Boston Boys

Dances and Dreams

Yet, any time she dared to look in Chris's direction, she found him laughing animatedly, completely engrossed in his new companion.

Haley, sensing the shift, leaned closer to Madyson, her voice soft and low. "You okay?"
Madyson forced a nod, the smile on her face feeling increasingly forced. "I'm fine. Just... tired."

But as she spoke, she felt the truth enveloping her like a thick fog. She missed Chris. More than she would admit, she missed the shared moments, the late-night conversations, and especially the kisses that felt electric against her skin. Who was she kidding? This wasn't just physical—it never had been.

The playful banter in the beginning was no harm, no foul. It was annoying, sure, but both were intrigued with one another.

"Madyson," Nick interrupted, saving her from her thoughts, "dance with me?"

She raised an eyebrow, the simple query surprising her. "Dance?"

"Yeah, come on. Let's lighten this up," he urged, a boyish smile lighting up his face. It was impossible to resist him.
With a deep breath, she took his hand, allowing him to pull her up from the couch.

Haley and Matt getting up and doing the same thing.
Matt being the one to stand up first, holding his hand out for Haley to grab, which she did with a smile.

As they moved to the makeshift space in the living room now making it a dance floor, her uncertainty shifted slightly—this was what she needed.

If only for a moment, she could lose herself in the space and forget about the derailing possibilities dredged up by Chris.

Nick turned the music up a bit louder before he swung her around playfully, and for an instant, she felt normal again.

Laughter bubbled up from deep within her, the sound surprisingly graceful against the familiar backdrop of music.

It was liberating, and in those swirling moments, the shadows of doubt began to dissipate.

But just as she began to relax, she caught Chris watching her from the couch, his expression inscrutable. He had turned away from the girl, his attention wholly focused on her.

In that heartbeat, time stood still; everything else around her faded.

Three days had passed since she walked out on Chris, the boy with the charming smile and disarming touch—more of a compatriot in reckless romantic flings than a true boyfriend.

Her heart betrayed her; it fluttered with hope every time she thought about the potential for something more.
But the sting of reality was undeniable when she heard the familiar chuckle from the living room, echoing with the presence of the other girl.

Was that the sound of jealousy rising in her throat? It shamed her, made her feel weak. They were just casual; they had established that.
Yet the image of Chris wrapped around another girl, his laughter reverberating with her own, left her feeling hollow.

Madyson forced a smile, hoping to appear indignant rather than shattered. "It's fine. It's none of my business anymore," The poor girl whispered to herself, trying to not focus so much on the situation.

Nick shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable but unwilling to let her linger in despair.

"Hey, I have a friend who can't stop talking about you. Carrington. You know—the guy you kissed at Tara's party? He wants to hang out. I just never bothered mentioning it because, you know..."

Memories flashed through Madyson's mind—the heat of the moment at Tara's party, Carrington's kisses that ignited excitement, a wonderful distraction.