“Hey man! We’re going to Dan’s place to party! Want to come?” asked a boy named George. “Sorry I forgot, losers and wimps aren’t allowed!” he laughed.

“Come on, Cye, let’s go home. We don’t need to listen to this creep,” Kento told me.

“It’s okay, Kento,” I nodded and walked away from George. All my life I have been laughed at and made fun of. It still hurts; Kento doesn’t understand, usually after I’m gone he will come back and beat up whoever was mean to me.

“You sure, Cye?” my friend asked.

“Hey Cye!” Dan ran up to me, we are on the same team, but he is also the most popular kid in the school. “I wanted to invite you and your friend to my party. I want all the team there so we can celebrate our victory on winning the meet! Can you guys come?”

“Sure!” Kento blurted out, before I could stop him.

“See you guys there!” Dan smiled, a genuine ‘Dan’ smile, and left.

“Kento! Why did you say that!” I yelled at my friend.

“I want to go!” he replied in shock.

“But I don’t!” I yelled back.

“If you don’t go, you’re proving George right,” he shrugged. Once in a while Kento actually says something right.

“Fine,” I sighed. “Please say it’s not black tux,” I prayed.

“It won’t be, just casual. Don’t sweat it, bro.,” Kento smiled.

“I know I’m going to regret this,” I muttered.

“Why did I let you talk me into this?” I asked Kento again, while I put on my warm black leather jacket.

“Because you want to prove ‘Georgie Porgie’ wrong,” he smiled in reply. We walked out to Kento’s car and I was worrying the whole time we drove.

“Well, time to see what’s happening,” I muttered in a small voice.

“Go on in, Cye,” a girl on the swim team smiled at me, but something was wrong with her.

“Well, if it ain’t the wuss! Who invited you?” asked George. He moved like a drunk!

“Dan did,” Kento stepped in right behind me.

“Ha! Dan didn’t tell ya he was going to give stuff to people!” he laughed drunkenly.

“Leave me alone! Someone help me!” screamed a girl as a boy dragged her toward Dan’s bedroom.

In a flash I found myself right between the two. “Leave the lady alone.”

“Ain’t non of your business,” the jock smirked.

“It is when you are drunk and won’t let this girl go,” I replied coolly.

“Oh, I see. Ya want her, huh? She’s mine and I’m gonna do...” my fist flew into the drunks jaw and he fell down for the count. When I checked his pulse, he was still alive.

“T-t-thank you,” the girl shivered.

“Are you okay, miss?” I asked her.

“I want to leave here,” she began to cry. “I don’t want to go to this type of party ever again.”

“I know the feeling,” I gently held her in my arms as she cried, “Would you like to get out of the house? I could get my friend and take you home, before he gets into a brawl.”

“Please. But can I come with you to get your friend?” she asked.

“Sure,” I smiled. I didn’t feel very safe either. When we found Kento and he cleared the way out of there. We got into the car and called the cops.

“Um, Cye, buddy?” Kento asked and nodded to the girl next to me, who shivered in the back seat.

“I’m Cye, and this is Kento.” I smiled.

“I’m Amy; thank you for hitting that guy.” She blushed.

“Cye hit a guy!” Kento exclaimed and accidentally stepped on the brake throwing us forward and being pulled back by our seat belts.

“I only did it because he was dragging her into a room.” I felt nervous.

“Still! You hit a guy! Good for you!” Kento smiled.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know who that drunk guy was, but even if I did I’d still apologize for the things he said to you.” Amy looked at her feet.

“Um, where do you live?” I asked her suddenly.

“North, five blocks and right two houses down,” she smiled.

“Um, would you like to go to tomorrow’s dance with me? I’d be honored if you would.” I felt my cheeks go scarlet.

“I’d love to!” she smiled and took my hand.

“Thank you.” I blushed.

“See you tomorrow!” Amy called out halfway up the sidewalk.

“Bye!” I replied.

“Whoa, I think I’m dreaming! Someone pinch me!” I smiled and pinched him. Kento yelped and rubbed his arm. “What was that for?”

“You got what you asked for!” I smiled at my best friend.

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Kento replied sarcastically.

“Hi, Cye. I’d like you to meet my dad, please, won’t you come in?” Amy asked.

“Um, hi sir,” I smiled.

“This is the boy who brought you home?” her father asked.

She nodded and added, “He saved me from a drunk guy, too.”

“Well, Cye, I thank you for bringing my daughter home and saving her. You see, her mother is a doctor in another country so I try to be home for her, but…” he glanced at his watch. “I’m going to be late! Don’t bring her back too late!” he called as he ran out the door, a lightweight jacket in hand.

“I won’t, sir!” I replied.

“Bye hon!” he yelled at his daughter.

“Bye dad.” She smiled and waved.

“Ready to go?” I asked her.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She smiled. We climbed into my light blue car and drove toward the dance smiles on our faces and the radio on.

“Cye, what type of music will there be?” she asked.

“I’m not sure, but it’ll probably be some 50’s, 60’s, and maybe some 70’s and 80’s.” I shrugged.

“Oh,” she replied as I parked the car and turned off the engine. I closed my door and walked around and opened hers. “Thank you, Cye.”

I blushed, and she was blushing, too. I held out my arm for her to take; she smiled as we walked up the stairs to the gym. They had barely begun when we walked in. We swayed to the beat and took a seat on the bleachers. But once dance competition was announced I found her being pulled along with me toward the floor. We finally reached it as the song began…

We started out slow. We twirled and moved to the music. We did a few spins and then we let our feet fly! We were soaring to a tidal wave of ‘I’ve had the Time of My Life.’ We connected with the song, and let the music carry our feelings. Our feet moved with the beat. We both smiled at the other, and I dipped her and she went with the flow of my movements perfectly. I knew this was a once in a lifetime moment.

When the music stopped we stopped and we looked around, no one else was dancing! They were applauding us! We both stood in shock. Finally, one of my hands accepted the prize, it was a necklace. I looked at Amy and put it around her neck, for her. It was a bright bluish stone and it had ‘Dancing Queen’ engraved on its golden back.

We walked over to the punch bowl, and left for my car. When I got there I saw Kento and four other guys standing there. “Hey bud, where did you learn to dance like that?” asked Kento.

“My dad taught me.” I smiled shyly, “It was mostly Amy; she is a great partner.”

“It was just as much you as me.” Amy blushed.

“Um, well, I have to get Ryo and the guys home, see ya around Amy, later Cye,” Kento smiled.

“Bye, Kento,” Amy smiled. “Your friend is nice.”

“Yeah, if you don’t count that he’ll eat you out of house and home.” I shook my head. She laughed. “Um, Cye…”

“I had the best time of my life, thank you, Amy.” I smiled.

“I’ve never felt like this before, Cye.” she smiled and we kissed.

END