It had been forever since Amy went on an actual date. Be it a romantic or just a casual outing with friends.
The last time, Jonathan told her to get ready for a date only to drive him and Christina on their date.
So it was only natural that she didn't want to be the party pooper that night.
By six o'clock sharp, she was already ready- yet still pacing around her apartment, playing with her reflection on the bathroom before she took a shoal and curled on the couch. Waiting with her faith crumbling.
When a knock finally came minutes to nine, she felt a rush of relief. Malcolm hadn't forgotten about her.
She nearly tripped over Golden racing to the door.
Amy stopped short when she opened it.
Elijah stood there instead.
"Yeah," he said flatly, "I get that a lot. Malcolm's on his way back to you, but he wanted you to enjoy the night."
Amy hesitated. Part of her had wondered if Elijah hated her guts- and she was seriously considering staying in- until he waved at her and signed:
Is everything okay?
Her eyes widened.
You know sign language?
"My ex-boyfriend was deaf. Still is-" Elijah replied without missing a beat. "I wanted to score some points." He glanced at the door. "You are going to close that, right?"
Amy face-palmed, fumbled for her key card, and locked up.
So what happened with the ex? she signed as they headed for the stairs.
Elijah gagged theatrically. "Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I owe you any juicy details."
Sorry, Amy signed quickly, embarrassed.
"I'm messing with you," he said- completely straight-faced.
Then, casually: "His name was Victor. A Taurus. And now that we broke up? Average."
So he cheated on you?
"Worse." Elijah paused, savoring it.
Amy leaned in. What did he do?
"He left me for his peace of mind," Elijah said. "Even called me a working robot to my face."
The audacity.
"Tell me about it-" Agreed Elijah with a roll of his eyes.
That burns though.
"Of course it burns- I'm single again" Emphasized Elijah, "So forgive me if I act like a bitch tonight."
I thought that was just your personality, Amy signed sweetly.
"What a muted, mean bitch," Elijah scoffed. "But enough about me- why did you kill my show?"
The Elephant in the Room?
"What else do you think is going wrong this year?" he shot back.
Instead of the familiar bile rising in her throat when questioned, Amy laughed.
I'm sorry, she signed sheepishly. It's trash now, isn't?
"Everybody knows that it's trash so, why did you leave it?" Cornered Elijah unforgiving.
I quit. Signed Amy. I was miserable working there.
Elijah sobered. "What happened?"
I was dating a scumbag, she signed sharply. And he was two-timing me with a tramp.
Elijah blinked. "It's alarming that I understood the cusses- But the nerve of that scumbag!"
Amy laughed at his expression.
The basement was already alive- students and teachers packed together, music thumping, bodies moving. The night felt young. Forgiving.
Two beers in and with the DJ's clear vendetta against wallflowers, Amy signed:
This is where you ask me to dance.
"A robot, honey," Elijah shouted over the music while motioning to himself.
Amy grabbed his hand anyway and dragged him to the floor.
She loved to dance. The heavy beats, melodies, The rush of adrenaline…
And once she got past her shyness-
there was no stopping the beast. Elijah was cooked.