CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
BABY'S FIRST DANCE

☆ミ ☆彡

THE SNOW BALL DANCE OCCURRED EVERY YEAR AT Hawkins Middle School. Challan had never attended the dance and never thought she would. In her mind, she would never have a date or friends that she could hang out with and she didn't want to go alone. So, she never went. But it was different this year.

This year, her last year in middle school, she would be going to the Snow Ball. Did she have a date? No. She and Max had been taking things slowly and decided that for their safety, it would be best if they didn't go together as anything more than friends. Challan was okay with that because she would be going with the party, which was just as good.

Challan looked over her appearance in the mirror, flattening down her light green dress for the tenth time. The sleeves had a little bit of a puff to them, which Challan wasn't sure she liked. The skirt of the dress flared and Challan didn't think it looked flattering at all. When she had gone to the thrift store and bought this dress, she had liked it then. But now, now she wanted to take it off and shred it.

She could admit that she was feeling a little self-conscious about her appearance because of Max. It's not that she wanted to impress the girl or anything. No, of course not. She just wanted to look and feel pretty. And maybe she wanted Max to think she looked pretty too.

Challan pushed her curls off her shoulder, eyes now scanning her hair. She at least liked the way her hair was styled. Her mom had pulled her curls into a half-up half-down hairstyle at the back of her head, using an intricate hair pin to keep it in place. Long, thin crystal chains shimmered down her hair, which really made it stand out.

Her bottom lip was between her teeth as she looked over her appearance again. It was too late to try and find another dress so with a sigh, she walked out of her bedroom and into the living room where her parents were waiting for her.

After telling her how beautiful she looked, the two began taking a myriad amount of pictures. Challan smiled for most of them but then she grew impatient and wanted to leave. Her father snapped one more picture before ushering her out of the house.

Challan slid into the backseat as her mother and father got into the passenger and driver's seats. The drive to the school was jovial and filled with light chatter and music. As time continued to tick by, her nerves lessened until they were nonexistent. When they arrived at the school, her parents reminded her when they would pick her up, told her to have fun, and practically shoved her out of the door. Challan was sure it was because they wanted to have some alone time and she was happy they would get it. They deserved it.

She walked through the doors of the school and walked to the gymnasium, her ticket clutched in her hand. She was greeted by Mr. Clarke who smiled at her and concealed his surprise at her being there. "Well don't you look darling. It's great to see you here."

"Thank you, Mr. Clarke. It's great to be here," Challan smiled. She handed him her ticket and he looked down at the list of names in front of him, crossing hers off once he found it.

"Have fun!"

Challan walked through the open the gymnasium doors. Streamers and twinkly lights lined the walls of the gym. Balloon arches were at the entrance when you walked through the doors. Christmas trees wrapped in tinsel and lights were scattered throughout the gym. Challan took it all in, eyes scraping up every detail as she tried to commit it to memory. She had missed out on a lot of key moments and opportunities before and now she wanted to experience it all. This was just the beginning for Challan Logan.

A few gazes turned in her direction and the whispers and pointing began. She took a deep breath and continued forward, ignoring the stares. She spotted Abigail and her friends conversing on one side of the gym. Abigail scowled at her but kept her distance, a restraining order finally in place thanks to Chief Hopper. Challan rolled her eyes at the girl before scanning the gym in search of her friends.

Her eyes met those of Nancy Wheeler, who was at the punch table. Challan sent her a smile and wave, which Nancy reciprocated before motioning her over. Challan raised a curious eyebrow and made her way over to the Wheeler girl.

"Hey, Challan!" Nancy greeted kindly.

"Hi, Nancy," Challan replied.

"You look amazing. I'm really glad you came, it's good to see you actually out and about."

Challan smiled a little, "Thanks. I'm glad I'm here too."

Nancy's smile widened and then her face became serious. "Look, I just want you to know that, if you ever need anything, you can come to me. You're friends with my brother now and I look out for my brother's friends, okay?"

Challan's smile widened a tad bit and she nodded her head. "Okay, I will."

Nancy nodded before motioning her head to something behind Challan. "They're over there."

Challan turned around and her eyes fell upon her group of friends. She spotted Dustin first because of his hair. It was bigger than she had ever seen it. She looked back at Nancy who waved her off.

"Go have fun," the older girl said.

"Bye Nancy," Challan waved before making her way over to the five. Lucas was the first to see her approaching and smiled over at her before nudging Max with his arm. Max sent him a questioning look and Lucas motioned his head in Challan's direction. At the moment, Lucas was the only one in the group who was aware of what was going on between the two girls. Eventually, Challan and Max would tell the others but for now, they were keeping things between them. And Lucas.

Max's head turned to Challan's direction and their eyes connected. Max felt her heart begin to speed up in her chest as Challan smiled at her. She was so beautiful.

"Hey guys," Challan greeted the five.

The others, who hadn't noticed her approaching, turned to look at her. Dustin's eyes widened considerably as he took in her appearance. Will was smiling and surprisingly, so was Mike.

"Whoa, you look—" Dustin began

"So beautiful," Max breathed. Her cheeks were tinted a light shade of red as her eyes scanned Challan's face, hair, dress, everything.

