Different:
Chapter Seven- The Anti-Dance Part I
Here we go, folks the Anti-Dance chapters! Wow, this looks long already, and I'm only typing the third page. This will defiantly be in two parts. Also, DCC- watch out for your characters! You'll be meeting them soon.
And pleeeaaase don't kill me for updating so late...
One thought kept resounding in my head, and it didn't make any freaking sense.
Gar.
Galfore dropped us off in front of Rich's house- or, rather, the front gates. Once a random employee in the Wayne Manner noticed us standing there, courtesy of the burglar alarm, they let us in.
"Hello?" I called, stamping the rainwater off of my shoes, and taking off my coat.
Jo's voice came floating from downstairs with a similar greeting.
"Hey, Kori!" Rich said, the sunglasses still covering his eyes.
Kori replied, "Hello, Friend Rich." I merely nodded in acknowledgement.
Rich grinned wider than I'd ever see him do. "Follow me. The Disaster Zone is downstairs."
"Disaster Zone?" I echoed.
We trooped down the stairs, and heard Jo's voice, mumbling obscenities about the sound system. I noticed that various other people were gathered downstairs, some helping, and others laughing at those who were helping.
Jo still had her hair tight in a braid, but I noticed a small brush peeking out of the pocket of her pants. Her pants looked almost like a silky material, were jet black, and were adorned with numerous pockets. She wore a red halter top, made of a similar-looking material.
I surveyed the area downstairs. It was roughly the size of our gymnasium, maybe slightly larger. A door was opened in the back, and voices were coming from there, too.
"SOUND CHECK!" Jo cried, and then added, "Hold your hands over your ears."
GIRLS DON'T LIKE BOYS GIRLS LIKE CARS AND MONEY!
"AAHH!" A girl, who looked to be Jo's age, with long brown hair tied off in a ponytail, screamed.
"Turning it off!" Jo thankfully clicked the machine off.
"I suggest that you turn it down." Another girl remarked dryly, waving a hand around in the air idly.
Jo scowled. "Shut up, Em." (Sorry, Yaa, that's your name now…I kida lost your email…)
"Sound check!"
BOYS WILL LAUGH AT GIRLS when they're not funny…
Jo lowered it to an appropriate volume, though she left it a little loud, like it needed to be. She took out her braid, shook out her hair, and teased with it, pleased with the way it looked. Her normal stick-straight blonde hair now was wavy and a little poofy.
"Okay, Raven." Jo said, checking her watch. "It's about 5:30, and I want to you meet some people.
She motioned to a girl standing to her right, who had straightened black hair with unnatural red highlights. She was made-up pretty well, and she looked really good. Seriously. She could have modeled. She was wearing tan capris with a jangly belt, and a white diamond print halter.
"This is Annie Potter." Jo smiled at her friend, and continued, "She claims that she is Harry's wife." (Yup, you're the first meeting, since you replied first!)
Annie smiled, and said in response, "Yup."
Once again Jo motioned to another friend, the girl who had screamed earlier. She wore a jeans miniskirt, black fishnets, a tube top, and what looked like fishnets again on her arms. Colored sunglasses were perched on top of her head.
"This is Katie. Don't annoy her."
Katie smiled and remarked, "Damn straight."
I noticed a girl standing against the wall, dressed up in a very cool violet dress. Black sandals were also worn.
Jo noticed me looking. "That's Kathryn Wade. She's sort of shy, but Kathryn is really cool once you get to know her." (-waves- Hi! Welcome to Different, The Last!)
For the remaining time before the dance, I helped the others with the food. We set up in the back room, where I had heard voices earlier. The room wasn't as big as the dance floor, but it was bigger all the same. There, I met Julie, with a slightly perverted sense of humor, Eileen, a bigger girl who wore dark blue jeans and cami top, and Aurora, who desprately wanted to become a wolf.
Kori and Rich stood in the middle of the gymnasium, talking as though no one was looking. I smiled slightly to myself, suspecting attraction.
