Day 5: First Time Dancing Together (not in a competition)
Nick stood by the punch bowl, eyeing students approaching it to check for any smuggled-in alcohol. Not like he was being a complete hypocrite - no! If only Wes could see me now!
He looked out onto the dancefloor. It was the end of Jamie's Sophomore year and this evening it was the end of year McKinley High Sophomore Dance.
Jamie had come with two of his girl best friends as a three-way friends date. The now quite lanky teen had scrubbed up very nicely for the occasion, wearing a new black tux and white shirt with a hot pink bowtie, all bought for him by Nick. He'd had a haircut for the occasion and his fine brunet fringe fell softly over his forehead.
His two girl friends Sasha and Helena, looking lovely in gowns of blue and baby pink, had matching hot pink wrist corsages as a present from Jamie.
Nick watched as Sasha took her turn dancing with Jamie, swaying along in a ballroom hold. He smiled softly, looking for Helena in the crowd at the edge. His gaze stopped, however, on a boy near one of the fire exits to the gym.
The boy was quite tall and well built, like a typical football jock. He had sandy blond hair which was quite wavy and thick.
This boy seemed to be watching Jamie intently. Nick frowned, trying to work out why, hoping he wasn't a homophobic bully that Jamie hadn't mentioned. But instead of the way hatred was such a hard facial expression, this boy's features were very soft as he watched Nick's son.
Nick filled up two glasses of punch and made his way over to the boy, who looked slightly startled and confused to be offered a drink by one of the parent chaperones of tonight's dance.
"So, are you here stag...?" He looked at the boy questioningly, waiting for him to supply his name.
The boy looked a little shifty, like he'd been caught out. But Nick wasn't exactly sure what he was looking uncomfortable for yet.
"Randolf, sir. Well, it's Paul actually, but the guys usually just call me Randolf. And yes, I came alone."
"Wasn't there a girl you wanted to ask? I'm guessing you're on a sports team..."
Paul nodded. "Football."
Nick nodded and carried on, "...so a good looking guy like you wouldn't have any trouble getting a date, right?" He was fishing.
Paul swallowed loudly, fingering his collar like it was a bit tight. "Uh, well, I was going to ask...someone...but I heard them making plans with someone else." He sipped the punch that Nick had given him, looking back at the dancefloor.
Nick shrugged sympathetically. "That sucks."
Paul seemed to want to talk some more. "Maybe it's for the best. I don't know what my teammates would have said if I'd done it..." He half whispered.
"Don't be so sure. The one thing I did that got me cut off from my family and so-called friends last year is the one thing that's given me the greatest happiness."
Paul looked at Nick curiously. "What was that?" He asked.
"Adopting my son. It was definitely the right decision, whether or not anyone else thought it was."
The boy had wide eyes now, clearly thinking about something.
At that moment, Jeff came back over to Nick after helping some of his glee club set up for a couple of numbers. He smiled broadly at Nick, before holding his hand out, saying, "Mr Duval, you're too beautiful to be a wallflower. May I have this dance?"
Nick put his empty punch glass down, nodding to Jeff as he took his hand, following him onto the dancefloor. If he had looked back, he would have seen Paul with his eyes glued to them, a shocked but happy look on his face.
Jeff slid his arm around Nick's waist as his other hand held Nick's. He pulled Nick close and the brunet rested his head on Jeff's shoulder as they swayed to the music. A pretty red-haired girl in a deep green silky dress with a warm alto voice was singing a love song.
It was the perfect first dance.
A couple of hours later, Nick and Jeff had clearly missed the punch being spiked as they had to help a couple of students out of the gym and into their parents' cars for a disapproving ride home.
On their return, the two men diluted the contents of the punch bowl heavily with soda and fruit juice before sitting back down to watch out for inappropriate touching.
Jeff nudged Nick suddenly in the ribcage with his elbow as he gestured to the dancefloor with a huge grin. Nick followed his gaze and gasped as he saw Jamie.
Dancing with Paul.
"You'd better not cry Nick!" Jeff teased, putting his arm around Nick's shoulders as they watched fondly.