My First Stake Dance

Lights flashed. My heart pounded to the beat of the music as I stepped into the crazily lit cultural hall. It was my first stake dance and I had no idea what to expect.

My friends and I found a place on the dance floor and started moving. "This is no place to be embarrassed," my friend urged. Soon I was jumping, tapping, and dancing more than I have in all the years of my life combined.

The music calmed and the DJ announced to get with a partner for a slow dance. Mr friend pushed me away, "Go find someone," she said with a smile.
"Wha--wh... I don't know what to do!" I turned around, took about two steps, and there he was. My first dance. Our eyes locked and we both came together.
"What's your name?" he asked as we positioned, his hand placed on my waist and mine on his shoulder.
We joined hands, "Tessa. What's yours?"
"Colton," he answered and began to ask me more questions. I did the same and we briefly got to know each other. The song ended and I thanked him, beaming.

I found my friends again and we all shared our experiences with our dance partners. After every slow song there were a bunch of more upbeat songs where we'd have a party and watch some guys break dancing.
After a while there were more slow dances and I danced with two more boys, getting into the routine of talking to them while we were dancing.

When the fourth slow dance started my friend shoved me into a very unexpected partner. Someone who I had known since second grade, who had the same birthday as me, and who was about a foot shorter than me. The conversation was awkward and he answered everything with "Yeah." In the middle of the song the DJ announced to quickly grab a new partner who was next to you. My new partner was the complete opposite-- I had never met him before, he was three years older than me, and probably a foot and a half taller than me. It was quite the transition, but my new partner provided for a much more interesting conversation.

My friends and I hung out until 11:00 when the dance ended and we all went home.
When I walked into the house, my legs ached and my heart still beat steadily to an imaginary song. I soon crawled into bed, still smiling, and impatient to do it all again.