It probably should go without saying, but if somehow anyone reading this hasn't heard that Shadows posted the first chapter of Breaking Point Rebooted (yay!), go read that! Well worth the wait!
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Madison Middle School Auditorium
Bellwood, California
November 17, 2000
8:43 PM
- G -
"There you are!"
Gwen looked to her right and saw a tall, blond teenager walking their way wearing jeans and a purple and black plaid shirt, unbuttoned over a gray Gin Blossoms T-shirt. The example her Doofus had used for the clothes he was wearing, suitable for performing with a semi-grunge rock 'n roll garage band. The boy broke into a broad grin as said Doofus turned towards him wearing his own smile, raising his right arm for the high five they normally said hello with.
"Screw that, Runt!" Paul called out, making Ben lower his arm with an uncertain look. Two steps later the bigger boy wrapped Ben in a bear hug that trapped his arms at his sides as he weakly struggled to get free.
"Paul! What are you doing?! Put me down, ya friggin' beanpole!" Ben yelled as his friend picked him up so his sneakers were dangling off the ground. Several kids around them turned to look at the commotion and laughed at what they saw. Gwen couldn't help adding her voice to theirs.
Paul put him back down, also laughing. "You were awesome, Squirt! Even Doug said so! They're still talking about that riff you did at the end of Cliffs. Eric Johnson didn't do it much better! And to answer your question - yes, you can sing! Backup, anyway."
He ruffled his small friend's hair as Ben tried to duck out from under it. "Get off!" he said through the smile that was back on his face. "Really?"
"Yeah, really. Steve said you sounded pretty good. He was happy you only lip-synced the words on Everlong, though. Good call on that." Paul snorted at Ben's chagrined expression. Gwen thought he missed her duck her head and stare at the wood floor, feeling some color seeping into her cheeks.
"Did you two really think no one saw that?" He may have been looking at Ben when he said that, but his comment obviously included her. Guess he didn't miss my reaction after all, she thought as her cheeks started to burn and she felt like disappearing into the floor.
Even so, Gwen and Michelle were both giggling through Paul's greeting. "Hey Paul!" Gwen said, looking him in the eyes. "You sounded really good, too - on guitar and singing. Ben never said anything about you doing that, too. … You look good in purple, by the way. Not as good as the blue we got yesterday, but this works." she said as she gave him an obvious check out from head to toe and back.
"Yeah, well, like Sensei says, we only wear a colored belt in the dojo and at tournaments. … And look at you!" he said, nodding his head towards her. "You look fabulous! You in that dress takes blue to a way higher level!" He glanced at Ben as her face kept on burning at the compliment.
"You're on to something special here, Shorty. You know that, right?"
"Yeah. Yeah, more than you can guess" Ben said, beaming at her. She felt her flush get deeper to go with the summersault her stomach did, but smiled back at him.
Gwen turned to introduce Michelle so her face would stop glowing, even though Paul had met her before. "Paul, this is -"
"Michelle. Yeah, I remember. Nice to see you again."
"You too" her friend said, a little bashfully. "And, um, I really liked the song you wrote for these two. You should have sung it yourself, you have a great voice."
"Ugh" he grunted and rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but music-wise it's kind of,… uhh. Not that big a deal. I thought about singing it too, but Steve needed a part, and…" he trailed off for a second.
"Besides, I didn't say it was about Doofus and Dweeb here."
"Oh come on! It is too!" Michelle wasn't shy any more; Gwen smiled to herself in spite of the embarrassment of being the subject of a love song. Sometimes it was hard to tell who got protective quicker, her Doofus or Michelle. "I was there, I saw it - who else could it have been?" She quieted down but didn't stop. "You did a great job of capturing those times in only two verses. And the melody was amazing!"
Paul chuckled. "You think so? … Thanks." He gave Michelle a grin before turning to Ben and Gwen.
The recorded DJ list playing in the background segued into another Queen song called Don't Stop Me Now. When Ben heard it he started to get fidgety, glancing at the backstage doors and shifting his weight between his shoes.
Paul took a quick look at his watch. "Yep, time to go." he said seemingly to himself before looking up. "So, Squirt, ready for a couple more songs?"
"A couple?" Ben asked, focusing on Paul in bewilderment . Gwen gave him a puzzled look, then turned to his friend.
"Ben's gonna get on stage with me again to play another instrumental. Then we got some requests for a song that he's, um, uniquely qualified for." Paul grinned. "Mind if I shanghai your date for fifteen minutes? I'm sure Michelle can help you pass the time with some pithy comments on his musical talents!" he said, giving her friend a sly wink.
Ben looked at Gwen, a little confused, but he was nodding his head, the look in his eyes asking the same question without needing words. Michelle couldn't stop a snort, Gwen just got a half smile. "Yeah, sure. … But I got dibs on him for the rest of the night!" she said a little more forcefully than she intended.
"You gotta quite stealing my boyfriend, Paul." she said, before she realized what she just said and how many ways it could be twisted, and clapped her hands over her mouth.
Michelle gasped and almost lost it, bending over with a hand to her mouth to hold back a laugh. Paul's blue eyes lit up as he no doubt was playing out in his imagination several of those twists, but all he did was chuckle. Ben's eyes got as big as plates before he got a huge smirk, even as he looked around to see if any of his classmates heard that.
"Tch, tch, tch… The things you say! You'd think I was mauling the boy behind your back!" Paul teased with a sparkle in his eyes. It wasn't like him to completely let the opening go by, but he'd said more risqué things after she'd innocently said embarrassing things before. "Don't worry, I'll bring him back before he gets any taller."
"Hey! You know, I'm right here!" Ben said indignantly as Paul turned him by the shoulders and gave him a push towards the backstage doors.
"Yeah, yeah. Come on, Christian, we got a song to play…"
The corners of Gwen's lips were twitching up as she watched them walk away. Paul liked to use different nicknames for her Doofus, but she'd never heard that one before. Neither of their families were particularly religious, and Ben definitely wasn't, but he didn't react to it. Why Christian?
Ben was saying something to his music partner as they approached the backstage doors, and Paul shook his head briefly. They stopped on the other side of the doors, and she saw the conversation continue through the glass top half of one of them. Ben smiled at whatever Paul told him; probably what the requested song was. She knew he'd like it, and hoped he'd get the message she intended.
Her smile grew as she thought about the upcoming song.
- B -
"I read the Cliff's Notes for the story last week, Paul. You forgot to tell the part about Cyrano also crushing on Roxanne, not just Christian. Sure you're not getting too caught up in your character?" Ben asked as they approached the backstage doors.
Paul looked down at him and snorted. "You did?! Will wonders never cease! … It's only a story, Runt. Besides, you really aren't Christian anyway. You're doing a fine job of saying what you want her to hear." He and Ben opened the doors and walked through. "You just do it with music more than words."
"You think she's getting it?" Ben said as he watched the floor go by. It wasn't the first time he caught himself doing the Dweeb thing recently.
"Dude, if she doesn't she's the only person in the room who isn't! .. Don't worry though - from what I can tell she gets it just fine."
They picked up their guitars as they passed through the backstage area and slipped through the curtains.
"All right, Shorty, ready for this?" Paul asked as they approached their place on stage.
"Yeah. Let's go" Ben said firmly, as they jacked their guitars into the amp. He turned to the mic, switched it on and tapped on it, like Charlie told him. Kids in the audience turned towards the stage at the sound.
Ben leaned his head up to the mic, more than a little hesitant to talk into it. Paul had been insistent before they got on stage, though - "You don't need to give a speech, but … Your song, Mouse, you need to introduce it."
