J16: Uh, finally got this chapter uploaded. Last time I update without
checking. Brace yourself, this is a pretty long chapter.
Chapter 5: The Night (And Day) Of The Prom
"Jenrya, are you gonna get out of that couch anytime next century? C'mon, you've got a prom to go to!" The ever-so-annoying voice of my little sister rang through my ears.
"What?" I raised my head up, eyes still closed. What a nice nap.
"What time is it?"
"6 o'clock."
Suddenly I felt awake. Ok, I had to meet my friends in a half-hour! Maybe it wasn't a nice nap after all. Kinda cruel nap.
"I can't wait until I go to the prom," she squealed, smiling.
"Yeah, yeah." Why do girls always dream of going to the prom as little kids? Kinda ridiculous...
****************
It took me fifteen freakin minutes to put the whole outfit on. The stupid bowtie was the hardest accessory of all. I looked in the inside pocket, and pulled out a little flower-like figure. A corsage. It wasn't like I made a schedule to put it on Ruki or anything, but I put it back in my pocket, just to be safe.
I looked in the medicine cabinet and looked recklessly for a decent type of cologne to use. After searching for an eternity, I found a little spray bottle. I shrugged and put it on, not stopping to smell it.
I raced downstairs, and out the door, when my father stopped me. Dammit. Not one of those father-son kind of things. I didn't have time for this!
"Jenrya," he started, "I can't say how proud I am of you."
"Yeah, yeah, Dad," I responded, smiling. "You said that when we fought the D-reaper too."
He gave a mild laugh. "Just have a good time and be careful, alright?"
"I will, Dad." I cringed. What is he trying to get at?
****************
It was the first time since I modeled for my own mother before I left for the digital world that I wore a dress on my own free will. Actually, for the first time in my life, I felt that I wore a dress and I felt beautiful.
Juri was right. The purple dress did complement my eyes very well. Time to go to dinner with Takato, Juri, and Jen.
Jen-
I closed my eyes in front of the mirror. I really hoped he still didn't have any hard feelings, but tonight I would find out. I started to pray.
"If you will help me find love and forgiveness within Jenrya, I will forever love and forgive him back. Just as you said, 'Forgive as I forgive,' I shall do the same."
My bedroom door opened and my mother stepped in, with an unusual look on her face.
"Sweetheart," she said to me, "have fun tonight and be careful. Don't do anything I did. Don't make the mistake that gave you to me. I'm not saying you're a mistake, because you're everything I wanted. I'm just saying that my gift came too early." She kissed me on my forehead, at which I took to heart.
"I promise, mom," I said, striking my fist against my chest.
**************
It was about 6:45 when the four met. Takato and Juri both arrived together, while Jenrya and Ruki came on their own.
Jenrya looked at the outside sign. "La Masion Rouge? Have enough trouble pronouncing it."
"Yeah, but I heard the food here is really good," Takato answered. "You got your hundred dollar bills?"
"Does it really cost that much?"
"No, just a little over-exaggeration. But I'm guessing each dinner will be on the threshold of thirty to forty dollars."
"Well, I did bring a good amount."
The four tamers walked into the restaurant. It was too fancy to Ruki and Jenrya, despite the fact that Ruki had been forced to go to these kinds of restaurants when her mother modeled, but Takato and Juri were used to restaurants like these, always going to one. It was really quiet; all they could hear were mild whispers and the sound of utensils.
They took a seat in a nearby booth, waiting for their waiter. Ruki and Jenrya still remained quiet toward each other, while Takato and Juri were chatterboxes and couldn't keep silence.
"Well, let's not all talk at once," Takato directed to the silent pair. Ruki shrugged and Jenrya looked at his silverware.
"What's to talk about?" Ruki asked Takato. Well, her night seemed to get off to a 'nice' start. Takato scoffed. Someone needed to put her in a good mood. He knew who would do be successful in doing that.
"Jen, can I talk to you for a second in the bathroom?"
Jenrya looked at him in confusion as to what was going on. "Sure Takato." He got up.
"We'll be right back, ladies," Takato said, taking Jenrya to the latrine.
*******************
For a fancy restaurant, the bathrooms were less than impressive to me. The flowered wallpaper was peeling off, hardly a good sight to see. The scent wasn't nice either.
"Jenrya, what's wrong with Ruki?" Takato asked me. Boy what a stupid question.
"I dunno, Takato, why don't you guess? How about the fact that she doesn't even really want to go to this prom?" A smart-ass question gets a smart- ass response. He didn't take it well.
"Jenrya, enough with the smart talk. You go do something about it." I gave a laugh. Why me?
"Why should I be the one to do something about it? Why not Juri or you?"
"Because you're her friend."
"So you're her friend too. What makes any difference?"
"You're the only one she'll talk to about her problems. Plus I know you like her."
