Contemplative Sensitivity

The Winter Formal

The next day, Nile, Erwin, Mike and Levi went out in search of suits. It didn't the larger boys too long to find suits, but Levi couldn't find one in his size (much to Nile's entertainment). When they reported back to Cecily, she was annoyed by their inadequacy and demanded Levi accompany her and Desmonia when they went shopping. Cecily was sure they'd be able to find him a suit that would fit his petite frame. Levi was reluctant at first, but gave in when Mike mentioned that he had to look best for Erwin.

The eve before the winter formal, Martha instructed Levi and Erwin to iron their suits. 

"You don't want to have to iron it the night of," Martha said wisely. 

When she left their room, Levi sighed and said that all the preparations were troublesome. 

Erwin agreed. "Yeah, but I think it'll be worth it."

"I like my suit and all, but I think we are overdressing. It's a semi-formal dance," Levi scowled. "We aren't going to a wedding, but shit, Cecily looks like she's about to walk down the aisle!" Levi said. "The dress she bought looked over the top...I almost wanted to paint it."

Erwin laughed. "She is competing with all the other girls. She can't go a day without having the upper hand. But I'm glad we're doing this, even if you didn't really want to go."

Levi eyed Erwin cautiously. There was a blush creeping up his neck. "I did want to go."

"Oh?" Erwin said.

"Yeah...I wanted to go with you...but I didn't know if you'd be off work." Levi spoke quickly. "I figured that since Isabel and Farlan were offering the tickets, I'd just say we could use them. I thought you'd have no choice but to weasel your way out the internship for a night, but it all worked out in the end."

Erwin froze for a second. "You wanted to go with me all along?" 

Levi blushed, but growled. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get all sentimental on me, Erwin. I just thought that our first dance should be with one another." 

Erwin felt like he could cry tears of joy. "I get it."

The day of the formal arrived. It was exceptionally cold, and while some kids were solemnly bidding their classmates a jolly good Christmas fair well, the older students couldn't wait for the day to be over so they could spruce up for the dance. Cecily and Mike avoided school all together, and Erwin and Nile were stuck taking a test in their final class periods. While Nile was chewing his pencil to nothing in an attempt to remember how to solve a quadratic equation, Erwin was taking a biology test. Just recently he learned that there are chemicals in the brain that combine and create the feeling of love. Erwin distractedly wondered what it would be like to recreate those chemicals in the brain of another person. It'd be nice for a person to feel the same way that their admirer does about them. Before he knew it, the final bell rung and the school day was complete.

"Alright boys," Farlan waved at Erwin, Nile and Levi. "The moment I walk through those doors, I'm heading to Maria for recreation and family time. Have fun at the ball."

Isabel, who was standing next to her cousin, handed Nile and Erwin two small boxes, and pushed a lone box in Levi's hand.

"Don't open it until after the dance," Isabel warned. "Give one to Mike and one to Cecily. Tell them to have a wonderful Christmas."

"What do you think is in here?" Nike asked when they had walked about a mile away from the school.

"Beats me," Levi said. "Isabel gets creative with her gifts. But I know its probably great."