David stared at the poster on the wall for a few minutes. "Freshman Dance" was positioned at the top in big bold letters, surrounded by a flurry of colorful confetti illustrations and cartoonish dancing figures. The vibrant hues of the poster seemed to leap out at him, a stark contrast to the dull, beige school walls. Beneath the eye-catching title, details about the event were scrawled in elegant, looping script: the date, the time, and the location, along with promises of music, food, and fun.

Anxiety rose in his chest as he thought about it. The Freshman Dance was a rite of passage, a milestone every student looked forward to—or dreaded. It was an opportunity to make memories, socialize, and even find that special someone. Yet, for David, it was like a minefield of social cues that he didn't know how to navigate.

David took a deep breath and stepped closer to the poster, his fingertips grazing the glossy paper. The words "Don't miss it!" at the bottom seemed to echo in his mind, urging him to take a chance. He already had a person in mind that he wanted to ask.

"Hey, David."

He startled as the sound of his name pulled him from his thoughts. He turned around to see Emily standing there, her smile shining brighter than the hallway lights. He could feel the blood rush to his head, his pulse pounding in his ears.

"H-Hey," he awkwardly stammered out, avoiding eye contact and turning his head away.

"Hey, space cadet. What's got you so flustered this early in the morning?" she asked, leaning closer, her face directly in David's line of sight.

"D-D-Do..." David hesitated, his hands fidgeting uncontrollably as his eyes darted between Emily and a way to escape.

"Are you okay?" Concern now tinged her voice.

"Would you go to the—"

"Hey guys!" Michael said, joining them. "David, are you going to the dance?"

"Yeah, we should all go together," Emily suggested.

A rush of relief came over David, followed quickly by disappointment. He forced a smile and nodded along with them, trying to hide his frustration and embarrassment. Just then, the bell rang.

"See you guys later!" Emily said, running down the hall.

Throughout the day, David found himself lost in thought. He barely paid attention in class, his mind constantly drifting back to the dance. He didn't know how to dance.

During lunch, David sat with Michael and Emily at their usual table. The cafeteria was loud and bustling with students, but David felt isolated, trapped in his own thoughts. He poked at his food, barely eating, while Michael and Emily chatted animatedly about their plans for the weekend.

"So, David," Emily said, snapping him out of his reverie, "are you excited for the dance?"

David looked up, meeting her eyes for a brief moment before looking away. "Uh, yeah, I guess," he mumbled.

Emily's smile faltered, and she leaned in closer. "It's going to be a lot of fun. Don't be anxious about the crowd. You will be with us and teachers will be there too."

David forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, sounds great."

As the day ended, David rushed to his locker and packed up. He was outside and got in the car before Michael or Emily could catch up to him.

"How was your day, honey?" Julia asked.

"Mom?" David wavered. "Can you teach me how to dance?"

Julia smiled as she said, "Of course! Did you ask someone?"

"I'm going with Emily and Michael," David replied.

"That's great."

Julia hummed to herself as they drove home, the melody light and cheerful. It had been a long time since Julia had last started humming, and David cherished the moment, letting it last as long as possible. Her voice soothed away the day's stress and tension.

Julia's humming continued, the tune shifting to a livelier rhythm as they neared their neighborhood. David found himself smiling, the music lifting his spirits. He thought about the times she used to hum while cooking dinner or when they would dance around the living room, laughing and singing together. Those were the moments that made the tough times bearable, the memories that gave him strength.

A few days passed and the night of the dance finally came. The anticipation that had built up within him over the past week reached a crescendo as he stood in front of his mirror, examining his reflection. Julia had bought David a button-down shirt and formal black slacks for the occasion. The shirt was a rich, emerald green that brought out the depth of his eyes, and the black slacks fit him perfectly, making him look taller and more confident. He ran his hands nervously over the crisp fabric, smoothing out invisible wrinkles, trying to get used to seeing himself dressed so differently from his usual casual attire.

Julia stepped into his room, her face lighting up with pride as she took in the sight of her son. "You look so handsome," she said warmly, adjusting the collar of the shirt. "The color suits you. Are you ready?"

David nodded, trying to hide his own nervousness. He glanced at the clock, realizing it was almost time to go. "I should probably head out. Michael and Emily are meeting me there."

David grabbed his jacket and headed to the door, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The cool evening air hit him as he stepped outside, the sky painted with the vibrant hues of the setting sun. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, and began the short walk to school.

As he approached the front entrance, the sounds of laughter and music drifted out to greet him, mingling with the soft hum of crickets in the background. He spotted Michael and Emily waiting by the door. Michael was dressed in a loose-fitting suit, the jacket a size too big. He had slicked back his hair, the gel fighting to keep the curls straight and losing.

"We found it at a thrift shop," Michael stated. His awkward grin completed the ensemble.

David turned to see Emily, and his breath caught in his throat; she looked stunning. Emily wore a fitted black long sleeve top paired perfectly with a long plaid skirt that swished gracefully with her every movement. Fishnet stockings peeked out from beneath the skirt, adding a rebellious flair to her outfit, and her well-worn Converse sneakers completed the look with a casual, yet stylish, touch.

Her hair, cut to just above her shoulders, had a slight wave that framed her face beautifully. The purple streak she used to sport had been replaced with a deep, rich blue, a color that brought out the intensity of her hazel eyes. The blue tint seemed to shimmer as it caught the light, making her eyes appear almost otherworldly.

David couldn't help but admire her dressed up. He was so used to seeing her in dirty jeans and a band shirt that he never thought it could translate to a formal dance. He found himself momentarily speechless.

"Wow, Emily," he finally managed to say, his voice tinged with awe. "You look amazing."

Emily's lips curved into a warm, appreciative smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Thanks, David, you look pretty sharp yourself. Green really suits you."

"Well? Shall we?" Michael interrupted. "It's getting cold out here."

Emily and David nodded and the trio walked into the school. With a shared sense of purpose, the trio walked into the school. The beat of the bass matched their racing pulse.

As they approached the entrance to the gym, the sound of upbeat music and the murmur of voices filled the air. The gym itself had been decorated with string lights, ribbons, and balloons, made to resemble a beach at night. Blow up palm trees were scattered about while people were throwing inflatable beach balls back and forth.

David's nervousness gradually washed away as he got caught up in all the excitement. The infectious energy of the room seeped into his body, and the initial jitters transformed into exhilaration.

After a while David found a place to sit, exhausted. "Here, you must be thirsty," Michael said, handing him a cup.

"Thanks," David took it while wiping the sweat from his forehead. His gaze drifted back to the dance floor where he saw Emily. She was swinging her arms so wildly that the people around her had to leave space or risk getting hit. A small giggle escaped as he took in the sight.

As the song ended the DJ put on something slower. Emily walked over to where David was sitting and leaned in close enough for him to hear. "Want to dance?" she asked, holding out her hand.

David's shyness returned instantly as his heart started to pound. "Y-Y-Yeah." He managed to stammer out.

Emily grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. As they joined the dance floor Emily turned to face him. "You know how to slow dance, right?" David swallowed nervously and nodded.

"Here," Emily positioned David's hands on her hips before wrapping hers around his shoulders. "Just move back and forth like this."

As they danced together David felt happy. He may not have been able to ask her but they were still able to share a moment alone.

"See. I told you it would be a fun time. The gym is beautiful," Emily said.

"Yeah, it sure is," David replied, unable to take his eyes off of her.