your arm and pulls you in close. "He'd rather dance with us, isn't that right?"

You were drowning out here but it seems like you've been tossed a life preserver so you might as well grab onto it. "Fun's fun," you shrug.

"You son of a bitch," Patrick says but it's in an amused tone with a grin on his face. "A'ight, fine, I'll stay too. What the hell?"

You find that disappoints you because you can't help but compare yourself unfavorably to Patrick. He's a good looking guy with the type of radiant personality that seems to light up a room and so far he's been fairly cool to you on top of it. It's someone you know you can't measure up against and that's likely a big source of your frustration. So almost you want to just backtrack and head home but again you're able to grab onto the life preserver when the girl holding your arm pulls you away from the group.

"Hey, I'm Kaelyn," she says as she walks with you onto an open area of the floor.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm—"

"Will, I know. He said your name." She smiles as she stands in front of you and begins to sway. "Let's dance."

* * * * *

You watch almost mesmerized as Kaelyn dances. Dusty-colored hair falls past shoulders connected to thick, well built arms. The sleeveless and somewhat loose shirt she's wearing hides her torso (and prevents your ability to get a good read on the size of her chest) but below that... well good lord! She has thick, strong legs, wide hips and an ass that is large and firm and all of it is accentuated by pants so tight that everything looks like it's struggling not to burst free.

Yet her movements are smooth, rhythmic and captivating simultaneously light and powerful. You yourself are, you are sure, clumsy in comparison but if you are she says nothing and in fact no words are really exchanged while the two of you dance. And yet despite being on the floor or a while she never moves on the way some of the other girls tonight have and you have no desire to move on either even though you're starting to feel worn out. The only time she does speak is when she finally stops.

"I think I'm gonna take a break," she says and you assume that's going to be it. But instead, she motions for you to follow her as she finds a table to sit at. "Oh man, that was fun!" she exclaims sounding no worse for the wear.

"Yeah," you say in spite of feeling winded, "I enjoyed it."

"You don't dance much do you?" she asks.

"Not ... particularly," you gasp.

She snickers a bit at that. "I danced a lot when I was a kid, before I got into softball," she tells you, "so don't worry, it's not just you. A lot of people have a hard time keeping up, even—" She stops as she seems to spot someone. "Tea! I'm over here!" she yells out as she waves someone over.

"You play softball?"

"Yeah. On Eastman's team. You don't ... you go to Westside I'm guessing? Like that Patrick guy?"

"You know him?"

"A little bit, he comes here every so often. He's nice but," she pauses and she shakes her head as an amused look spreads on her face. "Oh my god, he can be such a tryhard! Like he's trying so hard to be Mr. Cool Dude Ladies Man!" She looks at you for a second. "You trying to be like him? That looks like something he'd wear."

"Am I ... no!" you declare somewhat embarrassed. "He just suggested this stuff when we were at Second Pickins and, uh, I guess he's kinda forceful. I don't usually dress like this."

Kaelyn laughs at that, though it doesn't sound like a mocking one. But her attention then turns to the person who's now approached the table. "Hey Tea, grab a seat. Where's everyone else?"

"I think Kirsten went off to a dark corner with Patrick," says the new girl as she sits down. "Everyone else is..." she trails off and shrugs. She's a tall girl who looks both willowy and strong. She has the tanned skin of someone who looks like they spend a lot of time outdoors while her face—very pretty—seems permanently etched into a ponderous stare, as if she's contemplating something. That stare is quickly turned in your direction as she contemplates you. "You're Patrick's buddy right?"

"Not, uh, exactly," you say. "I think I vaguely knew him here and there but this is the first I've really hung out with him." The girl makes a noise that you're not quite sure on whether or not it's just simple acknowledgment or quiet dismissal.

"Oh, right, yeah," Kaelyn jumps in, "this is Teagan, Will. She's on the volleyball team. She actually just moved here."

"Really? Where, um, are you from?" you ask.

"California. San Diego," Teagan says.

"Oh wow," you murmur, "and you ended up here? It has to be pretty boring."

She cocks an eyebrow as she looks at you. "It's alright," she says as the corner of her mouth moves into a wry smirk. "There aren't any beaches but it's interesting here and you've got some cool places like the Wilderness. You ever go out there?"

"I don't really remember the last time I did," you admit.

"You should, it's peaceful; real zen."

"I'll have to keep that in mind," you say.

"Ugh, I don't know how you can stand it out there, Tea," Kaelyn says. "It's so boring! And then there's the bugs and snakes and worrying that a bear's gonna eat you and all that!"

"We don't all need stimulation like you, Kae," Teagan shoots back in a friendly manner.

"Oh shut up, I don't need stimulation!" Kaelyn says with a laugh, "If I did I'd be at the Warehouse." She looks at you, "Oh god, I can't stand that place you know? It totally sucks!"

"It's not all bad. There was a good band playing when I went," Teagan says. "But I prefer the couple of parties at Catherine's I've been to."

"It's just so sketchy out there," Kaelyn states. "Like I've heard some criminal group secretly runs it. That's the rumor anyway. Real nasty guys. I'd rather be here. Dancing." She looks at you and grins. Then she shoots up and grabs your arm. "C'mon, I'm ready to go again."

You want to protest but you also want to keep spending time with Kaelyn so you relent and let her drag you back out to the floor. The last thing you see is Teagan, a slightly amused look on her face, mouthing the words "have fun" to you as she does.

* * * * *

Your mom texts to remind you of your curfew, and you're a little late getting home, but not enough that you catch any serious trouble, and the next morning your dad just tells you to be mindful of the time in the future.

The next morning, after church, you find you've got a few messages. You had felt your phone buzz a few times but you certainly weren't going to check it—more out of not wanting to piss off your dad than anything—during services. But you're out of church and back home so you look expecting something from Caleb or Keith. Instead you see something from Patrick.

YO! me n some of the others gonna snag lunch @ lacies u in?

It's certainly a pleasant surprise since you did kind of wonder if last night was going to be a one off. So it's nice to see that it wasn't. Even nicer is the other message which you see is from Kaelyn.

hey its kaelyn! i had fun last night! you want to hang out again today? going to the crystal cave for lunch. hope to see you!


* To hang out with Patrick and the others: "A Surprise Windfall" 
* To hang out with Kaelyn: "Freaks and Geeks" 

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"Table of Contents (Vol. 5)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 5)"