"Um… this is a tune by one of our favorite guitarists, Joe Satriani. It's called Always With You, Always with Me." He stepped back from the mic stand, flipped his axe from behind his back, counted out the tempo and started picking the notes of the backing line. Eighteen measures later Paul started the melody, watching his hands play the clean, uncomplicated notes of the chorus as Ben looked towards Gwen and caught her sparkling eyes with his before returning to watch his buddy.
Paul transitioned smoothly into the intricate part of the chorus, intently focused on the fast, tricky runs as his fingers flew over the strings on the neck of his guitar. Ben kept up the backing line, watching his friend and unconsciously repeating how the blond was moving his head and shoulders in response to the fast but not frantic sounds he was drawing out of the guitar.
There were clumps of kids watching the stage and bobbing their heads and shoulders with the three count rhythm, and a few couples had gotten adventurous and were on the floor trying to figure out how to dance to the tune, mostly just swaying side to side together. Ben rolled his eyes - if he was out there with his Dweeb they'd be doing a real dance, like the way she taught him in the Rustbucket. The beat was right there, plain for anyone to hear.
The crowd seemed to like the music, except for one loudmouth who called out "What's the matter shrimp? This too hard for you?" Ben scowled but didn't miss a note at the unwanted heckling. He didn't even have to look for the owner of that irritating, whiny voice - Cash. Of course that asshole had to pop off. A few muffled voices tried to get him to shut up, but his angry grumble competed with Paul's riff. "What?! Why's he up there, anyway?"
Ben glanced at Gwen and almost laughed at the murderous glare on her face, aimed straight at his used-to-be bully. He almost wished she would unleash the whoop-ass he knew she was holding back, but that stupid prick wasn't worth the trouble.
Paul didn't miss a note either as he continued the complex variation of the basic chorus. When they got to the end, they smoothly switched who had the lead and Ben took over the melody. "Never mind that dick, Mouse. Remember who you're playing this for." Paul stage whispered to him, but all Ben could do was nod his head once as he searched for his Dweeb. He locked his eyes with hers and smiled at her, happy to see the scowl marring her face get replaced with her special smile before he focused on his hands for his turn at playing some hot licks.
He finished the easy part of the chorus and slipped his right hand to meet his left midway up the guitar's neck and started tapping the strings for the first time through the fast, complex pattern, aware now only of the notes his fingers were hammering out of his axe. There were a few impressed gasps near the stage after the first few measures, and halfway through the second repetition he heard a few voices calling out "Yeah dude!" "Kill it, Tennyson!" along with a couple whoops. By the third time there were more voices joining in and the sound of clapping hands and whistles as he kept tapping and releasing the strings - he couldn't mess this up no matter what Cash or anyone taunted him with, his fingers and hands knew what to do and nothing was going to ruin it!
His right hand shifted back over the pickups to strum out a few chords to end the riff, then he was shredding fast notes with his left hand flying from next to the body of his guitar to the middle of the fretboard and back to finish the chorus with a screaming high note, squeezing his eyes shut and shrugging his shoulders while shaking his axe a couple times to get the tremolo effect he wanted. He finally heard the reaction of the crowd applauding, shouting and hollering. One voice carried over it, one of his teammates putting Cash back in his place. "Guess that answered your question, huh pendejo!" That really wasn't what he was trying to do, there was only one person in the building whose opinion he cared about, but he couldn't help a quick grin at that anyway.
He made an effort to relax his shoulders, letting go of the tension he built up as he concentrated on getting the rest of the song perfect for her. He looked up with another huge grin as he started the third repetition of the chorus, without any crazy shredding. Just clean, pure melody, reprising how Paul started the piece, emphasizing the tune's theme before playing one more fast run to finish it with the last quiet chord over Paul's steady backing, the volume slowly fading out. His friend caught his eye with a happy nod before Ben's gaze swept the crowd and focused on his Dweeb again.
He didn't know what he expected to see, but what he got was so much more than he hoped for whenever he imagined playing it for her. The smile on her face was more radiant than ever, and if he had any lingering embarrassment over telling her she was beautiful, the way she looked now swept it away like a flash flood flowing over stones in a river. Another wave of the strange new emotion he'd been feeling off and on all night surged through his throat and chest, but a few quick eyelid blinks kept his face dry. Not that he'd be upset if he felt her hand on his cheek again…
Ben was startled by Steve's voice over the speakers; when did the rest of the band join him and Paul on stage?
"Wow! Way to go, guys! Who knew you could shred a love song like that? … And who did you have in mind while you were playing it?" He caught Ben's eyes and gave him a quick wink and a knowing look before continuing "As you can see, your classmate is back with us for an encore. We planned just that last song, but we got a request that Paul said he would be perfect to help with. We've been playing gigs like this for a few years now, and in all that time we've never been asked to play this next tune. Kind of a drag, since it was one of the first songs we learned when we started the band."
Ben couldn't help his confusion - he only learned a couple songs with Paul for tonight, and knew a few others the band played, too. They weren't going to do one of them again? He hadn't heard what the mystery request was, and checking with Paul while they were backstage for a clue didn't help - his friend just gave him a shit eating grin saying "Don't worry. It's something you can do in your sleep."
So it was something he could already play. But he did them mostly by himself, which wasn't the same as being part of a band. Sorting out Everlong for two guitars and then getting the feel for fitting in with the other parts had taken some practice. He didn't have to wait long to find out what it was, though. And he already had experience playing the lead and rhythm guitar lines separately at the same time, although Paul had no idea about that.
"Guess there are some members of the KISS Army in the crowd, 'cause tonight we got two requests for it." the frontman continued. "We haven't practiced it in a while but we'll give it a go. It's a good thing Paul and Ben know it, I'm sure they can cover any rough parts. This is Detroit Rock City."
The grin started as soon as he heard the word KISS, and it got as big as theirs when Ben looked at Gwen and Michelle. His eyes caught the Dweeb's, and her grin changed into the dazzling smile he would do anything for. Even play their song in public; not that anyone besides Paul had any clue about that. He wondered for a second who else might have requested it? Didn't matter - she did, and that was enough for him!
Steve's voice got his attention again. "All right, Ben, get us started."
Ben swallowed, then counted with clipped words away from the mic like Paul and Steve did. "One … two … one, two, three four" and started the alternating notes of the intro he taught himself four years ago. Paul joined in with the harmony before they both hit the power chords with dramatic sweeps of their right hands over the strings. They turned to face each other on either side of the mic stand, mirroring each other as they repeated the intro. Steve started the vocals, and Doug got a chance to get some attention with a fast six note run in the bass line that would be featured throughout the song.
Paul caught the bass player's eyes and flicked his head, an invitation for all the guitarists to be in the same place on stage. Doug grinned and walked over, taking a place between Paul and Ben. The three shared the mic for backup vocals, and when they weren't singing they all started rocking their axes up and down on the odd beats of the music, grinning like a trio of demons, just like the bass player in the band that wrote the song.
Ben looked up and found his Dweeb, who somehow had moved so she was directly underneath one of the overhead floodlights, highlighting her blazing hair and making the blue dress shine. His breath caught at the sight, because of the amazing way she looked and the way she was moving.
She was dancing almost like she did two Octobers ago at the foot of his bed, except tonight the edge of her blue dress would fly halfway up her bare thighs when she twirled around and jumped instead of revealing only the black tights she wore with her school uniform. She moved the way she did then, swaying her hips and shoulders and kicking her heels in ways that Aunt Lily wouldn't approve of but he surely did. She was way better at controlling her magic now, but Ben still saw the flashes of pink at her fingertips as her arms and body moved sinuously and she twirled next to Michelle. And instead of avoiding his gaze, now she was watching him with that smile as he watched her. There was no trace of shyness like before the dance; instead she was having fun with this song! The sparkle in her eyes lit up her smile, and her smile lit up the auditorium in a way that made his heart skip a few beats, then race to catch up.
