Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "What can I do? I just hope he finds someone worthy of him."

  "Jesus. Do I need to spell this out? The only person he wants is YOU. What can you do about it? He's driving back to Madison tomorrow afternoon. So, tomorrow night, you knock on his door, and you tell him, 'I'm sorry, I made a mistake, I want you back.'"

  "I can't. I just can't."

  "You can, and you'd better. Before it's too late."

  Chapter 59 - Downbound Train

  After she got off the phone with Jessie, Sophia decided to call Kate.

  "What do you mean, you and Dave still haven't done it?"

  "We still haven't done it. It's driving me nuts. We can never get alone."

  "It's too bad Labor Day weekend didn't work out, that was perfect."

  "Yeah, it would have been, if poor Dave hadn't been deathly ill. But, now, we're never alone. We don't even mess around much anymore, because someone's always here. Usually Dad. I think he suspects something, and is doing everything he can to head it off at the pass."

  "What about my room?"

  "Dad declared that off-limits."

  "And he won't let you shut the door to your room if Dave is there."

  "You got it."

  "Kate, if you can hold out until Christmas, we'll work out something. I promise."

  "That would be nice. I want him so bad I can taste it."

  "How's he handling this?"

  "Much better than I am, believe it or not. "

  "Really. That's different," Sophia giggled. "How's your relationship holding up under the strain?"

  "Perfect, actually. Is yours fixed yet?"

  "Don't go there, Kate, OK? I just heard about it from Jessie."

  "All right. You know how I feel."

  * * *

  Sophia read for a while, then went down to get supper. After supper, she went back to her room, but she was bored, and upset after the phone call from Jess. Elise had gone home for the weekend, so she was alone. She decided to find a party.

  * * *

  Elise got back to her room about 2pm on Sunday. She walked in, and found Sophia still asleep. Completely naked.

  She went over to shake her. "Soph? Sophie? It's two o'clock in the afternoon."

  Sophie stirred. "Urp. Ohhhhhhhhh. Elise?"

  "Yeah, it's me. Are you OK?"

  "I'm not sure."

  "What happened?"

  "Jack Daniels. Lots of it. Oh God I feel horrible."

  "I'll bet. "

  "Went to a party last night, intent on drowning my sorrows. Uggh. I think I drank enough to drown twenty peoples' sorrows."

  "Uh-huh. Do you know why you don't have a stitch of clothing on?"

  Sophia looked down. "Oh shit," She blushed bright red.

  Elise laughed. "Don't worry. I won't attack you."

  "Thanks," Sophia said dryly. She reached between her legs. "Oh shit. I do believe I got laid last night."

  "Who?"

  "I have no idea. I don't remember much from last night."

  "Jesus Christ, Sophia!"

  "Hey, the way my life is, the less I remember, the better off I am. Wonder if I enjoyed myself."

  "Sophia, you are a complete mess, you know that?"

  "Yup. Get me some clothes, willya? And stop ogling."

  "Can't help but ogle, kid. It's a damn shame you're straight."

  Sophia giggled. "Sorry." Elise handed her some clothes. "Thanks."

  "Sophia, what are you going to do?'

  "What?"

  "About Warren."

  Sophia glared at Elise. "What I'm going to do is murder the next person that asks me what I'm going to do about Warren, OK?"

  "Sorry."

  "One of the reasons I went out and got shitfaced last night is the tongue-lashing I got over the phone from Jessie."

  "What, about Warren?"

  "Yeah. She talked to him over the phone, he's visiting Crash. She's trying to get us back together."

  "She's a smart girl."

  "Ah, who needs Warren when I can go get sloppy drunk and have sex that I don't even remember?"

  Elise just shook her head.

  * * *

  Sophia sleepwalked through her classes the next few days. Suddenly, on Wednesday, she was seized with an impulse. She wanted to skate. What the hell, they had ice time on Wednesdays, right? Nobody was using it, or so she thought. She dug her skates out from the bottom of her closet, found one of her practice outfits, and headed to the rink.

