Memory Documentation

chapter eight | documenting the phases of a dance

After Chris and I gave our orders to the waitress, Chris became engaged in a heated discussion of Super Smash Bros characters, and the only other girl there, Marissa, turned to me with a smile that had braces on them.

"So, is this your first dance?" she asked me.

"Yes, it is." The thought of me going to any of the school dances when I lived in California almost made me laugh. Imagine, rather than dancing with the rest of my classmates, I'd be on the side, talking to the chaperones. "It's nice to meet you guys," I added.

"Oh, believe me, it's exciting for all of us to meet you. Chris has talked all about you for the past couple of weeks."

"Oh?" Though the restaurant was actually a bit cold, I felt myself get warmer.

Fortunately, Marissa was quick to back track. "All good things, of course!" she reassured me.

"Well, M, don't lose Chris a date before the dance has even begun," said Philip, the boy next to her.

She scrunched her nose at him, but then placed her hand on his. "This is Philip, my boyfriend."

I grinned. "That's awesome! For how long now?"

"Almost a year," she says, fondly stroking Philip's hand. He hasn't said much since we arrived, but he had the smallest of amiable smiles on his face.

By the end of dinner, I had a taste of everyone's personalities and character. Bryson and Cooper were not brothers, but close childhood friends brought together when their parents moved here from the Philippines. Marissa kept the duo in check, often shushing them when they got too loud and rowdy. Philip was a man of little action and few words, but was constantly engaged in the different conversations. He also gave Marissa little kisses on the forehead, which was enough to make my heart melt every time.

After gathering our separate checks and Marissa and I reapplying lipsticks in the bathroom, we were on to phase four: roll up to the dance... and, well, have fun. Try to at least.

The dance was held in our gym. Our student government did their best to decorate it to this year's theme of the "Aurora Borealis Ball." Meaning all the decorations – from the balloons to the lights – were different shades of green, blue, purple, and pink. Everything was in full swing by the time we arrived and, as expected, I was very, very uncomfortable. What I really didn't expect was how awkwardly stiff Chris would be. Through the days and weeks leading up to this dance, we didn't talk too much about it. I knew he hadn't gone to anything before, like me, but he looked just as equally uncomfortable. As our little group found ourselves merging with a dance circle, Bryson and Cooper screaming and cheering on the person in the middle, I took Chris's arm and scooted us a little way away.

"You okay?" I asked, raising my voice to battle the volume of the music. It was loud enough to make my whole chest rattle.

In response, he only shrugged his shoulders. I frowned. Guess we're awkward bodies together. Soon, though, the classic of all classic songs, Cupid Shuffle, came on, and Cooper and Bryson coaxed us into following along. Marissa reappeared by my side, heels in her hands, and jumped in line with us.

An hour later, my shoes were off as well. I was sweaty, hot, and aching, but I was smiling.

After multiple attempts to get them to dance, Philip and Chris wandered off to a table with our things. Bryson and Cooper were hopping from dance circle to dance circle, leaving me and Marissa together. We actually ended up dancing with a few other girls, one of who was in my college algebra class, after they had complimented us on our dresses.

Suddenly, a loud screeching sound pierced through the speakers. We flinched and directed our attention to a tiny stage on the other side of the gym. A girl with a sparkly pink and silver dress stood with a microphone and a guitar.