TROUBLE ON THE DANCE FLOOR

Freddy wished he was high but was determined not to make every party about taking drugs. If raving only became about imbibing copious amounts of chemicals, was it really about the music anymore?

Was it a full moon or something? He could sense that something was off the minute he stepped on to the dance floor. Freddy wished he was high but was determined not to make every party about taking drugs. If raving only became about imbibing copious amounts of chemicals, was it really about the music anymore? Staring down at the dance floor from the balcony, he let his gaze soften to take in the swarm of swaying people below. The music, bordering on the generic with its incessant build ups and formulaic nineties bass lines on hyper-speed, was seemingly enjoyed by blitzed out bodies that did nothing but jostle side to side until the drop indicated the appropriate moment to jump or throw their hands up in the air.

Freddy pulled out his phone and searched for his notes app. From the light of his screen he typed the words: are people really connecting and building a community, or is everyone just high out of their minds? What was it that was bothering him so much? After a few moments of repetitious pulses, the music started to build again for another expected drop. A stranger beside him gave him a light punch to the shoulder, “you having fun?” Smiling slightly, Freddy gave him a quick nod. He didn't want to ruin his vibe. With a quick fist bump, he walked away, leaving the stranger to dance on his own.

Freddy wanted to text Bas to see how he was doing but stopped himself. He had hoped that chilling out together while they were both sick would’ve brought them closer somehow, but after Bas recovered from his flu it was nothing but radio silence. He wanted to reach out to him after his messy break with Charley but he was just too exhausted, too emotionally raw from the whole thing. He needed time on his own to recuperate. And if he was being completely honest with himself, he knew that if he started talking with Bas, he might open up about his own romantic feelings towards him, possibly ruining their already tenuous friendship. Maybe that was partly the reason he was not enjoying the party so much. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d be alone forever, always choosing the wrong guys to love.

When Bas spotted Freddy by the lockers he ran to catch up to him. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say. He didn't know why he had been so distant after they had spent that evening together, sick on the couch, watching movies. He wanted Freddy to know how important that night was for him, how much him being here helped him get better. But mostly he just wanted to say sorry for being an asshole, for not texting him when he knew he should have. But just before he was able to approach Freddy, another guy stopped in front of him and shoved him against the locker. The guy was yelling at him above the din, “You’re Freddy right? You’re that fucker who was dating Charley. You’re a real piece of shit.”

Freddy froze against the lockers. Suddenly Bas stepped in, shielding Freddy with his back and said, “get out of the way.” Facing the stranger, Bas grasped Freddy’s hand and placed his other hand firmly on the guy’s chest. “I said move out of the fucking way.” No talking, no explanation, Bas held on to Freddy, and they were gone.

***

On the dance floor the two of them danced close to each other. They felt safe together. Lost in the sea of bodies, there was no on but the two of them. As the music began to swell they locked hands, their bodies moving as one. Why had they not noticed this before? That their bodies seem to match so perfectly in rhythm with each other. It was obvious what they were both thinking: the sex would be amazing. The fog machine began to fill up the dance floor, smelling slightly of cotton candy. The mist shrouded them in anonymity, bringing them even closer together. Looking up at him, Sanne felt emboldened by the heat she felt coursing through them.

“Maybe we should kiss.”

“What?”

She drew his ear closer to her lips. “I said wanna kiss?”

He bent down to meet her mouth. “Oh fuck,” He said softly in her ear, his hands holding firmly to her waist. “I think you’re gonna be trouble.”

I hope so