She stood in front of the speakers instead and closed her eyes, not really dancing, just bouncing and whispering the lyrics. After the first verse, she was dancing. Kanye always crawled right under her skin. He was the perfect antidote to any serious frustration. Just enough angry, just enough indignant, just enough the-world-will-never-know-how-ridiculously-awesome-I-am. Just enough poet.
With her eyes closed, Cath could almost pretend that Wren was dancing on the other side of the room, holding a Simon Snow replica wand for a microphone.
After a few songs, Cath didnt need to pretend.
If any of her neighbors had been home, they would have heard her shouting the lyrics.
Cath danced. And rapped. And danced. And eventually there was knocking.
Damn. Maybe the neighbors are home.
She opened the door without looking and without turning down the music (Kanye-impaired thinking), but ready to apologize.
It was just Levi.
Reagan isnt here! Cath shouted.
He said something, but not loud enough.
What? she yelled.
Then who is here? Levi shouted, smiling. Levi. Always smiling. Wearing a plaid flannel shirt with the sleeves unbuttoned at the wrists. Couldnt even be trusted to dress himself. Whos in there, listening to rap music?
Me, Cath said. She was panting. She tried not to pant.
He leaned toward her so he wouldnt have to shout. This cant be Cather music. Id always pegged you as the mopey, indie type. He was teasing her; only genuine emergencies were allowed to interrupt the Emergency Kanye Party.
Go away. Cath started to shut the door.
Levi stopped it with his hand. What are you doing? he said, laughing, and pushing his head forward on the doing.
She shook her head because she couldnt think of anything reasonable to say. And because it wouldnt matter anyway; Levi was never reasonable. Emergency dance partygo away.
Oh no, Levi said, pushing the door open and sliding in. Too skinny. Too tall.
Cath shut the door behind him. There was no protocol for this. Shed call Wren for a sidebar consultation if there was any chance Wren would answer the phone.
Levi stood in front of Cath, his face serious (for once) (seriously, for once ) and his head deliberately bobbing up and down. So, he said loudly. Emergency dance party.
Cath nodded.
And nodded. And nodded.
Levi nodded back.
And then Cath started laughing and rolled her eyes away from him, moving her hips from side to side. Just barely.
And then her shoulders.
And then she was dancing again. Tighter than beforeher knees and elbows almost lockingbut dancing.
When she looked back at Levi, he was dancing, too. Exactly the way she would have imagined him dancing if shed ever tried. Too long and too loose, running his fingers through his hair. (Dude. We get it. Extreme widows peak. ) His eyes were absolutely gleaming with mirth. Putting out light.
Cath couldnt stop laughing. Levi caught her eyes and laughed, too.
And then he was dancing with her. Not close or anything. Not any closer, actuallyjust looking at her face and moving with her.
And then she was dancing with him. Better than him, which was nice. She realized she was biting her bottom lip and stopped.
She started rapping instead. Cath could blow these songs backwards. Levi raised his eyebrows and grinned. He knew the chorus and rapped with her.
They danced into the next song and through it and into the next. Levi stepped toward her, maybe not even on purpose, and Cath whirled up onto her bed. He laughed and jumped up onto Reagans, practically bumping his head on the ceiling.
They kept on dancing together,
imitating each others goofiest moves, bouncing at the end of the beds. It was almost like dancing with Wren. (But not, of course. Really, really not.)
And then the door swung open.
Cath jumped back away from it and fell flat on her mattress, bouncing and rolling onto the floor.
Levi was laughing so hard, he had to lean against the wall with both hands.
Reagan walked in and said something, but Cath didnt catch it. She reached up to her desk and closed the laptop, stopping the music. Levis laughter rang out in the sudden quiet. Cath was completely out of breath, and shed landed wrong on her knee.
What. The. Major. Fuck, Reagan said, more shocked than angryat least Cath didnt think she seemed angry.
Emergency dance party, Levi said, jumping off the bed and reaching out to help Cath. Cath held on to the desk and stood up.
Okay? he asked.
She smiled and nodded her head.
Have you met Cather? Levi said to Reagan, his face still shining with amusement. She spits hot fire.
This is exactly the sort of day Im having, Reagan said, setting down her bag and kicking off her shoes. Weird shit around every corner. Im going out. You coming?
Sure. Levi turned to Cath. You coming?
Reagan looked at Cath and frowned. Cath felt something sticky blooming again in her stomach. Maybe the scene with Professor Piper was coming back to her. Or maybe she shouldnt have been dancing with her roommates boyfriend. You should come, Reagan said. She seemed sincere.