Was it really only a year ago when he found the almost inconsolable girl outside his bedroom window, broken from the effects of finally ridding herself of Marci's toxic attention? When he was able to help her with an overpowering problem, like they did for each other so many other times? When they discovered they liked hanging out with each other, without video games or karate or heroing? And she wanted to hear more of his music?
When he realized she had become his best friend.
It would take another seven months and some horrific events - events that would almost shatter them both - before she realized it too. But tonight the misunderstanding and tragedy and pain were behind them, and instead there was joy from the music and dancing and friends. And from being together, without the intrusive watchfulness of their parents.
The weird tightness in his chest hit him again, but he didn't try to fight it, instead letting it flow through him. He was starting to like it since he only felt it for her.
It was gone before the song got to the guitar feature. The drummer set them up with his own hot licks, then Paul got it started with the harmony track. Ben joined in with the melody as they rocked out the way he remembered from the KISS concert that got him started, the way he and Paul played off each other for kicks during the times they got together to just jam in his friend's garage. Ben's guitar was wailing until the end of the song between Steve's vocals and Doug's bass riff before he and Paul finished it off with sweeping power chords. Hearing applause from the dance floor and seeing Paul's grin gave him another adrenaline rush; even so, as good as that felt it still wasn't as good as the feeling he got from the first time he played their song for her. The smile on her face was, though!
Breathing hard, Ben unplugged his guitar while Steve was talking to cover his exit from the stage. "That was great, kid! Let Paul know when you want to jam with us again." He flipped his axe behind his back to give Paul a proper high five, both of their arms extended and smacking hands with a loud clap. Ben had to jump a little this time to make that work - the tall blond did that to him once in a while - but instead of letting his hand fall away right afterwards, Paul kept his palm against Ben's for an extra second. When he looked at his friend, Paul had a smile in his eyes as well as on his face, a look Ben had seen before after acing his green belt test, and the first time he played Always last Saturday. A look that felt almost as good as the time Gwen told him she was proud of him. Paul was too, and he was letting it show. Ben wasn't ready for that, and he felt some heat creeping over his face.
A soft "Shut up!" was the best he could come up with as the taller blond looked him in the eyes. Paul just chuckled and shook his head.
"Nice job, Squirt! Now go have fun with her!" nodding his head towards where his date was waiting with a smile from ear to ear.
Ben grinned and tapped high fives with Steve and Charlie as he walked to the back of the stage, and nodded his head back at Jack behind the drums. Doug gave him a fist bump and murmured "Way to go, man" on his way out behind the curtains. The buzz he felt after the first three songs that started the dance was back, and Ben couldn't say how he got from backstage to the auditorium doors.
Gwen was waiting for him on the backstage side of the doors, bouncing on the balls of her feet. He rounded a hallway corner and her face lit up again with the smile only he ever got before she launched at him. He caught her at the waist as she wrapped her arms around his back and lifted her up to spin both of them almost a full circle clockwise. The sound of her happy laugh in his ear was the best music he heard all night, and he couldn't help adding to it as he landed her close against him. Then he moved his arms up to her shoulders and the back of her head before they tilted their heads for a deep and lingering kiss, her soft lips pressing into his, both sets opening just enough to be noticeable.
Gwen broke it first to take a deep breath, letting it out as she spoke in a low voice that was a recent addition to the way she talked to him. "That was amazing, Doofus! … That first song was the one Paul meant when he called you Christian, right? Was that his idea?"
Ben looked into the eyes of the beautiful girl in his arms and felt the tightness in his chest again, and it wasn't entirely because he felt hers pressed against him. He didn't want it to stop.
"No, um… No, I wanted to play that. For you. Paul and I figured it out last weekend."
"Ben!" she breathed out softly. She recovered and spoke in her normal voice. "That's why you were late getting back?"
He chuckled softly. "We were less than ten minutes off! I told you it would be worth it. … So, was it?" he asked, a little bewildered at the shyness he heard in his own voice, and the flip-flops he suddenly felt in his stomach.
She hugged him again, pressing her cheek against his to complete a full body hug and whispered in his ear. "Yes Doofus! That was so worth it! I can't wait to hear you play it again."
The feel of her breath on his ear and his hands against the skin at the top of her dress sent a shudder down his back that was on the verge of too much to take. He almost welcomed the distraction of one of the doors opening, adding a bit more light from the auditorium into the dimly lit hallway, until he recognized the face peering through the opening.
"Mr Rodriguez!" He was too stunned to let go for a moment, before starting to turn them so he was between his Dweeb and the door. He felt her tense up in his arms.
His teacher gave him a tight smile. "A well-deserved congratulations, Mr Tennyson. I very much enjoyed your performance. I see I'm not the only one. … I think it's time to rejoin the dance, though." Ben blinked, gobsmacked, as the man retreated into the big room and the closing door muffled the rambunctious music coming from the speakers.
Gwen took a step away from him and looked down at the floor, smoothing out the front of her dress. "Isn't… isn't he the one you complain about so much? He doesn't seem so bad to me." she said with a combination of a smirk and an embarrassed look at being caught. That turned into a worried frown.
"Unless he does decide to say something to your parents!" she said, suddenly horrified. Her eyes were pleading with him for reassurance.
"I… Before just now I'd expect him to at least give me a few days of detention just for leaving the auditorium. But now…" He shrugged.
"I don't think he will. I don't know why, but… That's not the same Mr Rodriguez I have for algebra."
"Well, let's get back inside so he won't get mad at you. Like you said, we don't want to give him an excuse."
Michelle was waiting for them with a hesitant grin when they walked through the double doors.
"How busted are you?! I thought sure I'd hear yelling when that man barged in on you!"
"Why Michelle, whatever are you talking about?" Gwen replied sweetly. "What could we possibly get busted for?" Ben choked down the laugh in his throat.
"Whatever?…" her friend blustered. "Give me a break, Crazy Girl! You two aren't exactly the best at keeping off each other, now are you?"
Ben glanced at his girlfriend and saw she was as flushed as he felt. He looked back at Michelle and shrugged with an apologetic look. "At least we kept it out of sight. Give us some credit for being discreet."
Gwen looked at him with mock admiration. "Ooh, nice twenty dollar word! Good one, Doofus!"
"You two really are insufferable! C'mere you…" the dark haired girl said, extending her arms as she closed the distance between her and his Dweeb. "You too, mister! You played those songs great!"
Gwen used the arm she had around his waist to pull him into the three way hug, all of them collapsing into each other as the band finished Dancing With Myself and the frontman talked to the crowd again.
"All right! Good to see you all getting on the dance floor! For any of you who haven't yet, there's plenty of room and the night's not over. And if you don't feel like you can dance with someone, do like the song said and dance with yourself!"
Steve finished his set speech and turned back to the band, counting out another rhythm to start the next song. They took their usual place at the edge of the floor as the grunge song turned into several more. Michelle agreed to dance with another boy once, after shaking her head at a couple others when Ben and his Dweeb took advantage of another slow song.
Three songs later they were all out of breath and took a break to get something to drink.
- M -
"Oh shit, not again!" Michelle murmured when she saw the black, greasy haired boy heading towards the table. Louder than she intended, and both Gwen and Ben perked up at it.
"What, 'Chelle?" her friend asked with concern in her eyes. Ben followed the direction she was looking with a cup to his lips and gagged as he was trying to swallow a mouthful of punch when he saw what made her curse.
"That guy with black hair coming this way, see him?"
Gwen looked at him and storm clouds took over her previously happy green eyes. "Cash!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"You know him?"