"Huh. You have a point." I suddenly got a paranoid suspicion, as if someone was listening in a nearby stall. I kicked open each stall door, each finding an empty void.
"Boy, you need to take a chill pill. Don't be so freaked out." Takato, not concerned about the possible occupancy of someone unwanted, focused his attention on me. "Talk to her tonight at the country club. You can get to her, and you can quote me on that." He lifted his head up, face brimming with confidence.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one talking to her." Takato was right. If anyone could do it, it would have to be me. Boy what a wild night this was going to be.
I went back to our booth with newfound confidence. I could do it. I would give her the pink corsage, then Ruki would be all over me, and then we would go to Juri's house and party until we fell asleep.
First things first, however.
***************
Our bill came to a total of a little under $150. Takato was right about the place being a little pricey. But when you have a steak and lobster with a side baked potato and a strawberry milkshake, I guess that fits.
I drove over to the country club in silence. The radio wasn't even on, my own head wasn't even talking. I just wanted to think about what could happen, what I should do, and what Ruki was thinking about right now as she's driving down the road in the lane next to me--
"Hey, bonehead, watch the road!" A voice shouted from the highway.
Dammit...
****************
I must admit, I had been to the country club before numerous times to go golfing and such, but at night, it looked so much more beautiful than it normally did. I got out of my banged-up Corolla and stepped out, but not before tripping my shoes on my pants. Shoot, I knew they were too big for me.
I checked my watch: 8:00. Right on schedule. I walked toward the huge building, taking care not to trip up again on my own clothes.
"Well, ready to tackle this thing?" I turned around and saw the beautiful Ruki Makino behind me. I hummed at her.
"What's there to be afraid of?" Time to start the night of my life...
*****************
Jenrya grabbed me by the hand as we walked to the entrance of the establishment, not caring if he ripped my hand out, I swear.
"That'll be $40 for the both of you together," the bald guy at the door asked. Before I could get my money out of my purse, Jenrya pulled out two twenties out of his wallet and handed it over to Baldy.
"Have a good night," Baldy said as he allowed us in. I looked at Jenrya.
"I could have paid for myself," I told him. Sure, I could have, but it was still pretty nice of him.
"I know. But to you," He held his index finger in the air as if talking like a philosopher-- "a penny saved is a penny earned."
"Nice words, Aristotle. Now let's go inside and meet Takato and Juri. They're probably here already."
We walked through the main lobby of the building. I had never been in here before, but it was pretty nice from what I've seen so far. It looked like a ballroom, with lights illuminating the entire room. It's not that I'm a crazy fan of balls, but I had to admit it looked...neat.
After minutes of searching around the facility (was it really that hard to find the main room?), we found the entrance to the dance room.
From silence of the lobby to the noisiness of the dance room. Quite a transition. There were hundreds of people dancing around, sitting down, drinking punch, nothing much. Jenrya immediately left my hand at went to go dance with those brainwashed idiots.
I've never understood the art of dancing. People jumping around, imitating sexual positions with their partners while still having their clothes on, and doing the ever-so-popular freak dance.
I grabbed a nearby seat and watched Jenrya dance to a fast song I haven't heard before. No way is he going to drag me onto that god-forsaken dance floor. I don't even know why I came...
"Hey Ruki, come up here and dance with me!" Jenrya called. I just said...
"No, you won't get me up there!"
"Oh yes I will." He grabbed my hand again and pulled me over to the center floor.
"Some fun this will be," I said, crossing my arms.
Jenrya looked at me. "For God's sake, Ruki, it's not the ninth circle of hell, it's a dance floor. Now mimic the moves that I make." He held his arms up, slightly bent his knees, and looked to one direction, shaking himself and moving to the rhythm of the song. Who taught him how to dance?
"This is ridiculous," I said, walking back to the chair, but he pulled me back.
"Ruki Makino, you are going to dance with me, and you are going to have a good time," he said, with a slighter tone of imperativeness in his voice. I didn't want to give in to him, but I gave up just to shut him up.
"Alright, Jenrya. Teach me another thing." Already here, might as well bind into the group. There was a change of song and it flipped to -holy shit- Bad Boy For Life. How old was the song?
"Just move with the rhythm," he said, moving around like some schizophrenic. I shrugged and (I hate to admit it) moved with him. Ugh, it felt so humiliating, but with hundreds of others looking like fools, I decided it couldn't be that bad.
"Hey Ruki! Nice dancing!"
Dammit, that fool--
"Shut up, Takato. I don't see you dancing on this floor."
"Oh, you will now," he responded. He walked up toward me and started to dance suggestively. I know he had a girlfriend already, so he couldn't start coming on to me.
"Takato," Jenrya started.
"It's my first time dancing, so give me a break," I said to him.