  She went through the lobby, and headed to the doors leading to the rink itself, when she heard voices.

  She peered in. She saw Papa Bear, and a girl that she didn't know, sitting in the stands. On the ice, she saw Warren. She leaned against the door, staying out of sight. Where she was, she could hear what they were saying.

  "Here we are, another chapter of Waiting For Sophia." Papa Bear quipped.

  "Ah, come on. From what Jessie told me, she's never going to come," Warren pointed out.

  "Yeah, cause she's scared. When are you going to take Jessie's advice, and go to her?" Alexa asked him.

  "I'm still mulling that one over."

  "So, what would you do if she came through that door?" Papa Bear asked him.

  "I think about that all the time. I'd probably pull her on the ice, have Alexa cue up 'You'll Be In My Heart', and have her put it on repeat. And skate to it until we both collapsed. Preferably on top of one another." Warren sighed. "It just ain't gonna happen. I heard it through the grapevine that she got extremely shitfaced last Saturday night. It's like, here we go again--you both know of her past. I don't know if I have the energy for this again. If she came to me, it would help, because at least I'd know she wants this."

  "Jessie told you she wants it, from what you told me," Papa Bear pointed out.

  "I know. I just don't know what to do. I just wish she'd walk through that door."

  Sophia heard all this, plain as day. She almost walked through the door, into the rink, ten times. She didn't. Once they stopped talking, and she heard the music from the Sinatra program that they were supposed to skate this year, she turned and ran from the rink.

  When she got back to her room, she was crying. Elise was there.

  "What happened? I thought you were going to skate."

  "Warren was there."

  "So? I'm sure he would have liked to have a partner back."

  "He would have. He dreams about me walking through the door. He said so, I heard him."

  "SOPHIE! God DAMN! Why didn't you?"

  "I don't know. I couldn't. Why couldn't I? Jesus, why couldn't I?"

  "Sophia, sit down. You are shaking!"

  "I'm so scared. I'm scared to get up in the morning. I'm scared to go to bed at night. I'm scared of him. I'm scared of myself. And I don't know why."

  Chapter 60 - True Love

  Warren was eating supper with Papa Bear on Friday night when Alexa came over.

  "Got another one for you, Prep Stud. This one's a special case, though."

  "OK, I'll bite," Warren said.

  "She wants you to take her virginity."

  "Huh?"

  "Yeah. She used to prattle on about waiting for Mr. Right. Finally, I found out what she really meant. She just wants her first time to be with a nice, gentle guy who will make it good for her. I, of course, immediately thought of you."

  "Hmmm. Who is it?"

  "Caitlin McDermott, my next door neighbor."

  Papa Bear looked up with a start. Alexa didn't catch it, but Warren did.

  "The gorgeous red-head?" Warren asked.

  "That's her. She wants to do it tomorrow night, but wants to meet you a bit tonight, you know, talk some."

  "OK. I'll be up in an hour or so."

  "Great." Alexa took off.

  When she left, Warren looked at Paul, and said, "OK, Papa Bear. What was that look for?"

  "What look?"

  "When Alexa said Caitlin's name, you looked like someone had kicked you in the balls."

  Papa Bear
stared at his food for a couple minutes. Then he said, "I know Caitlin. She's in my English comp class, and she usually goes with the group of us that hits the Student Union on Fridays after class."

  "How well you know her?"

  "A little. She's a little shy, but we've talked some. She has an unusual sense of humor."

  "Not unlike a certain floormate of mine. You got a thing for her, don't you?"

  "Yeah. You know that, despite my bluster, I'm shy around girls. I'm as much of a virgin as she is, I've told you that. I've been trying to get the gumption up to ask her out for a month."

  "And here I am, being offered a night with her, easy as you please. You must hate me right about now."

  Papa Bear looked up, surprised. "NO! I don't hate you, of course not. I just..." he trailed off.

  "Don't worry about it."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Just what I said. Don't worry about it." He got up and tossed his trash in the barrel, leaving Papa Bear wondering exactly what he was going to do.