"I know who he is. He's been a pain in Ben's butt for years."
Ben coughed and cleared his throat. "He's the prick who shouted during the tune Paul and I were playing. … Let's just say he and I don't get along." Gwen snorted at that, a scorching glare in her eyes. "What's he doing coming over here?"
"Probably to ask me to dance. Again! He's tried twice while you two were out there, and I said no both times! The guy just won't listen!" Michelle complained.
"Yeah, that's Cash. Don't worry, I'll get rid of him!" Ben growled.
She grabbed Ben's hand. "Ben, no! We don't need a scene! … You dance with me. Maybe then he'll get it." She looked Gwen in the eyes. "Please?"
Her friend returned the intense look, then the glare softened. "She's right, Doofus. He's picking a fight, but this is a better way to handle it."
"What if he tries to ask you?" her boyfriend grumbled.
Gwen snorted in a nasty way. "He's nothing. I can handle him if I have to. And you know I can shut him down from fifteen feet just by looking at him!"
Ben actually grinned and chuckled ruefully. "Don't I know it! Glad I don't have to face thoselooks any more! And you're right - he's nothing Feet of Fury can't handle, with or without the new belt!"
Gwen almost broke into a scowl, but changed it to a fierce grin instead. "Got that right!" She said quietly before turning to Michelle and Ben, as the band started another song, Paul playing an intro with sedate, single notes in a soft key.
She gave them a genuine smile. "Go on, I'll be fine."
Michelle kept hold of Ben's hand as he led the way to the edge of the floor, and the intro flowed into another slow dance song.
"Make sure there's daylight between you two!" Gwen called out after they took five steps. "I'm watching you, Tennyson!" Michelle and Ben looked back to see her friend pointing the first two fingers on her right hand at her eyes, then switched to only her forefinger and pointed it at Ben with an attempt at a serious look. The Crazy thing couldn't hold it together, though, as she fell into a spasm of giggles. Ben snorted and rolled his eyes as Michelle snickered. She heard the same noise from a few of the kids around them. Ben's in for some teasing on Monday. Too bad we won't get to see it!, she thought.
A quick glance at Cash showed the obnoxious boy glower at them with a dejected look before he turned around, slinking back to the far side of the auditorium. Ben tried and almost succeeded in not smirking back at the boy with black, slicked back hair.
Steve started singing the words of The Flame in a mournful way as she and Ben faced each other, him awkwardly trying to decide how they could dance to the song. It didn't feel right for them to hold each other close, so Michelle solved his dilemma, taking his left hand in her right as their opposite hands fell into place for a ballroom dance the way her Mama taught her. With a good bit of separation between them so Crazy Girl wouldn't bark.
"I know how to dance a box step, if you do. That would work for 4/4 time." Michelle said.
"Yeah, I do. The Dweeb taught me how during our first trip." he nodded, with a fond look at Gwen. He started the steps, doing a decent job of leading her before he looked back at Michelle and answered the question she was dying to ask. "I was the ring bearer at our cousin Joel's wedding on the first summer trip, and I had to dance with the flower girl." He grimaced for a second and shrugged but continued. "That didn't turn out too good. I had a lot more fun learning how from Gwen."
He grinned at his memory. "She was pretty frosty about Lucy stealing the dance from her!"
Michelle laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, I've heard that once or twice." She glanced towards her friend and felt a pang of guilt. She looked back at Ben and caught his eyes before letting them fall and staring at the floor behind him.
"I'm sorry, Ben. You should be dancing with her to songs like this."
She was surprised by his soft snort. "Don't be. Not to this song. … Besides, dancing with you will keep everyone in my class guessing." He tried to make the last thing he said a joke, but his glistening eyes gave him away.
"Why not this song?"
"I wouldn't do that to her …" Ben's voice trailed away, allowing the frontman's voice to intrude on their conversation as they danced.
I'm going crazy, I'm losing sleep
I'm in too far, I'm in way too deep over you
I can't believe you're gone
The words switched between a lament over the loss of someone special to a promise to be a source of strength when that someone needs it, if there was a second chance. It tore at him, leaving him raw and exposed, like what was left when you ripped a bandage off a big scrape and the scab went with it.
Remember after the fire, after all the rain
I will be the flame
Ben kept dancing through them in silence, but the look in his eyes as he stared over Michelle's shoulder was heartbreaking.
I feel so frightened
She felt a small shudder through her hand on his shoulder and he closed his eyes for a few steps after those words. Michelle didn't want to intrude on what was obviously a bad memory, but she didn't like the idea of letting him suffer through it alone. He might not be her friend but his Dweeb was, and Michelle couldn't face her friend without at least trying to help Ben with it.
"Do what?" She asked in a soft voice.
Ben took in a deep breath before answering. "I listened to this song a lot during July. I shouldn't have…." He voice broke as the plaintive lyrics in the background became insistent, almost forcing them to listen.
I wanna run to you, I wanna call
But I've been hit by lightning
Just can't stand up, for fallin' apart
Can't see through this veil across my heart, over you
You'll always be the one
You were the first, you'll be the last.
The tragic look in his eyes only got worse, reflecting the raw tone of Steve's voice.That'show he felt when they got back?! Suddenly she saw his silence back then towards Gwen in a completely different way. He hurt far more than she could have guessed, more than she imagined during the few times Gwen talked to her about that awful month. It still wasn't gone.
He looked away, but Michelle saw the leftover pain in his watery eyes that the words dredged up, a look that was identical to what she saw in Gwen's eyes three and a half months ago. "I know I should have done something to help her then, but… That was a messed up time." he said softly. He blinked his eyes a few times and sniffled.
"I didn't know. … I'm so sorry." she almost whispered. The music in the background added to her guilty feeling.
"I didn't know how to say…" she barely heard. Ben shook his head once and tried to brush his feelings away. "I told you, Michelle, don't worry about it. There'll be some more slow dances."
"Not about that. About the way I treated you in August. I'm sorry for coming down so hard on you. You two were trying to tell me something you were happy about and I ruined it. ... I was just so worried about her then, and I didn't know you and I..." She looked down at her shoes. "I wish we could do that over…"
"Oh. That." he said, then was quiet for a few steps. Michelle felt awful - she and Gwen never talked about that day afterwards - it seemed to end up OK. She was happy for her friend and her new boyfriend, even when they sometimes got too focused on each other. She never thought to ask how Ben felt about it, let alone talk to him directly.
"Listen, I… I was kinda pissed off about that, later, but…". At least he didn't look angry now. "You were right."
"No, I…"
Ben shook his head. "You we're looking out for her." Michelle looked up to see a small smile on his face. "I was glad my Dweeb had you."
Michelle looked into his eyes again and saw the hurt was mostly gone, replaced by a hint of a pleased one as his lips curled up.
"Gwen means a lot to you." She didn't ask a question, but Ben answered as if she did anyway.
"More than I can say." He smiled at her in a lopsided way, not the way he did for his girlfriend. It wasn't fake, but there was something hidden in it, like he wanted to say more but something was holding him back. He led a turn as they danced, and Michelle got a fleeting glimpse of her friend looking fondly in their direction before the turn ended with Ben facing Gwen. His smile changed when he looked at her.
She'd seen a look like that on only three other people. Her parents, when they were in a lovey-dovey mood. It was almost like the looks she sometimes saw them give her and her two brothers; affection that was equal among their children, but not quite the same as for each other. Something Michelle knew was special between her mother and the colonel. Even so, when she saw it it made her feel good.
She saw that look in Gwen's eyes when she first met Ben before Christmas, and again in May when the girl admitted to herself what she was feeling for the boy she was dancing with.