"Oh, well then I'll let you on your way. One more thing," he said to me, "don't break Jenrya's knees with your moves." He took Juri and moved to another spot on the floor.
"What bit him?" Jenrya said, staring Takato down. "Anyway, let's continue." He started to dance again and I followed him. It was more fun when you didn't dance with an asshole.
***************
For a beginner, the orange-haired girl seemed to dance really well. I guess she's one of those 'talented in everything' sort of girls, the kind that every boy dreams of. Well, I dreamed of one as well. "I think you're a better dancer than even I am," I said to her, smiling. Ruki seemed to think I was just saying that to flatter her, judging by the sarcastic look on her face.
"Yeah, this to a girl that just started dancing two minutes ago. I told you, I can't dance that well!" she whined.
"Oh come on, you do better than half these blowhards on the dance floor!"
****************
Wow, Ruki has gotten the hang of the dancing. All I saw for the next two hours was Ruki freak-dancing with all the guys around her general vicinity. I dunno, it didn't seem like a Ruki kind of thing to dance as if pretending to have sex with a guy, but she seemed to have fun. I guess Takato was right about me convincing her. Was it really that easy?
"C'mon, Jenrya, dance with me!" She said, coming up in front of me, turning her back to me, and moving her body. Whoa, somehow she seems too hot for me. I acknowledged her invitation and started shaking my body in sync. She then turned her body toward me and did a crouch-dance motion.
****************
I don't remember the last time I had this much fun. This was so cool! Here I was, 'getting down' with Jenrya, music blaring so loudly, and no one cared how good or crappy I danced.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead. Talk about exhausting! Good thing I used the extra-protection deodorant. Sheesh. "Let's take a break," I said to Jenrya. His facial expression looked in agreement.
We found a nearby table that was vacant. Now, I was in control, grabbing his hand. I'm not sure, but it seemed that things between Jenrya and me were going to be okay after all. "Let me go get us some punch," Jenrya suggested as he went over to the nearby punch bowl.
I watched him as he got our drinks. He looked pretty handsome in his tuxedo and all, I never had seen him look that good. I guess I never looked at him or thought of him that way, but it brought me a whole new perspective of Jenrya Lee.
"Here you go," he said, giving me a cup of the red liquid. I downed it a.s.a.p. Jenrya looked at me. "You sure have a fast digestive system."
"Well, when I'm thirsty," I tried to find a predicate but no good, "I'm thirsty." What the hell am I thinking?
"Ok, let's go outside," Jenrya said to me. I wasn't sure about where this was going.
"Um..." Why am I lost for words? All I have to do is say yes or no. "Ok..." Well, that'll do...
"C'mon, let's go."
****************
This time, it was Jenrya in control, taking Ruki's hand and going outside to the invitation of the cool air. It felt refreshing to him to get outdoors and away from the heat that was the dance room. The two arrived at the perfect spot: the balcony of the two story country club building.
Jenrya thought of this as the most romantic spot in the area. It was quiet; a place where they could talk. Ruki, meanwhile, couldn't stop admiring the beautiful scenery that the building overlooked. A couple of the golf courses could be seen, and the outside lights complemented the darkness of the night.
"Sure looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Jenrya asked her.
"Sure does..."
Once again, the two couldn't talk for a while or even make a simple clause come out of their mouth, until Jenrya spoke up.
"You look very beautiful in that dress."
Ruki blushed, but she tried to stay modest, though she couldn't completely ignore him. "Thank you, you don't look half bad, either." Half bad? Ruki couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.
"Heh-heh," was all Jenrya could stumble out. Here goes nothing, he told himself. Another milestone in our friendship...
"I wanted to apologize for the way I acted toward you the other week. The truth is, I love you Ruki, and I really wanted to go with you to this prom, together. I just didn't want this to hurt our friendship, and as much as I wanted to be with you, I figured, it would be better of us to be friends than to be nothing at all."
Ruki looked at his eyes. He wasn't lying. She, meanwhile, didn't know what to say. She could only express her actions. Slowly, and very slowly, her head moved toward Jenrya's, her eyes closed.
Jenrya was shocked and happy by her sudden action, and he too lowered his head toward Ruki's, and even though he didn't want to visually miss his first kiss, he also closed his eyes...
"Jenrya, I can't do this," she said, backing her head away from his.
Jenrya started shouting explicatives in his mind, but calmed down a bit. "What's wrong?"
"It's my mom," Ruki answered. "She doesn't want me to do this until I'm truly in love with someone."
"But aren't you truly in love?"
She shuddered. "I...don't know, Jenrya. I just don't know." Ruki dared not look at the boy as she ran back inside the building. Within a few seconds, she was gone.
"Ruki..."