Suddenly, many more voices became prominent from overhead, and I knew that the dance was beginning.
"Hey, Raven!" Jo called, waving a hand around in the air. A guy stood next to her, towering over her at around six feet. Maybe even a little under, by an inch or so. His brown eyes were framed by glasses.
"This is David." She announced"And David, this is Raven." (Hello, iamhollywood. Now's your debut!)
"Hi." He said, offering a simple wave. I nodded, noticing more people pour in from the stairwell.
Soon, a real crowd started pouring in. Almost a seventy-five people walked around the downstairs, dressed a variety of fashions. Half the crowd looked to be about in middle school, the other half high school age. I surveyed the scene with interest, inexplicably watching the door- for Gar.
Don't ask me why. I have no freaking idea why I was looking for him.
Someone bumped into me. "Heh. Oops." She said apologetically. "Sorry about that…"
"Raven."
"Oh. And my name's Ashlee, by the way. See ya. YO, JO!"
Soon, I saw Vic walk in, accompanied with Gar and some other guy. In the presence of Gar, asmile tried to fight its way to my face.
That smile was going down.
"Hey, Rae!"
"Raven, Gar." I corrected automatically.
Gar grinned, running his fingers through his hair, which had practically become our trademark greeting.
"Hi, Vic." I turned my attention away from Gar.
"Hey, girl!" Vic cried, unsuccessfully trying to include me in a high-five. "This is my buddy Drake Long. Take pity on him, because he's also Malchior's cousin."
I did a double-take. He looked nothing like Malchior. He had brown hair, which was cut short on the back and sides, but with the front gelled up so it looked like the crest of a wave, complete with tanned skin. He, like many other people, wore dark blue jeans, a t-shirt, with a design of a Chinese dragon. Over that was a black leather jacket was thrown.
"'Lo, Drake." I said, "The name's Raven- not Rae. Call me Rae and bad things will happen to you."
Drake grinned slightly, his nervousness dissipating. "I assure you they won't Rae-" He drew the first half of my name for a long time "-ven."
I couldn't help but grumble good-naturedly.
"HELLO?" Jo shouted.
Everyone kept talking; Jo's face getting more annoyed by the second. She grabbed a microphone, flicked it on, and held it right next to a speaker.
SCWRAAAAK!
Several people screeched, but there was instant quiet.
"Good. Now that I have your attention, the ground rules. One, No destroying of this place. Two, if you're asked to leave, please do so without making a scene. Three, exits are in the back, and there is also one going up the stairs. Four, have a good time."
"Now- the music begins!"
The music started with some guitars, and a few people started to move with the beat. It was the unmistakable sound of Good Charlotte, and Jo had picked an awesome opening song.
It's a new day
But it all feels old
It's a good life
That's what I'm told
But everything-
It all just feels the same
Kori had found me by that point, and Drake went off to socialize with a few other friends. Ashlee waved to me, grinning like an idiot.
"Now, friend Raven, DANCE!" Kori cried, throwing her arms open wide at the last word.
Rich, still smiling like an idiot, followed Kori's instructions, just shuffling to the beat of the music.
I got a good look at Jo, and noticed that she danced like the world was ending. With her, Kathryn, and Katie danced in the same manner. Jo noticed me looking, and she made her way over.
"Okay, the first rule in dancing is there are no rules." Jo stated matter-of-factly, her shoulders still moving with the music. "Dance shamelessly. Dance like you'd dance at nightclubs. Shimmy."
She noticed my blank look.
"I don't dance." I yelled back at her, over the music.
"YES YOU DO!" Ashlee shouted back.
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do." Aurora smiled, shaking her shoulders to the beat.
"You must dance, friend Raven; it frees the soul!"
"Fine. I'll dance. Teach me." I recognized defeat.
"First, find the rhythm in the song. Tap your foot to it, and make sure you have it right." Jo demonstrated.
I don't wanna do the things you do
And I don't wanna hear the words you say
And I don't ever wanna
I don't ever wanna
My foot had been tapping all along.
