"I don't want you to go." Blue gazed at me sadly. The sun light glistened against his blue eyes which were wet. Roughly, he scrubbed out any traces of tears before he wrapped an arm around me. "Who's going to play that awful game Deer Hunter 3000 with me? Who's going to harass Old Gary's dog with me?"
I laugh, trying to sound optimistic. Ducking my head, I ask, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it doesn't take a rocket scientist to throw rocks at a rabid Rottweiler or the play a game shooting virtual deer." Tired, I sigh. "You know I'm not supposed to be here?"
"I know. Don't care." Blue grins wolfishly as he passes me the two-liter of soda he brought. He watches me take a deep gulp and takes one himself after.
"My parents are going to kill me. Dad will probably lock me up and throw away the key while my mom beats you up. Or the other way around."
Amused, Blue asks. "So in the end, I will get beaten?"
I nod sagely. "With my dad's fraternity paddle. Or with a broomstick. It just depends on who gets to you first."
"Right… Do you think I could bribe your mother into guarding me? Maybe with fresh dairy products?"
"My mom's a watchdog. A loyal one to boot. You would have an easier time convincing me that Gwen didn't get a nose and boob job over the summer."
"You … still hate her? I mean she's a total… what's the word for it?"
"Bitch?"
"Sure. We'll go with that, but she was also your good friend. Why do you hate her so much now?"
"A bitch's a bitch. Nothing changes. I had to get a dose of reality to see clearly."
"And what reality were you dosed with?" He looks amused but he has no idea what kind of a minefield he's stepping into. I think he can see that on my face because he, then, says," We should change the subject."
"You think?" I sigh again. "How does Kurt feel? I mean he acts like he's cool with me moving, but lately he's been avoiding me. And I know he is." Like when I came into the choir room and we made eye contact then he proceeded to stumble over a couple of chairs just to get away. "He's not an open person. I mean he barely tells me anything anymore. You're his best friend, you guys talk… I think."
"Yeah and we also braid each other's hair while gossiping about the latest celebrity couple."
"That's the last time I tell you about anything girly." Peeved, I punch Blue in the arm while making a face. "I'm serious."
"I'm serious too." He joked weakly. Turning away, Blue speaks to me slowly like I'm a kindergartener who doesn't understand the alphabet, "Kurt is my best friend, someone I love like a brother, and he told me not to say a word. So, I can't. Let's just say that he's devoted. I am too. Kurt and I'll always be here for you."
Devoted? "Like a watchdog?"
The sun begins to rise and our bottle of bubbly soda has fizzled out. Blue chuckles and ruffles my hair to my dismay. "Yeah, exactly like that."
"Do you remember this bench?" Taking a seat, Blue stretches his arms over the bench. It was that old wooden bench Mayor Theodore installed when he was elected. It's seen better days but it has the best view in the Town Square. From the bench, one could see the sun setting and rising against the endless field of lush trees. It feels like déjà vu since this was the place I last saw Blue before I moved.
Softly, I say, "Yes."
Turning around on the seat of the bench, I could see the fading chicken scratches we made on the back. It was supposed to say: For You and I are Past Our Dancing Days; but looked like: For You aml I are Pash Our Dancihg Lays. Goddess, I had terrible handwriting.
"For you and I are past our dancing days." Hesitantly, I set my head against his chest and dare to make eye contact. "I remember that book. So cheesy and dramatic although sweet…Blue, is it too late to start dancing?"
Blue doesn't answer for awhile which begins to make me uncomfortable. Abruptly, he rises up and stands with his back against me.
"Blue?"
Slowly, he turns around and faces me. Unsure of his facial expression, I begin to imagine that Blue is going to say dramatically, "No, I shan't want to be with you let alone dance with you, you spiteful wretch!" and Ann would appear in a stunning blue dress, which will sway gracefully as they both waltz away from me. Then again, I do have a vivid imagination or so I've been told.
Thoughts of Blue with soap-opera-grade hair making out with Ann passionately start to disturb me until I hear a voice that breaks through the fog and wakes me up. At first, the voice sounds far away and my attention is still focused on the image of Ann and Blue kissing and my desire to shove them apart. Eventually, the fog clears and the voice gains clarity. Oops, I completely forgot about Blue.
"Rebecca!" Blue has his hands on my shoulders and was lightly shaking me. "Are you okay?"
"Yep, sorry. Spacing out." Ducking my head, I smile apologetically. "What were you going to say?"
"How did you know I was going to say anything?" Blue says with an amused tone in his voice.
"Didn't you know? I'm a psychic." Jokingly, I tap my forehead.
"Surely you're kidding, do you also have a hotline and a turban?"
"I do, also I have a wise-cracking black cat named Salem. Is that good enough for you?"
"That's Sabrina the Teenage Witch."
For a brief moment we both stifle our laughter until I accidentally snort which sets both of us off. We spent a couple minutes trying to relief ourselves of mirth but the laughter kept bubbling forth. Finally, the laughter subsided but we were still grinning, our lips stretched from ear to ear.
"So, what did you want to say?"
Blue rose up again and offered a hand. "Rebecca, shall we dance?"
Happily, I take his hand and I put my other and on his shoulder at the same time Blue puts his other hand on my waist. As we began to dance, I quietly hummed while I swayed with Blue in perfect synchronization. Like we were meant to.
