I got to the Homecoming dance early.
My friends began arriving about 5 minutes after it started; I was already out on the dancefloor. Dancing in front of the large windows facing the parking lot as the DJ scratched out some sick beats. My friends saw me as they walked up to the doors, all waved, few laughed, and three danced along while they waited in the line that was now backed up out the door.
I felt arms grab me around my waist, squeezing me into a hug.
“Uh, hi Vanessa?” I bewilderedly guessed.
“Aw! How’d you know it was me, papi?” She asked, letting go of me and
smiling.
“I don’t know many girls that only come up to my chest.” I said with a smirk.
“Oh, wow! Look at your tie! It brings out the green in your eyes so well! You
look so handsome!” She gushed.
“Ha, thanks, Vanessa. You look mighty fine yourself.” I said, nodding at her
golden ball dress. She was overdressed for this like always.
She pulled me close, “Dance with me, Joely!”
“Sure. Wait, who are you here with?” I had just realized that she’d been
chatting up a very, very good friend of mine all week, trying to get him to ask
her.
“Bradford! He’s right over there.” She pointed to the Punch table.
He was staring daggers at me.
I sighed, “Hows about we go see Brad?”
It’s never good to dance with your editing partner’s girl.
We waltzed over to Brad, “I think I found something that belongs to you,
Brad.” I said with a wink.
He laughed, “Thanks for bringing her back; you can dance with her if you
want, man.”
She smiled and began grinding against me, “Brad’s not a very good dancer
anyways. He didn’t study it like you.”
She placed her hands on my shoulder and basically started to dry hump
against me.
“Well this is certainly the second hardest time I’ve had trying to hide an
erection.” I said aloud, a cacophony of laughter burst forth.
I scanned the floor while everyone laughed, I saw her enter.
Gabriel.
We hadn’t shared much time after the New Year’s debacle; tonight would be
a great night to fix that.
“Excuse me, Vanessa. I have some things to tend to. Dance with Brad.” I
said, putting her hand in his.
They begin to dance as I begin to wade through the sea of people that dance
between us.
She came in alone; I fervently hope that Seth isn’t just late. What was the
age rule for these dances again? I rack my brain for the information while I
check my pockets for the dance contracts.
I find them and according to rules he would be allowed in. Maybe he’s late?
I finally crossed the floor and saw her talking to a friend of hers from the
Flag Squad.
Maybe I’m just lucky….
I kick my next move around in my head for a minute before finally dancing
my way to her.
“Yeah, so then I dropped my phone in the toilet and I was like, NO! I NEED
YOUUUU! So I reach in, totally getting toilet water all over hands.” Her
friend said.
“So THAT’S why your hands are blue!” she said, laughing.
“Yeah, it was a rough time trying to get it off. I eventually just gave up.” Her
friend said, looking at her blue hand.
I lean up against the wall, “Hello Gabriel.” I say coolly with a wink.
“Oh, JOEL! What’s up? Your tie looks good, goes well with your eyes.” She
said, smiling as her eyes raced up my tie to my eyes.
“Thanks! You look absolutely breathtaking.” I say, perhaps taking it a little
bit too far.
She giggles (nervously?), “SO! Who would you be here with?” Her eyes scan
the dancefloor, no doubt looking for one of the girls I’d been asked by this
last week.
“Actually, I’m here alone. I was hoping that someone I wanted to go with
would be here.” She isn’t dumb; she’s got to know what I’m saying.
Her eyes narrowed, I could see the gears in her head turning, I quickly
changed the subject.
“Who’re you here with? Seth?” I asked, trying to feign mere casual interest.
“Oh no, we broke up for what must be like the hundredth time this week. I
think we’re done for good.” She said, sadly.
SCORE FOR ME.
“Well, if that means you don’t have anyone to dance with tonight, then I
would cherish the chance to share one with you.” I say, perhaps a bit too
hastily.
“Sure, Joel!” She says, smiling.
I take her hand and bring her out to the dancefloor, we begin dancing to
“Get Low” a personal favorite of mine.
We dance for around a half hour before she says, “I’m going to go sit down
for a while and talk to some friends, okay? I’ll text you when I’m done and
then, if you’re not dancing with anyone else we could maybe dance some
more.”
