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It was the night of the Bates Academy Dance, one of the few times that we Eastland girls got to mingle formally with the boys from the prestigious institution. Part of me was excited, but the other cynical part couldn't help but feel like the whole thing was a giant heteronormative ploy. The posters plastered all over campus of men and women dancing together were like instruction booklets for a happy, straight, allegedly well-adjusted, conformist lifestyle. If you ask me, they should have been more inclusive and printed posters of women dancing with other women and men dancing with other men. They would never do such a thing, of course - after all, everyone who knows anything knows that 'the establishment' is just a bunch of narrow-minded jerks. Then again, even if the school administration could, they'd likely get in trouble from the myriad Republican voting parents. Maybe, I thought, I could get Natalie to write an article on the whole conspiracy side of it for the school paper. She loves to write about controversial topics even though she just got started in journalism class.
What I did know for sure is that all of my friends had different expectations of the outcome of the night, and I felt like it was my job to make sure that nothing blew up in anyone's face. For Blair it was an opportunity to make all the other girls jealous as she pranced about with Greg Hockney in her arms. Judging by his body language, however, it seemed that he would have rather been anywhere else. It was like he was a rat trapped in a cage - a rat desperately looking for an opportunity to escape! For Sue Ann the night was her opportunity to become Scott's girl, and it was Cindy's opportunity to make sure that Sue Ann did not become Scott's girl. It had more or less all the ingredients for a perfect teen drama storm.
The large room was decked out with all of the usual things you would expect from a high-school dance. There was food, the ubiquitous (and apparently inescapable) disco music, cheesy banners all over the place, and yes, somebody did spike the punch...! Scott paraded around in his topsiders, posing with Sue Ann as though she were some sort of trophy. Although Sue Ann seemed to be trying to make herself feel comfortable about it, the way she held her body betrayed a certain distance as though she were instinctually resisting him.
Blair was primping and strutting as usual, all the while with Greg at her side. They had come as a double date with Nancy and Roger - the latter, I noted, was checking out other women .... most of them blondes. What a dog he is! How does she put up with him? I also noticed that Greg was stealing sly glances at Cindy when Blair was busy gazing at her reflection in her compact or poofing her hair. Greg spotted me as I walked by.
"Hey, Molly, what's up!?" he called out.
"Oh, hi, Greg!" I shouted back, making myself heard over a particularly dismal Donna Summers song. Of course Blair had taken notice of me since her date had.
"So, Molly, where's your date? Or did you scare him away with your politics?"
Greg's head snapped back at her comment, and his face showed a touch of anger as he blurted, "Leave her alone." Blair looked shocked by the defense he had mounted for me, but immediately shut her mouth. "So, where's Cindy?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Nice try Greg, you know exactly where she is!
"She's sitting over there, next to the wall," I responded as I pointed to wallflower Cindy who was smiling and surveying the crowd. It seemed as though she was paying particular attention to Sue Ann and Scott.
"Why do you care about her?" Blair snapped with annoyance. As if coming to my defense hadn't been enough, he was now asking after her arch-nemesis!
"Can't I be curious?"
"Not with a girl you were flirting with at the Harvest Fair!"
Uh-oh, this was about to escalate. Blair was playing the jealous girlfriend role, yet surprisingly there did seem to be a genuine sense of envy transmitted by her body this time. My mind quickly ran through the possibilities: was she jealous because he liked Cindy, or was it because he wasn't paying attention to her? This was Blair Warner we were talking about, and she is all about attention, whether it's from a guy or a girl. The book does not clearly describe the differences. I'll probably have to go consult some other literature on that, but what was for sure is that her eyes, hands and tense muscles were hinting at a bit of the old green-eyed monster.
"Look, Blair, I was not flirting with her!"
"Yes, you were! I saw it with my own eyes, Greg."
"No, I wasn't!"
I figured a verbal spar was as good a time as any to return to my seat, which was right next to Cindy's. She was sitting immobile and seemingly transfixed. I bet that in all the time I had been gone her eyes had never left the sight of Sue Ann for more than ten seconds. Sue Ann returned the gaze every now and then from where she and Scott were standing, which wasn't too far from where we were seated.
Finally the so-called couple hit the dance floor as the DJ spun recycled radio hits. Unfortunately most of it was that brain-numbing trash called Disco. Blah! I'll say it again - I hate Disco! It's just mindless, repetitive noise. I'd take the Joans - Armatrading and Baez that is - over those lame acts any day!