***************
Ruki ran through the dance stage, trying to find an exit to the place. She couldn't handle such a big responsibility, even if she loved Jenrya. Her mom wouldn't like it, and it would be too much for her. "Sorry, Jenrya," she said, although she knew he wasn't around to hear it.
"It's okay." The strawberry-haired girl turned around and saw the boy in the tuxedo. He had something in his hands. It looked like a rose. A corsage. Is he going to give that to me? She thought. It would be awfully sweet of him...
Suddenly, he placed the rose looking thing on the edge of her purple dress, and pinned it on in one try. He looked at the beautiful girl standing before him and smiled. Ruki looked at the corsage, then at Jenrya. 'He really does love me.'
"This one is for real," she whispered to him. This time, there were no interruptions as the two met for their first-ever real kiss. Not a kiss of friendship, but a kiss that meant something more between the two, and both Jenrya and Ruki knew it.
Neither of them wanted to be the one to back their lips down from the other, but Jenrya finally did after about half a minute and looked at Ruki, who was red. "So how was it?" Jenrya knew it was the wrong thing to say the immediate moment it came out of his mouth, but he didn't care. He was in dreamland.
"It...was...nice." Suddenly Ruki had felt comfortable with this. Jenrya, her longtime friend, kissing her, and she didn't seem to mind. In fact, she loved it.
There was a change of tune in the dance room and a slower song played, a song that both Jenrya and Ruki recognized, from 1998. Jenrya placed his hands around Ruki's hips, and she countered by putting her hands around his neck as they moved rhythmatically to the song.
"I will never find another lover sweeter than you, sweeter than you
I will never find another lover more precious than you, more precious than you
Girl You are Close to me you're like my mother,
Close to me you're like my father,
Close to me you're like my sister,
Close to me you're like my brother
You are the only one my everything and for you this song I sing"
"All my life I pray for someone like you
I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I pray for someone like you
I hope that you feel the same way too
Yes, I pray that you do, love me too"
"You're all that I've ever known, your smile on your face, all I see is a glow,
You turned my life around, You picked me up when I was down,
You're all that I've ever known, when you smile your face glows,
You picked me up when I was down
You're all that I've ever known, when you smile your face glows,
You picked me up when I was down & I hope that you feel the same way too,
Yes I pray that you do love me too"
"All my life, I pray for someone like you,
I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I pray for someone like you
I hope that you feel the same way too"
Suddenly, Ruki felt happy that the Man Up Above heard her prayers and answered.
****************
It was about midnight when the security and the chaperones started to kick the inhabitants out of the country club. I guess it was good, because Ruki and I couldn't wait to go to Juri's house and party all night. To us, the night was just beginning.
I drove in my car alone for the next ten minutes, but it was too long to be without Ruki. Hey, when you first get with a girl, you can't stop thinking about her for the next 24 hours.
After that torturous interval, I arrived at the Katou's house. There were already a dozen cars parked alongside both sides of the street. I got out feeling no sense of exhaustion or fatigue. Time for the real party to begin.
"Hey Ruki!" I looked over and saw the fine girl running toward me. She jumped up in my arms and smiled. Not your typical Ruki. But I like her more this way.
I knocked on the door of the Katou's house and Juri answered. She noticed us holding hands and giggled.
"Guys, the party has arrived!" Ruki and I simulaneously exclaimed.
"Alright you cute couple, there's loud music, lots of people, and there's beer in the backyard--"
I gave Juri an eye. "Beer?"
She scoffed. "Well, you don't have to drink it."
Ruki and I walked through the house, looking for the door to the backyard. When we got outside I saw a huge pool, with people swimming in it. When did Juri get that installed?
"Hey, Jenrya, let's go jump in!" She yelled. The music was so loud I could even barely hear her. But I gathered.
"We're wearing fancy outfits, for God's sake. We'll get them all messed up."
Ruki smiled suggestively. "Well, let's just take them off." Ruki then caught me surprised as she stripped herself of her dress and jumped in the pool. Ok, this was not the typical Ruki. Stripping down to her underwear and swimming around half-naked? What about her mom's philosophy? Oh well. When in Rome do as the Romans do. I pulled my tuxedo off, then my pants, and jumped in after her.
The splash gave me a huge wake-up call as I shivered. My boxers were soaked, and I was going to need a new pair. Ruki then swam up to me, her body not farther than an inch to mine. Boy, did that feel nice, as she rubbed herself against me.
"Let's make this the time of our lives," she said to me, sporting a backstroke. Her strapless bra was close to hiding nothing--
No! Must help Ruki. I can't let her fall into this trap. Need to snap her out of it.
Suddenly all my moral thoughts were erased in a blur as Ruki went right back up to me and gave me a huge kiss, tongue and all. Her seductions were taking my body over, as I returned the favor with a tongue of my own.
"Let's take this to somewhere more...quiet," she said to me, holding my body. I had no choice but to agree with her. She's beating me. I guess this is the Ruki I know after all.
