Saturday night was here, the night of the Teen group's annual swing dance. Nickole had been planning for it all day. She had her outfit all picked out and was getting dressed when the phone rang, Nickole picked up the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Ann."
"Hey, what's up?"
"I was just gonna let you know that you don't have to give me a ride tonight, I've got one."
"Okay, who are you riding with?"
"Addie and her family are picking me up, I'm on their way, and I know you have to leave early."
"Yeah, I do. I have to get there early so I can help set up."
"That's what I thought. So I'll see you there; It's gonna be fun!"
"Yeah, I guess," Nickole replied with a little let down,
"What's wrong?"
"I just don't want Eddie to be all over me like he's been before, with Don and all."
"Yeah, but things have to be normal at teen events as far as you and Don go. You know… teen code of conduct?"
"I know, and we're going to be normal. It's just Eddie that I'm worried about."
"Don't worry about it," Ann reassured her, "I'll keep an eye on him if you want."
"Thanks, but you ought to have a good time, and not be distracted by my problems."
"Oh come on!" Ann exclaimed, "The only reason I go to this dance is to hang out with you and Don, besides who's gonna ask me to dance?"
"There are plenty of guys there."
"Yeah I guess, anyway, I have to go; see you tonight."
"Okay, bye," Nickole said and then hung up the phone. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and polo. Nobody ever dressed up for the swing dance. Then, yet again, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID, "Eddie," she muttered under her breath, and then hit the ignore button. Just a second later, the voice-mail alert popped up on her phone. Nickole pick up the phone, called her mail box, and listened to Eddie's message.
"Hey, Nickole, this is Eddie. I'm just calling to let you know that I'm out of the debate tournament, now, and that I am looking forward to seeing you tonight at the swing dance. At least, I think your going. Aren't you? Oh well, I got to go. See you tonight. Bye." Then the mechanical voice came back on.
"To erase the message press seven; to save it, press three, for more messaging options press four."
Nickole pressed seven. She could not believe that Eddie was still calling her even thought she had told him to stop. Just then, the phone rang again. "If it's Eddie," Nickole said aloud, "I'm gonna scream!" she yelled at the phone. To Nickole's relief it wasn't Eddie; it was Don. She answered the phone, "Hello,"
"Hey, it's Don."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Oh, not much; I was just wondering what time I needed to pick up you and Ann."
"You can pick me up at six, but Ann has got a ride with the Johnson's."
"Okay, six it is."
"Great, I can't wait."
So by 6:15 Don and Nickole were on they're way to the swing dance. The swing dance was one of the most popular social events the teen group held. It always had the best turn-out. Not only did people go to dance, but some would come just to watch. Before the swing dance, classes were held on how to do certain dance steps so that the teens wouldn't be completely clueless when they got out onto the dance floor. And, of course, the teen code of conduct was heavily enforced by the adult chaperones. Naturally, the guys would ask the girls if they wanted to dance. The down side to this was that the girls were not allowed to say no. This would prove to be a problem for Nickole. This meant that every single time Eddie will ask her to, she will have to dance with him.
"Hey, I was wondering," Don said, starting up a conversation in the car, "if you had heard from Eddie lately?"
Nickole sighed, "Yes, actually he just left me this really weird message on my phone. Something about getting out of debate and that he was looking forward to seeing me tonight."
"He isn't bothering you, is he?"
"I don't know. He bothers me some times, but it's not really that bad."
"So you don't mind all the phone messages?" Don asked sarcastically.
"Well, yes. I do mind those, and I guess I do mind it when he bugs me in person...Okay, yes he is bothering me." She finally admitted.
"Do you want me to take care of him?" Don asked holding up a fist.
"Yes," Nickole said laughing at Don's joke, "but I don't want you to get into trouble."
"Okay, I'll try." Don continued with his joke.
When they arrived, the decorating was already underway. Angelica, Becca, and Anita were decorating the buffet tables with different pirate inspired center pieces. Allen and Austin were setting up the DJ's table to look like and old pirate ship. And in the kitchen it was full speed ahead. Mrs. Collins was instructing all the volunteers on which cheeses to cut up, and which to save for later, while Mrs. Samuels went around taking a few pictures of the decorating comity hard at work. Don helped Allen and Austin, and Nickole walked over to help Angelica, Becca, and Anita. "Hey, guys," Nickole said as she joined the three girls.
"Hey, Nickole," Anita greeted her.
"I see we're using the leftovers from last year's play," Nickole observed referring to the pirate decorations.
"Yeah, the budget's tight this year," Becca explained.
"Hey, these are perfectly good decorations," Angelica cut in with her usual cheesy grin.
"Yes they are." Nickole agreed. Once the girls finished with the decorating they had time to spare, so they decided to help the guys finish fixing the DJ's table. Nickole was looking over Don's shoulder when she asked sarcastically "How hard is it to attach this cardboard pirate ship to that table?"
"NIININININANANA" Don responded; Nickole and the others laughed, "Are you going to help or what?"
"No, I just thought I'd stand here and watch you," Nickole retaliated.
"Ha-ha, that's very funny." In no time, the seven of them had the cardboard pirate ship secured to the table, and just in time, because the DJ, as well as other members of the teen group, was arriving. "Patrick!" Don greeted, "So, you're our DJ. Oh boy am I gonna have fun with this!"