And now she saw it in his. The pain in his eyes faded completely as the smile he got from just seeing his girlfriend took over. That made her feel good, too.
As long as it wasn't some fleeting thing…
She'd seen looks almost like it between the older kids on post in Germany, though. And some of her classmates. Looks and attention that didn't last more than a couple weeks, maybe a few months. The protectiveness she felt for that girl because of the boy bubbled out again.
"I believe you. … But you know she's important to me, too, and…" Michelle swallowed and said firmly "and if you hurt her I'll …. I'll come after you and everything you love, and make you hurt even more."
She was sure Ben would get defensive or angry at the threat, but she wasn't going to back down. She'd seen how miserable her friend was and was determined that it wouldn't happen again because of some boy, cousin or no.
Ben just let out a short, sardonic laugh through a slight frown. "Well, then believe this, too - that won't happen. … But even if something did, you wouldn't really want to do that."
"Oh yes I would! Don't think I'd hold back!" she said fiercely, but only for him to hear.
Ben looked at her almost like he did a few steps ago, that same something in his eyes that said he was holding something in. "Easy! I don't doubt you!" His mouth opened as he almost said something, reconsidered and started over. "But if you really did that, you'd have to go after her, too." he said equally quietly but without any heat.
What?! That wasn't how she thought he'd reply, or what she expected him to say at all. Where was the cocky, smug boy she'd gotten to know lately? Or the one who got flustered whenever Gwen got even a little sentimental?
"Huh? What are you saying?" she asked, confused. He didn't stop dancing or look away, and he wasn't angry, but that look was still in his eyes…
The realization was as much of a shock as when she finally understood what Gwen was going through that day in the secondhand clothes store. "You mean... " she breathed out slowly.
The song faded out and they stopped dancing as the kids around them either hugged each other or separated awkwardly before going back to rejoin the groups they came from. Ben dropped his hand from her waist and let go of the other one, but stayed in front of her.
"Don't say anything else, Michelle. Please. I want to say it out loud first. And you're not the one I want to say it to." She didn't know how he could be shy and confident at the same time, and she couldn't help the hug she gave him because of it.
"OK. … OK." she murmured, feeling his arms close around her back for a few seconds before dropping away. She let go and gave him a subdued grin that matched his. "Thank you."
"For saving you from Cash? Any time!" he said, trying to be that smug little prick again. She wasn't fooled.
"Yeah, that too." she said. "And for talking to me. We haven't really been able to do that."
Ben looked away as he put his right hand at the back of his neck. "No, I guess not. I didn't really say that much…"
"Maybe not, but it was still nice." she replied. And what you said without talking was just as important as when you did, she thought.
He nodded, turned and led the way back to her best friend. His… what, exactly? If he meant what she thought, she wasn't sure what word to use. 'Cousin' didn't matter. 'Girlfriend' was thrown around so casually, it didn't really seem to fit now. Neither did 'boyfriend' for him, either. Maybe Dweeb and Doofus were the best words, even if they couldn't explain what they meant any more than she could. It was the way they said it to each other and when they talked about each other that made the words work.
Like her parents, though, what they said was less important than how they acted around each other. The "normal" stuff kids their age did - sitting up against each other and sharing smoothies (sometimes out of only one straw!) and food (even the awful greasy chili fries Ben always seemed to get), listening to music and hanging out, even the PDAs that sometimes bordered on making out - were all there. But so were smug attitudes that sometimes got awfully close to being snotty, the playful sarcastic burns and smirks, the seemingly constant battle of wits that Michelle knew Gwen was more than able to dominate - their classmates rarely kept up with the brilliant girl when she was all riled up! And surprisingly Ben was her equal, taking what she would say as a challenge to be met instead of a purposeful attack, and dishing it back without being mean. Sometimes he actually made Gwen stop to admire what he just said and think about a proper response. If Michelle heard anyone else talk to each other that way she'd think they hated each other, but it was just the natural way for these two. When they stopped acting that way was when Michelle would know there was a problem.
Because underneath it all there was lo-, um, the opposite of hating on each other. Michelle felt her face grow hot thinking of that word; it was normal to apply it to her parents and their married friends. It was not a word she ever thought she'd use for her friends, not before high school anyway. But they sure acted like it, especially when they would light up with a beaming smile when one or the other said an especially effective burn or comeback, or did something sweet, or just when they saw each other. Like right now, as she and Ben approached the sometimes overwhelming redhead. The smile on Gwen's face wasn't huge, but there was no mistaking it or the sparkle in her green eyes for anything but welcoming affection, and only a little was for her.
Even so, that made her feel good, too.
- G -
Five more songs went by before they took another break. Gwen glanced at the clock on the wall opposite the stage; the dance would end in another twenty minutes or so. She didn't want to slow down, let alone have their date end, but she hadn't had a workout like this since the last conditioning session at the dojo in mid-September. Sensei had been particularly thorough that day… Her brow felt damp with a sheen like the one she saw on Michelle's forehead, and the Doofus wiped away a full-on layer of sweat with the bottom of his black T-shirt - unusual for him since whenever he got that overheated he'd just use his sleeves, especially a long sleeve shirt. She'd normally yell at him for being that disgusting, in public to boot, but the momentary view of his bare stomach and sides - she could still feel the goosebumps from when her hands and fingers held him in the soft places between his ribs and his bony hips - overcame the urge. Besides, the stain would hardly be visible on the dark fabric, and she wouldn't feel the clammy, damp spot where his shirt hung over his jeans. She huffed to herself; leave it to her Doofus to figure out how to be gross andconsiderate at the same time, even if he didn't plan it that way.
He got to the drink table first and handed a cup of lemonade to her and Michelle before getting one for himself, and all three drank it up, listening to the song in the background. It was another energetic tune, but shorter than most so their rest didn't last as long as any of them wanted.
Gwen was initially happy to hear Paul start a new one with a more sedate intro; as they got closer to the end of the dance the band was playing slower songs, and they took way less energy. Not to mention she and Ben were able to essentially cuddle on the dance floor. Michelle wasn't getting left out, either; she was out there too, switching up with a couple of Ben's classmates that seemed more than tolerable.
Even before Steve started singing, though, Gwen recognized the song as Iris with a sharp breath - the song got heavy airplay on Bellwood's radio stations. The quiet melody was entirely in the easy to understand vocals, and she thought the first two verses were actually romantic when she heard them on the soundtrack of the tragic love story when she saw it in a theatre two years ago. At the time Ben pissed her off by dismissively calling it a "gross chick flick" when she suggested watching City of Angels on a rainy day at the beginning of their first summer trip.
The words were still romantic, and she wondered if her Doofus would be so obnoxious if she brought it over for a movie night.
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breath is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
But the chorus was about the tragic part of the story, the uncertainty and pain a main character felt over an unusual relationship that his counterparts didn't get. It made her cry when she heard it in the theater with her dad.
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
It had affected her badly when she heard it at Mr Smoothie with Michelle at the end of July. Everything she'd been through, everything she felt that month, on top of being certain her Doofus hated her crashed on her in those four lines, and it was too much to handle. She had run outside and ended up huddled on the ground sobbing, an emotional wreck.
Ben didn't know about that, and reached for her hand to join the other kids on the floor as Steve kept singing and the melancholy music grew more intense.
Michelle remembered it, though. "Are you OK, Gwen?" she asked, concern and fear in her voice and on her face, remembering that horrible afternoon when it seemed like her Doofus was really out of her life forever. Gwen had never felt so broken and alone, even with her friend trying to comfort her.
She shook her head gently to chase the thought away. That was four months ago! They were together now. She felt his hand in hers and interlaced their fingers together, squeezing a little to make sure she didn't lose hold. They were together, and even though they had to be careful about showing how they felt, it was so much better than that crushing feeling of losing him. Her chest and throat started to feel tight, as she wondered at this new feeling she'd started getting when she was with him.