Chapter 5: The Night (And Day) Of The Prom
"Jenrya, are you gonna get out of that couch anytime next century? C'mon, you've got a prom to go to!" The ever-so-annoying voice of my little sister rang through my ears.
"What?" I raised my head up, eyes still closed. What a nice nap.
"What time is it?"
"6 o'clock."
Suddenly I felt awake. Ok, I had to meet my friends in a half-hour! Maybe it wasn't a nice nap after all. Kinda cruel nap.
"I can't wait until I go to the prom," she squealed, smiling.
"Yeah, yeah." Why do girls always dream of going to the prom as little kids? Kinda ridiculous...
****************
It took me fifteen freakin minutes to put the whole outfit on. The stupid bowtie was the hardest accessory of all. I looked in the inside pocket, and pulled out a little flower-like figure. A corsage. It wasn't like I made a schedule to put it on Ruki or anything, but I put it back in my pocket, just to be safe.
I looked in the medicine cabinet and looked recklessly for a decent type of cologne to use. After searching for an eternity, I found a little spray bottle. I shrugged and put it on, not stopping to smell it.
I raced downstairs, and out the door, when my father stopped me. Dammit. Not one of those father-son kind of things. I didn't have time for this!
"Jenrya," he started, "I can't say how proud I am of you."
"Yeah, yeah, Dad," I responded, smiling. "You said that when we fought the D-reaper too."
He gave a mild laugh. "Just have a good time and be careful, alright?"
"I will, Dad." I cringed. What is he trying to get at?
****************
It was the first time since I modeled for my own mother before I left for the digital world that I wore a dress on my own free will. Actually, for the first time in my life, I felt that I wore a dress and I felt beautiful.
Juri was right. The purple dress did complement my eyes very well. Time to go to dinner with Takato, Juri, and Jen.
Jen-
I closed my eyes in front of the mirror. I really hoped he still didn't have any hard feelings, but tonight I would find out. I started to pray.
"If you will help me find love and forgiveness within Jenrya, I will forever love and forgive him back. Just as you said, 'Forgive as I forgive,' I shall do the same."
My bedroom door opened and my mother stepped in, with an unusual look on her face.
"Sweetheart," she said to me, "have fun tonight and be careful. Don't do anything I did. Don't make the mistake that gave you to me. I'm not saying you're a mistake, because you're everything I wanted. I'm just saying that my gift came too early." She kissed me on my forehead, at which I took to heart.
"I promise, mom," I said, striking my fist against my chest.
**************
It was about 6:45 when the four met. Takato and Juri both arrived together, while Jenrya and Ruki came on their own.
Jenrya looked at the outside sign. "La Masion Rouge? Have enough trouble pronouncing it."
"Yeah, but I heard the food here is really good," Takato answered. "You got your hundred dollar bills?"
"Does it really cost that much?"
"No, just a little over-exaggeration. But I'm guessing each dinner will be on the threshold of thirty to forty dollars."
"Well, I did bring a good amount."
The four tamers walked into the restaurant. It was too fancy to Ruki and Jenrya, despite the fact that Ruki had been forced to go to these kinds of restaurants when her mother modeled, but Takato and Juri were used to restaurants like these, always going to one. It was really quiet; all they could hear were mild whispers and the sound of utensils.
They took a seat in a nearby booth, waiting for their waiter. Ruki and Jenrya still remained quiet toward each other, while Takato and Juri were chatterboxes and couldn't keep silence.
"Well, let's not all talk at once," Takato directed to the silent pair. Ruki shrugged and Jenrya looked at his silverware.
"What's to talk about?" Ruki asked Takato. Well, her night seemed to get off to a 'nice' start. Takato scoffed. Someone needed to put her in a good mood. He knew who would do be successful in doing that.
"Jen, can I talk to you for a second in the bathroom?"
Jenrya looked at him in confusion as to what was going on. "Sure Takato." He got up.
"We'll be right back, ladies," Takato said, taking Jenrya to the latrine.
*******************
For a fancy restaurant, the bathrooms were less than impressive to me. The flowered wallpaper was peeling off, hardly a good sight to see. The scent wasn't nice either.
"Jenrya, what's wrong with Ruki?" Takato asked me. Boy what a stupid question.
"I dunno, Takato, why don't you guess? How about the fact that she doesn't even really want to go to this prom?" A smart-ass question gets a smart- ass response. He didn't take it well.
"Jenrya, enough with the smart talk. You go do something about it." I gave a laugh. Why me?
"Why should I be the one to do something about it? Why not Juri or you?"
"Because you're her friend."
"So you're her friend too. What makes any difference?"
"You're the only one she'll talk to about her problems. Plus I know you like her."
