Mieux Que Tout

09

09 | je t'aime trop tôt

Annie's head pounded. The swell of the music resounded throughout her entire body, shaking out through the tips of her fingertips in what felt like tiny electrical currents. It was buzzing in waves. Drifting in one ear, out the other.

She was floating. Building up momentum as she bounced up and down with the crowd. It was hazy, lights flashing red and purple. She shook her head, hair falling around her. It was hot. She was sweaty, face flushed. Sally was beside her.

They linked hands and bumped hip to hip as they moved.

"Happy?" Sally grinned.

Annie looked at her. Sally's blonde hair was coloured a shade of blue. She nodded her head, swaying.

"Amazing!"

The music thundered, beat after beat. Like thunder. Annie shut her eyes, letting it wash over her, felt it rumble through her entire body. Her feet were sore, but she didn't care. This was how she let go - late night underground raves. The dark swallowed up everybody - there was no prejudice here. It was freedom. Away from the house, something secret.

The beat changed. It became furious. Sally removed her hand, rolling her fingers into fists and pounding them into the air. Annie began to bounce, left and right, shoulders rolling forwards and back.

She was smiling. A way to shake loose. She could dance for hours, sometimes all night. As she moved, she became breathless, heart racing. She bumped into Sally, accidentally smacking her arm. Sally grinned at her. Annie grinned back. Sally's hair had turned a shade of red.

"I need the toilet," Sally yelled.

"What?"

Sally leant in closer. "I need the toilet! You'll be okay?"

Annie gave her a thumbs up.

"I'll be five minutes!" Sally yelled, motioning with her hand.

Annie nodded. She watched as Sally pushed her way through the crowd until she disappeared. Annie felt her heart racing. Her knees ached. She continued dancing, feeling her limbs loosen as she moved. The beat changed again. The crowd pushed up behind her. Cheers floated into the air, lost as the music drowned them out. Just as quickly, a hand touched the small of her back.

Annie's eyes shot open. She spun around. Blood pounded in her ears.

A young couple behind her were dancing, hands slightly outstretched. They were laughing at one another, eyes locked, unaware. Annie blinked, half-frozen, her feet still moving. She turned back around, slightly dazed.

Ten minutes later, she found herself dancing in the middle, having being pushed away from the front by the pulsating crowd. She rubbed the back of her neck, as a shiver licked down her spine. The swirling lights became hazy as smoke rose into the air as the music changed again. The beat was slower, the synth waves long and slow. An electric current rang out into the air, charging it.

Annie shut her eyes, rolling her head back, smiling. She ran a hand over her face, fingers tracing down the bridge of her nose, the curves of her jaw until she ran a fingertip over her bottom lip. Her breath quickened as she dropped her shoulders and lolled her head to the side.

She was almost there. She could feel it. Her knees had stopped aching although her feet were pounding against the floor. She shook her head, her hair fanning around her face. Her skin felt clammy, cheeks burning. Her body was relaxed. She felt like she was dancing on a cloud, lifting higher towards oblivion. Drifting further.