Gwen gave her best friend a reassuring smile. "It's OK, 'Chelle. I'm fine!" she said in a quiet, thick voice. Ben was watching with an uneasy frown, unsure why Michelle would be worried. Gwen turned her smile to her Doofus and hoped it told him what she couldn't say through the lump in her throat, that there was nothing to worry about. It must have worked, the frown was erased by the smile she loved to see on his face.
"Come on, Dweeb! We don't want to waste this song!" he said, and walked with her to the partly-shadowed spot at the side of the dance floor they liked. Ben put his arms around her back, holding her close, and she rested her arms over his shoulders. They started swaying side to side in time to the music, not really dancing.
"What was Michelle worried about? You never said you didn't like this song."
"It's not that I don't like it. I do, actually. I just… I heard it one day in July when we were out, and it made me think about…" She swallowed and looked into his deep green eyes. There was recognition of the hurt they both felt then, and concern, but mostly a silent message - You can tell me anything. Trust me.
"About you, and us, and…" Her emotion got the better of her and she looked away. "I thought I was alone. … I missed you so much…" she whispered.
Of all the things he could have done, the thing he did was just right. He didn't need to say anything. He just stopped swaying and pulled her in tight to him with his cheek against hers, his arms firm and protective around her, his chest and stomach pressed against her, warm and comforting. She could even feel his heart beating, a steady and reassuring thump. She leaned into his embrace, absently noticing how he held her up; something she used to only feel from her parents' hugs. Having Ben hold her like this was even better, though - it was more than physical strength, or emotional understanding and support. She felt safe, and connected, like the two of them could face anything the universe threw at them as long as they were together. Gwen never wanted to lose this feeling again, and she knew neither did the wonderful boy in her arms.
"I still don't know how you do it, Doofus!" she murmured into his ear.
"Do what?"
"How you make me feel better whenever I…" She stopped when her voice caught.
"Dweeb out?" He let out a short, soft laugh. "I keep telling you but you don't listen - I'm just awesome like that!"
She huffed softly and nuzzled his face. "Yes you are!"
They were just swaying side to side again, almost in time with the rhythm of the song. She liked holding her Doofus close, and the way he was holding her - a hand was back between her shoulder blades, and she loved the feel of it and his fingers moving slowly back and forth on her bare skin. But the sound of the music was too powerful for such a simple "dance", the way the band was playing demanded something more. She wanted something more.
"Listen, Ben. You hear the rhythm of this song, right?"
"Sure. It's a three quarter beat…"
"Right! It's a waltz! Just like Joel and Camile's wedding dance. Do you remember what I taught you?"
"A six count box step. Yeah I remember that! That was the first time I found out you were a great teacher." The fond smile on his face sent a shiver down her back and convinced her he could do what she had in mind.
She grinned at him. "Want to show your school how awesome you are? We can do a killer waltz to this!"
He nodded, grinned back and took her right hand in his left and put his other hand at her waist, also the way she showed him. She moved her left hand to his shoulder as he started the steps in a small pattern so she could match it. The third time they repeated it, Gwen pressed her hand against Ben's shoulder on the first and fourth steps.
"Dip your knee a little when I press your shoulder… No, too much. Just a little… right! Like that." He looked down with a small scowl as he concentrated on following her instructions and almost missed a step.
"No, don't do that! Look up at me. Follow what I'm doing." Gwen started to lead the dance and gave him an encouraging smile when he looked up. "That's it! Feel the flow of the music… just like that!" She started to turn the box pattern clockwise, and by the next time they got to the first step of the pattern again he was right with her, a happy grin on his lips.
"I remember, Dweeb! I'm supposed to press your waist when we turn, and just hold it when we're not. Like this." His grin turned into a smile as he demonstrated and turned with her, the feel of his hand on her side confident and warm. A feeling that made butterflies flutter in her stomach in the most wonderful way as he took the lead, and their steps grew larger. In no time they were doing a full waltz, moving mostly gracefully around the dance floor in time with the dramatic music.
When they started the other kids swaying in place next to them gave them at best a skeptical look, and the boys snorted at Ben when he held their hands out. When they started to move in bigger steps, the looks got annoyed, especially when they came too close to another couple. But as Ben got the hang of it, he started leading her on paths to avoid collisions, instead finding openings to dance into as they twirled through the mostly stationary crowd. Once in a while Gwen would see a path get blocked, and she'd lead Ben into a new one for a few steps before he took over again. They circled around the other couples in time to the music, as Ben started turns in different directions as one path closed and another opened up.
The movement became second nature, and Gwen looked deeply into his beautiful green eyes as he looked back, returning her smile. The rest of the crowd faded into the background as she danced with Ben the way she imagined they would at the wedding, before he got taken away and Lucy got her dance instead. This was what she missed, dancing with her partner. Her hero! They finally got that dance back, and it was better than she thought it could be, because it was with her Doofus!
He must have remembered watching a waltz on TV sometime, because he quietly said "I put my left hand up for you to spin under it, right?"
"Right. Then stand still until I finish. But let my hand slip under yours."
He waited until they did the second half of the box pattern and asked "Ready?" She nodded, a little nervous - they'd never practiced this - then he stopped and raised his hand, letting her twirl in a circle, the hem of her dress swirling around her thighs, until she was in front of him again. They put their hands back in place and he started the box pattern again with a huge smile. She heard more than one gasp as they started moving again, and a short, happy squeal that had to come from Michelle. He did it again a few more times along with the regular pattern, and they both did it better once the first time was out of the way.
All the while the band was playing and Steve was repeating the chorus until he switched to singing only the one line leading to the dramatic end of the song.
I just want you to know who I am
After he finished the fourth time he stopped, and only Paul and the bass player kept playing quietly, fading out as Gwen and Ben slowed their dance until doing the last box pattern in place as the music stopped.
They held their position for a few seconds, breathing heavily through open smiles before Gwen let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around his back with her cheek tight against his. He put his arms around her waist, picked her up and spun them both around as he laughed softly in her ear before putting her down and telling her in a voice barely above a whisper "You were awesome, Dweeb! Lucy was nothing like that!"
Before she could reply, Michelle came running up and captured them both in a hug. "Oh. My. God! You two were amazing! Did you practice that?!"
Steve started talking before either could answer. "Well damn! … I gotta tell you all, we've been playing that song for a couple years, and this is the first time anyone's done a waltz to it! You guys did a great job! Way to raise the bar, kid! And, of course, your date did a beautiful job of making you look good!"
There were murmurs from the kids around them and some looks that she couldn't quite figure out - approval and admiration, some sideways looks from a few boys, maybe a scornful frown. Even a predatory glance or two from a couple girls unconsciously licking their lips as they stared at her Ben. Mostly, though, they showed astonishment that the classmate they knew for years as a screwup and class clown was so not that. At least when she was with him. None of that mattered to her - she knew all about the boy in her arms, and if she was the only one who really knew him, well… good!
"We've got time for a few more songs, so if anyone has been holding off on getting out there, now's the time!" the singer finished talking and gave the drummer a signal to start another tune. A moderately fast paced one that the three of them danced to, that led into another. The boy Michelle danced the most with - Jorge, one of Ben's teammates - crept up near them with a questioning and hopeful look until she laughed once and nodded to him, then he and Ben traded the guy head nod as he joined in to make a foursome. He stayed for the last regular song, and the last slow one before the dance ended. Gwen caught her friend's eyes a couple times and they traded smirks, with an unspoken promise that 'Chelle would be spilling to her real soon. Ben even saw it once and rolled his eyes at Michelle and her partner with a tight grin.
