Note
Wee. There's a cool song to go with the chapter, so italic words are the lyrics. Unless it one of characters thinking, and if it is it'll be obvious.
Lyrics belong to Fall Out Boy- Dance, Dance
Chapter IV
It was finally time to go home, so me, Ariel, and Steve walked to our busses together, silently.
"So.." Ariel murmured. "The Cirque Du Freak starts at ten tonight, right?"
"Yeah," I said.
"You know theirs a dance at the high school tonight for sixth and seventh graders from five to eight-thirty.." Her voice trailed of.
"I can't go.." Steve muttered. "My mom would never let me." He emphasized the word 'mom'. His mom and he never seemed to get along since his dad walked out, and he says he really hates her, but I think he loves her a lot deep down.
"Oh.." Ariel said, disappointed.
"I might go.." I said. "Are you gonna go, Ariel?"
"Yeah, probably."
We began to walk out of the large double doors along with the crowd of other students, when Courtney walked up to us.
"Hey, Ariel!"
Steve and I really didn't like Courtney- She was pretty, but real stuck up.
Ariel turned her head and smiled at her. "Hey, what's up?"
"Oh, me and the other, you know, popular girls were wondering if you wanted to hang with us at the dance."
Me and Steve rolled our eyes.
"Oh, um, yeah, maybe." Ariel replied softly.
"Okay," Courtney said, then giggled in this annoying girly way.
"Yeah, yeah, come on." Steve said, walking out the door. Ariel and I quickly followed.
We're all on a different bus, unfortunately. Mine was on one side of the parking lot, and Ariel and Steve's were far across from it, but theirs were right next to each other. We walked as far as we could together until I waved goodbye and walked away, then they continued walking together.
Once I climbed onto the bus, I dropped my backpack into the seat and sat down, looking out the window. I could see Steve and Ariel walk up in between their busses. They stopped for a moment, then.. Steve slung his back pack over his shoulder and hugged Ariel, who squeezed her books to her chest and gladly hugged him back. He then whispered something in her ear, causing her to smile and nod before they both went on their bus. They like each other.. A lot.. I could tell..
Walking through the front door of my house, I kicked off my shoes and dropped my backpack by the door, which I had closed behind me. "Mom?" I shouted.
"Hello Dear," my mom called back from the other side of the house.
"Hiya!" My little sister Annie greeted me as I ran into my mom and dad's bedroom.
"Mom, can I go to this dance tonight..?" I asked, walking into her room.
Mom, who was working on her stamp collection, smiled softly. "Oh, your first dance? Where would that be?"
"At the high school." I replied.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"From five o'clock to nine-thirty." It was around three ten right now.
Mom nodded. "Sounds okay to me.."
"Oh, and Steve is gonna be there too," I lied. "So is it okay if his mom picks me up so I can sleep over his house?" I would just walk from the high school to his house- It was only down the block from there. And, well, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell my parents that I was going to an illegal freak show.
She smiled. "Sure, that's fine Hun."
I really hated when she called me 'hun' or any baby names like that. But I really did take mom and dad for granted.. I just didn't realize it at the time..
"Okay, thanks," I said, running to my room. On the way I quickly grabbed the phone. Once I sat one my bed, I was just about to call Steve when I remembered what happened. Even though I was hesitant, I decided to call him anyway. A moment I heard his voice on the other line.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Darren."
"Oh hey, what's up?"
"I was just talking to my mom,"
"Yeah?"
"I told her that you were picking me up from the dance and I was sleeping over your house." I whispered into the receiver. "She believed me, so I can just walk there."
"Okay, cool." He replied. There was an unusual moment of silence following that.
"So.." My voice trailed off.
"So.." He repeated. "Oh, could I tell you something?"
"Yeah, of course."
"I think I really like Ariel.."
I was silent for a moment. "Oh?"
"Yeah, actually.." He began. "I asked her out.."
I immediately remembered back to Steve whispering in Ariel's ear, followed by her smile and a nod.
