"Sorry about that," Charlie said as she reached Alex.
"Don't worry about it, my grandma needed to take an entire photo album before we left the house," Alex laughed.
"You look great, by the way," Charlie said, suddenly feeling rather shy.
"You look amazing yourself," Alex replied.
"Thanks," Charlie murmured.
"Care to take my hand?" Alex asked, holding her hand out.
"Sure," Charlie said as she slid her hand into Alex's. She suddenly felt like her heart was getting ready to pop out of her chest with how fast it was beating.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked, intertwining their fingers together.
"Huh? Yeah, why?" Charlie stammered, not sure what prompted the question.
"Your hand's shaking," Alex said, tightening her grip on Charlie's hand, clearly not wanting to let go.
"Um…" Charlie couldn't think of what to respond to that with.
Alex laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to. Besides, it's just a school dance. I'll probably bore you to death while we're there."
Charlie tried to laugh, but could only get out a weak chuckle. "Yeah, I bet," she said quietly.
If she could, she'd slap herself and start running for the hills. They hadn't even made it to the school building and she was already making herself look not only stupid, but like an idiot.
"Don't run off on me," Alex warned.
"I- ummm…" Charlie couldn't seem to get her brain to work properly.
"Okay, fine. Let's just walk together and talk more after we're in the dance, okay?" Alex offered.
Charlie merely nodded, not trusting her voice to say anything.
–Looking good Charlie.– she heard Beth say with her magic. –Don't forget to let Alex see the goods.–
Charlie felt her face heat at the suggestion and didn't respond. She didn't know where Beth was, only that she was around. She could also only hope that Beth couldn't see her face at that moment.
Alex led Charlie into the school, giving the tickets to those collecting them outside the dance and as Charlie stepped in the gym, she felt like her feet had been swept out from under her.
She was shocked at how much the gym had been transformed. That it was the same room, she was having a hard time getting her mind to accept. It was still early in the dance, so while there were some people dancing already, there was still a lot of room.
"So, I understand this is your first school dance," Alex said, as they made their way around the edge of the dance floor.
"Yeah, I didn't care to show up to these before," Charlie replied, her gaze still drinking in the decorations.
"So, should we dance first or wait for our friends to show up?" Alex asked.
"I… I'm not sure," Charlie said, her mind not yet ready to move on from focusing on the decorations.
"Well, let's wait then," Alex said. "I'm sure we'll be able to dance just as well after they get here as we could before."
Alex leads Charlie to some empty chairs nearby where they sit next to each other, eyes looking at those on the dance floor.
"So, tell me a bit about yourself," Alex said putting her other hand over Charlie's hand she was already holding with her other hand.
Charlie couldn't help but jump at the contact. Mostly because she'd forgotten they were holding hands.
"Well, what would you like to know?" Charlie asked. "I mean, you already know some about me, so what else is there you want to know?"
"Everything," Alex replied.
"Isn't that a little cliché?"
"Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to know as much about you as I can," Alex said, her other hand tracing lines on the back of Charlie's hand.
Pushing those sensations out of her mind, Charlie looked at Alex. "Yeah, but what if I tell you something you already know about me that I don't know that you know?"
Alex looked back at Charlie before bursting out laughing.
"What?" Charlie protested, not sure if she should be upset or not.
"It's nothing," Alex laughed. "Just the way you said it made me laugh."
"Glad I could be amusing to you," Charlie replied, feeling rather annoyed.
"Sorry," Alex apologized. "I'll try to control myself.
"Well, where should I start?" Charlie asked.
"How about favorite music?" Alex suggested. "Mine's light rock. Especially some of the older songs, like Hero by Mariah Carey and You're the Inspiration by Chicago."
Charlie leaned back in her chair. She could work with that. "I'd have to say music like what Linkin Park does. They're my favorite group," Charlie replied, suddenly getting the urge to lean against Alex, but trying to fight it off for the moment.
"They have some good songs," Alex allowed. "So, have you dated anyone before?"
Charlie shook her head. "No, I've never gone out with anyone before. You're the first."
Alex looked surprised. "Wait, so when I kissed you…"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, that was my first kiss."
Now it looked like it was Alex's turn to get all red.
