The reunion party was in full swing, and the energy in the room had shifted from the initial stiffness of old acquaintances reconnecting to a more relaxed and joyful celebration. Music from a familiar playlist of old hits filled the room, and the makeshift dance floor had come alive with former classmates letting loose.
Annie stood near the edge of the room, watching with amusement as a group of her old classmates tried to recapture their teenage dance moves. Some of them were surprisingly good, while others... well, let's just say time hadn't been kind to their rhythm. She sipped her drink, enjoying the scene but feeling a little out of place, content to observe from a distance.
She hadn't danced in ages, not since her college days. Now, with a busy job and a packed schedule, the idea of hitting a dance floor seemed foreign. Yet there was something about the music, the nostalgia, and the energy of the room that made her toes tap against the floor in time with the beat.
As she watched, Calix emerged from the crowd, his smile wide and eyes gleaming with mischief. He approached her with a sense of purpose, his hands tucked into his pockets.
"Not dancing, Stones?" he teased, using her last name like he always had back in high school. "You can't stand on the sidelines all night."
Annie raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Who says I can't? I'm perfectly fine right here, thank you."
Calix shook his head, feigning disappointment. "You're missing out on all the fun."
"Are you telling me you're out there showing off your moves?" she teased, crossing her arms. "Because I definitely want to see that."
"Oh, I already busted out the 'classic Calix shuffle.' It was a crowd favorite," he said with a grin, doing a mock dance move that made Annie burst out laughing.
"I think I'll spare the rest of the crowd the horror of watching me dance," she said, shaking her head.
Calix wasn't having it. He extended his hand toward her, his eyes twinkling. "Come on, just one song. For old times' sake."
Annie hesitated, looking at his outstretched hand and then back at the dance floor. The thought of getting out there, especially with Calix, made her heart race. It wasn't that she didn't want to—there was just something about the idea that made her feel vulnerable, like stepping into a space that was about more than just dancing.
But Calix didn't let her think too long. He took a step closer, his voice softening. "Come on, Stones. I know you've still got it."
Annie sighed, but she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "Fine. But if I trip and fall, I'm blaming you."
"Deal," Calix said, his grin widening as he took her hand and led her toward the dance floor.
As they stepped into the crowd, the music changed to a slower tune, one of those classic songs from their high school days that always seemed to show up at dances. Annie instantly recognized the melody, and a flood of memories hit her. It was the kind of song that made you want to sway with someone close, the kind of song that had filled awkward moments at school dances when everyone was too shy to ask their crush to dance.
Calix turned to face her, still holding her hand, and his expression softened. "Looks like we timed this perfectly," he said with a wink. "You ready?"
Annie laughed nervously. "I guess I don't have a choice now, do I?"
"Not at all," Calix said, stepping closer and placing a hand gently on her waist. His touch was light, respectful, but it sent a jolt of electricity through Annie's body.
They started to sway in time with the music, their movements slow and unhurried. At first, it was awkward, both of them trying to figure out how to dance together without making it weird. But soon, the music and the atmosphere took over, and they found an easy rhythm, moving as if they'd done this a hundred times before.
"You're not so bad at this," Calix said, breaking the silence. His voice was warm, his gaze playful as he looked down at her.
Annie rolled her eyes, though her heart was pounding. "I told you, I'm not a terrible dancer. I just choose not to show off."
"Right," Calix said, grinning. "Saving it for special occasions, huh?"
"Exactly."
They swayed in silence for a few more moments, and as the song continued, something shifted between them. Annie became aware of how close they were, of the warmth of his hand on her waist and the way his fingers rested gently against hers. The air between them felt charged, like something unspoken had settled over them.
It wasn't just the nostalgia or the shared memories that made this moment feel different. It was the way Calix was looking at her now—soft, intent, as if he was seeing her in a way he hadn't before. And the way Annie felt standing there with him, her heart fluttering, her nerves humming.
"This feels... strange, doesn't it?" she asked quietly, not entirely sure why she said it, but needing to acknowledge the shift in the air.
Calix's eyes softened, and he nodded slightly. "Yeah. But a good kind of strange."
Annie looked down, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "I didn't expect this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Me neither," Calix replied, his tone equally soft. "But I'm glad it happened."
They swayed in silence for a few more moments, the music continuing to guide their movements. Annie's heart raced as she realized just how close they were, and how easily she could lean in, close the space between them. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once, and she wasn't sure if it was the moment or the years of shared history that was pulling them together.
As the song began to wind down, Calix spoke again, his voice low and serious. "Annie, I've been thinking..."
"About what?" she asked, her breath catching slightly at the intensity in his gaze.
"About how we never really got to know each other in high school," he said, his words slow and thoughtful. "I mean, we were friends, but... I feel like we missed something back then."
Annie's heart skipped a beat, and she wasn't sure how to respond. She had felt it too, that sense of something unfinished between them, something that had lingered in the background of their friendship all those years ago. But she had never expected to be standing here, years later, with that feeling still alive between them.
"Yeah," she said softly, meeting his gaze. "I feel that too."
For a moment, they stood there, the music fading, the world around them seeming to disappear. It was just the two of them, standing on a dance floor that now felt like a bubble outside of time, where the past and present merged into something new.
Calix looked like he wanted to say something more, but before he could, the next song came on—something upbeat and loud, completely breaking the moment. Annie laughed, the sudden change in mood snapping her out of the intense moment.
"Well, that was good timing," she said, trying to lighten the mood as she pulled back slightly.
Calix laughed too, though his eyes lingered on hers for just a moment longer before he let her go. "Yeah, guess we're back to reality."
As they stepped off the dance floor, the tension between them still hung in the air, like a question left unanswered. And Annie couldn't help but wonder what would come next—whether this night would be just another reunion memory, or the beginning of something entirely new.