"Huh. You have a point." I suddenly got a paranoid suspicion, as if someone was listening in a nearby stall. I kicked open each stall door, each finding an empty void.
"Boy, you need to take a chill pill. Don't be so freaked out." Takato, not concerned about the possible occupancy of someone unwanted, focused his attention on me. "Talk to her tonight at the country club. You can get to her, and you can quote me on that." He lifted his head up, face brimming with confidence.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one talking to her." Takato was right. If anyone could do it, it would have to be me. Boy what a wild night this was going to be.
I went back to our booth with newfound confidence. I could do it. I would give her the pink corsage, then Ruki would be all over me, and then we would go to Juri's house and party until we fell asleep.
First things first, however.
***************
Our bill came to a total of a little under $150. Takato was right about the place being a little pricey. But when you have a steak and lobster with a side baked potato and a strawberry milkshake, I guess that fits.
I drove over to the country club in silence. The radio wasn't even on, my own head wasn't even talking. I just wanted to think about what could happen, what I should do, and what Ruki was thinking about right now as she's driving down the road in the lane next to me--
"Hey, bonehead, watch the road!" A voice shouted from the highway.
Dammit...
****************
I must admit, I had been to the country club before numerous times to go golfing and such, but at night, it looked so much more beautiful than it normally did. I got out of my banged-up Corolla and stepped out, but not before tripping my shoes on my pants. Shoot, I knew they were too big for me.
I checked my watch: 8:00. Right on schedule. I walked toward the huge building, taking care not to trip up again on my own clothes.
"Well, ready to tackle this thing?" I turned around and saw the beautiful Ruki Makino behind me. I hummed at her.
"What's there to be afraid of?" Time to start the night of my life...
*****************
Jenrya grabbed me by the hand as we walked to the entrance of the establishment, not caring if he ripped my hand out, I swear.
"That'll be $40 for the both of you together," the bald guy at the door asked. Before I could get my money out of my purse, Jenrya pulled out two twenties out of his wallet and handed it over to Baldy.
"Have a good night," Baldy said as he allowed us in. I looked at Jenrya.
"I could have paid for myself," I told him. Sure, I could have, but it was still pretty nice of him.
"I know. But to you," He held his index finger in the air as if talking like a philosopher-- "a penny saved is a penny earned."
"Nice words, Aristotle. Now let's go inside and meet Takato and Juri. They're probably here already."
We walked through the main lobby of the building. I had never been in here before, but it was pretty nice from what I've seen so far. It looked like a ballroom, with lights illuminating the entire room. It's not that I'm a crazy fan of balls, but I had to admit it looked...neat.
After minutes of searching around the facility (was it really that hard to find the main room?), we found the entrance to the dance room.
From silence of the lobby to the noisiness of the dance room. Quite a transition. There were hundreds of people dancing around, sitting down, drinking punch, nothing much. Jenrya immediately left my hand at went to go dance with those brainwashed idiots.
I've never understood the art of dancing. People jumping around, imitating sexual positions with their partners while still having their clothes on, and doing the ever-so-popular freak dance.
I grabbed a nearby seat and watched Jenrya dance to a fast song I haven't heard before. No way is he going to drag me onto that god-forsaken dance floor. I don't even know why I came...
"Hey Ruki, come up here and dance with me!" Jenrya called. I just said...
"No, you won't get me up there!"
"Oh yes I will." He grabbed my hand again and pulled me over to the center floor.
"Some fun this will be," I said, crossing my arms.
Jenrya looked at me. "For God's sake, Ruki, it's not the ninth circle of hell, it's a dance floor. Now mimic the moves that I make." He held his arms up, slightly bent his knees, and looked to one direction, shaking himself and moving to the rhythm of the song. Who taught him how to dance?
"This is ridiculous," I said, walking back to the chair, but he pulled me back.
"Ruki Makino, you are going to dance with me, and you are going to have a good time," he said, with a slighter tone of imperativeness in his voice. I didn't want to give in to him, but I gave up just to shut him up.
"Alright, Jenrya. Teach me another thing." Already here, might as well bind into the group. There was a change of song and it flipped to -holy shit- Bad Boy For Life. How old was the song?
"Just move with the rhythm," he said, moving around like some schizophrenic. I shrugged and (I hate to admit it) moved with him. Ugh, it felt so humiliating, but with hundreds of others looking like fools, I decided it couldn't be that bad.
"Hey Ruki! Nice dancing!"
Dammit, that fool--
"Shut up, Takato. I don't see you dancing on this floor."
"Oh, you will now," he responded. He walked up toward me and started to dance suggestively. I know he had a girlfriend already, so he couldn't start coming on to me.
"Takato," Jenrya started.
"It's my first time dancing, so give me a break," I said to him.
"Oh, well then I'll let you on your way. One more thing," he said to me, "don't break Jenrya's knees with your moves." He took Juri and moved to another spot on the floor.
