BARRIERS OF A FIRST LOVE
Chapter Eight
"How did you find out about this
place?" she asked him.
"If you look hard enough, you can find
it anywhere. You like?"
Rose looked around at the sheer chaos around
her. The party was at Justin Keene’s house, a kid that Rose knew from school
but had never really noticed. There were millions of different kinds of people
here, from the kids that Rose’s friends had dubbed band geeks, to the star of
the football team. They were great dancers, and she was relieved to find
herself finally at a party with no freak dancing. It was a great, well-managed
party that kept everyone there fully entertained without slaughtering any furniture.
"I love!" she replied.
He pulled her through the dance floor and
towards the stairs. She was indignant. "Jack! No!"
He laughed. "Rose, what do you take me
for? I just wanted to talk first. I promise to leave the door open and
everything."
"Well…okay."
*****
Jack could see that Rose was perched on the
desk chair in the guest bedroom awkwardly. He had kept his word and left the
door open, but kicked it halfway shut so the music was a little less deafening.
"How is it that in two days you can find
these places so perfectly?" Rose asked.
"Experience."
"I didn’t know these parties even
existed."
"Yeah. They’re the best kind."
"But I can’t really describe what’s so
different and better. It just is."
"People don’t have to be phonies.
Everyone is accepted."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know Chevy? Star of the
football team and pride of the school?"
"Yes."
"I saw him go into a bedroom with Justin
Greene. And they shut and locked the door. It’s who they are, and this is one
of the places that no one is gonna write fag on any of their things. When I get
to a new school, I look for places that can bring out the real person in
anyone. Even you."
Rose took this as an insult. She heard the
music crank up louder, grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward the door.
"Let’s dance. Now!"
*****
Spencer stepped through the front door of the
house without a single soul noticing. He peered towards the middle of the dance
floor and smiled one of his evil smiles. There was Rose, happier than she had
ever been in Cal’s arms, in an embrace with Jack. The crowd was turned towards
them, and they both radiated joy.