1950s Summer

Chapter 14- Dancing

Age 14

Dannie was sitting in the living room acting as bored as ever since Alicia had things to do with Elaine and she didn't want anyone leaving the house until she got back.

Elaine was having terrible pains from cramps and was a mess, so Alicia thought it was a good idea to take her to a doctor to try and get some pain reliever.

Dannie put on music that was obnoxiously loud on the record player and basically forced Abby to dance with him because he had nothing better to do. Abby wasn't really in the mood, but Dannie made her laugh while doing so. He was a terrible dancer, but he was having fun and that energy transferred to the rest of us.

Carol got up and walked over to you on the couch. You were reading and didn't want to get up. Mostly because you didn't know how to dance, no one ever taught you.

Carol stuck out her hand with a smile. But you said "No thanks." and looked back down to your book.

"Oh come on." She laughed and practically picked you up.

She stood in front of you and placed your hands on her shoulders as she lightly rested her hands on your waist.

"All you have to do is follow my lead." She whispered as she leaned in close to your ear, so the others wouldn't find out that you have never danced with someone else before.

You simply nodded your head and swayed with her to the beat of the songs. You let her guide you into a feeling that only grew, a tender form of love that only was open for Carol to accept.

Abby and Dannie faded away, though they were still a few feet away, talking as loud as ever. It didn't matter though, the only thing that was important was Carol and how close her body was to yours.

How you could see her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. The way that you could feel her body weight shift with each step. It was unbearably difficult to not notice how close her face was to yours. How easily something could happen, but nothing did. Nothing ever did happen with Carol, part of it was because you had always been so scared and cautious. It was also because you never knew how Carol would react, what she would say.

Maybe you liked not knowing how she felt because then it left room for your mind to wander and slip into a utopia that was meant only for your day dreams.

_____

After the record stopped playing music, you didn't say a thing and went up to your room, shutting the door firmly behind you. You weren't sure what you were to do now, nothing occupied your mind other than her.

She was always popping up in your head, whether you wanted her to or not, she was always there. Now it wasn't such a great thing because you didn't want to think about her or else you might burst into tears more.

You went to bed that night in the same spot that you laid down in from the time you entered your room. You didn't move and you didn't want to move. You just needed to get through this night and then maybe the next day would be better, but something interrupted your slumber.

Besides the tears that inevitably fell throughout the night and in your dreams, you felt a slight movement back and forth on your shoulder, shaking you awake.

"Shhhh." They whispered as your eyes slowly opened. You couldn't see their face because it was so dark and your eyes were still adjusting.

They gripped your arm and dragged you outside into the hallway, down the stairs, and into the night, not allowing for your to wiggle out or hesitate to follow them.

The night was warm, still heated from the beating sun during the day and the pavement hadn't had time to cool off completely which caused a comfortable temperature instead of the usual blast of heat.

You were shoved over to the passengers side of a car and you got in as they got in and started to drive away.

Your eyes finally were seeing clearly now, and your eyes saw one thing, but your mind couldn't wrap itself around those so called facts.

Carol was in her clothes from the day, meaning she hadn't gone to bed at all. She was driving you somewhere.

Her face lit up every now and then with light from passing street lamps and cars flowing by the both of you.

She didn't say anything to you, but her face looked saddened and tired. Her eyes were lying low with the road and her posture was slouched with the same tiredness that filled her face, the feeling that was causing her lips to slightly part and sit still against her breaths.

You watched her the whole drive, not taking your eyes off of her because you had nothing to hide and nothing to lose anymore.

You saw her slightly glance at you once, but she quickly retreated and went back to watching the road.

Where was she taking you? And why in the middle of the night?

You noticed that her face was red from a slight sunburn, and her hair was lighter now than it had been at the beginning of summer from the constant exposure to the sun, bleaching her hair into a golden flow of softness.

You imagined Carol, in the winter, in a sweater and thick jackets. The wide variety of clothes she probably had. New York was cold most of the time, so the extensive wardrobe would be necessary, at least for Carol it would be. You had never seen her in any other season that summer. Summer Carol was the only Carol you knew, it was all you ever needed to know, but you loved to think of how she looked at other times of the year.

You could envision her with leather gloves and scarfs, to keep her comfortable warm and turtlenecks which made you smile.

After everything, after what she had said to you just hours ago, you would still love her. You would always love her. You knew that as a fact and you were okay with that. To unconditionally love someone even if they don't reciprocate the feelings. At least you could identify what love was, how it made you feel, and how you could never feel the same towards anyone else.

~AN: sorry it took so long to get this out, hope yall enjoy it. i dont think i want to end this story just yet, so im going to just let it be and update when i can, but i wont leave yall completely in wonder of how things will end lol