The week was the normal week after that. So some creep was sending some guy to the dance…so? Okay so I was a bit excited about Friday, the dances were stupid I only went to laugh at the idiots. I had to sign up any guests I was going to have, who was he going to be? Mouse from who knows what school? And how OLD is this guy? So I paused a second in the office thinking of who I could put…
Dan Sutherland, GHS
Perfect, no one knows who he is here, well not this one anyways.
"So," said Julie, breaking my train of thought during lunch on Thursday, "are you coming to the dance tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'm bringing a friend," I said softly.
"Oh! Who?"
"Dan, Dan Sutherland," I said bracing myself.
"A guy?!? YOU'RE BRINGING A GUY?"
"He's just a friend," I said looking at her as a smile crossed her face.
"O lala…" she said, "well I'll see when he comes."
"Yeah we'll see…"
Friday night, so my dad drives me to my high school. Its 8:30, he should be here any minute. I wave a goodbye as my dad drives off, then I see a black Mercedes drive into the parking lot. Well he likes arriving in style, everyone outside is laughing not paying any attention as he steps out.
Then one of the girls just stares. I swear the stupid girls at my school are so deprived, they've never seen a hot guy in there LIFE. He wasn't even that hot, sheesh. He knows it's me and I know it's him, immediately. The car drives off before I can see the driver as he walks towards me, I smiled.
"Hey," I said casually as he greeted me like an old friend. He kissed me on the cheek, several girls glared at me.
"Hey, so who am I?" he whispered into my ear.
"You're Dan Sutherland you go to Glouster High; you've known me for a year." He smiled as he took a step back
"Not bad, you're pretty smart," I watched as he looked around eyeing the girls staring.
"Look this is MY world ok? I make the rules, and no those girls are annoying preps we don't like them."
"No we don't, they're looking at me funny," he wrinkled his nose.
"They always do they think it's seducing," I grinned, he laughed.
"Well okay…here lets get this over with where can we talk, alone?"
"Follow me," I said as I walked into the building, we walked right past the actual dance and went outside, into the courtyard.
"Sorry this is the best I can do," I said softly. "Oh, shit," I said as I saw Andrew see me from across the courtyard. I did the only thing that might get him off my back I grabbed Mouse and kissed him. Once he got over the shock he didn't seem to mind. I looked through my eyelashes to see Andrew make a face and turn around. I let go slowly, somewhat reluctantly.
"That should keep him our backs," I whispered.
"Who?" he asked, catching his breath, still utterly surprised.
"Andrew, God he's so annoying," I looked over Mouse's shoulder as John, Andrew's friend, staring in awe, but it was Sam's face that made going to this school worth it.
Sam Curr was staring mouth open in disbelief; oh she was so jealous it was so perfect.
"So," I said sitting on a bench and he followed suite, "you are here why?"
"I can free you." He said simply.
"Um, okay I didn't know I needed to be freed but that's okay," I said with a mocking smile, "anything else."
"No, you can't see your prison."
"Well if it's high school you're looking at it."
"No it's everything," he sighed, "look I can't tell you more…"
"Why not?"
"It's impossible you have to see it yourself."
"Okay show me then, show me this prison."
"Ask me what you have wanted to ask this whole time…"
"What is the Matrix?" I whispered. He nodded silently, what is the Matrix? What is real? He knew the answers, he knew everything. The spell hardly lasted a minute before it broke; somehow, my train of thought broke.
"How old are you?" I said, "just wondering."
"Fifteen," he said.
"Good, your as old as Dan, lets just hope Elliot isn't here, he knows Dan."
"Ah hah," I looked to the door as Sam left, then I saw Julie, she came out the door, saw me and walked straight towards me.
"Remember we are just friends ok?" Julie was now in earshot.
"Hey Julie this is Dan," Julie looked at him with mild surprise as she nodded to him.
"I wish we could go to a REAL club with REAL music…" I said as I leaned against the wall staring at the lights listening to the pointless noise of pop.
"If only you knew…" whispered Mouse.
"Hey," said Julie walking back from the drinks, "I'm going to go find Ashley, okay?"
"Okay," I said as Mouse stood back from the wall.
"Good," he said when Julie was out of earshot, "now look I can't stay alright?"
"Alright," I said.
"But I need to give you some stuff," he said as he got closer.
"Um…okay," I said as he put his hand in is pocket.
"Here," he said as he slipped me a cell phone, "never go anywhere without it." I was glad I wore baggy pants as I slipped it into my pocket. "And here, please take it and don't go anywhere without it…" he pressed closely as he slipped something from his pocket to mine.
It was a gun. This guy was like Dan in a million ways. I looked into those blue eyes as the lights reflected in them, green, red, blue and everything in between.
"Alright," I said softly. Then I wondered if he danced like Dan, and lucky me, the song changed into something half decent. Actually way more then half decent, Dragula Remix by none other then Rob Zombie. I gave him a devilish smile as I walked past him took his hand and led him to the writhing mass of people.
"You act like Dan but can you dance like him?"
Dead I am, the one exterminating son, slipping through the trees, straggling the breeze.
"Hell I can try," he said as he smiled back and after that I was lost in his touch. Hell, he could dance like Dan, better.
He also had another gun in his pocket.
It was over to quick of course, "I got to leave now," he whispered into me ear as he led me away. "But listen, train station Monday and 4:30, take it to Boston then take the green line to Quincy Market, we'll meet you there."
"Wait," I said as he began to leave, "what is your REAL name?"
"It's Mouse," he said turning back to me.
"No REAL," I said again.
"What is real? If you define real as what you are feeling, hearing, seeing and smelling now then I HAVE no REAL name." He left me looking utterly confused. "It'll all be explained soon I swear," he gave one last kiss on my cheek before turning away.
"Goodbye," I said after him.
"Just friends uh huh," said Julie behind me.
"Yeah just friends…" I said as I faced her, "we are complicated you see…" Julie laughed,
"Yeah well got to admit he's pretty cute," he said with a grin.
"More like hot Julie," said Ashley from behind
"He's not HOT or CUTE, OKAY?" I said laughing.
"Whatever, what time is it?" asked Julie.
"It's, 10:00," said Ashley checking her watch.
"I got to go then," I said quickly, "bye guys I'll see you Monday if not earlier."
"Send my regards to your boyfriend!" called Ashley after me.
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" I yelled over the music as I walked backwards out the door into the hall. I turned back around giving the prep behind me a smile. They gave me a frightened smile before walking into the Caf.
I grabbed my coat and walked outside, it was nice and cool compared to the heat inside. It was a clear night and a full moon; it would have been beautiful, if the school lights weren't so bright.
"Hey," said Rachel as she got off the bench, "how are you?" The sophomore was wearing black jeans with a clean plain white shirt with black trim. I just love her clothes.
"I'm alright just tired," I said as I stifled a yawn.
"Me to, my parents are late." Her breath turned into mist as I rose to the heavens.
"Pretty night, cold though," I commented looking at the stars.
"Yeah, oh," she said as a car came into the parking lot. "That's my dad; well I'll see you in theater."