"And?" I asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"She said yes." He replied, sounding a lot more happy then usual.
"That's cool," I tried to sound as happy for him as I could. Actually, I was, but this still made me painfully aware of the fact that she'll never be mine..
"So you'll be at my house around twenty to ten, right?"
"Yeah, just about."
"Okay, can you make sure Ariel comes with you?"
"Of course."
"Cool. Well I gotta go eat. See you tonight."
"Okay, later."
There was a beep followed by silence, so I hit 'End' and hung up the phone.
"Darren, I made dinner for you early so you won't be hungry when you leave." Mom called.
"Kay mom.." I shouted back, then quickly ate dinner and got ready to leave.
My dad dropped me off in front of the high school and waved, then drove off. Walking up to the gym doors, I quietly entered, greeted by the sound of a crowd of dancing kids and blaring music. I felt immediately shy and scared to dance at all. I immediately spotted Ariel with her long blonde hair walking toward me, smiling.
"Hey Darren!" She said, voice rising above the music.
"Hey," I smirked, sounding as loud and confident as I could.
"Come on," She began toward the back of the gym. I quickly followed her, and we both pushed past the crowds of people and sat at an empty table. We talked about a few things, and eventually she mentioned Steve asking her out.
"Yeah, he told me." I said, forcing a smile.
She smiled, not saying anything. The look in her blue eyes made it seem like their was something wrong, but I didn't say anything.
We were both silent for a moment. Until the beginning of a particular song started to play. It sounded familiar, and brought a smile to Ariel's face as soon as it started. "Oh, man, I love this song!" She got up started walking up by the front, and I followed. Once in the middle of the crowd by the DJ booth, we immediately blended in.. Well, I did. Ariel started to dance, and she was really good. And I mean really good. She stuck out like a sore thumb, dancing better then just about everyone else.
Soon some people backed away to watch her and a few other girls. I think my heart began to hurt as I watched her.. She was just so good at dancing..
She says she's no good with words but I'm worse
Barely stuttered out
"A joke of a romantic" just stuck to my tongue
Weighed down with words too over-dramatic
Tonight it's "it can't get much worse"
Vs. "no one should ever feel like.."
Everyone started to scream as they cheered. Courtney tried dancing with them, but she sucked. A few people booed her, and she quietly walked away. I smiled.
I'm two quarters and a heart down
And I don't want to forget how your voice sounds
These words are all I have so I'll write them
So you need them just to get by
One of the female staff members came by, and put her hand above one of the girls who was dancing. A few people screamed.
Dance, Dance
We're falling apart to half time
Dance, Dance
And these are the lives you'd love to lead
Dance, this is the way they'd love
If they knew how misery loved me
She then put her hand over another girl's head, and people started to scream again, but not as loud.
You always fold just before you're found out
Drink up its last call
Last resort
But only the first mistake and I...
She did the same to two other girls, but when she put her hand above Ariel's head, their was an ear piercing scream coming from everybody. Heh. I decided to scream too.
I'm two quarters and a heart down
And I don't want to forget how your voice sounds
These words are all I have so I'll write them
So you need them just to get by
Ariel began snapping her knees back and fourth while stretching her arms out then bending them inward, hands in fists- Back and fourth. It was actually called popping.
Why don't you show me the little bit of spine
You've been saving for his mattress, love
Dance, Dance
We're falling apart to half time
Dance, Dance
And these are the lives you'd love to lead
Dance, this is the way they'd love
If they knew how misery loved me
The other girls were doing it too, and they were pretty good, but not as fast as Ariel.
Well the others returned to the crowd and it was just Ariel dancing for a little. Everyone was cheering and stuff, it was pretty fun. Afterwards we were just basically hanging out and stuff, you know. Soon it was time to head out to Steve's place, but the time flew by. I had a lot more fun then I thought I would. Thankfully I really didn't dance- Me and Ariel were talking and laughing and all that. But tonight didn't even start yet. Neither of us could wait to see the Cirque.