“Who is that?”
“Who, that weird chick?”
“Yeah…the one that’s…”
“Dancing by herself…?”
“Yeah. What’s her deal?”
“Who knows? She’s crazy.”
“Definitely.”

The girl in question didn’t even glance up as she listened to the people talking about her. They didn’t even seem to notice as she glided through them all, arms erect around an imaginary person. She moved carefully and sure-footedly through the crowds in a sparkling green dress, oblivious to the world of teenagers around her as she swept back and forth in a waltz to the heavy beat of drums and screaming lyrics.

“Seriously, she has to be on something.”
“Totally. Look at her.”
“Why’d she even come here?”
“To act weird. She just wants attention.”
“Yeah, just ignore her.”

The girl still ignored the comments in her direction. It was true, she wasn’t dancing with a corporeal person, but to her, her dance partner was real enough. Imaginary friends are always real to those that can take the time to think and see with their mind’s eye. And this was one of the things that the girl could do best. She ignored the others around her. She ignored the annoying music playing. She ignored the rhythm-less prats talking about her right in front of her.

“She really is in her own little world isn’t she?”
“Yeah, hope she’s not driving anywhere tonight. She’d crash.”
“I hope she leaves soon.”
“She scares me.”

And instead imagined a magnificent ballroom instead of the Prom. Imagined a kind young man that was more than willing to dance with her. Imagined wonderful soothing music played by a live orchestra in the corner. Imagined pleasant people, more than happy to spare a few minutes for random chit-chatting.

“It’s like she can’t even see us.”
“Helloooooo?”
“She has GOT to be high on SOMETHING.”
“Probably.”
“Whatever.”

Her imaginary friend dancing with her faded slightly as he carefully pointed out to her someone sitting on the edge of the dance floor, tapping her foot to the beat of different drums than the ones playing. A girl, sitting, wanting to dance, but not having anyone to dance with, and sitting talking to an empty chair. The imaginary friend smiled, bowed gracefully, turned, and disappeared into the room filled with both partying teens and stately noble-people. The girl realized that the other girl was talking to an imaginary friend as well, and after a moment of thinking, was able to conjure up the image of the friend to see. Walking up, she smiled.

“Hello.”
“Hi.”
“You have a friend too.”
“Uh…yeah.”
“Why aren’t you dancing with him?”
“Excuse me?”
“Come on!”

The girl pulled the other into her arms, embraced her in friendship, and set about waltzing again, this time with an actual dance partner. The other fell easily into the steps, and before she knew it was having a wonderful time again, dancing, talking, and laughing, like she should. The two imaginary friends sat forgotten, but content.