Ghost on the Dance Floor

<This story was inpired by the song Ghost on the Dance Floor by Blink 182, so maybe give that a listen if you like. Its just something that was in my head.>

Flashes blinded Adam's eyes, and in every picture they were half closed. His friends all stood posed in couples, and he was tacked on at the end. Everyone was painfully aware of the empty space beside him.

“Congratulations, Adam,” his best friend, Tony's mother said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You look great.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled. He adjusted his light blue tie. He had complained so much about that tie, but she wanted to match so badly. They stood outside Tony's house, where they had gone after the graduation ceremony to drink and let the girls freshen up. After the pictures were finally over, his friends herded to a local hotel for Prom.

Prom... a night to remember, an infamous night. For Adam, it was dreaded. He sat at the table, pushing food around his plate in silence. His friends-- Tony, Mandy, Lou, Anna, Greg and Cara-- stayed with him for the meal, but slowly joined their classmates on the dance floor. He went into the bathroom, pulling the flask he had hidden in his pocket out and taking a long swig of Jagrmeister. His eyes were bloodshot in the mirror. He felt the world tilt a little.

“Just get through this,” he spoke fiercely to himself. He left the bathroom, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.

“I'll never let you down, boy,” a too-familiar voice said next to his ear.

“Jade?” he gasped, his head snapping around. There was nobody there. He looked everywhere, not seeing her. He shook his head, swearing under his breath. His heart hammered and he made his way back to the table. When he looked back over his shoulder, he caught a swish of light blue vanishing between the dancing couples.

“Jade!” he gasped again, pushing after her. Almost, almost. And then he saw her. The light shone through her as it spun around the dance floor, but she was there, in her blue dress, with her blonde hair cascading around her fine shoulders. And it hurt to see her. She had almost been his, she should have been his, tonight was supposed to be their night. Adam's eyes filled with tears and Jade stepped up to him.

“I said I'd go to prom with you,” she said and gave him a half smile. Her voice was a whisper, like a gentle breeze against the back of your neck. Goosebumps rose up and down his arms.

“Tell me that you're really here,” he begged.

“Shh,” Jade soothed.

“I'll never let you go,” he swore, and he meant it. His memories burned inside his chest but he tried to fight them out.

“Adam,” his mother yelled. “Please, come here.” He dragged himself out of his room, suppressing an eye roll. Mothers were endlessly annoying. As he approached the bottom of the stairs though, he knew something was wrong.

“Mom? What is it?” he asked. He heard his voice echo and then, a sniff.

“I just got off the phone with Jade's parents,” she said. She was sitting on the very edge of the coffee table, a place he had never seen her perch before.

“What is it?” Adam repeated.

“Honey, I'm so sorry.... There's been an accident.”Her voice wavered.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Adam...” She clenched her hands in fists, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Adam's heart didn't feel like it was beating anymore.

“Is Jade okay?” he demanded. His mother just shook her head silently, as more tears soaked her face. She put her face in her hands and Adam sunk to his knees. Sudden sobs wracked his body and he didn't bother to try and contain them.

“What!” he screamed. Somehow he knew.

“She was on the highway home from her grandfathers...”

“It's not true,” Adam claimed.

“I wish it wasn't. God, do I wish it wasn't,” Adam's mother said. It was the first time he had ever heard her take the lord's name in vain.

“It's not true, you're a liar!”

“Adam, honey!”Her eyes widened and she put a hand over her mouth.

“I hate you!” He screamed. “I hate this! It isn't true and you're a bitch for making it up.” He ran his sleeve across his eyes.

“It's true... It was a drunk driver,” his mom protested.

“Fuck you!” Adam shoved the nearest arm chair, flipping it over and he stormed up to his room.

“She is my forever,” he sobbed into his pillow. “She is my everything.”

Prom didn't go on forever, and slowly people began to leave. Many had gotten rooms in the hotel, or made other plans to continue the party.

“Adam, let's go!” Tony called to him, when there was only about eight people left. Adam had barely moved, staying where he could see Jade, where he could smell her and almost hear her.

“I'll never leave this dance floor,” Adam whispered.

“Adam,” she mouthed.

“I'll never leave you here,” He protested.

“Adam?” Tony said. Adam didn't even turn to look. Tony came up to him, putting a drunken arm around his shoulder.

“Brother?” he asked, looking where Adam was staring and seeing nothing.

“She's here,” Adam breathed.

“Oh, Adam. She's not. She's gone,” Tony said, not without sympathy.

“She's here, Tony. There,” Adam protested, pointing. Jade smiled, but her eyebrows knit together in concern.

“Oh, Adam. I'm not here for them, this is for you.”

“It's so scary here without you,” he whispered.

“Adam?” Tony interrupted.

“Fuck off, Tony! I'm not leaving,” Adam shouted, shrugging him off. He took a step closer to Jade and she placed a hand against his cheek. Her eyes stayed right on his, and he felt almost better.

“You'll move on some day,” she promised.

“No one will ever replace you,” he argued.

“Of course not. But I want you to find happiness elsewhere,” she said.

“No,” he shook his head.

“Please, Adam,” she begged.

“No!”

“Just try, for me,” she said. This time he said nothing. She kissed him and then backed away.

“Don't go!” Adam reached for her.

“Adam, dude, come on. You're starting to worry me,” Tony said. Adam shot Tony a dirty look over his shoulder but when he turned back, she was gone. He turned back to Tony, blaming him, he shoved him. Tony got back up right away, unfazed.

“Adam,” Tony whispered.

“She was here,” Adam insisted, and Tony pulled him into a hug.