"Don't worry, I liked it," Charlie replied, finally losing the battle and leaning against Alex.
"Maybe we could repeat that again tonight sometime," Alex whispered.
"Maybe," Charlie whispered back, surprised they could hear the other's whispers over the music. "I wouldn't mind it happening again."
"Well, then…" Alex started, but trailed off as she noticed something and looked across the room.
Charlie followed her gaze and saw that Allison was making her way over to them, Beth, Tim, and Ralph also walking towards them, but from a different place in the room.
"I think we've been spotted," Charlie joked.
"Yeah, I noticed."
They both sat where they were as their friends started to show up. When Allison arrived, Charlie noticed then that Alice Rogers and Amber Wright we also with her.
"Not dancing yet, I see," Allison said as Beth, Tim, and Ralph reached them.
"We thought we'd wait until you guys showed up before starting to wear ourselves out and just talk for a bit," Alex replied.
"I see you've already made contact with each other," Beth remarked, a smirk on her face as she blatantly gazed at them both holding hands.
"Should we wait for the others?" Charlie asked, suddenly not sure she wanted to leave the chair she was sitting in.
"I'm sure Amelia and Hannah will understand," Tim said. "And Wes actually's not gonna make it tonight. His parents pulled him into dog sitting at the last minute."
"Ouch, that's gotta sting," Allison remarked.
"Maybe, but no sense in letting that spoil our fun," Beth said, grabbing where Charlie and Alex were holding hands and started to drag both of them to the dance floor.
"Come then, time to dance!" Beth cried out.
Charlie felt Alex release her hand. "Guess it's time for us to get on the dance floor," she remarked cheerfully, though Charlie thought she heard a note of apprehension as well.
Shaking her head, she joined the others as they moved to the dance floor. Charlie felt a nervous excitement, given she'd never been on a dance floor before in addition to everything else that was around her that she was experiencing for the first time.
However, as her friends, Alex, and Alex's friends began to dance, she suddenly felt a wave of panic overtake her as she started to think of dancing. It suddenly felt like everyone was suddenly looking at her and she froze, not sure what to do. The more she tried to move in a way similar to those around her, the more the sense of panic was.
When a hand was put on her shoulder, dispelling the panic, she jumped, startled.
"Whoa! Calm down Charlie," Beth said.
"What?" Charlie asked, confused. For a moment she couldn't even remember where she was or what they were doing.
"You looked like you were staring in space," Tim said. "You weren't moving, and we thought maybe you might have stopped breathing."
"I'm fine," Charlie said, not really believing her own words as she said them.
"If you need to, we can take turns keeping you company by the chairs," Beth offered.
"I'm okay," Charlie said, hoping that was true.
"Alright, but we're keeping an eye on you," Beth said.
Charlie smiled nervously. What was with her? She'd never felt like that before. While she didn't care for the spotlight, it's not like all eyes were actually on her.
She looked around as the music stopped while they changed songs. There were a lot more people in the room now, and still more were entering. Although, she couldn't really see too far into the crowd, given she wasn't exactly the tallest girl, and there wasn't anything for her to stand on and look out over the crowd, not that she cared enough to do so.
Sighing, she decided to give it another try. She started moving her arms the way she saw Beth and Alex moving theirs, when suddenly she felt the wave of panic overtake her again.
It was like everyone was looking at her, even when they weren't. The more she tried to move, the stronger the panic was, to the point she was starting to find it hard to breathe.
She also realized she was also having trouble seeing. She didn't know what was going on with her, but the more it continued, the worse it got.
Soon she started to feel a different kind of panic. One that she could at least identify. This panic was that about what was happening to her, that she couldn't find a way to stop it. The feelings were so overpowering that she felt like she was about to lose who she was to them. That if she got swallowed up by them, she wouldn't be anymore.
Suddenly her awareness changed. She was laying on the ground, her friends and a couple chaperones hovering over her. She looked at them in confusion. What happened? She asked herself. Absently, she noticed Amelia and Hannah had arrived while she apparently had been out.
"I think she's coming to," one of the chaperones said. "I think she'll be okay."
Charlie heard a collective sigh erupt from everyone around her. She looked around and saw that everyone in her immediate vicinity were looking at her. However, for some reason this didn't make her feel uncomfortable. It was like her own feelings were numb for some reason and that everything merely seemed like a show she was watching. Like it had nothing to do with her.
