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Stand Out
Written by Marqees William Murray
Max was as
pumped, tonight was the Senior banquet at his high school. The banquet marked
the first of many senior only events throughout the year. The entire class had
been fundraising and planning for this since freshman year and it was about to
go down. Walking into his bathroom he got his pair of clippers and began
cutting his thick ebony afro down. Once the initial hair was cut down Max
grabbed his trusted Mach 3 razor and shaved the rest as smooth as a baby’s
bottom. After quick, hot shower Max slapped on some after shave. Initially
stinging him the liquid’s aroma of Cool Mountain Breeze swallowed the room. Max
let the smell sink it for a minute, this just revved his excitement up like a
stock car at Daytona. After a brisk stroll, back to his room he went in his
closet and pulled out his attire for the evening. His suit was jet black from
head to toe and to add a little flair he had a black fedora to top it all off. At
first a smile swept across his face like a cool breeze but then he was hit with
a wave of nervousness. Max was somewhat out going but public displays of
outgoingness was his kryptonite. This was especially relevant since Liz was
going tonight. Liz was the girl Max was crushing on for the past few years and
although they were friends with each other Max always found himself a wreck
around her. “No”, Max told himself, “I can do this, tonight I shine. He thought
of one of his favorite movies from when he was a kid, A Goofy Movie. Immediately
the song “Stand Out” began to play in his head and it relaxed his soul.
After
quickly getting dressed his mom dropped him off at school where the rest of his
senior class was gathering. From there they would bus over to Sheraton Hotel where
the banquet was being held. Max was welcomed with open arms by his bros Tim,
who was decked out in royal purple dress shirt and Reggie who was in a black
blazer with maroon dress shirt. “Oh, look at this kid! Big pimpin’ over here!”
Tim exclaimed high fiving Max. “I like the whole hat thing you got going on.”
Reggie shouted. “Let me see.” Max handed his fedora over to his friend who put
it on. “Dude, this is nice. Where’d you get this?” “My Grandpa gave it to me,”
Max responded. “Hey man forget that tonight we are gonna some fun. We got hot
chicks, music and food I can’t wait to get going.” said Tim. Max nodded along
with his buddy but his mind burned like a dumpster fire. Max was not the best
when it came to ladies. He could hold conversation with them and be witty and
engaging but if was attracted to the girl in the slightest manor he lost
composure. “Attention Seniors”, the overhead speaker blared jarring Max from
his thoughts, “Please load up on the busses outside. Remember to board the bus
with your homeroom class.” “Let’s get to it gents.”, Tim said leading the pack.
The 3 boys joined their homeroom group and boarded the bus.
After a
brief bus ride the students arrived at the hotel. The mass of students entered
the hotel ballroom were the event was being held. There were tables set up for
the banquet portion with a dance floor in the middle of the room. Max, Tim and
Reggie sat together at a table direct near the dance floor. After an exquisite dinner,
the students were all chatting amongst themselves as the DJ changed the music
from light dinner music to dance music. The students began to stir amongst
themselves waiting for that one person find the courage to hit the dance floor.
Max sat uncomfortably as his friends debated which one of them would go and hit
the floor. He looked over at Liz sitting at a table across the room from him.
She was surrounded by her friends glowing like a star. His stomach turned as
the words the chorus to “Stand Out” rang in his head like church bells. In that
instant Max knew what he had to do, stand out.
Silently he rose from his seat Max
walked on to the dance floor. As he hit the floor and began to dance his
inhibitions fell away. In a fit of uncoordinated rhythm Max let it all hang
out. At first this was met with snickers and jeers but seeing their friend
dancing inspired Reggie and Tim to support their friend. With one becoming
three courage began to surge to the other students one by one began getting on
the dance floor to dance. Soon the entire class was dancing the footloose and
fancy free on the dance floor. As they danced Max began to get showered with
praise for being the one to get things started. Being complimented by his
fellow classmates just fueled Max on as he danced. Each song was a new journey
on trek of the night. Max found himself getting asked to dance by girls who would
normally give him the time or day much less dance with him. Of course, he
didn’t turn one down.
As the night carried on Max noticed
something, he had never really asked a girl to dance with him. More importantly
he had not danced with Liz at all that evening. Quietly he left the dance floor
to search for the girl he was smitten with but she was nowhere to be found. Max
was heartbroken feeling as if he was a ship lost at sea. He slowly returned to
the banquet area as the DJ announced last dance the song. As “Your Guardian
Angel” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus began to play Max sat down at his table alone
as couples began to form on the floor. Or at least he thought he was alone but
when he looked up there was Liz sitting right across from him. As the two seniors
looked at each other Max felt his heart begin to beat like a drum. His palms
were like a swamp wet and damp. Then like vomit words, “Would you like to
dance?” came out of his mouth.
Max was shocked at himself this was
something that he would never do. Without wasting a moment Liz responded,
“Yes”. Max got up walked over to Liz and extended his hand towards her. She
kindly accepted and walked across the dance floor with him. As they began to
dance peace began to cover Max like a blanket of security. Liz gently rested
her head on his shoulders and spoke quietly, “You know I have been waiting for
you to ask me to dance all night.” Surprised at this sudden revelation Max
responded, “I’m sorry if I had known,” Liz cut him off “Don’t worry about it
this was well worth the wait. This moment was totally worth it.” As the couple
dance their first and last dance of the evening Max felt accomplished knowing
that taking the first step into the unknown was rewarded with something
unexpected and totally deserved.
