Memory Documentation

chapter eight | documenting the phases of a dance

"Time to slow things down!" she announced with enthusiasm, which was met with groans of protest. Ignoring that, she began to sing Hold on by Chord Overstreet. The dance floor thinned to those who wanted to slow dance. Almost like a bell signaling him, Philip appeared with a smile wider than the one he's been sporting all night.

"Ah, you'll dance to this, huh?" Marissa teased as she took his hand and allowed him to wisp her away. Once I was alone, unease began to settle again. I considered going off to find the table Chris was probably still sitting at when Bryson and Cooper appeared.

"Group slow dance!" Cooper hooted, placing an arm around one of my shoulders, Bryson on the other. We linked together to form a small swaying circle. Bryson aggressively swung his hips side to side, making me squeal in laughter.

He slowed his movements and looked around. "Where's Chris?" he asked.

"He's sitting at a table, I think. He didn't want to dance."

"What?" Bryson broke the circle and instead began to pull us in chain formation towards where the chairs were set up. "Well, he has to dance with you at least now. He's your fucking date."

"I-it's okay," I protested, stumbling after them and their long strides. "If he doesn't want to dance then it's fine."

The boys said nothing as they scanned the tables. We found one with Marissa's and my shoes and purses on top, but Chris was nowhere to be found.

"Where the hell did he go?" Bryson said, taking his phone out from his jacket pocket. He put it to his ear.

"Why did he leave you?" Cooper added with a frown.

"I told you he didn't want to –"

"Darce!"

I whipped around. There he was, the man in question, walking towards me looking visibly upset. My heart sunk. What happened? Before I could say another word, the boys were in front of me, questions and curses being thrown his way.

"Where were you? Why did you leave Darcy?"

"Dude, don't be a shit date. Just dance with her for a bit!"

He didn't stop. He just stalked around them and towards the table. "We're leaving," he threw from over his shoulder. It was sharp and harsh. "Grab your things, Darce."

"We?" I asked, startled.

"Leaving?" pitched Bryson.

"But it's only been, like, an hour!" Cooper added in protest. He heavily placed a hand on Chris's shoulder as he said, "What the fuck is your problem?"

Whipping around so hard that Cooper's arm flung off of him, Chris spat back at him, "My problem is this dance fucking sucks and I shouldn't have come. You should've left me alone after I said I didn't want to!"

I flinched. The singer's cover of such a slow song was not as loud as the bass bumping music that was playing before. Chris's exclamation was so loud that people turned to look.

Cooper opened his mouth to retaliate, but Bryson placed a hand on his shoulder, silencing him. Chris tightened his lips.

"Darce," he said, softly this time, finally looking at me. "Please. Can we go?"

Still reeling from what just happened, it took me a moment to realize what he was asking. Before I could answer, he was already walking towards the door, saying he would wait for me outside.

"I..." I turned to watch him go. Shoulders hunched, hands in his pockets. I'd seen that posture before. He looked like pure heartbreak again.

"It's okay, Darce." Bryson handed me my shoes and my clutch. "Something must have happened. He just needs to cool down."