Where Dance Fits In

Chapter 25: As I Lay Dancing

Reagan
For the longest time I can't even remember why I liked Kyle so much in the first place. He was totally hot, that for sure. But he was also just genuinely nice, and funny, and I felt like I could tell him anything.
But things are changing.
We've been going out for about a month now. He's always been the same Kyle and I've always been the same Reagan. He finally gets along with my brother and Miss Laurie is going to adopt him. I mean, how great is that?
I don't know. The party hasn't been as fun as I wanted it to be. Miss Laurie's niece, Emily is there, and for some strange reason, she doesn't like me.
She rolls her eyes practically every time I talk. Whenever I'm trying to talk to the group she interrupts. You'd think someone would say something, but they don't.
Now were in Miss Laurie's upstairs. Maeve, Brooklyn, and I are in Miss Laurie's bedroom, while Conner, Joe, Kyle, and Mark are in Mark's bedroom. We are getting ready to dance for the parents.
We're fixing our hair, when I say "Have you guys noticed how Miss Laurie's niece doesn't like me?" Maeve and Brooklyn look at each other like they know something, I don't. "Reag," Maeve starts. "We have, and...um..we know why." Brooklyn looks at me and says "She used to date Kyle." "WHAT?" I squawk, trying to keep calm. "But how?" I ask. "How did you find out?" "Kyle told us that back at his old school in Ohio, they used to date. They had to break up because he was moving." "And they made a promise to each other that if they ever see each other again." They'll get back together." Brooklyn chimes in."
I don't even know what to say. "Why didn't he tell me?" I think out loud. "He didn't want you to get upset, Reag." Maeve says softly. She calls me 'Reag' whenever I'm upset.
Of course I'm upset. I'm more mad then sad, though. I finish up my hair and makeup and go downstairs before anyone else. Kyle's still upstairs. I see Emily over at the food table and say "Emily." Without even looking at me. "I know why you don't like me." "I'd love to hear this." She says sharply. "You used to go out with Kyle, at your old school. I know that you guys made a promise that, if you ever see each other again, you would get back together." She doesn't even look interested. Just bored with a smirk on her face.
I want to punch that smirk.
"Kyle's amazing." I continue. "And promises mean a lot to me, too. So if you guys want to get back together, in okay with it." I choke the last words out before I really start to cry. Emily looks shocked. I sprint to the bathroom and get myself together.
"What's wrong with you?" I say to myself. "Why would you let that stupid girl get to you?" Mirror me is a lot more confident than regular me.
I fix my makeup and head outside. I know that Kyle's there, figuring out a way to break the news to me. I did him a favor.
We start to line up. Each of us will do our set and then we will do a big treble reel piece to end it. Miss Laurie introduces us.
"Hello family and friends. Welcome to the O'Brien house! We have great food, live entertainment, and it's all free!" As she talks, Kyle comes up to me. "I have to talk to you about something. I promise I'll talk to you right after we're done dancing." "Do you promise, Kyle? Because I'm afraid you don't know what a promise means." And then Maeve starts dancing.
Kyle has walked away now. I'm next. I walk on stage. I search for Kyle in the crowd, and then I see he's with Emily.
Suddenly I feel like I could puke. My knees feel really weak, but I dance anyways. I'm up towards the front of the stage by now and I have a clear view of Kyle and Emily. Emily has her hands around Kyle's neck, and I'm doing my trickiest toe stands.
And then they kiss. I'm up on my toe, my ankle goes down, and I down with it. "Reagan!" I hear a billion people shouting my name. But all I can think about is Kyle. This is the second time he's betrayed me.
Everything is a blur. Mom is over me shouting my name. I can barely keep my eyes open, and then I sleep.