"Good. Now move your shoulders to the beat." Jo moved a shoulder up and down. I copied her movements.
'Cause I don't ever wanna
No I don't ever wanna be you.
Don't wanna be just like you
What I'm saying is
This is the anthem
Throw all your hands up
You-
Don't wanna be you
Jo had me move the beat with various extremities, but the songs changed a few times.
"The bass." Em said. "My favorite part. I equalized the stereo, so now the bass and treble are at the same level. This is the tricky part. Try to move with the bass and the beat."
Jo nodded, as if to signify that Em was right.
In a time of quietness I reflect on childhood memories
Caught whisping through my mind
Falling leaves create the stage
Words spoken were not cherished
I did, this becoming easier with each passing measure.
"Now, the higher music. This is the artist's voice, and the main instruments, like the piano or electric guitars. Move your upper body to this beat." Jo once again began moving, using her hands for expressions.
If I get up I might fall back down again
So let's get up come on
Jo smiled, seeing me dance for the first time, though a little uncertainly.
If I get up I might fall back down again
We get up anyway
"You've got the basic idea, but add anything that feels right."
I did as she instructed, and Jo went back to her throng of dancing friends.
If I get up I might fall back down again
So let's get up come on
Jo's friend, Christine, went into major-shimmy mode. She motioned for Jo to try.
If I get up I might fall back down again
I might fall back down again
Jo attempted it, but she gave up. Jo started laughing as Christine unsuccessfully tried to teach Jo, and then Jo went back to her trademark dancing.
We'll just jump and see, even if it's the 20th time
We'll just jump and see if we can fly
"Hello, Friend Raven!" Kori exclaimed, bringing Rich with her. "I see you are 'getting the hang' of dancing."
I laughed. Slang added into Kori's formal way of speaking sounded so ridiculous.
I'm not afraid to fall
I've fallen many times
"So." Gar said, giving me a start. I hadn't noticed him behind me. "She does laugh."
They laughed when I fell down
I scowled.
But I have dared to climb
I'm not afraid to fall
"C'mon, Rae, dance!"
I know I'll fall again
But I can win this in the end
Dance? In front of him? Is he crazy?
"No." I crossed my arms in front of my chest stubbornly, suddenly aware of my outfit.
"Aww, c'mon!" He exclaimed, his face lighting up into a smile, "You'll do it 'cause you love me!"
I almost froze solid.
He stood there, patiently waiting for me to begin.
I scowled once again, and gave in to the music. But, the first slow song of the night came on. This time, I immediately stopped dancing.
"What, you don't do slow songs?" Gar asked, with a hint of a smile.
"I don't do slow songs."
There's a place for us
Somewhere a place for us
Neither did Jo. In fact, and in protest, Jo and Katie sat down on the floor and refused to move.
There's a time for us
Someday a time for us
They, Jo's friends, were all now sitting on the floor, swaying, singing Kum By Yah.
Somewhere we'll find a new way of living
We'll find a way for forgiving
"Your sister's crazy." I remarked.
Gar laughed, a wonderful sound.
Okay. Scratch that last thought.
Double scratch it.
Somehow…
Someday…
Somewhere…
Then, the slow tempo suddenly changed, and a faster song came back on. I glanced at the clock, surprised to find it already seven. I had been here for a whole hour.
"Hello, girl! Wazzup, dog?" Vic cried, returning to us again.
"The ceiling's up." Jo shouted, now becoming more hyper by the song.
Drake jumped in with us, tapping his foot and just moving a shoulder or two.
"THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!" David remarked.
"Tell me about it!" Aurora shouted back.
Annie and Christine danced with each other, holding hands and kicking their feet to the music.
I felt elated. Music cuts off my empathic sense, so now I didn't know what everyone was thinking. I felt content in knowing that. Also, Gar was here, too.
And all of my other friends, too. I'm not forgetting about them!
WHY DID I SAY GAR FIRST?
Debbie just hit the wall
She never had it all
I rolled my eyes. This was possibly the worst song to get stuck in your head. Too bad it had an addicting beat.
