C H A P T E R   F O U R
Care For A Dance ?

A few days past and suddenly, Delia had gotten used to life in Massachusetts. It was basically her on a vacation, with nowhere to go.

Aunt Marie and Uncle Daryl had been acting quite strange, they've been acting nicer than usual. Not that they weren't nice before but Delia assumed it might've been her mom's words that made them change. Aunt Marie had gotten a reply from Delia's Mother since she sent her that letter. She acted more alert when around her and Delia felt that it was somewhat unnecessary.

Mom never talked about her relationship with her sisters but, Aunt Marie seemed to value Delia's Mother's validation way too much.

Laurie hadn't visited Delia since the last time and they both haven't apologized, though Delia thought he'd at least come by to say something to her. Delia felt as though she was a burden everyone had to carry. As she was thinking of this, she was walking to Laurie's house. It was the words, "please open the door" in Delia's mind. Her hand knocked on the door hesitantly, just like the first day she met him except this time, a young girl in a servant's outfit answered.

Delia tried to hold her chin up higher to make herself look confident but she wasn't entirely sure it worked.

"I'm here for Laurie— Theodore." Delia grinned at her sweetly and the girl stepped aside, excused herself and went to go and get him.

Whilst standing at the door, Delia couldn't help but stare at the many things she could see from her point of view, her eyes were set on all the little details on the railings and the stairs, how the lights shone at the shiny, smooth surface. So distracted in fact, that she didn't even realize that Laurie was walking into the place, right in front of her.

"Laurie!" Delia flinched in surprise, he was running his hands down his shirt and looked up at Delia to meet her gaze.

"Laurie, listen... I was being insensitive the other day making an idiotic joke like that. I'm just not very good at this thing, it's... scary being lonely." He couldn't seem to look away from the blonde haired girl. He was still trying to read her, figure her out but she couldn't help but look away before her face turned bright red.

"What... thing?" Laurie questioned, uttering the word "thing" in a strange manner.

"Well... socializing, of course." Delia replied and he nodded briefly. "I was acting like a... jerk that day." He laughed which brought a friendly smile to Delia.

"Indeed you were," Delia agreed, laughing softly.

"Well... we should get going then, don't want to be late now, do we?" Laurie closed the front door eagerly behind him as he grabbed Delia's wrist. His sudden action sent a shock through Delia's body, starting from her hand.

"For what?" Delia stammered, surprised by his words.

"For the ball, of course." Her eyes fluttered wide open.

He was joking... right? Delia thought, her brain struggled to process Laurie's words.

From his body language, she could tell he wasn't joking with her. And as he dragged Delia along by her wrist, he looked over his shoulder to check up on her, she couldn't help but feel a bit of burning sensation coming from her wrist that he was holding so passionately onto.

"Laurie, I'm not dressed for this, I think it would be important for me to dress appropriately for the occasion." Delia tried to make one excuse after the next yet he always assured the girl that she would fit right in with the crowd and that there was nothing to worry about.

"Your clothes are just fine and you look lovely... now, quickly, we must hurry." He finally let go of Delia's hand and hoped that she'd continue walking the rest of the way. The venue the ball took place at wasn't very far from Laurie's home, she wasn't entirely sure where the ball was being hosted at either. Nevertheless, Delia didn't have a choice but to follow along, what kind of friend would she be if she left her friend alone there?

The two had to stop for a few breaths every once in a while but they almost immediately started running again. Laurie looked so care-free and bright doing this, while on the other hand, Delia hadn't been to many balls.

Let alone with a boy.

She didn't feel... well, alright. She felt uneasy about this event at that time. She wished she could run away but something about Laurie made Delia continue on.

The house was large, though Delia suspected it was smaller than Laurie's house. It was painted bland and boring colours on the outside but on the inside, bright lights and many ball gowns and suits brightened up the sad place.

