Whispers
One, two step.
She found herself in a grand ballroom, surrounded by dancing people, people in masks, dancing in time to the music
One, two step.
They were all dressed so grandly, the women in flowing, billowing, colorful gowns and the men in nice, black suits.
One, two step.
The men's polished black shoes clacked on the floor as the music played on.
One, two step.
She looked down at her own dress, black. Just plain black. Hardly suitable for an occasion as festive as this. She looked at herself in the mirror, and saw that she was wearing a black cat mask.
Black cat means bad luck. No wonder no one will dance with me, she thought to herself forlornly.
One, two step.
The music played on, mocking her, while the people kept dancing in the same step. Nobody was going to ask her to dance among all of those happy people. No one wanted to dance with a black cat. Black cat meant bad luck.
One, two…stop.
She looked up when the music stopped, when the shoes stopped clacking, when the colorful gowns stopped billowing, when the people stopped dancing. They all stood still, staring at the doorway, as if expecting someone important. They parted on either side suddenly, making a clear path. She found herself walking down the path, in her black cat mask and black dress. She didn't know why she did this, maybe she was expecting someone too…
Then the door opened, and a man stepped inside. He wore a brilliant white mask that hid his entire face. His long black hair was tied back and he also wore a suit of black, though it made the other men's look shabby and street-worthy. She watched as he too walked down the path, hoping for a second that he would come and dance with her.
But nobody wants to dance with a black cat, she thought. Black cat means bad luck.
She wanted to run away, to leave this cruel place and these cruel people and cry somewhere. Bur before she had a chance to, the man who'd walked through the door stopped in front of her, taking her hand…
"May I have this dance?" he asked, lightly kissing her hand. Finally, she thought. Finally, someone who wasn't afraid of black cats and bad luck…
"Yes," she replied breathlessly.
The rest of the people disappeared and it was just them dancing in the grand ballroom with only candlelight and moonlight. It's not scary, not scary at all, she thought. They danced on and on, until the music finally stopped. He gave her a bow and then began to walk away.
"Wait! I want to know who you are!" He turned back around and walked over to her. He tucked a stray lock of her hair back as he said, "Are you sure?"
She nodded, and he removed his mask…
---
Gwen woke with a start as the alarm blasted though her brain. Damn, and it was such a good dream, she thought as she pulled on her clothes, and headed off to school, back to the horrible realities of high school.
She caught up with Kevin the instant she saw him in the hall, and started talking to him.
"What's up, Kev?"
"Not much."
"Okay, this is going to sound weird," Gwen began, clearing her throat nervously.
"But do you happen to know how to waltz?"