Dancing with Eloise

Chapter one

"Daad," I groaned, "do we have to take the truck?"

He shot me a look that said 'get in or you're not going'. With an exasperated sigh I plopped down onto the torn cloth passenger seat taking special care not to touch the food stain on the side. He slid into the drivers seat and started up the car.

I stared out the window watching the world move backwards as we pulled out into the road. "Can you at least drop me off around the corner?" The last thing I wanted to do was to be seen in my dad's old blue Toyota. Not now.

"Margot, listen to me," his voice containing a hint of annoyance, "I know you don't like it, but until your mother gets back, this'll be the only mode of transportation. Now do you want to go to this party or not?"

I sat weighing my options. Cars began to line up behind us honking as we idled at the stop sign, waiting for my answer. "Ok fine. Just don't embarrass me any more than this." Out of the corner of my eye I could see him shaking his head.

The truck lurched forward and we started in our way.

🚘 🚘 🚘

The house was huge. I rushed out of the car, almost catching the hem if my skirt in the door, and said a quick goodbye to my dad. "Remember to be home at eleven. No later." "Yeah yeah I know."

The door was open, as always. As I entered a chorus of squeals sounded over the deafening music and I was attacked by my three best friends.

"Oh! Margot! I adore your dress!" Gushed Lindsay, "where did you get it?"

"Forever 21," responded Hannah, "I helped her pick it out." She turned to me, "see I told you it looked great!"

"Leave the poor girl alone! She just got here! Let her have a little space!" Interrupted Grace, "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet," she grabbed my hand with a twinkle in her eye and pulled me across the crowded living room.

"Margot, meet Dan. Dan, Margot." I looked up and immediately lost the ability to function.

"Hey, nice to meet you" he stuck out his hand, which I took and shook maybe a little too vigorously because he looked at me strangely afterwards.

"H-hi I'm Margot"

He chuckled, his perfect mouth forming a smile. "Yeah, I know." He stood there analyzing me. "You wanna go somewhere quieter so we don't have to yell?" I hadn't even noticed we were yelling. I found myself nodding and saying, "how about the deck?" "Okay let's go"

Out of nowhere a small figure bounced up to us.

"Oh my gosh! Margie! I haven't seen you in forever!"

I cringed as the piercing voice invaded the moment. "Ellie!" I cried in fake enthusiasm, "what are you doing here?"

Her skinny arms wrapped around my shoulders, "Hailey invited me! Isn't this great?"

"Oh yeah..."

I wriggled out of her grasp and turned back to Dan. "Excuse me for a moment, I'll meet you outside." He shrugged and headed out.

"El," I hissed, "can't you see I'm in the middle of something?"

"Yeah I'm so sorry but oh my gosh can you believe it? What are the odds that we'd be at the same

party tonight?"

"El, we go to the same school. Everyone in our graduating class was invited."

"Still... But omg you wouldn't believe what happened!" She stood there with a stupid grin on her face waiting for me to respond.

"Ok, El. What happened?"

"You remember Steven, right? Well he told me he likes me!" At this she literally jumped up and down clapping.

"El, he lives in California. Halfway across the country."

"Yeah well..."

"And he has a girlfriend. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be." I slipped off into the crowd praying she wouldn't follow me.

"Margie! Margie!" Her voice was suddenly drowned out as a new song came on.

♥ ♥ ♥

Finally I made it onto the deck. I

stepped over people sitting and laying on the ground to get to Dan, who was engaged in a conversation with a pretty girl who was in my history class.

Tapping on his shoulder, I smiled and said, "Hey sorry about that," in the most sickeningly sweet voice I could muster.

"It's okay. You want a soda?"

"Sure how bout a Dr. Pepper?"

"You got it." He left me and the other girl.

I turned to her and gave her a gloating smirk and shrugged. She glared at me and stalked away, joining back up with her group of friends who were laughing and pointing out random people who were completely oblivious to the attention.

Soon that attention was turned to me and the group was giving me dirty looks as Dan brought me back the can of Dr Pepper. As soon as he wasn't paying attention, I stuck my tongue out at the girls and pretended that I was having the time of my life.