A Ghost of A Smile

Chapter 6: Welcome Back Dance

I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting my clothes until I looked, and felt, perfect. A knock on the door made me burst from my room and fly down the stairs before my mom could answer. I flung open the door, and there he was. I swear, every street lamp on the street was trained on him.

"Hi Travis." I said.

"Hi Travis." My dad mimicked my tone and appeared behind me.

"This is my dad, Mr. Lancaster." I introduced them. Travis shook his hand.

"Hello Mr. Lancaster, nice to meet you sir." Good job adding in the sir.

"We'll be back by ten thirty." I said, taking Travis's hand and dragging him out the door.

Our gym looked like... our gym, with streamers. It wasn't anything special really. Although, the night itself on the other hand...

"Do you wanna dance?" Travis asked. I smiled, and nodded. We walked out into the middle of the dance floor where a few couples swayed back and forth to the pulsing beat coming from the beat up stereos in the corner. We joked around a lot, he danced like a chicken for a little bit, making me laugh. Then the music slowed, he got a little more serious. I put my hands on his shoulders, he put his on my waist. We moved back and forth for a little bit. I couldn't really make eye contact with him. It felt weird.

It didn't feel the way I thought it would.

The original heart pulsing, sweaty palms feel was gone. Now it was just... awkward, kind of like I was dancing with my cousin. I bit my lip, trying not to feel a little disappointed. The night could pick up still.

When the song ended, Travis took my hand.

"Do you want to go get some air?" He asked a little shakily. I nodded.

"That'd be nice." We walked out the double doors into the cold air. He led me to a bench near the parking lot where we sat, looking up at the stars. It was more romantic than the gym, I guess.

"Trinity?" I looked at him, he put his hand on my cheek. I froze for a second, and not because the air was chilly. He started leaning closer to me, and closer, and closer. I felt his breath on my lips, then I felt him kiss me.

It was sweet, not tender, no sparks. It wasn't weird, it just wasn't what I was hoping for. I could tell he felt the same by the way he kept his posture kind of stiff.

After maybe five seconds, i pulled away. He didn't object. We sat in awkward silence for, too long. I was the first to speak.

"Well, that was..." I trailed off.

"Not really what you'd think." I turned to look at him, and nodded.

"Yeah." He could tell I was disappointed. Travis put an arm around my shoulders.

"I think we were better off just being friends. It works for us." He suggested. I smiled, and nodded.

"Agreed.