"Are you okay?" Charlie heard Alex ask.
"I'm okay," Charlie said as she tried to sit up. She had to stop when she was half-way to sitting when a wave of vertigo struck her, making her lay back down fully.
"What happened?" the other chaperone asked.
"I'm not sure," Charlie admitted. She wasn't sure why she was on the floor to begin with. The last thing she remembered was the panic from trying to dance. How would that make me end up like this? She asked herself.
"Do you need help standing?" the first chaperone asked her.
"Probably," Charlie admitted. While she liked being able to do things by herself, with the vertigo she felt when she tried sitting up, she was certain she wouldn't be able to stand at the moment as she was.
Both chaperones by her held her shoulders as they helped her sit up. Which helped her get through the vertigo that washed over her again as she was partway to sitting up. Although, she suddenly felt like she was about to throw up once she was sitting, but fortunately, she was able to suppress that urge.
Then slowly, they helped lift her up so she could stand, and mostly carried her over to the chairs, where she could sit down. She was vaguely aware of her friends and Alex going with her. And yet, it still felt like she was merely watching this happen, rather than being a part of the events going on.
As she sat in the chair, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Grateful for the chair helping her remain upright.
"Do you need one of us to stay with you?" the second chaperone asked.
"I'll be fine with my friends," Charlie assured them, trying to smile, but couldn't be sure if she succeeded or not.
"Okay, well let us know if you need us to call someone to pick you up," the second chaperone said. "If you think this might happen again, it might be best if you call it early and maybe see a doctor about what happened."
"Well, I'll see a doctor anyway, since my mom's a doctor," Charlie joked, wondering why she was saying it like that in the first place. When she ended up on the floor, did her head hit the floor? She wondered. She couldn't feel any pain in her head, but given she wasn't feeling much at the moment anyway, that didn't really say anything about it to her.
"She'll be okay," Beth said. "We'll stay with her and get someone if she starts feeling sick or whatever that was happens again."
"Alright, well, hope you girls have fun," the first chaperone said.
Then, leaving the girls to their own devices, the chaperones moved away, their attention turning to the crowd on the dance floor.
"What happened?" Alex asked, sitting next to Charlie, taking her hand in hers.
Charlie looked at those around her and suddenly felt something, which surprised her. She felt gratitude for her friends and Alex's friends at the concern for her that she could see in their faces.
"I'm really not sure," Charlie replied. "When I tried dancing, my body just froze. I don't know why, but it felt like everyone was suddenly looking at me and I couldn't take it."
"Have you ever felt like this before?" Allison asked.
Charlie shook her head. "No, but this is also the first dance I've been to, so I can't say whether or not if it's just tonight or would be in general."
"How about you guys go back to dancing and I'll stay with Charlie, okay?" Alex offered.
"Sounds good, but I'll be back in a bit so you can dance some more as well," Beth replied.
"Thanks," Alex said.
"You really don't have to do that," Charlie protested, feeling bad at being the reason Alex was staying on the sidelines.
"Don't worry about it," Alex said, smiling at Charlie while giving her hand a squeeze.
"Well, thanks," Charlie murmured, still feeling bad about it.
"Oh, I know!" Amelia chimed in. "Why don't you get some refreshments for Charlie. That way both of you can at least still enjoy yourselves a little while sitting on the side."
"That's a good idea," Allison added. "How about I stay with you a bit and get both of you something to eat and drink. Maybe eating something will help Charlie with whatever her problem is with dancing."
"That sounds good," Charlie said, wishing she wasn't in this position. While she didn't feel as bad about this as causing Alex to wait with her, she still felt like she should be getting her own refreshments. However, the idea of walking over to the refreshments table did make her feel a little woozy, so she didn't complain.
"What would you like?" Allison asked. "I believe they have some mini sandwiches, small cakes, punch, brownies, cookies, crackers, cheese, and I think I saw some pie."
"I'll take a couple mini sandwiches and punch," Charlie said, leaning against Alex, at least grateful for the warmth she felt from Alex's presence.
"I'll take a brownie, sandwich, and punch," Alex said.
"Okay, we'll be right back," Allison said.