  Warren got back to his room, and thought about what had just happened. He had pretended he was enjoying what he was doing, and on one level he was. He pretended it was harmless, and it probably had been.

  This wouldn't be.

  He remembered his first time. Would it have been that special if it had been a one-night stand? He didn't think so. Now, he knew he could give Caitlin a better first time than, say, Sophia had had. But, she had been right the first time. She should wait for someone special, no matter what Alexa said.

  Plus, no fucking way could he do that to Papa Bear.

  He thought for a while, and went up to Alexa's room. She was there, as was Caitlin.

  After the introductions were made, Warren sat next to Caitlin on the couch.

  "Caitlin, I've been thinking... I can't do this."

  "Huh?" Caitlin said.

  "HUH?" Alexa said.

  "Alexa, you stay out of this. Caitlin, I'm flattered. I also think you're gorgeous. But I can't do this. You're first instincts were right, you know. Your first time should be more special than a one night stand with a guy who's trying to run away from what he really wants."

  "Conscience attack?" Alexa asked. "I thought I had freed you from those."

  "Not entirely, Lex. Caitlin, do you see what I'm saying?"

  "Yeah, Warren, I do. And, honestly, I'm touched. But I don't want to wait forever, either. And I'm very shy around guys, so the prospects are not good."

  "You're not shy around me, it doesn't seem."

  She smiled. "Well, that's why a one night stand would be easier. No emotional baggage."

  "Let me tell you something. Sex with emotional baggage is better than sex without it."

  "Sex without emotional baggage is better than no sex at all," Alexa interjected.

  "No, Lex, maybe he's right," Caitlin admitted. "It's difficult though. The guy I have a thing for has had plenty of opportunities to ask me out, and just hasn't."

  "Maybe he's as shy as you are."

  "I doubt it," Caitlin contended. "He's very outgoing and boisterous. There are a bunch of us that go out after class on Fridays, and he's one of them. He's the life of the party, wickedly funny. We talk quite a bit, but he's never given me the slightest indication that he's interested in me."

  Warren smiled inwardly to himself.

  "Look, Caitlin," Warren told her, "my best friend at this school is loud and boisterous and funny--and very, very shy about approaching girls he likes. In fact, he was just telling me that he's been mooning over some girl for a month, one that he goes out with in a group every Friday after class, and he hasn't been able to get up the nerve to ask her out. He's crazy about her." He grinned, hoping she'd make the connection.

  "Warren," she asked after a minute, "who's your best friend?"

  "Paul Herlihy. Affectionately known as Papa Bear," Warren said with a broad smile.

  Caitlin looked down, almost afraid to ask this question. "Did he tell you who he wants to ask out?"

  "Yes." Warren's grin grew larger. "And that's the other reason I wouldn't feel right going to bed with you. It would kill Papa Bear, the girl he's gaga over in bed with his best friend."

  Caitlin's eyes grew wide. "You're kidding."

  "Nope." Warren was still grinning. "He has got it bad."

  "Damn," Alexa interjected, "I knew you had a thing for someone, but never knew it was Papa Bear."

  "Yeah. He's so funny, and sweet. Why is he so shy around girls?"

  "I surmise that part of it is self-consciousness about his size," Warren said.

  "That just makes him more cuddly." Caitlin giggled. "Listen to me. I'm getting delirious. Now, how do I get him to ask me out?"

  "Do it yourself," Warren said.

  "Oh, I don't think I can do that."

  "Sure you can."

  "The only time I ever see him, is with lots of other people around. That would be tough."

  "So, go to his room."

  "I don't know where he lives."

  Warren smiled again. "Across the hall and one door down from me. And I happen to know he's there right now, and I also happen to know his roommate is not. Let's go."

  "NOW?"

  "The more you think about it, the longer time you have to chicken out. It's real easy. 'Paul, will you go out with me tomorrow night?' Or tonight, even, he has no plans that I know of. He says yes--which he will--and you take it from there."

  "Oh God. Can I really do this?"

  "Yeah, you can. Come on."

