a dance to remember

Eric couldn't believe Olivia's dress. She was so Audrey Hepburn for her prom. Olivia most definitely knew what to do with the two pink dresses she found at the thrift shop. She'd put them together and yet come up with something quite elegant with the pink bow on the back of the bodice.

Not only that, she'd been teaching him to sign, and she made it so contagious to learn. It was fun signing back and forth in their own private little talks. And she could share every emotion that way with her face. Somehow it kept him eager to learn more, sign more and Eric had never found such satisfaction before.

Of course, she probably knew what people thought when she was around and she spoke. Perhaps she was drunk, or just dumb they thought, but on her prom night she was exquisite. A princess in fact, and everyone looked at her as if they hadn't a clue who she was. Except Steve. Steve was there.

And the moment Eric saw him across the room with the lights glistening up above in the dark, making the room revolving, Eric knew Steve was mad. He'd never seen Steve so angry.

"You didn't tell him about us, did you?" He looked at Olivia.

She smiled as if she might laugh.

"You wouldn't let him cause a scene, would you?" He wanted to keep his eyes on her, but he had to see what was coming. It was Steve.

Olivia put her hand politely over he mouth and giggled.

"Don't think this is funny," Eric scowled. "Its not."

She hooked her arm in his and turned to Steve.

"Hullo," she said so sweetly yet so foreign as if she might be from another planet.

"Whats he doing here?" Steve looked at her sternly.

"What are you doing here?" She gave him a squint. "So alone, are you?"

He just drew in a breath.

"This isn't his school." Steve's words were flat and harsh.

"I know." She smiled. "My date." She nodded. "Your date?"

"I don't have a date." He sounded even more sour.

"Stevie, you should have asked someone." She told him.

"Ask someone?" He pulled a face as if he had no intention of asking anyone.

"Thought so. That's why I didn't wait for you. Slow poke." She poked her finger in his chest then.

Eric could hardly blink. Only Olivia could do these things to Steve without him going bonkers.

"Good evening, Eric." Steve had no expression on his face as he looked at Eric.

"How are you?" Eric asked as proper as possible.

"Crap." Steve just said. "See, if I had a switch blade I could be cutting things right now."

Eric gulped then.

"He's just kidding, Eric." Olivia nudged Eric then.

"OK."

"I might dance with you if you ask nicely." Olivia told Steve.

"A slow one?"

"No." She stared at him just as sullen as he had to her. "You know, you step on my feet. I want to wear these shoes again, you know. I have a prom date with Eric at his school."

"I see." Steve hardly batted an eye. "OK."

"But first I have to dance with Eric." She told him. "That is why I invited him."