Sunset Memories

Chapter 14 - Never Let Max DJ A Dance

Mom drove us to the school gym. Snow was falling thick and fast in the darkness, illuminated by streetlights and the fading moon in the sky. When we entered the gym, AWOLNATION was playing softly on the speakers. I looked up and saw Max at the DJ's post. 

     ''No way,'' I mumbled.

     ''What?'' Danielle said, looking at me.

     ''Max is the DJ,'' I told her.

     Just then, Hanna appeared in front of us. ''He's also my date to the dance,'' she said slickly. 

     ''Really?'' Danielle said excitedly, and they got into the girl talk about guys and dates and all that stuff. I wandered near the DJ post and grinned at Max. 

     ''Like the toys?'' he asked, clicking a few buttons.

     I nodded. ''How'd you get the job?'' 

     Max shrugged. ''Jonas Eichenwald broke his arm the other day. Said he needed a replacement, and him and I are good buds. I'm even getting paid, too.'' He grinned at me, then spun one of the disks around, making a weird vinyl scratch in the music. Then he raised his eyebrows. ''So, you and Danielle, huh?''

     ''What?'' I grinned at him. ''I asked her and she said yes! How about you and Hanna?''

     Max shrugged. ''Well, Hanna's not really missing me right now, is she? Speaking of which, you should get back to Danielle. I'm going to put on a slow song in about two minutes.''

     I went back to Danielle and Hanna, who were commenting on each other's hair and dresses. I mainly just grinned and said Yeah or It looks great when I needed to. Staff came around with drinks and food. Astrid came and said hi, then went to dance with Mathias Tromlitz. And then Max's voice came on the speakers.

     ''All right, young lovers,'' he said in an entertaining voice. ''This next one is a good one by The Script. Guys, tell those girls I'm yours, because this is what that song is about.''  

     And then the music came on, soft and slow. Max ran out from his spot and grabbed Hanna by the hand, leading her onto the floor with other couples. Now it was just Danielle and I left.

     I took several deep breaths before I asked her, ''Do you want to dance?''

     ''Okay,'' she answered shyly, and we went onto the dancefloor.  

     I'm Yours by The Script played. I loved the way the chords were formed and the way the lyrics carried you out of reality when I sang it on my guitar. Danielle and I stopped on the floor. She put her hands on my shoulders, her fingers tangling with the chain of my necklace. My hands found her waist. It felt like there was nothing between her and me except for the soft fabric of her dress. 

     ''I listen close for I'm not smart, you wrap your thoughts in works of art . . .'' 

     ''I love this song,'' Danielle said in a hushed voice. 

     All I could do was grin. 

     We moved around slowly, our feet watching each other, revolving like two planets in orbit. I tried not to step on her toes, so delicate in her thin sandals. Other couple were just teetering around the floor, too nervous or unexperienced to actually dance. I knew I was definitely nervous and slightly unexperienced, but that didn't stop me. We moved like a song, synced and precise, spinning harmony into the words that we didn't say. I found myself melting away from the atmosphere, away from the dancefloor, although the music still played in my mind.