"What bit him?" Jenrya said, staring Takato down. "Anyway, let's continue." He started to dance again and I followed him. It was more fun when you didn't dance with an asshole.
***************
For a beginner, the orange-haired girl seemed to dance really well. I guess she's one of those 'talented in everything' sort of girls, the kind that every boy dreams of. Well, I dreamed of one as well. "I think you're a better dancer than even I am," I said to her, smiling. Ruki seemed to think I was just saying that to flatter her, judging by the sarcastic look on her face.
"Yeah, this to a girl that just started dancing two minutes ago. I told you, I can't dance that well!" she whined.
"Oh come on, you do better than half these blowhards on the dance floor!"
****************
Wow, Ruki has gotten the hang of the dancing. All I saw for the next two hours was Ruki freak-dancing with all the guys around her general vicinity. I dunno, it didn't seem like a Ruki kind of thing to dance as if pretending to have sex with a guy, but she seemed to have fun. I guess Takato was right about me convincing her. Was it really that easy?
"C'mon, Jenrya, dance with me!" She said, coming up in front of me, turning her back to me, and moving her body. Whoa, somehow she seems too hot for me. I acknowledged her invitation and started shaking my body in sync. She then turned her body toward me and did a crouch-dance motion.
****************
I don't remember the last time I had this much fun. This was so cool! Here I was, 'getting down' with Jenrya, music blaring so loudly, and no one cared how good or crappy I danced.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead. Talk about exhausting! Good thing I used the extra-protection deodorant. Sheesh. "Let's take a break," I said to Jenrya. His facial expression looked in agreement.
We found a nearby table that was vacant. Now, I was in control, grabbing his hand. I'm not sure, but it seemed that things between Jenrya and me were going to be okay after all. "Let me go get us some punch," Jenrya suggested as he went over to the nearby punch bowl.
I watched him as he got our drinks. He looked pretty handsome in his tuxedo and all, I never had seen him look that good. I guess I never looked at him or thought of him that way, but it brought me a whole new perspective of Jenrya Lee.
"Here you go," he said, giving me a cup of the red liquid. I downed it a.s.a.p. Jenrya looked at me. "You sure have a fast digestive system."
"Well, when I'm thirsty," I tried to find a predicate but no good, "I'm thirsty." What the hell am I thinking?
"Ok, let's go outside," Jenrya said to me. I wasn't sure about where this was going.
"Um..." Why am I lost for words? All I have to do is say yes or no. "Ok..." Well, that'll do...
"C'mon, let's go."
****************
This time, it was Jenrya in control, taking Ruki's hand and going outside to the invitation of the cool air. It felt refreshing to him to get outdoors and away from the heat that was the dance room. The two arrived at the perfect spot: the balcony of the two story country club building.
Jenrya thought of this as the most romantic spot in the area. It was quiet; a place where they could talk. Ruki, meanwhile, couldn't stop admiring the beautiful scenery that the building overlooked. A couple of the golf courses could be seen, and the outside lights complemented the darkness of the night.
"Sure looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Jenrya asked her.
"Sure does..."
Once again, the two couldn't talk for a while or even make a simple clause come out of their mouth, until Jenrya spoke up.
"You look very beautiful in that dress."
Ruki blushed, but she tried to stay modest, though she couldn't completely ignore him. "Thank you, you don't look half bad, either." Half bad? Ruki couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.
"Heh-heh," was all Jenrya could stumble out. Here goes nothing, he told himself. Another milestone in our friendship...
"I wanted to apologize for the way I acted toward you the other week. The truth is, I love you Ruki, and I really wanted to go with you to this prom, together. I just didn't want this to hurt our friendship, and as much as I wanted to be with you, I figured, it would be better of us to be friends than to be nothing at all."
Ruki looked at his eyes. He wasn't lying. She, meanwhile, didn't know what to say. She could only express her actions. Slowly, and very slowly, her head moved toward Jenrya's, her eyes closed.
Jenrya was shocked and happy by her sudden action, and he too lowered his head toward Ruki's, and even though he didn't want to visually miss his first kiss, he also closed his eyes...
"Jenrya, I can't do this," she said, backing her head away from his.
Jenrya started shouting explicatives in his mind, but calmed down a bit. "What's wrong?"
"It's my mom," Ruki answered. "She doesn't want me to do this until I'm truly in love with someone."
"But aren't you truly in love?"
She shuddered. "I...don't know, Jenrya. I just don't know." Ruki dared not look at the boy as she ran back inside the building. Within a few seconds, she was gone.
"Ruki..."
***************
Ruki ran through the dance stage, trying to find an exit to the place. She couldn't handle such a big responsibility, even if she loved Jenrya. Her mom wouldn't like it, and it would be too much for her. "Sorry, Jenrya," she said, although she knew he wasn't around to hear it.
