All the Colors of the Dark
by Chris Whitaker
Contents
Chapter 95
Overview
At prom, Misty pulls Patch into a slow dance that becomes one of their most intimate moments together, ending with her saying that she loves him. But Patch cannot fully surrender to the happiness of the moment because the check in his pocket reminds him of the sacrifice and pressure surrounding their future.
Summary
At prom, the school hall has been transformed with streamers, a glitter ball, and slow-dancing couples. Patch stands apart from Chuck and the others, physically and emotionally changed enough that the girls now look at him differently.
Misty tells Patch that he needs to dance with her. Patch resists because he does not dance, but when a meaningful song begins, Misty coaxes him onto the floor and a space opens around them.
As they dance, Misty leans into Patch and playfully guides him through the lyrics, even correcting him when he sings the line wrong. The teasing gives way to open devotion, and Patch responds by lifting her and spinning her, showing how deeply he cares despite his reluctance.
The moment peaks when Misty tells Patch that she loves him. Instead of feeling only joy, Patch is weighed down by the check in his pocket, which makes the romantic scene feel painful as well as tender and suggests that outside pressures are threatening what they share.
Who Appears
- PatchAt prom, he reluctantly dances with Misty and feels torn by the heavy check in his pocket.
- MistyShe draws Patch onto the dance floor, shares a playful slow dance, and tells him she loves him.