Red Converse

Chapter 6: The Dance

"Peter! Aaron is at the door!" Ma called up the stairs.

I stuffed my feet into my red converse, checked my hair in the mirror, then tripped down the stairs.

"Hey! Hey! Slow down, Pete!" Brett scolded as he caught me before I face planted.

"Got it. Thanks, Brett!" I squirmed out of his hold. He ruffled my hair then I continued my race to the door. I barged right into Ma's and Aaron's conversation.

"I would welcome you in, but it seems that Peter is ready to go," Ma joked as she patted my shoulder. Aaron smiled at me, the porch light illuminating his emerald green eyes.

"I want a quick picture of you two then I'll send you off," Ma announced as she pulled Aaron inside.

I stood awkwardly by Aaron's side, embarrassed as Brett smirked at me from behind Ma. Aaron wrapped his arm around me and leaned against me with a big smile. This, of course, made me immediately forget about my brothers' teasing looks. I smiled, the flash of Ma's camera nearly blinding me. After a few pictures, I tried to sneak Aaron away from our one-person paparazzi.

"Peter! Stop moving around! You'll thank me later when you look at these pictures when you're older!" Ma claimed as she waved her camera around.

"Thank you for letting Peter come to the dance with me, ma'am. If I'm honest, I'm just as excited as him." Aaron winked at me, and I blushed in embarrassment.

"Call me Linda, dear. Also, I know you two wanted to walk there, but I feel much better with DJ driving."

DJ pouted behind me, not wanting to get off the couch.

"But Ma!..." I started, but she was having none of it.

"Peter. You are a 13-year-old. My little baby, get in that car and stop making a fool of yourself." Ma's words and glare made me immediately shut up.

DJ, having witnessed Ma's anger, decided against trying to get out of his driving duty. Ma turned to Aaron, smiled, and wished him a good night. She then pushed DJ and I out of the house and shut the door.

"Your mother is as cheery as always," Aaron joked. Even DJ laughed at that.

The drive to the middle school was peacefully quiet. I spent the whole ride worrying about my dancing skills. Aaron seemed to be in another world as he gazed out the window. DJ tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, excited to go back to bed. We arrived at the school. Aaron hopped out, but before I could join him, DJ stopped me.

"Deep breaths. Have fun. Stay safe," DJ told me calmly.

He ruffled my hair then pushed me out of the car and drove away. I took a deep breath then smiled at Aaron. We walked into the school together, ready to dance the night away. In the crowd of middle schoolers and under the blue and yellow streamers, I stared at my feet.

"Pete, look at me," Aaron spoke softly.

I looked up at his green eyes.

"Let's dance," Aaron offered.

I breathed in. I breathed out.

"Let's dance," I agreed quietly.

Taking my shaky hands in his soft ones, he set us up for a ballroom dance. We were close enough that I could see the specks of brown in his eyes and smell his minty breath. I could see the dash of freckles on his cheeks and the piece of brown hair that had fallen over his eyes. We did what we had planned since Aaron had invited me to the event.

We danced the night away.