The Party (part 2)

September 20th, 2013

I had been planning this birthday party for my friend for a couple of months, and it was even the first date I took off when I got my hair styling job (which I did that, along with interning). To say my friend was uncooperative with my planning would be an understatement, and even though she wanted the party I was getting lots of push back about the way I wanted to do things. Much to my displeasure she didn't want to start decorating for the party until 30min before it started, and she swore that everyone she invited would know how to swing dance which was the main activity planned. Only problem was she broke her foot a week or so before the party and was on crutches for HER SWING DANCING PARTY. My party planning nature was a freaking mess, and add all the speculation about Peter's intentions and I was sweating bullets come the day of the party.

The morning of the party we had an intern meeting which I don't remember much about, other than that Peter showed up after the meeting and I passed him on my way out. We exchanged hellos, then I asked if you was still planning on coming to the party tonight.

He said that he was, and that he would see me there. It was a short simple conversation, but it seemed very natural and gave me the thought that maybe he would ask me to dance that night. I tried to shake the thought...I both really did and didn't want that to happen as I didn't know how to swing dance.

When I finally arrived at Lindsey's house, and began setting up for the party I had a lot to do. Table cloths, hanging banners, candles, food to set out, and even a photo booth to set up I'm pretty sure I was still running around like crazy when everyone started showing up. Peter was the second person to show up, and to my surprise didn't go up to Lindsey or me, and started talking to a boy at the party that I was pretty sure he didn't know. Peter was always dressed pretty nicely at church, but I don't think I had ever seen a bow-tie, tucked in shirt, and slacks outfit all together. He looks a lot older/taller with his shirt tucked in and I remember trying to keep telling myself her probably liked Lindsey.

Now as I said before Lindsey was on crutches and quite the pitiful sight, I knew that if Peter liked her at all he would find any chance to offer his assistance to her...But that didn't happen at all. I was actually super shocked by how cold he was the Lindsey, and my heart though conflicted for my friend felt the relief of having just dodged a bullet. He doesn't like her. I thought as I sat across from him at the table, where we had all started eating, I'm sure I smiled but nobody noticed.

Conversation at the table was pretty lively. Lindsey herself was a pretty talkative person, and so were many of her friends. I on the other hand was more of a one on one person, and was surprised to see Peter (Mr. quiet) having lots to add the the conversation. I sat and observed much of this dinner chatter trying not to think of how awkward dancing would be.

Luckily for me dancing didn't happen right after dinner, but rather pictures. We had a photo booth with you typical lips, top hat, and mustache props. I did several pictures with Lindsey and my friend Aubrey who was also there. After getting bored with us Lindsey decided it was time for some group pictures. You could've knocked me over with a feather as every group picture we took Peter stood right next to me.

To be fair I was one of the only people he really knew at this party, other than Lindsey who sitting on a chair during the pictures due to her foot, but he had never even been arms length away from me and HERE ^ he was touching my shoulder with his.

I tried not to let me mind run away with me, so I told myself it was nothing.

After pictures we all ended up standing in a circle as conversation flowed, I knew this was probably the time for dancing to start but felt helpless to initiate anything so I just observed and listened. I was still very surprised how easily people seemed to be chatting with each other, and also very interested in everything Peter said. I don't know exactly what I expected him to be like, but he had lots of opinions, watched a lot of tv shows, and no real idea about where his future was headed. All very interesting stuff.

As people started getting bored one of the girls tried to teach me how to do some swing dancing, but it really seemed like only the handful of girls that were there were even interested in swing dancing so I that died pretty much as soon as it started.

Meanwhile Peter, who was not liking the playlist on Lindsey's i-pod pulled out his own i-pod and started playing his own music. This got some people in the room dancing, and even though it wasn't swing dancing people causally joined in. A lot of the dancing people where doing was very entertaining, but I liked the music enough that I gave in and danced too.

I hadn't heard a lot of the songs that Peter played before, but I liked them..and the more I watched him dance (he's a surprisingly good dancer) the more I knew I was slipping into feelings I'd rather not have. It suddenly hit me what these feeling could mean. Would Lindsey be mad? Can I still be an intern? Did he like me? Knowing that I liked him felt like I was choosing a path that could lead to lots of hurt...and yet I didn't really feel like I had a choice.

Still battling this new found confusion the party slowly ended as sweaty teenagers decided to call it a night. I started cleaning up and Peter stayed to help. Of course he's staying to help I thought giving in to a moment of anger that he would dare to be that cute. But he was, and that night as we both left and his car followed mine to the freeway, where we both when opposite directions, I was a bundle of thoughts and emotions....not all of which were unpleasant.