DANCING WITH MYSELF • EDDIE MUNSON

eight

Back in the dance hall, Chrissy Cunningham was sitting alone at the table and picking teal nail polish off her fingernails while "True" by Spandau Ballet floated dreamily down from the speakers.

... except it wasn't a dream anymore, was it?

Chrissy had been shaken awake and now she was seeing her world with brand new eyes, and she didn't like what she saw, not at all. She was disenchanted by it. Disgusted by it. She wanted to tear it all down and burn it to the ground. Those vines crawling up the pillar? Nothing but cheap polyester leaves on wire stems. How could she ever think they were real? They were as fake as the roses on her table. As fake as the rhinestone tiara that would eventually sit on her head. And Chrissy would stand on that stage in the middle of this pretty plastic world, and she would smile her fake smile and wave at a crowd of happy faces, and she would wonder if any of them actually saw her.

Saw her like you did.

We should've just stayed home, Chrissy thought with a forlorn smile. We could've been sitting on the couch and watching Pretty in Pink right now. I'd have to keep rewinding all my favorite parts because you think your commentary's more entertaining than the actual movie. And you know what? It is. And you're right, Blane is boringly perfect, and Andie really should've chosen Duckie at the end. But nobody appreciates Duckie, do they? I wonder why that is...

I'm sorry... If I smiled at him too much or looked at him too much, I'm sorry. I swear, I didn't realize I was doing it. Chrissy sniffed as a tear fell onto her dress, darkening the fabric. I bet he doesn't even really like me, anyway. He probably just likes my face and my smile like everyone else, and he has no idea the only reason I smile so much is because I have someone like you making me laugh all the time.

Chrissy wiped away another tear as Jason Carver appeared before her with his jacket unbuttoned, bowtie undone and hanging loose around his white collar.

"Hey," he said in a quiet voice, his hands stuffed awkwardly in his front pockets.

"Hi," Chrissy said back, unable to fully meet his gaze. It hurt too much to look at him right now.

"Why'd you do it?" she asked after a while.

Jason let out a long sigh. "I don't know... I just wanted everyone to have a good time. I wanted us to have a good time. I wanted her to have a good time. And I thought she would with Chance; I really thought she would... but he's an asshole, and so am I. I didn't think it through, Chris. I didn't take her feelings into consideration. She's right, I was being selfish. I just wanted tonight to be perfect."

Chrissy looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. "So did I."

Jason felt his heart break, seeing her like that. He knelt down in front of her and gently cupped her face with his hands. His voice trembled a little as he said, "Is that why you haven't eaten anything tonight?"

Chrissy's face twisted into a startled expression. She yanked her chin away. "What? No, I... I told you, I'm just nervous, that's all."

"Chris, we've been dating for almost three years. I've never seen you eat, not once, not even some popcorn at a movie."

"What? No, that can't be true..."

"It is, Chris... and it's okay. Look, I know you're dealing with something right now, and I know you don't trust me enough to talk to me about it, but I just want you to know I'm here, okay? Whenever you're ready, only when you're ready, I'll be here ready to listen. Okay?"

A tear rolled down Chrissy's cheek. Jason wiped it away with his thumb.

"What if it takes a really long time?" she asked, her voice breaking with emotion.