One Prozac a day
Husband's a CPA
Unknowingly, I had just started to dance.
This wouldn't be too bad, except I was standing next to Gar.
Her dreams went out the door
When she turned twenty-four
Only been with one man
What happened to her plan?
Kori obviously had the shimmy thing down, too.
She was gonna be an actress
She was gonna be a star
I looked around, searching for something to look at, other than Gar.
Fear suddenly shot through me.
Slade. My eyes fell on Slade
She was gonna shake her ass
On the hood of White Snake's car
He was there, for a minute.
And then he was gone.
Gar had noticed my sudden change in mood. I realized that my body had gone rigid. I smoothed my arms, trying to undo my goosebumbs.
Her yellow SUV
Is now the enemy
"You okay?" Gar asked.
"I'm fine. I just thought I saw someone. It freaked me out." I lied.
Gar sent me a skeptic glance.
Looks at her average life
And nothing-
Suddenly, the thought of me imagining Slade in the middle of Bowling for Soup's 1985 struck me as incredibly funny.
Has been-
Alright!
"I'm fine, Gar!" I shouted, happy one again, "I swear!"
He looked at me a little strangely.
"I swear on tofu!"
I don't think Gar could figure out whether he was supposed to laugh or protest.
I began to dance again.
This time, Gar joined in. He seemed to dance a little awkward, and a little unsure. After a song or two, he lightened up a little. Kori danced around us all, and Rich began to get the hang of it. Vic and Drake head-banged to nearly every song, and Jo's friends really let it rip. I have never seen better dancers.
"Another slow song is coming up now!"
All throughout the dance, there had been voiceovers of Jo or her friends announcing what songs were coming up. They had made mass-music CDs (illegally, they assured me) and were using them. They were still taking requests, and then they would be played between the ten-to-fifteen song periods.
Rich looked at Kori.
"Kori, would you… ah… erm…"
Kori cocked her head and looked at him expectantly.
"Ah…" Rich fussed with the sleeve of his shirt, "Kori, would you like to…"
I think that Rich had just invented new thirty-three shades of red and managed to wear them all on his face at the same time.
Vic nudged him suggestively, and Rich finally screamed: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE WITH ME!"
"Yes!"
Rich looked surprised. "Oh. Okay, then."
The song began, and Kori locked her arms around Rich's neck. I turned away, a strange feeling burning inside of me.
Every night in my dreams
I see you
It wasn't jealousy.
I see you
It was…
I feel you
A wanting. A wanting to belong to someone.
That is how I know you…
Go on
I watched them with a strange loneliness. I felt so… so… unwanted. I averted my eyes from the swaying couples, and found myself facing Gar, who was watching Kori and Rich with a strange look in his eyes.
Far across the distance
And spaces
Between us
You have come to show you
Go on
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kathryn nudge Katie, who nudged Jo. They nodded their heads in the direction of Kori, and the most devilish look came over them. They forgot about swaying to the music, and began to talk excitedly among themselves.
Near…
Far…
Where ever you are
I caught the look in Kori's eyes; she seemed to be in a state of euphoria. Rich couldn't stop looking at her. It was almost like time had stopped for the two of them.
I believe that the heart does go on
They must have danced for however long the song lasted. Jo, now joined by David and Ashlee, were all discussing something with avid interest, and pointing in the direction of Rich, then in Kori's direction.
I wondered vaguely what they were up to.
But I didn't care, because the song was over, and I didn't have to feel so unloved anymore.
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
I threw myself into the addicting beat, moving through the second half of the first verse, my eyes never leaving Gar's. For some strange reason, the universe screamed "DANCE!" to us.
We gave in to the cosmos's pleading.
If I could find you now
Things would get better
"Great song, huh?" Gar mentioned, absentmindedly. "Jo plays this all the time. She loves this song."
We could leave this town and run forever
"Hmm." I agreed, annoyed that he messed with my tempo.
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away
I looked at the clock, shocked to find it eight.