"It's okay." The strawberry-haired girl turned around and saw the boy in the tuxedo. He had something in his hands. It looked like a rose. A corsage. Is he going to give that to me? She thought. It would be awfully sweet of him...
Suddenly, he placed the rose looking thing on the edge of her purple dress, and pinned it on in one try. He looked at the beautiful girl standing before him and smiled. Ruki looked at the corsage, then at Jenrya. 'He really does love me.'
"This one is for real," she whispered to him. This time, there were no interruptions as the two met for their first-ever real kiss. Not a kiss of friendship, but a kiss that meant something more between the two, and both Jenrya and Ruki knew it.
Neither of them wanted to be the one to back their lips down from the other, but Jenrya finally did after about half a minute and looked at Ruki, who was red. "So how was it?" Jenrya knew it was the wrong thing to say the immediate moment it came out of his mouth, but he didn't care. He was in dreamland.
"It...was...nice." Suddenly Ruki had felt comfortable with this. Jenrya, her longtime friend, kissing her, and she didn't seem to mind. In fact, she loved it.
There was a change of tune in the dance room and a slower song played, a song that both Jenrya and Ruki recognized, from 1998. Jenrya placed his hands around Ruki's hips, and she countered by putting her hands around his neck as they moved rhythmatically to the song.
"I will never find another lover sweeter than you, sweeter than you
I will never find another lover more precious than you, more precious than you
Girl You are Close to me you're like my mother,
Close to me you're like my father,
Close to me you're like my sister,
Close to me you're like my brother
You are the only one my everything and for you this song I sing"
"All my life I pray for someone like you
I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I pray for someone like you
I hope that you feel the same way too
Yes, I pray that you do, love me too"
"You're all that I've ever known, your smile on your face, all I see is a glow,
You turned my life around, You picked me up when I was down,
You're all that I've ever known, when you smile your face glows,
You picked me up when I was down
You're all that I've ever known, when you smile your face glows,
You picked me up when I was down & I hope that you feel the same way too,
Yes I pray that you do love me too"
"All my life, I pray for someone like you,
I thank God that I, that I finally found you
All my life I pray for someone like you
I hope that you feel the same way too"
Suddenly, Ruki felt happy that the Man Up Above heard her prayers and answered.
****************
It was about midnight when the security and the chaperones started to kick the inhabitants out of the country club. I guess it was good, because Ruki and I couldn't wait to go to Juri's house and party all night. To us, the night was just beginning.
I drove in my car alone for the next ten minutes, but it was too long to be without Ruki. Hey, when you first get with a girl, you can't stop thinking about her for the next 24 hours.
After that torturous interval, I arrived at the Katou's house. There were already a dozen cars parked alongside both sides of the street. I got out feeling no sense of exhaustion or fatigue. Time for the real party to begin.
"Hey Ruki!" I looked over and saw the fine girl running toward me. She jumped up in my arms and smiled. Not your typical Ruki. But I like her more this way.
I knocked on the door of the Katou's house and Juri answered. She noticed us holding hands and giggled.
"Guys, the party has arrived!" Ruki and I simulaneously exclaimed.
"Alright you cute couple, there's loud music, lots of people, and there's beer in the backyard--"
I gave Juri an eye. "Beer?"
She scoffed. "Well, you don't have to drink it."
Ruki and I walked through the house, looking for the door to the backyard. When we got outside I saw a huge pool, with people swimming in it. When did Juri get that installed?
"Hey, Jenrya, let's go jump in!" She yelled. The music was so loud I could even barely hear her. But I gathered.
"We're wearing fancy outfits, for God's sake. We'll get them all messed up."
Ruki smiled suggestively. "Well, let's just take them off." Ruki then caught me surprised as she stripped herself of her dress and jumped in the pool. Ok, this was not the typical Ruki. Stripping down to her underwear and swimming around half-naked? What about her mom's philosophy? Oh well. When in Rome do as the Romans do. I pulled my tuxedo off, then my pants, and jumped in after her.
The splash gave me a huge wake-up call as I shivered. My boxers were soaked, and I was going to need a new pair. Ruki then swam up to me, her body not farther than an inch to mine. Boy, did that feel nice, as she rubbed herself against me.
"Let's make this the time of our lives," she said to me, sporting a backstroke. Her strapless bra was close to hiding nothing--
No! Must help Ruki. I can't let her fall into this trap. Need to snap her out of it.
Suddenly all my moral thoughts were erased in a blur as Ruki went right back up to me and gave me a huge kiss, tongue and all. Her seductions were taking my body over, as I returned the favor with a tongue of my own.
"Let's take this to somewhere more...quiet," she said to me, holding my body. I had no choice but to agree with her. She's beating me. I guess this is the Ruki I know after all.