Wally rests his chin in his hand, unable to keep the frown off of his face. He just doesn’t get it—you love fun, you love dancing, so why on Earth are you dating the most boring man on the planet? While you chat excitedly about this new book you’re reading, he scrolls on his phone, not even listening to a word you say.

Wally forces a smile and nods along, trying his best to encourage you to keep going despite the shitty man next to you.

He shakes his leg so fast it’s practically vibrating.

God, he can’t stand to sit here another minute and watch him treat you like this. Watch him ignore you. The very thought leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

Wally finds the perfect excuse when your favorite song starts playing, jumping to his feet. “Hey, it’s your song!”

He knows he’s done the right thing when you grin ear to ear, finishing off your drink and standing with him. For the first time tonight, your boyfriend glances up from his phone. “Where are you going?”

“It’s my favorite song,” you say sheepishly. “I want to dance.”

Wally hates the way your shoulders shrink in, the way you try to diminish your excitement for this loser.

“Oh, I can dance too.”

Wally knows he shouldn’t but he just can’t help himself. He wraps an arm around your shoulders, flashing your boyfriend a smug smile. “Nah man,” he glances at your boyfriend’s phone, “I’m sure you have some real important stuff going on.”

You don’t laugh out loud but Wally can feel your shoulders shake lightly beneath his arm.

He doesn’t waste another second in taking you out to the dance floor, guiding you through the sea of sweaty bodies and as close to the speakers as he can get you.

Wally’s arm slides from your shoulders to your waist, keeping you close while the two of you dance. He knows all the words, his dance moves matching the lyrics he’s singing. He savours every moment of being close to you like this and dreads when the song ends and you’ll go back to him.