"All right everyone, it's been great playing for you and seeing you all out there dancing and enjoying the show, but we're at the end. This is our last song tonight, hope you like it. It's called Wind of Change." the lead singer announced. There were some groans and catcalls from the audience, and several couples hurried onto the already crowded dance floor.
Steve turned to the band and looked at Paul and traded nods. Paul looked at them with a grin and bobbed his head once with a knowing look. Steve counted the tempo and started playing what sounded like whistling on one of his keyboards while Paul added a subdued guitar line. Mellow lyrics and melody followed as the kids on the dance floor figured out the tempo was right for one last slow dance. Ben held Gwen close with his hands at her sides just above her waist in the perfect spot to tickle her, the spot that usually had her at least squirm before twisting to avoid an impending attack. Instead of that, though, Gwen felt his warm hands through the fabric of her dress, his fingers pressing gently against her sides and making the butterflies in her stomach work overtime. He gave her a small smile that sent a shiver down her back as she put her arms over his shoulders, her hands clasped behind his neck, and they both started to move to the music in small steps.
"Not something we can do a fancy dance to, huh?" he said with playful sarcasm.
"No, it's way too crowded for that. But this feels better right now, anyway!" She smiled at him before smirking. "Just be careful what you do with those fingers!"
Ben let out a short laugh. "Gotcha covered, no tickle fights tonight!"
Paul kept playing short blues-ish counterpoints to the lyrics until the drums and bass started up. Then his guitar took a more prominent place along with Steve's voice in the song. Gwen followed as Ben started slow turns, both listening to the unusual words of the song. It wasn't a love song - something the Doofus used to rag on unmercifully, but tonight he seemed to have a newfound appreciation for the style of music. Instead of an over the top sentimental ballad, though, the words had a different feel, emotional but in a hopeful way, with a sensuous melody that neither of them interrupted with talking. The contented look in his emerald eyes and the way his lips stayed on the verge of smiling was conversation enough.
Steve repeated the first verse, and both Ben and Gwen were surprised to hear Paul's voice repeating key words of the song along with his guitar. Their friend had proven his singing was good enough to carry a song by himself, not just do backing, but on this ballad his short phrases were every bit as commanding as the lead singer.
Their steps had them circle around so Ben's back was to the stage. Gwen's focus went from the brown haired boy in front of her to their blond friend on stage, admiring his final performance of the night, so she wasn't surprised that Ben turned around to watch him, too. She leaned into his back, wrapping her arms around him just below his ribs with her head over his shoulder, pressing her head against his. She felt him move gently with the passionate notes Paul was playing, as he leaned back against her with his hands and arms over hers. His hands twitched sometimes to mimic the chords Paul was strumming.
Paul ended a solo, but his vocal reinforcement of Steve's singing got stronger as he leaned in to within a few inches of his mic for his parts, then backing away a step when he wasn't singing. Michelle and Jorge had moved close, and her best friend had positioned them so she could see the stage over the boy's shoulder, watching with a little smile as the tall blond played.
Ben twisted to turn around, but Gwen didn't want to break the mood. "Uh uh." she said softly as she squeezed him a little tighter. "I like it like this."
Ben shrugged his shoulders slightly and murmured "OK. Me too!"
She let her hug go back to normal a few heartbeats after he stopped trying to turn, and her arms moved with his middle as he took a breath. She felt more than heard him exhale with a happy sigh.
The mood of the song, the feel of her Doofus in her arms, the view of one friend playing so expressively while the other enjoyed the music and the moment with her… This was a new experience of magic - not the kind she felt in mana and the amazing things she could do with it, but the kind that the Cars song her boyfriend sent last weekend was talking about. Magic that came from enjoying moments like this with people that were special to her. Gwen didn't want the dance to end, didn't want this moment to stop, but if it had to she was happy they would share this memory of it. She closed her eyes and swayed slightly with the music as the frontman sang to the end of the song, with Paul's voice emphasizing the key phrases.
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On the glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams (share their dreams)
With you and me (you and me)
Take me (take me) to the magic of the moment
On the glory night (a glory night)
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change (wind of change)
The song ended the way it began, with the whistling melody and electric guitar backing slowly fading away. This time when Ben turned in her arms she didn't stop him, and the most important boy in her life hugged her warmly, swaying side to side still as his hands circled her back. She felt the wonderful shudder again as his hand reached the bare spot between her shoulders. The only thing missing was a deep kiss, something she knew he also wanted, and she started to lean down to his lips before she remembered they couldn't do that in the middle of the packed dance floor.
They reluctantly broke apart after she felt a half dozen of his heartbeats. Gwen hoped he felt hers hammering in her chest, too, as the overhead lights shifted to their full brightness. Steve spoke one last time. "You've been great, Madison! Good night everyone!"
The rest of the crowd started moving to the walls of the auditorium to gather their things before heading to the parking lot. She looked at the wall clock as they did the same, holding her Doofus's hand as they walked together. 10:08. Her ride home should be waiting - the Hallam's were nothing if not obsessively on schedule. Michelle finished saying goodbye to Jorge, both of them smiling as they finished talking. Gwen picked up her shawl from the table near the wall, and Ben took her hand in his again, slowly rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. They both ignored a few more stares as they waited for Michelle to catch up and get her stuff.
"Thanks again for the dances, Michelle. Talk to you later, maybe." Jorge said, then turned to Ben with a grin. "See you on Monday, Diez!"
"Yeah, catch you later, Horhay!" Ben grinned back as the three of them started for the auditorium doors.
Michelle looked questioningly at the Doofus. "I thought he said his name was George. What did you call him?"
Ben chuckled. "Horhay. George is how Anglos " He stopped talking and gave her a sheepish look. "…er, non-Spanish speakers say it. It's spelle E. Horhay."
"Oh. … And he calls you.. Diez?" Michelle scrunched up her face, trying to place the word with the language she heard at school all the time. Gwen saw her suddenly recognize it with a gasp. "He calls you Ten?!" Michelle giggled. "Seriously?! Ben T-"
"Yeah, only his coach calls him that. It's a lame joke after the first time." Gwen interrupted. Ben gave her a grateful look - the nickname set him off since the first time she said it that day at their lake. It was good for getting him spun up, but she didn't want to do that right now.
Michelle stopped the giggles but still had a grin. "Yeah, all right. .. He said he played soccer with you."
Her Doofus put up with it all with his own half-grin. "Yeah, left wing. He's got a great left foot, scored a lot for us. He's not a bad guy, either. Better than most of my class. You picked a good one to hang out with!"
They stopped when they got to the teacher's entrance. Michelle turned to both of them. "This was really fun, Ben! I really like your music. And tell Paul I liked how he played. The singing too! … Thanks for inviting me!" Before he knew what was happening, Michelle wrapped Ben up in a hug that he wasn't ready for and wasn't sure how to deal with. He ended up timidly putting his arms around her back with an apologetic look. Gwen had to muffle a laugh with a hand to her mouth.
"Um, yeah, sure… Glad you liked it!" he stammered out. He let go and shuffled back from her awkwardly.
He tried to bluff his embarrassment away. "And that you could come. I still owe you one for that!" That part came out with his normal tone of voice as he recovered from her sudden closeness.
Michelle recognized how flustered he was and also looked at Gwen with a silent apology. Then she laughed. "You're welcome! Being your chaperone wasn't so bad tonight!"
Gwen couldn't hold back a laugh any more at their cringeworthy exchange. "If you two are done flirting, can I say goodbye to my boyfriend now?" she teased the two.
"Yeah, right. … I'm just, um, gonna wait for you outside…" Michelle said, eyeing the two of them with a slightly chagrined look, then turned and walked to the doors leading to the parking lot. The unsteady, lost look on Ben's face was priceless!
