Trapped (egobang trans)

Chapter 79 - Dancing

"I was wondering where you two had disappeared off to."

Danny looked up with surprise to see the silhouette of a girl standing next to them, the bright lights of the gym behind her.

"Oh, hey Suzy," he said with a smile.

"What're you doing out here? The party's inside." The goth laughed, leaning against the brick wall.

Danny laughed along. Even Arin managed to give a little giggle beside him, though Danny could tell she was obviously feeling awkward about being caught.

"It's nice out here." He shrugged, "And crowds... aren't really our thing, so."

A look of realisation crossed Suzy's shadowy face and she nodded slowly.

"You guys coming in, or...?"

"We'll come in," decided Arin, getting up before Danny could speak.

She smiled as she extended her hand to him to help him up. "And, uh, you can have your jacket back now."

Danny slipped his jacket back on and followed the girls back to the gym doors. A teacher spotted them from across the room and gave them an odd look. He seemed to let it slide though - this was supposed to be a fun night, after all.

"Wanna dance?" Danny dared ask, looking down at Arin.

He saw the cogs turning in her head, battling her anxiety to make a decision. Then, she grinned and grabbed his hand.

"Sure. The dance floor isn't as crowded as it was before, and I think I can see Meouch breakdancing."

"Or trying to," Suzy added with a smirk.

"You coming, Suz?" Danny asked.

"Nah, you two go ahead. I think I'm going to try find Rachel. Her and Brian are probably making out in a corner somewhere." She started going, but quickly paused as she seemed to remember something, "Oh, hey, Danny. Do you wanna hitch a ride home with us? Kevin's picking us up after."

"I said I'd go with TWRP and Brian. Thanks for the offer, though," Danny declined with a smile.

"No problem. See you later."

She went off in search of her best friend, and Danny felt himself being dragged along to the dance floor. He swallowed his own nerves, suddenly remembering he had no clue how to dance. Apart from his nerdy dance parties in the safety of his own room. Well... it couldn't be that hard, could it? Arin looked excited, at least.

People subconsciously moved out of their way, ignoring them as most of them danced in couples of their own. Danny observed them and his heart rate started to increase. He couldn't compete with this! So much for being the fearless boyfriend.

A flourish of pink fabric caught his eye suddenly. 

Danny blinked as he watched Arin do a spin. Her arms spread outwards and her dress flowered out with the movement. She stepped from side to side in her flat shoes, matching the beat of the song that was playing. Her head was pointed downwards, a mixture of watching her footing and trying to ignore the people around her. A timid smile sat on her pink lips, wavering ever so slightly but still maintaining. She risked a glance up and giggled, which was when Danny noticed he was standing there like a lemon and staring. He blushed, awkwardly moving his feet to try and match her dancing. He still couldn't stop looking at everyone else, though. It felt like they were all watching him, and that they were thinking how feminine his movements were. His hips still swayed a little against his will; he had seen in his mirror. He could hide it while walking, but dancing? They were too noticeable. He wasn't one for sharing, and being so out in the open felt like he was showing off all the parts of himself he didn't want others to see. Even with the suit, they could see right through it...

Arin grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, making him gasp in shock. He tried to meet her eye but couldn't.

"What's wrong?" she asked, just loud enough for him to hear.

"It's... I... I look too feminine when I dance..." he admitted.

"I think the way you dance is nice," Arin countered, smiling reassuringly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Just look at how stiff I am when I dance."

She pulled away from him for a moment, doing a little awkward jig that actually managed to make Danny smile properly. Personally he thought she looked beautiful, but, he could see where she was coming from. 

Arin came closer again, grabbing both of his hands this time. "You're a lot looser than I am. It might look a little feminine, b-but that's just you..."

Danny noticed then that she was still dancing - and so was he. She was pulling him along, swinging back and forth and forcing him to move without him knowing. His hips were swaying. Dysphoria crept up on Danny and threatened to freeze his movements, but Arin was forcing him to keep moving. To not stop and doubt himself. He dared a glance around, and to his suprise no one was paying any attention. His smile returned slowly. His passion for music was beginning to overrule the dysphoria and gradually he felt his movements grow more free. Loose, like Arin said.

On a whim he let go of one of Arin's hands and guided her into a spinout, which she pulled off flawlessly despite her "stiffness". She spun back towards him, and Danny wrapped his arm around her. She looked a little taken aback by where that had come from, but she didn't object as he let go of her again and they continued to sway back and forth together. Danny kept adding in little flourishes of his usual dancing, making Arin laugh, and before long it felt like it was just the two of them on the dance floor. 

As the song ended, Danny felt his unathletic self running out of energy. His private dance parties weren't usually as energetic. Arin seemed to slow down too. As the song faded into a slow bridge out, Danny noticed some couples slipping into a slow dance. He caught Arin's eye, who clearly had the same thought. He drew her closer and placed his hands on her waist. There was only a moment's hesitation before Arin reached up to wrap her arms around his neck in return. The bridge of the song was short, and as it ended Arin did something else that shocked Danny. She kissed him on the lips - a move that was often his job to instigate - before capturing him in a tight hug. Danny hugged her back.

"I think that's enought dancing for us. Wanna go back outside?"

A/N: on the shorter side. I'm not too happy with the structure of this prom, but I have a pretty good chapter next, and then....... maybe a quite big time skip?????? HMmmmmmmmmMMMm ;)))))