Laurie had to wait for Delia right before they went in because the girl was so far behind, he ran faster than her but, maybe she could beat him if she weren't in a long dress that covered her shoes. He was still breathing heavily by the time she got over there to him, Delia could feel his warm breath on her face as he mumbled the words, "Are you ready?" Delia nodded approvingly.

Wasn't as romantic as you'd think but nevertheless, the two walked through the large doors, many people stopped to look at them curiously, mainly Delia? She was the new one there. Everyone probably knew Laurie. He seemed to be quite popular amongst the crowd.

Delia didn't like eyes on her, it makes her feel as though she's in trouble, maybe she was and she was just doubting it. The place was too fancy for her, their ball gowns bright and voluptuous, and suits too pristine and new. Delia didn't fit in at all, though she tried not to think about her outfit and more on other things.

"Laurie..." A beautiful girl walked eagerly towards Laurie and stood in front of him with purpose. The girl had curly blonde hair, big, bright blue eyes and she didn't seem to fit in with the crowd either, more so afraid of it.

"Jo, I didn't think you'd come." Laurie looked anxiously at his friend, grinning friendly at her.

"I didn't either, Meg convinced me otherwise. I thought you said you wouldn't come, you could've at least warned me you'd be here." The beautiful girl Delia presumed to be named, Jo mumbled. She couldn't help but focus on the girl's beautiful blue eyes. She seemed nearly perfect.

"I— hello... I'm Delia Acker." Delia stepped out from behind Laurie and reached her hand out to Jo. She could feel Delia's nervousness, she could tell. It was like she could read Delia like a book.

"I'm Jo March, glad to meet your acquaintance, Delia Acker." Delia melted into a smile as Jo shook her hand firmly and with enthusiasm.

"I'm Laurie's friend, we met a few days ago." Delia beamed and she nodded and mumbled something Delia couldn't catch.

"Uhhh... Jo, here is a writer." Laurie explained and Delia broke out into a smile, impressed by such talent.

"I wish I could write, all I'm good at is singing and staring awkwardly at others." She let out an anxious laugh and Jo followed up Delia's giggles with a beam.

"Laurie, the others are over there in that room. You should go and greet them before they get mad at me for not pointing you in their direction." Jo suggested, pointing to the room across from where the three of them were standing. Laurie agreed, stepping away and giving Delia a reassuring look.

"I'm not used to this lavish lifestyle." Delia started, Jo seemed to understand where she was coming from and asked Delia to come with her. Together, they walked into a room where Jo hoped no one was in.

   "That place isn't for you, is it?" Delia questioned and Jo replied to her with, "Yeah..." while letting out a sigh.

"I'd rather be sleeping outside than be in here for a few more hours." Delia blurted out and Jo started analyzing the girl.

"At least you have Laurie here with you." She grinned, Delia felt the tension building up as they kept talking to one another. "I didn't... I didn't come here by choice if that's what you were thinking. Laurie and I... we got into a fight a few days prior and now, he has
dragged me here to this ball."

"We aren't together if that's what you're thinking. He told me to live a little." Delia continued and Jo just started nodded over and over to the point where Delia wasn't sure if she were still listening. But she did wait for her turn to speak patiently. "I... I'm sorry, you can talk now."

"Laurie told me he wouldn't be coming to the ball the other day, he said he had something on his mind. We've been good friends for quite some time, but I feel like he's been a little distant lately." Jo told Delia and she couldn't help but jump in on the conversation again.

"And I'm sorry if I'm the reason why, I just..." Delia saw the look on Jo's face, she closed her gaping mouth and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, I just really, really nervous. This place isn't my scene and meeting new people isn't either."

"No, it's... fine." She comforted Delia with a hand on her back.

"I'll make it up to you... what day this week are you free?" Delia inquired, "What about Friday?" Jo smiled and they both agreed on that date, all Delia told her was to wear something flexible. Her hand reached out to shake Jo's hand once more so their agreement was sealed and she wanted to say something, Delia saw the eagerness in her eyes as Delia stood up to walk out the room.