Anyhow, back to the story. Cindy was watching them like a hawk while they were dancing. One guy approached her and asked her to dance. Looking irritated, she rejected the offer. She barely took her eyes off the couple during the entire rebuff. No one had tried to fit me onto their dance card, and so I was feeling a bit dejected. I figured that we could both use a few minutes focused on something other than the dismalness at hand, so I brought up about the upcoming Biology test. That diversion went well at first, but then she got up abruptly and left her seat. She strode across the dance floor towards the couple with a determined look on her face and asked Sue Ann for a dance, which I must admit was a bold move. I got up to get a better view of the action, and was able to catch some of their back and forth with the lip-reading skills I had been practicing. The rest Cindy told me later on.
"May I cut in?" Cindy asked.
"Sure!" Sue Ann replied, seeing it as nothing more than harmless fun.
"Hey, who is this?" Scott asked. He wasn't offended; in fact it looked like he was excited that he saw another good-looking girl.
"This is my friend Cindy Webster."
"Hi, nice to meet you," Cindy said as she offered her hand. Judging by the way she was looking at him I'm surprised that she hadn't spit in it first.
"Scott Dunbar the Third, nice to meet you."
Cindy proceeded to shake her booty on the dance floor, and Sue Ann joined her. Scott looked like he was in heaven as he watched the girls moving to the music with each other. Sue Ann turned around and drew him in order to dance with both of her suitors at the same time. Cindy didn't seem to want any of that, so she kicked it up a notch in order to impress Sue Ann.
To me it looked more or less like a competition. Scott, of course, was oblivious to this fact. Cindy was like a peacock, showing off her best feathers in order to lure Sue Ann. She appeared to be reaching deep into her dance-move repertoire to maintain the woman's undivided attention. I also noticed, however, that she was enjoying the attention of the crowd, many of whom had stopped what they were doing to watch the spectacle. The pageant was not a one-time thing - she was truly an attention-seeker, and no better than Blair in that respect!
Speaking of Blair, it looked like she was annoyed that everybody's attention was focused on Cindy's show, and not her. To make matters worse, Greg was no exception. His eyes seemed to intently follow each of Cindy's bodily movements. Blair was no slouch when it came to dancing, but Cindy was in a league of her own.
Cindy made sure that her dance moves took place between rather than around Scott and Sue Ann. I was a bit worried that he would notice what she was doing, but it was clear that Sue Ann was very impressed. Hell, most of the people surrounding her were as well - Cindy was really strutting her stuff! All of a sudden the song 'I Want Your Love' by Chic - one of the very, very, very, few Disco acts that I like - came on. As Cindy gyrated and swaggered, she lip-synched the lyrics of the song.
"I Want Your Love, I Want - Your Love" she mouthed to Sue Ann in a comedic fashion. Sue Ann took this as all part of the act, as did Scott and the crowd of onlookers that had gathered. Only I was aware of the truth underlying the act. Thank God, because she would have been in serious trouble. Blair, on the other hand, was watching another one of her giant evil smirks plastered across her face. Evidently, she too knew what was going on. I don't like that one bit!
Everything on the dance floor itself was going fine until the violin part of the song came on, at which point Cindy seemed to get caught her in own feet. "WHOA!" she exclaimed, stumbling towards Sue Ann and instinctively flailing her arm out to catch her fall. Sue Ann caught her in an awkward embrace.
"Cindy, are you okay?!" she panicked.
"I'm fine," she responded. Their eyes met meaningfully, and for a quick moment it was obvious how they both felt for each other. It didn't make matters any easier that strands of Cindy's blond hair were brushing against Sue Ann's cheek - nor did the fact that Cindy's soft yet toned body was pressed up against the other woman's. It looked like as though Sue Ann desperately wanted to hug her back. She was blushing yet she seemingly unaware of it. A stunned look had registered on Scott's face as he observed the scene. Had he figured out that Cindy was his competition, or was he still just shocked about the fall? I couldn't tell by his reaction.
"Come on, Sue Ann, let's go get some more punch," he uttered as he snapped out of his dumbfounded silence. Sue Ann nodded and followed him after a moment with what seemed like a touch of reluctance.
Cindy watched the two disappear, and with a look of feigned nonchalance examined her nails with a twinkle in her eye that seemed to proclaim "Cindy 1, Scott 0." After a moment she turned to me and gallantly swept her arm forward for me to take it, a gesture meant as an invitation to join her on the dance floor. Sue Ann was peering back, seemingly longing for Cindy without really realizing it.