"I'm getting something to drink." I announced to no one in particular.
"No one in particular" nodded back to me.
After a few glasses of water, I felt considerably better.
Just then, I heard the last few strains of another slow song ending. I didn't mind it too much, because I didn't want to feel that way again.
Gar, Kori, Drake, Vic, Rich and I all danced to the highly overrated "YMCA".
Jo and her friends got creative, and instead they moved to the "AMCY".
"Another slow song coming your way after this here song!"
We danced, when, at the middle of the song, Gar leaned over to me.
"Raven, would you like to dance? With me?"
Disclaimer: I do not own Good Charlotte (Anthem, Boys and Girls), Yellowcard (Ocean Avenue), Somewhere (West Side Story Musical), Zao (A Fall Farewell), Bowling for Soup (1985), Superchick (Fall Down), Celine Dion (My Heart Will Go On); or any of the mentioned music/songs/lyrics. And of course, the Teen Titans.
Reviewer Responses!
Eva: Glad you liked it. I guess it wasn't TOO bad, but it didn't pack a punch, like some of the others.
dolfingirl101: Ha ha. I like Kori and her weird moments; reminds me of Starfire in a few episodes! They're so alike. (Gee, I wonder why!) Easy! They will dance. Whether or not it's the next chapter is up to me! –cackles evilly-
Pozest-Illusion: Terra does make a good wench. I've always liked the evil side of Terra. AndI'm glad you found a good method of procrastination. You want more Star vs. Black? You got it!
scathac's warrior: Glad you find the confused Raven cute. I hope you'll love Raven all the more in her depressing moods that she's nearing, and also the total state of denial."I do NOT like Gar Logan!"
recora remiss: No, Malchior didn't betray her. I needed someone to be an ass, and a very perverted, desperate, sexual harassment Malchior came to mind. And besides, the person Malchior is based off of really exists. And his locker was next to mine.
Angel Cadia: Ooooh, I guess that you can see that I am power-hungry. I want the state of Rohde Island, please. And don't ask me why. I still have no idea
Sangofanatic: Maybe you shouldn't take my author's notes too seriously. We're our worst critics. Or is it "Your worst critic is yourself"?
NumbahZero: No, Jo is mostly made up of me. The complete and utter rebel. And if people actually went along with my crazy plans, something like the Anti-Dance could happen. And also she's has a little bit of imagination, and a decent amount of musing, too.
xox.AnniePotter.xox: Sorry, the abuse really hasn't come yet. But justice wins in the end. How did Rae get convinced to go? Stress, and the line "Hey, Gar's gonna be there!" Though she does not know it.
Dana1313: If my head explodes, you'll be the first to know. Thanks for liking the filler- you're not the only one! (Except for me. Bah.) Put the church in Rhode Island, please, because that's the place that I will SOMEDAY RULE!
Lupine-Spirit: Thanks. That's the best compliment I got on that filler. And for the DCC, wait for a few updates, k? I'm going to open it again, due to overwhelming response.
kittykat: I-o will-o update-o as-o fast-o as-o I-o can-o!
Yaa: Hope you like this update, too!
Ryuu no Taiyo: Join the club. We have membership cards.
The Last: Yes, the Insane-o squad reference is to the DCC characters. Too bad with Upheaval. Listen to some of your favorite music, you know, the ones that always spark something, and go to a favorite place of yours. Maybe you'll get inspired!
blackmagic111090: Good for you, Katie. Good for you.
Raven'teacher: Umm… hate for the chapter? Writer's block? Life? Vacations? Exams? Take your pick.
DarkSoulEmpress: Glad you love it, and I hope you keep reading.
cRiTic123: Calm down! Whoa, easy, easy. I'm going to have openings for the DCC again in a few chapters. Just hang tight 'till then, k?
Wanda Carla: That's okay. And, it's always been my evil little plan for them to dance ever since my muses attacked me with this idea, late one night.
More reviews are answered in the next chapter…
Now, leave a review on your way out, and don't forget to check out Part Two!