"Don't be a doofus, Doofus. That's just how she is. It's OK for friends to hug, you know?" Gwen said with a small smirk.
Ben was blushing and grinned shyly, something she'd hardly ever seen him do. "If you say so. Not something I do with my friends!"
"Well, now you have a new one who likes to do that." She rolled her eyes at him. "I know, it was hard for me when I first met her, too. You get used to it."
She stepped in front of him and put her arms around his back, pressing her front against him. "Now it's my turn to say thank you." she purred at the feel of his arms surrounding her again, one hand at the side of her head and the other to that spot just above her dress. The one that made her shudder in the best way. She loved seeing how his eyes lit up at it as they tilted their heads and leaned into each other, kissing with barely open mouths and working their lips softly against each other. Gwen closed her eyes and sighed; if only they could make the moment last longer.
But it couldn't, even if Ben chased after her lips as she pulled back.
One of the adults came through the hallway leading to the atrium doors, walking purposefully past them on the way to the parking lot beyond. Although she gave them a close look and frowned slightly at how close they were holding each other, she didn't say anything and walked out the doors. Gwen looked back at Ben after they watched her leave.
"We've gotten a lot of looks like that tonight." she said, a little worried.
"Yeah, you'd think they've never seen kids on a date before."
"You're not worried about what they think? The chaperones? And a lot of the kids gave us dirty looks."
"Nah! I could care less what those losers think! I don't even know that lady that just walked by."
Gwen snorted. "Couldn't care less." she smirked.
"Huh?"
"You mean, couldn't care less, not what you said."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Whatever! You can be such a dweeb sometimes!" His smirk faded to a more serious look. "That's better than how you were when you came in here tonight though."
"What do you mean?"
"When you walked in you were all serious and shy. When are you gonna stop worrying about how you look? … I'm glad you got over that and had fun! I know I did!"
Gwen looked into his eyes again, and was happy with how he returned it - a happy sparkle lighting up the green, and not looking away.
"Did you mean it? What you said before the dance started?" Gwen asked in a soft voice, unconsciously looking down.
Ben didn't have to search his memory to know what she was talking about. After seeing her in the blue dress again, with the addition of the elaborate braid crowning her hair, the simple but mesmerizing eye liner, and her bare legs with what even he knew were amazing high heels accentuating them, he blurted it out without a second's thought - she wasbeautiful! After being with her all night, watching her get past her self consciousness and have fun, dancing with crazy enthusiasm as well as grace, feeling her move with him as they held each other in ways their parents would have a conniption over if they had seen - not to mention the awesome and sometimes almost mind blowing kisses… Even beautiful wasn't enough to describe what he saw when he looked at her.
"Well, yeah, Dweeb! You do look beautiful tonight! … Er, not that you only look like that tonight… I mean, you always…" he stuttered.
Gwen looked up and laughed lightly and put a forefinger to his lips. "Stop, Doofus" she giggled. "You're adorable! Sometimes. … I know what you're trying to say!" She ducked her head with a bashful smile. "Thank you" she said gently. "For asking me to come, for the surprise songs, for hanging out with Michelle." For being so wonderful!, she thought, as the funny but now welcome new emotion swept through her again.
"For everything!" she whispered, looking deep into his eyes before hugging him tight one more time. "It's magic when I'm with you, too."
He squeezed just a little more before they separated. "Yeah, I know." he said as she glanced towards the doors. "Your ride's waiting." Gwen turned towards the parking lot where Michelle's minivan had pulled up.
"Um… Hey, Gwen?" Ben called hesitantly after she took a few steps. She stopped and turned to look at him, and started to worry. Ben almost never called her by her first name, and he had an uncharacteristically shy, nervous look.
She looked at him questioningly. "Yeah?"
"I know." he said quietly, only for her ears.
"Huh? … What do you know, Ben?" she asked back, unable to hide the apprehension his tone of voice was suddenly making her feel.
He looked intently into her eyes, bridging the physical space between them as if he still had his arms around her back. Gwen got that tight feeling in her chest again - what was he about to say? Was something wrong? Did he know something about their parents? Or maybe the dance chaperones did something that made him think they'd be telling his parents about tonight after all? His green eyes held her attention, and changed from being self-conscious to … steady. The way he sometimes looked at her before he took off the Omnitrix, when they were heroing and the bad guys seemed to be winning and she was starting to feel scared. The confident and caring look he would give her that made her feel better, knowing that her partner was with her and trusted her. That made her return his trust and stop feeling afraid.
"I know who you are." He swallowed and took a breath. "You're my Dweeb."
Gwen felt her mouth drop open as the words registered and her mind whirled away from the uneasy feeling she had. She ran back to him and almost made them both tumble with the force of her hug, feeling his arms wrap securely around her and hold her up until they regained their balance. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her cheek pressing against his, their bodies firmly and warmly together.
"I know you do!" she murmured into his ear. "I know who you are, too, Doofus! You're my hero! You always will be!" She pulled away from his shoulder and returned the tender smile he gave her before leaning down to give him one more lingering kiss that neither wanted to stop. She did, though, stepping back from him with a happy smile. "I really gotta go, Doofus. Michelle is waiting."
"Yeah, I know. See you tomorrow?"
"Uh huh. Someone's got to make sure you study for your science test on Wednesday!" she said brightly as she turned and almost skipped to the door.
Ben snorted. "Buzzkill!" he called after her. She just laughed and waved her left hand over her shoulder as she went through the door.
Ben stared as the door closed behind her, watching through the glass as Michelle started to smile and say something before turning with Gwen to walk towards the Hallam's minivan waiting at the curb.
He smiled as he focused on moments from the night. Memories of an amazing night with her, having fun in a way he never could have imagined. Memories he never wanted to forget!
He waited until they got in, the door closed and they drove off before turning to go back and help pack up the stage. After that Paul would give him a ride home. Maybe he could re-live the night again in his dreams!
/
Postscript
Bellwood Middle School Auditorium
10:02 PM
A pair of eighth grade girls wearing clothes and makeup that were better suited to sixteen year olds stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching the band finish a slow, romantic sounding song. The slightly shorter one with flowing brown hair looked at the girl next to her.
"Uh oh. I've seen that look before, Heather! Who are you plotting to snare next?" the girl asked, following her friend's intent gaze to see the classmate who before tonight was mostly remarkable for being a slacker. A messy haired boy being held tightly from behind by the mystery red haired girl in the blue dress.
"Ben Tennyson? Seriously?!"
"Are you kidding, Ashley?" the well developed brownish-blond said. "Have you looked at him? He plays killer guitar, he's the quiet bad boy who can back it up in a fight, he's the reason the soccer team won the championship... " she said, ticking off each point on her fingers. "And you have to admit he is cute, especially that ass! … He's the hottest boy in school after tonight. Why wouldn't I want to add him to my list?"
"Yeah, well, that girl he's with may have something to say about that. He looks pretty tight with her."
Heather licked her lips with a cross between a scowl and a smirk. "We'll see about that!"
.
.
Song list for the dance
Don't Stop Me Now, Queen
Always with You, Always with Me, Joe Satriani
Detroit Rock City, Kiss
Dancing With Myself, Billy Idol
The Flame, Cheap Trick
Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
Wind of Change, Scorpions
Music to write by - the last three chapters took a while, so lots of music went with them.
I Think We're Alone Now, Billy Joe Armstrong
What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction
Do You Believe in Magic, The Lovin' Spoonful
Dance With Me, Orleans
I Wanna to Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), Fall Out Boy
Dance With Me Tonight, Olly Murs
They Don't Know About Us, One Direction