Step Up

The bar was wild, as party animals filled in. Flashes of red, green and blue went with the booming bass. John with Cal just arrived with the others. The intensity of the place was quickly burning John out. They took a table for themselves. While most were out there, John kept himself together for a while. Lara, a friend of theirs sat by his side.

"I can't believe you guys have the capacity for these." Lara shouted. Still she was barely heard.

"I can't believe you believe that." He shouted. The two laughed.

The entire night was filled with dancing, partying, and foods and drinks. John and Lara played games instead.

As the night dragged out Lara stood up "Hey I'm heading out early," She grabbed her purse and took a look at their friends "Are you staying?"

"Um yeah I think so" John was all out of battery but couldn't leave the others.

"Well, good luck"

As Lara left, John's eyes turned to his friends. They only have gotten wilder and wilder as it dragged on. 

John glanced deeply at his drink. Cal came along trying to lighten up his mood. He insisted John to have fun with them. His look though was just flat out deflated.

"Alright, just need to pee real quick" said Cal

John tried washing up his face to keep himself awake a bit

"So how was it?"

John couldn't believe the question. He gave him a cold gaze and silence. Cal laughed at the look. He washed his hands and took a deep breath. His eyes turned to John with clarity, "You know..." Cal paused for a while, "I think Lara likes you." 

John turned red and his eyes stared at the ceiling. His laugh were sarcasms. John felt as if Lara would like Cal more. Cal was more exciting, outgoing, social, and supposedly fun around with.

Cal just sighed, as he kept his eyes at John. "Come on, we're going home." 

When John got to his room, he launched himself to his bed, slowly sinking in marshmallow. John was at peace in his little sanctuary of a room. The chirping crickets outside were his song for the night. He could barely keep it together from the huge party he went through. John made up his mind, not to go in any of those again. He heard laughing. It was Cal.

"Come on, we had fun" said Cal.

"YOU might had fun" John replied. He shook his head in disbelief. Never really thought himself going out like that. A question pop off. 

"How do you guys manage to have the energy for those?" He asked Cal. Although Cal doesn't even know the answer to that.

"The guys only hang out with me is because of you, right?" John felt he has only been in the background tagging along the others. Question after question pulled in line his head. 

"Hey, that's not true" Cal took a second what to say, "Look, if you really think that way, you just need to open up more." 

John was just staring at his empty ceiling, taking every word. 

Cal continued on "Just slowly and surely you know. Like I see how you open up to Lara, and I'm telling you I can see she likes you." 

John briefly had a soft laugh at the thought. Even though Cal was serious about every word he said.

"How about this? You ask her out on a date or hang out just you two." 

John's heart rushed at the very idea "That's not slowly and surely" His eyes squinted.

"Take it as a huge step. A... leap of faith if you will" 

John has had enough of crazy things for one day. He slithered along his bed. Shutting his eyes, with that idea lingering in the back of his head.

In the morning, John knew Cal would be knocked out asleep. He decided to take a walk around the chilling, silent campus before class. Buying coffee nearby along the way. The calm sky, jogging passerby. Green morning dews with the birds chirping around. A look at his coffee, and it was an easy choice between this and last night. He took it all in. 

By the distance he saw Lara at a table working on her laptop. John breathed in and took the courage to go to her.

Her eyes widened as she saw John. She moved a bit so John can sit by her side.

"Um what're you working?" John asked. 

Lara showcased a few photos of portraits and paintings. "Just something of a hobby." 

"Really, C-can I take a look at the others?" 

Lara agreed. Her works were all naturally beautiful and expressive. John carefully looked at all of them and was amazed at every single one.

"You sure this is just hobby?" 

Lara laughed. She tried explaining that she only does them when she feels it. She showed the last one which was an image of a woman on a swing staring at the moon in front of her. Without realizing the two were locked in their own space as if time stopped entirely around them.

The bell rang and the two snapped back to reality. All of a sudden their lips were sealed. Their eyes evading each other.

"Hey, I should probably head out. Still have a lot to do." Lara stood up and packed up her things.

"Oh right yea— I mean, sure, sure" John wanted to help but couldn't figure in what way exactly.

When Lara was about to leave, John remembered about the idea on asking her out on a date. He knew this as the perfect chance to do so. His heart was racing and couldn't find his voice to speak up. He saw her sincere eyes at him and said her goodbye. 

She started walking away. Her face took to the sky wondering with her thoughts.

"Hey, wait."

She turned and saw John with a calmness in his eyes.

"I was wondering if..." John took a deep breath, and looked at Lara. "Would you go out on a date with me?

Lara's face turned rose. "Yeah, sure. I would love that." 

John was relieved and ecstatic at the same time. 

"Later evening?"

She nodded, "I'm free at 5." 

After his classes John was all day in his room getting all sweaty and choked up. Cal even tried talking sense to him.

"Look, would you relax?" Cal was lying around in bed. Probably just woke up

"I don't know even what to do." said John

"How about getting ready? Like take a shower. You stink"

John looked at the time and began in a hurry. He tried doing all in a flash. Taking a shower, cleaning up the room, and even picking what to wear. 

John finished up and looked up in the mirror. "Look at me," he chuckled "I'm not really up for kinds of thing"

"I mean you don't have to. Just be you." He looked at John's eyes with rush of excitement. "Stop hiding." 

A knock on the door made John jump a bit. It opened. Lara peeked her face up grinning. "You ready?" she asked

"Um yeah. I seem so." John replied

"Who were you talking to in here?" Her head circled around the room.

"Oh nothing. I was just taking a look at the mirror." 

Lara nodded as she was curious if he had someone else in this room. 

John looked once more at his reflection in the mirror and gave a genuine smile to himself. He walked up to Lara. The two left in each others' hands on their first date.