“Okay, darlin’.” I say, scanning the dancefloor for something to do.
By the end of the danceoff I was in I felt my phone going off, it was a text
from Gabriel.
She was over at the Pizza table in the main hall and she was ready to dance
again, I bid adieu to my good friends and headed towards that area.
As I walk up to the table I hear Vanessa say, “-trying to stop an erection!”
and everyone at the table bursts out laughing, I smile sheepishly. I can feel
my cheeks burning up, Gabriel just laughs and looks at me.
Vanessa continues, “So Joel’s walking away and I turn to Brad and I’m like, it
must be really hard for him to hide something that big!” The table erupts
into laughter again, everyone’s staring now.
I just smile, there are wayyyy too many people at this table to make this feel
even kind of comfortable.
Vanessa now sees me beside Gabe, “Aren’t you, Joel? You’re big! There’s no
shame in hiding it! I’d tell Brad the same if he was big!”
Brad does a complete spit-take, it’s less successful than the ones in the
movies, though, this just runs down his chin onto his shirt.
Gabriel just looks at me as I take her hand, “Can we please head back out to
the dancefloor?” I ask, wanting to get far away as possible before Vanessa
can launch into the story about WHY she knows what she does.
We get out to a part of the dancefloor that’s relatively deserted and quiet
and talk. We talk for a good long while, until the lights begin to dim to signal
the end of the evening.
“Ugh, these heels are killlllling Me.” she says, sighing painfully, “I would die
to take some pressure off my feet.”
“Well, you could lean on me,” I offer my hand… “Y’know, if you would want
to.” I’m pretty hopeful that she’d take me up on the offer.
“I’d like that.” She says.
With a soft smile she takes my hand and leans on me. I shuffle slowly,
making sure her feet stay off the ground.
As the song ends the DJ says thank you and goodnight to us. We stroll out of
the place together and step out into the starlit night.
“Joely, could you please take my shoes off for me?” She asks, pulling up her
skirt to reveal her feet.
“Sure, darlin’.” I step down onto one knee and take her shoes off.
“WOO, JOEL! What’s this, number 10?” My friend Kriss bellows as he walks
by us.
“Ohhh, shit.” I say, instantly facepalming myself.
Gabriel sighs, I don’t know if it’s an angry sigh or not.
I stand up, “No, not engaged again yet! Goodnight, Kriss!” Almost instantly
what I said sinks in.
Why, oh why did I say that? YET. It’s like I’m informing her that I’m going to
ask her to marry her at some point in the next week if she dates me.
Wait, would she be opposed to that? Hmm…
“Would you help me to my car?” She asks, tapping my shoulder.
“Sure! You want me to carry you?”
“You don’t have to be sarcastic. Thanks, though.” She begins to walk.
“I wasn’t. I’m sure I can pick you up.” I say, matter-of-factly.
“Uh, okay.. Hmm, I’ve never been carried before. How do you want to do it?”
She asks looking at me surprised.
“I can carry you in my arms or I can give you a piggy back ride.” I offer.
“Ooh, Piggy back!” She wraps her arms around my neck and we head off to
the parking lot.
We get to her car quickly and she thanks me, “I haven’t had so much fun in
forever!”
“You’re welcome and same for me! Tonight was great.” I say as I let her
down, I turn to see her and am in awe of her.
The nighttime light makes the glitter in her hair look like little stars
shimmering into the eternity of space.
“You’re beautiful.” I state in a zombie-y tone.
She comes close, “Thanks, Joely. Your tie’s a little messed up.. Here, let me
get that…” She comes in closer, she’s pressing up against me.
Her eyes lock into mine as her face draws closer, I bring myself in slowly. I
can’t make this go too fast…
Her lips part as she tilts her head ever so slightly…
Just then our shared silence is shattered by her phone; I recognized the ring
instantly, her mom.
“Crap! My mom! I’m late getting home!” She pulled away and jumped into
her car, “Sorry Joel, I’ll see you Monday! TEXT ME!” she started her car and
sped off into the night.
I sighed heavily and began walking to my truck.
[/QUOTE]
k.
THIS 