"Well, I see that you're happy," I remarked.
"I sure am. It seems that I left quite an impression on her!"
"Yeah, but I think you left one with Scott too. I can't say for sure, but he seems to have at least suspected something."
Cindy thought about it for a split-second before acknowledging what I said. "Oh no, you're right! That's why he took her to the punch bowl."
"Yep, so that she'll be far away from you and your dance steps." A look of concern clouded her face, so I offered a quick reassurance, "Don't worry about it. I doubt that it'll go any further. It's probably best not to press any further, you might just end up making things worse."
"But what if she wants a second date? ....... What if they kiss?" she asked the second question in a terrified tone.
"Sue Ann's a prude, Cindy. I really doubt she'd let anyone kiss her on the first date. And as for a second date? Don't worry about it, we'll find a way around it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Just have fun for now. After all, how often do we get the chance to be out at night?"
Cindy reluctantly agreed. She can be such a tiger sometimes, and I fear that could really get her in trouble given the wrong circumstances .... Circumstances such as these, for instance. Surprisingly though, she managed to relax. We whiled away the evening people watching and exchanging our thoughts on what we saw until an anxious looking boy ambled up and asked me to dance.
"M-m-may I dance with you ma'am?" he stuttered with a Southern accent. He was a short, portly fellow, with black hair and thick glasses framing his round face.
"Sure," I said to him. I turned to Cindy, "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yep," she smiled, "just fine." I think she was happy that someone had finally asked me to dance.
I followed my suitor out to the dance floor where he gingerly placed his sweaty hands around my waist. Then, just like clockwork, Greg approached Cindy and asked for a dance. I wondered where Blair was as Cindy nodded her acceptance. Little did I know that she and Greg had had an argument outside the auditorium after which she had stalked off. Oh well.
All of a sudden the disco hits gave way to the unmistakable introductory recorder chords of perhaps the longest slow (or at least mostly slow) song known to late twentieth century man, the anthem of all school dances, of broken hearts and day-glo dens alike .... Stairway to Heaven. Sue Ann was still dancing with Scott, and Cindy was dancing with Greg, which didn't stop either of them gazing at one another over their respective companions' shoulders. I couldn't observe as much as I wanted to I too was on the dance floor too for once.
During our dance I found out that wooer's name was Ralph, and that he was a card-carrying Democrat! He's also into political activism, considers Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather to be his heroes, and he's trying to start a recycling program back home in Austin, Texas. I think I'm in love...
It was painful to see those two reduced to pining glances, but perhaps more painful to acknowledge that even if they had been a full-out couple they still wouldn't have been able to dance in public. It would cause a huge scandal, and the school would react by kicking them out in a second and taking away Sue Ann's scholarship. Again I was struck by the unfairness that they would have to go through all that just because society considers their love to be abnormal.
When the song was over, everything immediately reverted to party mode between Scott and Sue Ann as he made every effort to keep her a good distance from Cindy. That's one point for Scott.
As the dance was winding up, Greg feebly attempted to make his move on Cindy. "It was really awesome dancing with you. Can I see you again some time?"
"Thanks, but no thanks," she responded rather bluntly.
Greg pulled out his crooked smile from his arsenal of allure in attempt to charm her like he does with all the other girls. I'd seen it a kazillion times before - I'd known the guy since I was seven!
"What's the matter? It's just going to be casual like. We could head out to a movie, or ..."
"I understand, but you're not really my type."
"Aw, what's wrong? I'm not a bad guy once you get to know me."
"I'm sure you're not, but I'm not interested in dating anyone right now, thank you."
She gave me an intense look to telegraph her discomfort, "Hey, Molly, let's get Sue Ann so we can leave."
I turned to my new 'date' and said, "I'll be back, I need to get my friend."
"No problem ma'am!"
I found Sue Ann with Scott in the otherwise empty hallway. I beckoned her over with a wave of my arm and called out, "Hey, Sue Ann, it's time for us to go."
Apparently Scott had other plans.
"You girls go on without me, Scott said he'll bring me home after we hit the diner for some late night snacks." A chill rolled over me as she said 'late night snacks.' My instinct told me it wasn't a good scene.
"Don't be so naïve, Sue Ann, come with us," Cindy said flatly as she joined me at my side. The auditorium door she had just come through tapped shut behind her.
