She is aware that everyone else is mingling, while she is standing alone. I am aware that everyone else is mingling, while I am standing alone.

She looks around at all the people dancing, taking in everyone’s skill, or lack thereof. I look around at all the people dancing, taking in everyone’s skill, or lack thereof.

She doesn’t make eye contact with anybody. Her rationale is that if she doesn’t acknowledge them dancing, then they won’t notice her just standing there. I don’t make eye contact with anybody. My rationale is that if I don’t acknowledge them dancing, then they won’t notice me just standing here.

She wants to dance, but she knows no one here and she doesn’t feel right asking anyone. I want to dance, but I know no one here and I don’t feel right asking anyone.

As an alternative, she ventures over to the snack table, because at least she can be eating instead of just standing around. As an alternative, I venture over to the snack table, because at least I can be eating instead of just standing around.

She peers at the selection, picking a few items here and there. I peer at the selection, picking a few items here and there.

The line for the punch is long, so she has to wait behind exuberant partiers before her turn. The line for the punch is long, so I have to wait behind exuberant partiers before my turn.

As she waits, she munches on a few pieces of food, putting aside some only nibbled at. As I wait, I munch on a few pieces of food, putting aside some only nibbled at.

As she nears the punch bowl, she notices that there is another line going towards it. As I near the punch bowl, I notice that there is another line going towards it.

When she arrives at the bowl, she absentmindedly bends towards it, and reaches for the ladle. When I arrive at the bowl, I absentmindedly bend toward it, and reach for the ladle.

She is suddenly jolted from sure footing, as something bumps roughly against her. I am suddenly jolted from sure footing, as something bumps roughly against me.

Her arm knocks into the bowl, and a mass of punch sloshes out. My arm knocks into the bowl, and a mass of punch sloshes out.

Bright, offensive, fake-red punch is spilled on her shoes. Bright, offensive, fake-red punch is spilled on my shoes.

She gapes down at the mess, and then quickly looks up to see her aggressor. I gape down at the mess, and then quickly look up to see my aggressor.

She stutters, and exclaims, “I’m so sorry about that!” I stutter, and exclaim, “I’m so sorry about that!”

She shakes her head and says, “No, it was my fault.” I shake my head and say, “No, it was my fault.”

She laughs, and says, “I’m sorry about your shoes.” I laugh, and say, “I’m sorry about your shoes.”

Smiling, she says, “It’s alright. I didn’t like them too much, anyway.” Smiling, I say, “It’s ok, these things happen.”

She picks up napkins from the table, hands me some, giggles, and begins to wipe at her shoes. I pick up napkins from the table, hand her some, grin, and begin to wipe at my shoes.

She asks me, mid wipe, “So, have you been having a good time here?” I answer her, mid wipe, “It’s been ok. I haven’t really been doing much.”

With a sly, knowing smile on her face, she stands up and asks, “Have you danced at all yet?” With a sly, knowing smile on my face, I stand up and reply, “Nah, not yet…but neither have you.”

She says slowly, “You’re right, I haven’t.” I ask curiously, “Why not?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” she says bashfully. “Try me,” I say softly, “I bet I would.”