Chapter 10

Rolf and Lee met us at the bottom of the stage and escorted Kevin and myself to the dance floor, which was empty at this time. Of course we both knew was expected to happen. I could already see a pained look of those from the Cul-de-Sac and curiosity from those in the student body. Well maybe we can still pull off a surprise or two ourselves. Learning to dance was something I thought I would never do. I had always view it a strange jerking behavior between two people or animals. Actually I saw no difference in the two at the time. Me dancing happened purely by accident at first. Wasn't even aware of it until Kevin mentioned it to me.

It was about 3 or 4 months after his dad's funeral, we were up in his room finishing up with our homework. It had become our habit to hug after these session, if no one was around, not too deep but a little more than a "bro" hug. With the radio quietly playing in the background, a concession I made for him as long as it wasn't too loud, the song "Always" by Atlantic Starr started in the otherwise quite room. Kevin had started swaying, and with me in my relaxed state being with him, I just moved also following his movements. Never opening my eyes, if he leaned one way I followed, never looking up, never letting go. When the song ended, he looked into my eyes, without letting go and smiled. "I thought you didn't dance".

It was then that I realized we were actually on the other side of his room from where our books were. I had no memory of moving, only being with Kevin. I must have had a startled look on my face because he just got that big "Kevin" grin of his. Still holding onto each other, he leans in and lightly kisses my noes, after which he tries to get away, but I just tighten my grip around him. He could have broken free if he wanted, but he stayed put, with his cheeks fire engine red. It started with our foreheads touching as we leaned toward each other for our first real kiss. When our lips met I felt like I had been struck by lightning. There was a little tongue play going on, but not the deep fierce war that we do now.

"W-W-Well now Kevin, I-I-I must be going. Eddy will be l-l-looking for me soon for some scheme of his again." I stuttered. "Uhm yea, I guess you better Edd" he replies, scratching the back of his head, again. Our future sessions seemed to always end with a deep hug and a little dancing to what ever was playing on the radio at the time. Kevin spent time explaining to me about the beat and the different melodies, along with the repetitive nature of some. By the time we finished our Freshmen year in high school, I felt I was doing fairly well. Still not wanting others to see me, we always danced in private, whenever we were alone and had music. This would become the first time I dance in the open.

When we reached the center of the dance floor still holding hands, the DJ starting playing "Always" as the song we were to dance to. It appears someone had figured out it was "Our Song" and had this also prearranged for our benefit. We just took this one in stride and started our dance with the slow swaying to the music that had started it all. When the song ended we kissed and the music went back to it's standard selection for everyone else to join in. Kevin and I elected to stay on the dance floor for a few more song to show everyone my dancing was not just some fluke. With Kevin and I twirling around and gyrating with each other as was the craze these days, through the third song of the set, we caught our first trouble of the evening.

"I don't care who he is or what his title is, I am not playing sports with or going to let a fucking faggot into our team. No, way can he be allowed." Steven Bowman, a brute of a teen, and Peach Creek's varsity center on the football team. "If you think for one minute I'm going to let him reach between my legs for any reason, you are wrong. I'll punch his lights out for even trying." Sadly it looks like he is starting to get some backers from is announcement, and it appears that the crowd is starting to split into two groups. He has a large group of Juniors on his side with a lot of them being from the sports teams. In our defensed there are a lot of seniors, and of course all of the staff, with the loudest of them being the coach. I've noticed that all of our friends from the Cul-de-Sac are completely gathered around us, like they are acting as a barrier.

The coach's voice can finally be heard over the crowd and people start to quite down as the coach speaks. "Listen up, all of you" boy, does his voice carry, "first and foremost, this school has an Anti-Bulling policy that all of you should be aware of. That includes school functions, such the Prom or Football games. Second of all, after school sports are voluntary, you do not have to get involved if you don't want to. I or any staff does not want to know or hear why you do or do not want to play. Keep that to yourselves. If you do not want Peach Creek to have a sporting team next year because there is someone playing you don't like, think about that. I can see the school's trophy case now with it's new plaque. "No sports for 2015-16 because Steven Bowman couldn't get along with a team mate." Do you really want your children to see that one? Not another word out of you or your supporter or you will be escorted out of the school." After the coach stormed off, the party resumed, but without it's previous fanfare. No one seems to want to argue with Coach Williams.