"Look, I won't harm her - I promise," Scott offered with a cool smile, picking up on the marked tension. "Besides, it's not like we're going to be alone. A couple of my buddies and their gals are coming along as well. I'd invite you two as well, but we're already tight on space in the van."
Another shudder rippled through my body at the word 'van.'
"Scott man, let's get a movin'!" a friend of his called out from further down the hallway.
"Alright, coming! Well .... see you ladies later," he said with a small wave as he took Sue Ann's hand in his. I could see tears welling up in Cindy's eyes as it dawned on her that the final score rested at Cindy 1, Scott 2. She turned quickly and walked away, her footsteps echoing down the hall towards the nearest exit. I tried to follow her but she called over her shoulder, "Please, just let me be by myself. I don't want anyone me around right now."
"Come on, Cindy," I offered from where I stood, several feet behind her.
"Please, Molly," she said, tears audibly choking her voice as she pushed open the door in front of her and let herself out into the night. Ralph appeared just as I was about to chase after her.
"It was great meeting you, ma'am. How can I contact you?"
"Please, call me Molly. Calling me ma'am makes me feel old! Though I must say that I respect your veneration." I signaled him to follow me back into the auditorium where I found a pen and paper lying on one of the tables. I wrote down our house's number.
"Here's the number for my dorm. If a girl named Nancy answers tell her to get the heck off and that Roger will call her some other time!"
Ralph laughed in response, "Okay, I will. Have a great night .... Molly." He bowed awkwardly, and clutched my hand to his lips to plant a quick kiss. He's such a gentleman! It was my turn to blush like crazy and for my time clock to go off! I was in love! Now I know how Cindy felt. Although my reaction probably wasn't as powerful as hers towards Sue Ann, the feeling was amazing!
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Midnight struck and Mrs. Garrett's anxiety was peaking - the dance had ended hours before, and Cindy still hadn't returned. Even Sue Ann had made it home by that point. She seemed equally worried about the missing girl.
"Where's Cindy? She knows full well that curfew was midnight," Mrs. Garrett asked as she paced back and forth in a feeble attempt to alleviate her nervous tension.
"I don't know, Mrs. Garrett," Tootie offered. "The last time I saw her she was walking out of the ballroom."
"Cindy told me that she needed some time by herself when she left," I piped up.
Mrs. Garrett looked shocked and a little bit upset. "Why didn't you tell me that in the first place, Molly?"
"Sorry, Mrs. Garrett, but she was just really about something that happened at the dance." I left it there because I couldn't come up with a good lie. Luckily enough, I didn't have to as Mrs. Garrett drew her own conclusion about what had happened.
"Ahhh, some boy broke her heart, huh?" she asked knowingly.
"You could say that," I replied. It was true .... with a slight twist.
"Well, that's awful. I hope she comes home soon - I really don't want any of you girls out there at this time of the night. Molly, you should have told me."
"I'm very sorry."
"Well, if she's not back within the next 15 minutes I'll have to call the police!"
Fortunately, that wasn't necessary. About a minute after the words had left Mrs. G's mouth there was a knock on the door. Cindy was standing miserably in the light cast from the front porch.
"Cindy, we were really worried about you!" I admonished.
"I'm okay, I just had some thinking to do."
I noticed that Sue Ann appeared briefly at the top of the stairway but disappeared just as quickly. I think she knew that she was partially responsible for causing Cindy to be so upset and to wander off by herself.
"Girl, what's wrong with you?" Tootie asked.
"Nothing's wrong with me," Cindy responded sharply. "Where's Sue Ann?"
"I think she's upstairs in her room."
For some reason it seemed that Natalie, who had been standing by as anxiously as the rest of us, was immediately tuned in to Cindy. I'm beginning to think that she knows what's going on...
"Cindy, if you have a boy problem, you should come and talk to me about it instead of disappearing like that," Mrs. Garrett advised.
Cindy's face betrayed that she didn't know how to react to what the woman had said. Usually Mrs. Garrett seemed to know everything about us before we did, but for some reason she hadn't picked up on the fact that the object of Cindy's affections was not a boy...and that's probably a good thing.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. G., but I needed some time to sort things out."
"I understand, but we were concerned about you. I thought the worst could have happened to you."
"I can handle myself, it's okay."
"It's not that I don't think that you can handle yourself, it's the rest of the world that I can't trust. Anything could happen to you out there at this time of night. You do understand, don't you?"
"Understood," she replied sulkily as she climbed the stairs. She didn't cry that night, but I knew that there was much pain in her heart.