Re: David, Allie, eventually Brandon
"I don't know how women can do that to themselves... wear shoes like that, I mean. Seems like a form of torture," he commented casually. He'd had a similar conversation with Rae, and her answer had been something about wanting to be as tall as beanpoles like him. He figured Allie's answer would be similar, but seeing her face when she said it would be cute, that was just as true.
Allie's story about the guy spinning her around into a punch bowl made David laugh a little bit in spite of himself and the fact that it wasn't really funny. He probably wouldn't have laughed if she wasn't smiling, but she was so he felt a little more relaxed. "I'd hope I'm better than that guy," he mused. "For one, I won't spin you around until I can master keeping my own feet where they belong," he grinned a little bit, "and for two, we're far enough away from the punch bowl that if I did spin you like that, it'd have to be one heck of a spin for you to reach the punch bowl."
She was right in thinking that he didn't even notice that he was leading. He wasn't even thinking about it. All he was thinking about was the kind, easy to talk to woman that was standing in front of him and how this was the best time he'd had in a long, long time. That and how he had her to thank for it.
Just as quickly as he allowed himself to think of the positivity, though, it fell away. He was about to tell the guy that yes, he did mind if he cut in, when he saw how Allie's face lit up. She knew him. Okay, David could deal with that. Until he heard the tone in her voice when she said his name. Oh. Oh, okay. Yeah. That made perfect sense. David tried his best not to look visibly defeated, keeping the smile on his face and ignoring exactly how forced it had become, and how quickly it turned that way. Should have known. I just... shouldn't have let myself... he trailed that thought off, nodding a greeting to the stranger.
Allie went about introducing them and he heard the hesitation before she said Brandon's name... he had almost forgotten what it felt like, having his confidence crushed like that. "Nice to meet you," he muttered. This Brandon... the look he was giving David left absolutely no question as to whether David was welcome anymore or not.
"Mmm, you too," he muttered, his arm going territorially around Allie's waist as he pulled her into him. "You mind? I was promised a dance."
So was I, David thought, the smile fading now. "Oh, um. No, not at all. It's cool. Thanks for keeping me company, Allie. And for the dance. H-have fun," he stuttered, as he backed away a couple of steps, then turned to head back to the table.
He wasn't quite out of earshot when he heard Brandon say, "and now the fun can really begin!"