Collide // Harry Styles

Chapter 2. Limelight

Chapter 2. Limelight

Ava's POV.

        I watched the crowd as they moved through the music with rhythm and flow, like waves in the ocean. The bright lights travelled throughout the room, giving such energy to the dull and dark painted walls. My feet lightly tapped on the step of the stool as I sat quietly behind the bar where Blaire insisted me to get a drink. Might as well pass since I still want to be sober when I get out of here, not that I hate it but it isn't just my scene. 

"C'mon Ava, live a little." She slurs as she lightly nudges my shoulder.

"Why even live?" I whisper to myself.

"What?"

"Nothing." I shrug.

"Party pooper." She sticks her tongue out like a little child. I swear, she can be so childish sometimes.

I just roll my eyes and ignore her, didn't have anything else worth to say anyways. My head slowly turned to where the clock was, hanging on the wall about three feet away from me. Nine fifty-two, its hands showed. Guess I'm stuck here for a few more hours. Surprisingly, I was startled when a guy up to my side and gently tapped my shoulder.

"Yeah?" 

"Would you like to dance?" He warmly smiles.

"Uhm, I'm not-"

"Of course she would!" An overly-joyed voice interrupted me.

"But-"

"Miss?" He offers his hand and I hesitantly accept it, standing up from my seat as he guides me through the crowd. Why? I mouthed at her. I was expecting an answer but all she did was wink, I am hopeless. Passing through, we reached the middle of the dance floor and I was dazed when someone's hands were already on my waist, right after they placed mine on their shoulders. Someone's eager. 

"I'm Noah, by the way."

"Ava." I smile.

We swayed slowly, neither of us speaking. And honestly, I was okay with it. My thoughts were drifted off as I observed the vibe around me, watching the motion of every detail of mostly everything. It was like in a sort of slow motion, just me in my own little world. In my point of view, it seemed like I could almost picture it, or precisely draw it on my sketchpad. Like a work of art. I see things not everyone can understand like I do, I see things in its littlest of ways. But I'm not crazy though. 

"So, you came here alone?" His voice pops up.

"My friend, the one with dark hair from a while ago, invited me to come here." 

"Right, right. And do you like it so far?"

"To be honest, not really. But I guess, I'll just have to wait a little more." I softly chuckle.

"Yes, of course." He agrees.

"Do balls like this usually happen?" I question.

"Yeah, every year. It's my first time but my friend told me that it's sort of like a tradition." 

"A tradition? For what?"

"Just for fun, I suppose." 

"Oh."

Once again, neither of us spoke. This isn't awkward at all. I watched closely as a few people, whom I presume were done with the night, since they exited through a different door that I haven't noticed at all and went in. Was that the exit? I thought. Then I was suddenly alarmed when a man carried a lady over his shoulder, she must've been pretty wasted. As I was about to leave my partner, his hands gripped tighter around my waist and he obviously noticed what I was going to do.