  "He'll be out in a minute," Alexa said. Caitlin smiled, and went out in the hall. "You're the sweetest guy I know, you know that?" Alexa asked Warren. "That was a good thing you did, for her and for Papa Bear."

  "Thanks, Lex."

  He went out in the hall, and he and Caitlin went to the elevators. They went down, and Warren led Caitlin to Papa Bear's door. "Ready?" he asked her.

  "No, but do it anyway." She giggled. "Warren? Thanks."

  "You're welcome." He knocked on Papa Bear's door, as Caitlin stood off to the side.

  "Lobster breath! Whasssaaap?"

  "Hiya, Papa Bear. Got someone here looking for you." He stepped away from the door, and Caitlin stepped towards it

  "Caitlin?"

  "Hi, Paul." Warren crept away from the door, towards his own room.

  "What can I do for you?" Paul asked.

  She took a deep breath. "I was wondering... do you have plans tonight?"

  "No."

  "Would you like to go out with me? Maybe see a movie, get something to eat afterwards?"

  Paul was incredulous, but kept his cool. "I'd love to," he managed to squeak out.

  "Great! I need to go upstairs and get my coat. Meet you in the lobby in five?"

  "Great."

  "See you then." She walked off, breathing a giddy sigh of relief.

  Papa Bear watched her go, barely believing what had happened. Then he ducked back in his room, and grabbed his own coat and keys and such. Before he headed to the lobby to wait for her, he went to Warren's room.

  "Enter."

  Paul opened the door. "You are the best. Absolutely the best. How did you pull that off?"

  "Easy. She's got it as bad for you as you do for her. So I gave her a little push."

  "I owe you for this, pal. Big time."

  "Just have a good time."

  "I plan on it." With that he left.

  Warren sat back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face. He hadn't felt this good about himself in a while. Good for Papa Bear--he deserved it, and Caitlin seemed like a real sweetie.

  Now it was time to do something about his own love life.

  He walked out of his room, got on the elevator, and went to the ninth floor. He knocked on Sophia's door.

  There was no answer. Fine, he thought to himself, she's out. I'll talk to her tomorrow. He went back to his room, studied for a while, and then hit the sack.

  * * *

  He woke up the next morning, planning on brea
kfast and then another try at Sophia's room. But first, he decided to check out the skating newsgroup on the internet. He still read it even though he hadn't posted anything since the breakup.

  He scrolled through the subject headers, until he stopped at one. "Oh no."

  It read: "Daniels/Kelleher breakup confirmed!"

  He clicked on the message. It read;

  "I have a good source at the University of Wisconsin. Daniels and Kelleher broke up almost two months ago! Not just on the ice, but off the ice, too. She dumped him for some other guy, then dumped the other guy, and has been sleeping her way through Wisconsin every since. Warren is apparently inconsolable. Let's hope he finds another partner--and another girlfriend--that isn't such a slut!"

  The signature was a poster that was known for spreading gossip.

  Warren took a deep breath. He was worried about this happening. Nothing stays a secret among the internet skating community for long, and some of them, like this poster, could be downright nasty. He remembered some nasty false rumors about Liz Cushman a year or two ago.

  He checked his e-mail, and saw lots of emails from Liz, Christine, Jack, and other friends. He couldn't deal with that now. He threw on his clothes and bounded out the door, headed for Sophia's room.

  Elise answered the door. "Warren?"

  "Hi Elise. Is Sophia here? I need to talk to her."

  "No, she's not." Elise took a deep breath. "Warren, she's in the hospital, in a coma."

  "What?"

  "She had to be rushed there last night. Alcohol poisoning."

  Chapter 61 - Baby Steps

  Warren and Elise were in Elise's car, on the way to the hospital.

  "Why she does these things to herself..." Warren said.

  "I know." Elise sighed. "I should have seen this coming. She's been a mess all week." Elise told him about the previous drunken episode, and about Sophia seeing him at the rink.

  "She was there? She heard me? And she still didn't come in?" Warren took a deep breath. "She had the opening of all time. She knew how I was going to react. And she still didn't come in. Why am I even bothering?"