Charlie watched Allison, Alice, and Amber make their way over to where the refreshments were located. Even though she wasn't responsible for whatever was happening to her, she couldn't get rid of the sense that she was putting a damper of everyone's evening.
Maybe I should just leave early. If I call my mom, I'm sure she'll pick me up, Charlie thought to herself. She was about to reach for her phone to look at it when she suddenly realized she didn't have it with her. Not only that, but she hadn't brought a change of clothes for the sleepover at Beth's. When it rains it pours, I guess, Charlie said to herself as she realized she was stuck there at the moment.
"Something bothering you?" Alex asked softly.
"I just realized I left my phone at home and didn't bring a change of clothes for a sleepover at Beth's," Charlie replied.
"You're sleeping over at Beth's?"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, she wanted me to ask my mom for permission to stay at her place tonight with Amelia and Hannah. Though Beth said that I'd stay there if I didn't end up spending the night with you," Charlie said, not paying full attention to what she was saying.
Alex laughed. "Wait, Beth is pushing you to spend the night with me?" Alex asked.
Charlie wished Alex didn't sound so amused at the thought.
"Yeah, she said that everyone's doing it, so that I should too," Charlie replied, sitting up straight again in her chair, not sure if she should just head to the restroom and hide out there the rest of the evening.
Alex let go of Charlie's hand and captured her face in her hands, one hand on each cheek and turned Charlie's face to look at her. "I wouldn't mind it if you spent the night with me, but that would need to be something you wanted yourself, not Beth. Although, my grandma's home tonight, so she wouldn't be as accommodating with letting us spend the night in the same bed," Alex said.
Charlie nodded. "I told Beth that I'm not sure I'd want to be like that with anyone right now. Maybe if I get to know someone more, then maybe, but not right now," Charlie said, unable to move her eyes away from Alex.
"Then that's perfectly fine with me," Alex said, pulling Charlie's face to hers until they kissed lightly. Barely even a peck.
"How long do you think it'll take Allison and the others to bring us our refreshments?" Charlie asked.
Alex chuckled. "Not long enough."
"I wish it was just the two of us right now," Charlie said, unsure if she should push for another kiss or pull back so they wouldn't get embarrassed by their friends' comments from seeing them kiss.
"I know the feeling," Alex replied, letting go of Charlie's face. "But maybe it can just be you and me another time."
Charlie smiled, the circumstances that necessitated that she go back to the chairs out of her mind. She liked how relaxed being around Alex made her. It certainly wasn't something she expected to occur.
"So, how 'bout them Broncos?" Alex asked, causing Charlie to burst out laughing.
"You're into football?" Charlie asked.
"Not really," Alex replied, chuckling. "I just couldn't think of anything else to say and it seemed like a good moment for it."
Charlie shook her head. "It was unexpected at least."
"Looks like they're on their way back," Alex commented.
Charlie looked towards the refreshment table and saw Allison carrying a couple plates full of goodies while Amber was carrying three cups and Alice carrying two.
When Alex's friends arrived with the refreshments, Charlie eyed the sandwiches as she accepted a cup of punch while waiting patiently as everything was carefully set down and organized.
As Charlie received what she'd asked for, she found that getting the food in her stomach made her feel better and not as out of it as she had when she first tried dancing.
Charlie mostly listened while Alex chatted with her friends and ate the mini sandwiches, occasionally drinking from her punch. She didn't feel like she was back at the lunch table, but she didn't fell like she was a part of their group either. She knew she was accepted by them, but didn't want to push things as she didn't want to them to feel like she was intruding.
When they'd finished their refreshments, Alex turned to Charlie. "Would you like to try again? Or are you fine with staying here?" she asked.
"I think I'll try again, but if it can't, I'll just come back here," Charlie replied. Part of her wondering if she should try to make a break for it when everyone's not looking and just walk home.
After all, even in the dark, she knew she'd be able to easily find her way. However, the trouble would come in how to get everyone to look away long enough for her to get out of sight before they would be able to see her leave.
She had a feeling that she wouldn't be able to get away that easily. In essence, she was trapped by her own choices at the moment. Allison and Alice stayed with by the chairs as Amber, Alex, and Charlie started to head back onto the dance floor.