"Thank you," Challan beamed. "So do you." Max was wearing a blue sweater with colorful stripes and red pants. Her hair was down with a braid on the side of it. She was always beautiful to Challan.

Max's face got even redder and Lucas smirked.

"Thanks," Max squeaked. Mike looked over at Max with narrowed eyes. What was that?

Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper began playing over the speakers. Lucas looked at Challan and gave her a conspicuous thumbs up before turning to his friends. "I'm gonna go ask someone to dance," he informed before walking off.

Challan watched him walk away and then turned to Max, holding out her hand. "Come on."

Max took her hand without a second thought and Challan began pulling her out of the doors on the opposite side of the gym. "Where are we going?" Max questioned as Challan pulled her through the empty hallways of the school.

"Somewhere," Challan stated simply.

"Ooo, how mysterious," Max joked and Challan smiled.

They walked toward the AV Club room, the music from the gym no longer being heard. Challan looked up and down the hallway before opening the door, which was unlocked.

"What are we doing in here?" Max asked as Challan dropped her hand and closed the door behind them. The room looked like it always had save for a string of twinkly lights and Challan's boombox. "Is that your boombox?"

Challan nodded her head, "I had Lucas steal the keys so that we could dance. I knew we wouldn't be able to do it in the gym but I couldn't come to my first dance and not dance with the person I wanted to so..."

A large smile spilled onto Max's face. "Stealing keys? Who are you and what have you done with Challan Logan?"

"Yeah, I think you're a bad influence on me MADMAX," Challan joked making Max smile even bigger.

Challan walked over to the boombox and picked up the cassette that was resting next to it. She turned back to Max and walked back over to her. "I made you this." Challan held it out for her and Max took it, her smile softening.

"A mixtape?" She inquired and Challan nodded.

"Songs for us to dance to. You know, if you want," Challan replied, her nerves returning.

Max read over the title that Challan had given the mixtape. "'Sick Dance Tunes For The Snow Ball'?" She read before laughing.

Challan's face grew hot in embarrassment. "My dad made me name it that. He helped me actually put the songs on the cassette. Lucas helped me pick some of the songs too," she rambled.

"It's cute. And I love this. Thank you," Max said, holding it up.

"You haven't even heard it yet," Challan said.

Max shrugged, "I know I'll love it." She walked over to the boombox and removed the cassette from its case before putting it in. She pressed play on the boombox and walked back over to Challan. Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli filled the space around them and Max grinned when she recognized it.

"May I have this dance?" Max held out a hand, bowing slightly in a joking manner.

"You may." Challan took her hand and Max pulled the shorter girl closer. Challan's hands rested on Max's shoulder with a little difficulty with their height difference. Max chuckled, her hands resting on Challan's waist.

"You really are tiny," she teased. Challan's ears grew warm in slight embarrassment.

"Shut up," she murmured.

"Don't be embarrassed. I like your shortness, tiny dancer," Max said.

"Yeah yeah."

The two swayed gently to the song that continued to play around them.

"This song is very fitting," Max spoke, taking Challan's hand to spin her around before the two rejoined.

"Meaning what exactly?" Challan inquired.

"Meaning I can't take my eyes off of you, duh," Max replied as if it were obvious.

She smiled when Challan looked away to hide how hot her face was getting. She doubted that the blush would be apparent on her cheeks but she didn't want to take any chances.

Max took two fingers and lifted Challan's head up by her chin to make her look at her. "There, that's better."

Challan bit her lip nervously as she stared up at Max. Being this close to the girl made her nervous, but a good nervous. She liked the feeling she got in her stomach when Max looked at her the way Max was looking at her right now.

"You're really pretty," Challan whispered. Max's blush was apparent, her cheeks turning a dark shade of red at the compliment. Challan grinned, taking Max's hand and spinning her.

The two continued to sway until the song ended and changed to the next one, Your Song by Elton John. Neither girl was really listening to the songs playing anymore, just being present and with each other. They enjoyed each other's company. Being close and together was all that mattered.

Max took this moment to lean down, her lips gently pressing against Challan's. The kiss was only a few seconds and when Max pulled away, Challan wanted nothing more than to just reattach their lips. "Was that okay?" Max shyly asked.

"Yeah," Challan breathed. They gazed at one another, shy smiled adorning their features. Challan rested her head against Max's shoulder and sighed contently. The two danced to the remaining few songs on the mixtape, basking in this moment with cheesy grins on their faces. The two finally at peace and in complete bliss.

When the mixtape ended, the two remained in their embrace for a few minutes before pulling away.

"Come on, tiny dancer. Let's get back to the dance," Max said.

Challan took Max's outstretched hand and allowed her to lead her back to the gymnasium. The two met up with the rest of the party. Challan sent Lucas a thumbs up and he fist bumped the air.

The rest of the night was spent with the party, which included Eleven who had shown up to the dance, laughing dancing, joking, taking pictures, and just having a blast.

It was the best night of Challan's life.

••••

End of act one. This book has been so much fun to write. I wish there were more readers and people supporting it because it's one of my favorite books of mine. I love writing Challan's story and I love her happiness. Can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store for this book. Stay tuned for act two!