Chapter 2: Dance with Me

"So get back, back, back to where we lasted

Just like I imagine

I could never feel this way

So get back, back, back to the disaster

My heart's beating faster

Holding on to feel the same."

- Sugarcult, "Memory"

"Emma, you look so good!" Craig Manning said, grinning down at me. He'd gotten so tall.

"So do you," I said, smiling back. "I haven't seen in you in… forever."

He laughed and gave me a quick one-armed hug. "Me neither."

Manny saw him and jogged over. Craig seemed to be more interesting than Toby Isaacs, who she was talking to before and who used to have a crush on me years ago. Ugh.

"Craig," she purred, grabbing his arm. "I've missed you."

I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. Ever since Craig had gotten her pregnant years ago, she hasn't left him alone... Until she never saw him again after high school. Now that she's seen him, it'll probably be like old days… Her chasing after him, him not being able to decide between her and someone else.

Coincidentally enough, Ashley Kerwin came into view. She took one look at Manny hanging off of Craig and turned around, heading for the door.

"Ash, wait!" Craig called after her, but it was too late. The door was swinging lifelessly. He shrugged Manny off and pushed the door open, rushing after her. Manny was sneering in the door's direction. I didn't want to get involved (which is very unlike me), so I shuffled off to the refreshments table.

"Can you bah-LIEVE him?" she raged, coming over and crossing her arms. "He just—"

"Manny, please," I said, getting myself a cup of Coke. "You should work it out on your own."

She raised her eyebrows. "This is so unlike you. What's up?"

I sighed and fully turned to her. "Listen, I—"

"Emma, tell me."

I hesitated.

"Well?"

I frowned. "Should I trust him?"

"Who, Sean?" she laughed. "Of course. Just forgive him, he seems so sweet now."

"But I still don't know. I mean… We've had a pretty rocky relationship."

"But that was years ago. You should just let it go." She smiled at me. "And besides… he's so much cuter now!"

I punched her arm playfully. "You have no idea." I laughed.

She giggled. "Well, the party is going to start soon. You should totally ask him to dance!"

I shrugged. "I don't know, I don't think he likes dancing."

"Oh, what the hell! Ask him anyway!" Manny grinned.

I smiled. "I guess so."

"You're going to ask him, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I will," I said, laughing. "Just leave me alone!"

She giggled. "Okay, I need to put my makeup on again before the party starts."

"Manny," I said, staring at her, "you don't need to. You look perfect already."

"Well, my lip gloss is starting to smear."

I laughed. "Whatever you say," I said, linking arms with her and heading to the bathroom.

When we got there, she spent about half an hour making her hair perfect.

"Come on, let's go! We're going to be late!" I pulled her arm.

"Wait!" she cried, patting the top of her head to get the invisible cowlicks down.

I finally pulled her out of the bathroom and into the gym. There was a huge banner hanging up that said, "WELCOME BACK, DEGRASSI GRADUATES!", and smaller streamers were all around the walls. There was a complete music setup with a DJ. Wait… I recognize that DJ!

"Chris!" I yelled from across the room, running over to him. "Chris! It's me!"

"Emma! What's up?" he beamed, taking his headphones off and putting them around his neck.

"Chris, when was the last time we saw each other?" I smiled at him.

He grinned back. "I dunno, but it was a while ago." He kissed me on the cheek.

I laughed. "It's cool that you're still DJ-ing, and after all these years."

He nodded, scratching a disk. His headphones were back on.

I walked over to a chair by one of the walls where other people were sitting down.

"We're seeing so many people from such a long time ago." Manny said, sitting down next to me.

"Manny, we only graduated a few years ago," I reminded her, keeping an eye out for Sean.

"Still," she said, eyeing Craig maliciously as he passed her, trying to talk to an impatient Ashley.

I saw Sean and stood up. His face was ashen, and he was staring at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Chris kissed you," he replied.

"Sean," I said, "it was on the cheek. We haven't seen each other in a really long time, and we're friends. That's all. Okay?"

He nodded. "Would you like to dance?"

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "I was going to ask you, but… okay."

He smiled, taking my hand. "You were?"

I nodded and smiled back.

We danced for a while and saw Paige and Spinner, still together after all these years. That brought a smile to my face, but seeing Manny still chase after Craig brought a frown. I just don't understand her and her ways sometimes.

As a slow dance song came on, she finally got Craig to dance with her, after some very heavy persuading. I gazed at Sean, who was right in front of me.

"Do you... want to dance?" I said. I can't believe I worked up the nerve to say that!

He just smiled and put his arms around my waist. As I draped my arms over his shoulders, I could feel the old spark that brought us together in the first place. It was a warm feeling, and a good one.

After slow dancing for a while, he pulled away from me a little bit. We shared a long, sweet kiss.