I have rejoined the group with Dani’s Diet Coke, trying to ignore Nick’s glare as I hand it to her. I don’t know why the ass doesn’t just make his move with the girl he obviously loves. But then I reprimand myself: Big talk from the pussy that can’t even come clean with Brooke. I look down at the ground and try to drum up a Wayne-ism to pull me out of this funk I’m spiraling into.
But when I lift my eyes Wayne is the furthest thing from my mind. Brooke steps into the room, and she’s a vision. Never mind the fact that she’s with the monkey, her beauty outshines everyone around her. She’s wearing some very fitted black jeans, almost as good as yoga pants. Her fancy purple velvet-looking top is lower cut than I’ve seen her wear before and the long sleeves sweep down dramatically. I also notice a necklace sparkling around her neck.
Her eyes scan the crowd and when she sees me standing next to Dani her eyes flicker, and she smiles sweetly. Just when I smile back, Arnold wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her aside. Mojo fury flares up inside of me for messing up my moment. If I were Marvin the Martian, I would’ve blasted him with my x-ray gun without a second thought, leaving Brooke with much less complications in her life, and Arnold, a little pile of cinders on the floor.
I try to refocus on our group’s conversation as I down my beer. Andy keeps cornering the people carrying around trays of tiny food, and before we know it, we’ve eaten the equivalent of a meal. I finish off a third beer a little too quickly as I watch Brooke and Arnold work through the room.
In my overwhelmed and beer-edged stupor I notice the music get louder, and I get nervous as I see Dani start to bounce to the beat. She had her hard limits with our arrangement. Well, mine is dancing. No, just no…it’s not going to happen.
Minutes later she shimmies up close to me.
“It’s time to boogie, Nathan,” she croons.
“I can’t dance Dani,” I insist.
“I’ll teach you,” she responds, forcefully pulling me toward the dance floor. For a small thing, she’s powerful and irritatingly determined.
She leads me to the middle of the floor so the non-dancing lookie-loos won’t notice us as much. She takes my hands and then has me mimic her, stepping side to side. She’s so enthusiastic that it’s hard to stay mad and before I realize it, she’s moving our arms together so it almost looks like I’m dancing. What do you know? I guess I actually am dancing. I’m no John Travolta, but I’m still moving in sync with the pounding bass. It must be the magic, butt-hugging jeans Brooke talked me into buying.
Once I get more confident, Dani lets go of my hands and let’s loose. Damn, that girl can dance. Her sexy moves are drawing a lot of attention, most notably from Arnold and Brooke, who I suddenly realize are dancing nearby. Never one to miss an opportunity, when Dani realizes that Brooke’s watching she begins to drape and grind herself all over me.
The whole thing sets off a scene straight from an episode of Friends. Brooke starts looking territorial, which arouses me, thereby making me dance funny. Arnold reacts by doing something akin to dirty dancing with Brooke (with an astounding sense of rhythm, I might add) which of course, makes me want to kill him. Meanwhile it’s pretty clear that Nick is getting ready to strangle me. Just when things look like they’re going to implode, the DJ shakes things up, and puts on a slow, romantic song. We all stop, stunned and try to quickly regroup.
Arnold takes the lead by pulling Brooke into his arms. Dani responds by wrapping herself around me, and Nick grits his teeth. I know this isn’t going to end well. I take a deep breath, place my hands on Dani’s hips and prepare for the worst.
I feel his hand on my shoulder first. Nick pulls me away from Dani and then steps between us.
“Thanks Nathan, I’ll take over from here,” he says simply.
Dani’s eyes blaze, as he pulls her into his arms.
I pause, unsure for a moment as to what’s the right thing to do.
“I can’t take another minute of this,” he says to Dani.
She tips her head, watching him, as I stand there like an idiot.
“You belong to me, baby,” he tells Dani, loud enough for me to hear. There’s a still moment where their eyes meet and everything shifts. Even I can feel it.
“I do?” she asks softly, looking up at him. There’s so much love in her eyes.
“You always have, always will, and I’m going to do right by you this time.” He gently runs his fingers along her cheek. “I love you, Dani,” he insists.
The next thing I know they’re moving slowly, in perfect synchronicity, under the hot blue lights. They sway together for a moment before he tips his head down to kiss her. Once he does they’re lost to each other and in their own world.
It’s clear that the game is over. I can’t even panic about the fact that it’s happening here in front of everyone, I’m too overwhelmed with a strange mixture of envy, yet happiness, to see them back together.
I step away, hoping to go unnoticed, but there’s no way I’d be that lucky. When I look in the distance, I see Brooke watching Nick kiss Dani. She looks surprised, and worried at the same time.
Great. Fucking great.
She looks over at me, her concern evident, but she can’t do a thing to help me when Mojo’s arms are wrapped around her.
I stand still, as bodies move around me. I want Brooke. I need Brooke. And Brooke doesn’t belong to me.
I turn on my heel and frame by frame, I move away from a scene only a fool could animate. All I know is that I’ve earned this moment with my lies and deceit.
This script is hopelessly flawed. Stop the sequence; put your pencils down. It’s time to go back to the drawing board.
My head’s pounding as I head straight down the hall. I feel like I can’t get a breath…that if I don’t get some fresh air I just may lose it.
I push my way out the glass doors to the balcony and curl over the rail, attempting to suck in the cold night air. My mind races as I figure out my exit strategy. At this point no one will miss me anyway, and Nick will be taking Dani home. I turn to head back inside and towards the club entrance when from the corner of my eye, I see the door open.
I turn slowly. Brooke. She’s come to check on me. My heart surges to know she cares enough about me to leave his side.
She looks worried. “Are you okay?” she says softly.
“I don’t know what I am,” I answer honestly. “This is a weird night for me.”
“Do you feel bad about what happened with Dani and Nick?” she asks.
“No. I think they are meant to be together. I always did, really.”
“You did?”
I nod my head slowly. “And Nick’s a good guy.”
“He is, but you’re better, Nathan. You’re the best…I hope you know that.”
“Well, I know that you make me feel that way.”
She smiles softly but doesn’t say anything.
I take a deep breath. “I wanted to be the one with you tonight Brooke. I can’t stand to see you with Arnold.”
“Oh, Nathan…” She sounds despondent. Maybe she’s apprehensive and thinks I’m on the rebound or something.
It’s time. I’ve got to do it…
“Brooke, we need to talk. There are some things I need to tell you.”
“Okay, but this isn’t a good time or place. I just needed to make sure you’re okay. I really have to get back inside.”
I swallow hard. Maybe she really doesn’t want to hear what I have to say. I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it if she rejects me. I just nod, as I watch her, my eyes wide and searching.
“Come on…let’s get back,” she urges.
“Actually, I’m going to leave now. I think I’ve had enough excitement for one evening. Can we get together tomorrow to talk?”
“Wait…you’re leaving now? Are you sure? You’re going to miss my speech; I think it’s next. I really want you to hear it since you helped inspire it.”