"What is it?" Delia questioned, she gazed at Jo, acting confused.

"What do you mean?" She asked Delia back, "Something's on your mind, I can tell." Jo nodded and took a deep breath.

"It's nothing you need to worry about, Lia." And with that, Delia walked out and shut the door. Only a few people talking or dancing in the back looked at the girl who just exited the room in the back but she was able to slip away before she heard their whispers.

"Laurie!" Delia cried out his name over and over until she found him wedged into the crowd of people who were dancing. He seemed out of place there as Delia walked over to him, someone stepped on his shoe which made her let out a peep of a laugh.

"Oh lord, Laurie. There you are!" Delia's cheeks started hurting as the girl grinned a solid, radiant smile.

"Lia, I see you're finally done talking to... Jo?" He perked an eyebrow and she nodded. "Wait," Delia stopped.

"What do you mean finally?" Delia smirked at Laurie and he looked a bit frazzled.

"Well..." Laurie started, "I came here with you, in fact, I dragged you here so I'd assume you would spend more time with me than my friends." He concluded, coughing subtly.

"Fair enough, I guess..." Delia flashed a quick grin before looking up hesitantly at him. For some reason her hands started getting sweaty the more she looked into Laurie's eyes. Delia gulped down a mouth full of saliva and breathed.

"Care for a dance?" Laurie questioned, extending his hand for her to take. "I— I'm not sure that's a good idea, L—" With that, Laurie took Delia's hand and placed his hand on her waist carefully, drifting the two off onto the crowd of dancing couples.

Delia hadn't danced much in her life, like, ever. It's a hint of weakness of hers and she thinks Laurie could tell just because she had accidentally stepped on his feet multiple times in a span of 15 seconds.

"You don't do this much, do you?" He asked and Delia tried to look more confident but ended up stepping on his foot again.

"No... no, I don't." Delia sighed, keeping a lookout for his feet.

"If you can't set an example, just follow the crowd." He reassured Delia and she agreed with Laurie's statement. She tried to follow his moves but they were either to swift or too slow for her.

"I think... we should go before everyone realizes how horrible of a dancer I am." Delia mumbled, stopping while Laurie did one last turn which made Delia stumble to find balance.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes I am. The surest I've ever felt in my entire short life." She looked back at the crowd of people still dancing, looking so elegant and graceful.

"I aspire to be them one day." Delia huffed out, staring at the twirling ball gowns.

"No one's perfect, I saw a few of them make mistakes while I was dancing with you." Laurie patted his companion on the back and kept his hand there as the two walked out into the cold air of the night.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better, you didn't even look at the crowd once while you were dancing with me." Delia sighed, taking his hand and putting it back to his side. "But I appreciate it."

     Laurie felt his cheeks burn, luckily for him, Delia didn't stare in his direction, rather turning to walk out of the large venue.

They both sat down on the steps of the house, taking in deep breathes which filled their lungs with fresh air. Delia's head tilted to the side, she felt tired, all she wanted to do was go home. Eventually, she felt her head land on Laurie's right shoulder. Delia was so exhausted, she didn't even bother asking Laurie whether he was alright with her doing so or not.

"You're a good friend, Laurie, do you know that?" Delia grinned softly, yawning and covering her mouth with her hand. Out of the corner of his eye, Laurie gazed at his friend, letting out a sigh before turning his view back to the landscape. Those words that then left his lips delicately, for some reason, made Delia's heartburn from beating rapidly.

"You too, Delia." He uttered, avoiding Delia's question, then continuing his words, mumbling a question to Delia.

     "Do you know that, Lia?"

A U T H O R ' S N O T E

and we're back to long chapters lol. I'm tryna
keep up with my, multiple updates a week
streak. God, I'm gonna have to tweak
a lot of stuff after I finish this book. <3