He swallowed nervously, wiped his hands on the front of his tuxedo, took a deep breath and sat down again.
"We'll be late, come on!"
Shaking his head, he retreated further back into the limousine.
A coaxing voice and an extended hand almost tempted him, but the thought of all those eyes, all those mutterings.....
"It doesn't matter where we are, it'll be alright. I promise."
For him, only for him, would he go through this.
Pushing himself up and stepping out of the car for the third time, he squared his shoulder, took the other boy's hand and marched purposefully up to the Main Entrance, ignoring the desire to flee as far as possible from the school.
A banner declaring 'Senior Prom' was hung over the doorway, clusters of girls stood in corners, sharing secrets and longing for their own partner to dance with.
It was just at that moment that he realised.
Tilting his head under the brim of his date's bowler hat, he whispered softly,
"Whatever happens I know I've got you."
The smaller boy, beaming at the decorations, the other students, in his element completely, squeezed his hand tighter and, with almost no movement of his lips, replied,
"Through every up, through every down, you know I'll always be around."
And with that he led the way onto the dancefloor, devoid of any other couples.
As one the crowd gasped, but focusing on the clear, blue eyes, so familiar, and so reassuring, he fell into the pattern of a gentle waltz easily.
They spun in wide circles, forcing the awestruck students to line the walls, giving them the entire hall to make their own. Rising and falling with the beat, in time together, as one, they turned, never losing eye contact. The background faded into a blur, even the arrival of East High's 'Golden Couple' couldn't wake them from their trance, nor were the eyes of the spectators drawn to anything other than the couple, the most unusual couple, sharing a dance with one another.
As the melody trailed away, their steps slowed and he faltered, suddenly aware of the staring faces watching his every move.
His anxiety was clearly visible as the other boy laid a finger on his cheek and turned his head so they could ignore everyone else, even just for a little while.
"There's nothing we can do about other people's reactions, but through everything you can count on me."
He looked back into the eyes of the other and his racing heart slowed, his jaw unclenched.
"I just want to be with you. Only you."
That small, knowing smile, the one he loved so much, crept onto the paler boys face.
"No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart."
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