Read Write On Press Presents: The Ultimate Collection of Original Short Fiction, Volume II Page 28

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  The minute she stepped outside she felt the breeze hit her bare arms. She sighed in relief. The auction was in full swing and it was stuffy in the country club banquet room. Dinner had been cleared an hour ago and she was bored to tears. In fact, she still felt like she was coming out of her skin. She wanted to dance. But not with old people and not to songs that lulled her to sleep. She thought wistfully of the nightclub that Cheryl and Eileen were dancing with hot boys in, no doubt at this very moment.

  Carefully she sneaked into the pool area, switched on her walkman and kicking off her shoes, began to dance. Slowly at first, but the air was cool, the night sky was lit up by thousands of stars, and with Simple Minds “Don’t You” blasting in her ears she almost forgot where she was. All of her frustration and anger matched the music and she let herself go in a way she reserved for when she danced behind closed doors, alone.

  Two-thirds of the way into the song, it occurred to her that her anger was really directed at herself. For being confused. For being a pushover. For being that princess girl type in that movie, when she wanted so much more—

  A figure in a black tuxedo was in the pool area, leaning against the fence, watching her dance.