The dance was kind of boring. I walked around looking around. It really did have an 80's feel with all the kids dressed up. I smiled to myself, munching on a nacho cheese chip.
"Hey, hey it's Mr. Manning. Fronting the British Pride." Said Simpson, walking up to me. I turned around.
"Oh--hi--Mr. Simpson." I said with a nod. It was still weird to think of him as being my stepfather's friend. Really weird.
Mr. Simpson smiles and motions towards my hat. "Now this? Brings back old memories." He said, taking the hat from me. "Joey used to wear this thing so much I thought it was permanently plaster-castered to his big ol' cranium."
I laughed at that. Mr. Simpson must be in a good mood. Maybe it was all the 80's cheese music going on. It did that to old people.
"So, why aren't you dancing?" Mr. Simpson asked. He was doing these really random dance movements to Loverboy's Working for the Weekend. Yes, I know my 80's music. I blame this recent development entirely on my stepfather. He listens to it and reminisces about his high school band, The Zits. God if I hear "Everybody wants Some" one more time I'm going to scream I think.
At Mr. Simpson's question, I sort of shrug. "I dunno. Resting. You know."
"Ahh." He nodded at me like it was some secret guy code. "I get it. You're waiting for the right girl, right?"
I shook my head. Simpson can be a real dork sometimes. Like now. "Yeah, Mr. Simpson. I'm waiting for the right girl."
Some students came up to him then, asking about a picture of the Zits. Mr. Simpson pulled them to the poster. I shook my head and dispersed into the crowd.
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"Craig!"
I heard someone call me and I turned. There they were, Emma and Manny. They were crouching low, out of Raditch's site more than likely. I had to grin. Emma looked like her mom with her hair all poofed out and Manny?
She looked cute. I couldn't think of who she was dressed as.
"Look!" I exclaimed. "Valley girls!" I surveyed them both, eyes resting on Manny. "What are you doing here?"
Emma wagged me to come over. So I did. Manny spoke first. "We want to crash the dance."
"Cool."
"But we need your help." Implored Emma. She gave me a "come on, please?" sort of look.
I glanced over my shoulder spying Mr. Radditch. "Meet me at the east door, 10 minutes."
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I ran down the hallway to the east door. This was the most excitement I'd had in a long while. It felt good to do something sneaky and deceitful. I felt like I'd been way too good recently.
"This is so exciting I could burst!" Manny exclaimed in her girly voice. I smiled over at her. She was a cutie. This could be an interesting night.
"Manny, shh!" Emma hissed at her.
Pulling my eyes from Manny's I nodded. "Keep your heads down ok? If Radditch catches us, we're busted!"
We peered up and saw Radditch. Ducking down, I exhaled a breath. I realized despite being so crammed together I was very close to Manny. She smelled good, something fruity. I wondered what it would be like to kiss her. She caught me looking and smiled brightly.
I also wondered how old she was. I know we were only a year apart, but a year could be a lot. She didn't seem silly and vain, not like that Paige chick was. She seemed cool.
I jumped up, looked around. No Radditch in sight. "Come on!" I motion to my valley girls to follow me. Manny let out one of her little squeals that I thought adorable and lead them to the gym.
I opened the door for the girls and they rushed in. I followed behind. "We did it!" Emma exclaimed, looking stunned. "We're in."
"The seniors dance. The most fun ever." Manny said with a shake of her head. I watch them watch the dance. I guess when you're used to your dances being at 2.30 in the afternoon instead of at 7, it is kind of exciting.
Manny's got pretty eyes. Dark, like chocolate. She's gazing at me, full of smiles. Emma's looking at me too. Her eyes are also pretty, in that clear sky kind of way. It's predictable though, and it was Manny I wanted. I tipped my hat to the girls and meandered back into the crowd.
I bypass some kids in my class who say hi. I walk right past the Goth girl, Ashley who was with that model, Terri. They looked sulky. I never took my eyes off Manny. Drawing in a deep breath, I walked over to Manny. I was gonna do it, I was gonna ask her to dance.
"Hey Craig!" Emma chirped. Her bright blue eyes were zoned in on me and I flicked my gaze to her.
"Emma, Manny." I smiled. "You uh, having fun?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah."
"I haven't had this much fun. Ever." Said Manny with a little laugh. She was watching all the other kids dance.
Oh god, I hated small talk. My palms were starting to sweat and I wiped them on my jeans. "Great." I flashed the girls a smile and trained my gaze back to Manny.
"So. Uh, Manny. You wanna dance?"
I had to love the look of surprise and shock that skittered across her face. Her mouth opened a little and…it was just so priceless, so adorable.
"Me?" She squeaked, making me like her even more.
"Yeah. You two go dance." Said Emma, making me think something was wrong. She practically pushed Manny towards me. Manny stood there, and then looked up at me.
I held out my hand and she gripped it. I took her across the dance floor as a slow song started up.
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It would be a little bit later when I would have my next encounter with Manny Santos. I did walk her home the night of the 80's dance. We'd pretty much walked in silence. I didn't know what to do. I'd never walked a girl home before.
"Craig, I--I like you!" Manny blurted, her eyes going wide.
I smiled.
She looked mortified. "I can't believe I just said that."
I laughed. It was time to admit my feelings. "It's ok--I like you too." I assured her.
She let out this little squeal and I had to smile. Her face turned pink. "Oh, I'm such a ditz!" Her hand clapped over her face, the mortified look coming back.
"No--no, it was cute." I laughed. A girl asking me out. Well, this was something new and I kind of liked it. I leaned against the locker, watching Manny.
"So, Craig. Tonight. Wanna catch a movie? At the mall?"
I smiled at Manny. Did she know she was adorable? "With you?" I waited a moment, making myself frown. Giving a shrug, I eyed her. "I dunno."
Manny's face was priceless. "Kidding!" I exclaimed.
She let out a broken laugh, looking relieved. "OK, you so had me there."
"I couldn't resist."
"Pick me up at Emma's house. Around 8?" Manny backed away, smiling at me the whole time.
Nothing could go wrong, I thought. I didn't know how wrong things could go. How wrong they could be.