"What are you talking about, Don?" Patrick asked looking confused.
"Patrick, Patrick, Patrick," Don said slapping him on the back, "I still owe you for all those valentines back in February." Nickole, who had been listening to the conversation, giggled as she remembered what Don had told her about what Patrick had done to his valentines.
"Oh, those," Patrick said as an expression of understanding came to his face. Nickole was looking around at all of the other teens who were coming into the gym. She noticed several faces that she recognized.
There was Sarah, Annie, and Melissa, and a few others who she didn't recognize. She looked around some more. Don and Patrick were still arguing over who messed up the first valentine, so Nickole walked over to the doors where she could see more people. She saw Lisa, Rebecca, and Morgan who, as usual, were discussing the latest gossip, and judging by the expressions on their faces it was especially juicy. Then she saw Ann coming through the doors with Addie. They were followed by Addie's younger sister Lynne who was deep in conversation with her best friend, Lynne Richards. Ann waved over at Nickole and then went back to talking with Addie, and that's when Nickole saw him. It was Eddie, and he had seen her too. Nickole turned around and walked back to where Don had been standing, but he wasn't there any more. In fact, Nickole couldn't see Don anywhere.
"Hey, Nickole," Eddie said from behind her. Nickole turned around and looked at Eddie.
"Hey."
"Did you get my message? I left you one this afternoon after I got out of debate."
"Um, yeah I got it," Nickole answered looking around. She saw Ann and made eye-contact.
"So I was wondering..." Eddie started, "If you'd like to..."
"Hi guys!" Ann interrupted, "Nickole I need your help with something for just a minute."
"Okay...Eddie, I'll talk to you later." And then she and Ann walked off toward Addie.
"Took you long enough," Nickole said to Ann.
"Well, I was trying to discrete."
"Next time could you try being a little faster."
"Sure, whatever, where's Don?"
"I don't know...I think he might be helping Patrick get all of his records out of his truck," Nickole said as Ann looked around.
"There he is," Ann said pointing back toward the door. Sure enough Don and Patrick were walking through the doors carrying the boxes of Patrick's records and CD's. Nickole and Ann walked over to the table to help the guys unload the music.
"Where did you go?" Nickole asked Don.
"I went to help Patrick unload his car. Why?" Don answered putting down a large box.
"Nothing," Nickole lied.
"Eddie was here." Ann corrected her.
"Oh, was he bothering you?" Don asked looking back at Nickole.
"No," Nickole lied again, and again Ann corrected her,
"Yes. What's wrong with you?" she asked looking at Nickole,
"Nothing, it's just not that big of a deal."
Just then, Mrs. Collins walked over and climbed up on to the stage to make announcements. "Okay, is everyone ready to dance?" she asked, and there was a resounding cheer from the teens, "Sounds like it! Alright then, DJ..." she said queuing Patrick to start the music. "Guys find your girls!"
At that, Don turned to Nickole and asked in a very gentlemen like fashion, "May I have the dance?"
Nickole laughed, "Yes you may." And taking his outstretched hand he led her onto the dance floor.
Neither of them were very good dancers, but they managed to do all the basic steps. They did steps, jigs, and dips. Eventually they tried a flip, and even went so far as a Figure 4. As far as Nickole was concerned the evening was going very well; she danced with Don, and even Allen, who was a little shy about dancing. She also saw that Ann was having fun dancing with Austin. Everything was great until Nickole stopped for a break over at the buffet table. While she was getting a drink, Eddie came over and stood behind her. "Want to dance?" he asked.
Nickole jumped and whipped around, "Eddie, you scared me!" He just stood there waiting for her answer. Unable to decline, Nickole answered unenthusiastically, "Sure."
When they began to dance, Nickole looked over at Don, who had been watching them, and made eye-contact. Recognizing the signal, Don held up his hands, and one by one started putting a finger down, as he counted down ten seconds...5...4...3...2...1. And as the last finger disappeared into his fist, he walked out onto the dance floor toward them.
"May I cut in?" Don asked appearing at their side.
Finally one of the swing dance's rules played to Nickole's advantage; Eddie had no say in whether or not Don could cut in. It was up to Nickole, and so, of course, she said, "Yes you may." Then looking back at Eddie she added, "Um, thanks for the dance Eddie." Eddie looked at her, said nothing, and then walked away, so Don resumed the dance with Nickole. "Thanks," she said as they danced.
"No problem. If only you could do the same for me!" he joked.
"Don't blame me; Blame the rules."
"I'll do that."
As the night came to a close, Patrick whipped out on last song, The Cotton-Eyed Joe. Nickole, Don, Ann, Addie, and Austin were all in a row together.
If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
Id been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?
"I love this!" Nickole yelled over the music to Don and Ann as they skipped around with the rest of the teens.
"Aren't you glad I brought the CD? Sherry tried to hide it the bathroom, though." Don laughed.
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields so
Handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun
"I should have helped her!" Ann exclaimed, "I can never get this right!"
"Oh come on, you know you like it!" Addie yelled back as she dragged Ann along. Austin just shook his head. Nickole was having a great time. This would definitely be a night to remember.
If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
Id been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?