Don't You Ever Wonder

Chapter 2

She pulled open the sliding glass doors and stepped outside, not even bothering close it. He slammed it shut, the noise echoing across the yard, but she kept her back turned to him. Sitting down on one of the cheap, green plastic yard chairs, she pulled a cigarette from her purse and lit it. He saw the familiar wisp of silver smoke, which looked and smelled like how he imagined demon's breath would.
He had never liked them in high school, and he didn't like them now. She had been the good girl type, so why was she smoking? She was right; a lot had changed, and he wanted to know what.
Play this smooth, he thought. "So how's life been treating you?" She let out a hard, cold laugh. "Like crap," she said bitterly. Then, she turned to face him, cigarette still in hand. "And how have you been, David?" He ran a hand through his hair before he answered. "Busy," he said quietly, "College does that to a person."
She turned back around and was silent for a moment, thinking. Of what exactly, he wasn't sure. Sliding further into the chair, she took a shuddering breath. When she spoke, her voice was softer, wavering a little. "Do you ever look up at the stars and wonder?" she asked as she took another drag on her cigarette. "Wonder about what?" He replied. She turned to face him, her grey-green eyes staring into his. "Everything," she whispered. "There are so many unanswered questions, might as well look to the sky and hope for some answers, 'cause no one else will give them to you."
They both just stayed still for a while, looking up. He broke the silence. "Do you write poetry?" Though she wasn't looking at him, he could feel her smile. "Used to," she replied. "But now it's too depressing."She stood up, and held out her hand. "Dance with me, David. I need to not think for a while." He grinned and took it. "Sure, Kat. Happy to help."
They walked back into the mess of tangled and sweaty bodies. It was hard to see through the smoke of cigarettes, but they didn't need to. They just went in the direction where the music seemed loudest. Then they reached a living room with the furniture all pushed aside. The normal lightbulbs had been exchanged for ones of different colors. There was a disco ball on the ceiling, casting little white spots over their faces.
He took a bow, and she laughed. Still bending down, he grasped her hand and said "May I have this dance, Madam?" She gave him a smile. "Why, of course you may!"