Chapter 4- Secret Garden


It was the night of the dance. The theme this year was the Secret Garden and the Bayville gym was a floral wonderland. Scott Summers escorted Jean, who looked stunning in her green tube dress, to the dance floor. The dance had just started, but several couples were already slow-dancing together. "Can I have this dance?" Scott whispered in Jean's ear.

"Certainly." Jean whispered back. The couple wrapped their arms around each other as they slow-danced on the spot. Next to them were Kurt and Charlotte Russell, who'd apparently just gotten their pictures taken.

"Do you think I looked all right in the picture?" Charlotte asked petulantly. "I think the photographer got the wrong side of my face, and my left side is a lot prettier than my right."

"You looked very beautiful, as beautiful as right now," Kurt said gallantly, as the two danced together. "You have nothing to worry about."

"Well, I know I look good, it's just that pictures never turn out that well if it's the right side of my face." Charlotte rolled her violet eyes dramatically. "I mean, if Laney Peterson and Mark Holmes turn out having better Homecoming pictures than us, I will flat out die."

Kurt gritted his teeth as he tried to curb his annoyance. He'd had to put up with Charlotte's vain airs and complaints all evening, starting at the restaurant, then the limo, and now here. He was starting to get at the end of his patience. "Homecoming pictures aren't a contest," he said, trying to sound reasonable.

"It wasn't, until Laney lost ten pounds and actually started looking pretty good. I actually have some sort of competition now. Of course," Charlotte added quickly, as she peeked at Laney and Mark over Kurt's shoulder. "She can't compare to me, but I can't be caught looking at my worst in any circumstance, EVER."

"Oh, of course." Kurt said, his voice barely tinged with sarcasm. He wished this song would be over so he could sit down and not have to listen to Charlotte whisper more criticisms and complaints in his ear. And he wasn't sure exactly what perfume the chestnut-haired girl was wearing, but it was extremely strong and musky. The smell was kind of irritating and sultry scented. Why couldn't the girl just wear a cute girly perfume that was floral or fruity, instead of that skunky stuff? It wasn't very alluring. Kurt wrinkled his nose.

His thoughts were once again interrupted by Charlotte. "Oh my gosh. Look at Jayyne Richardson! What is she wearing? That girl is such a freak. Did you know she came into class last week with a tampon attached to her shoe? What a loser!" Charlotte laughed harshly into Kurt's ear, and he grimaced. He glanced at his holowatch, which also showed the time. Only seven o'clock. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
The hot throbbing music resonated throughout the gym, and the dance floor was a mass of twisting, moving bodies. Lance gulped down some soda. He sat at a round table, waiting for his date. Casey said she would be right back. He put his plastic cup down and drummed his fingers on the tabletop. He had no idea where the girl had gone. He just hoped she would take a long time.

The night had definitely not been a lot of fun. Casey was giving him a lap dance for every song, and he was really getting sick of it. Sure, it had turned him on at first. What male with hormones running through his body could resist a hot chick who threw herself at him? But after awhile, drunken lips and groping hands had gotten boring. She was too clingy, almost like she was desperate.

Lance shook his head. Let's face it. It wasn't Casey, it was him. No girl could get his mind off of her. He glumly looked back at the dance floor. Luckily, he didn't see Rogue and that stupid goth punk among them. Well, it was a good thing Rogue never gave lap dances to any guys, or acted provocative around them. And she couldn't kiss any of them either. Lance brightened at that thought. Of course, he couldn't kiss her either, but that wasn't the point. He was glad anyway, because if Rogue got close to any other guy except himself, he'd probably avalanche everything around him in jealousy.

It was embarrassing to admit, but he was jealous of that loser punk, Matt Something or Other. After all, he got to take Rogue to the dance. He got the privilege to get her a corsage to complement her dress, to slow-dance with her to every love song, and to whisper special things in her ear. Any guy who had the privilege of doing that it Rogue, well, Lance was damn jealous of him.

"I am a lovesick loser," Lance muttered to himself. Rogue was definitely over him. Heck, she probably forgot they'd ever even dated. She probably didn't even remember his name! Besides, now he was technically THE ENEMY. And look at the tough guy gone soft. Lance Alvers: obsessed ex-boyfriend stalker who stays up at night dreaming about Rogue. That was just sad.

With a resigned sigh, Lance stood up and tossed his empty cup in the garbage. He should probably look for Casey. She'd been gone for a while now. He walked the exterior of the dance floor, looking for his blonde girlfriend. Also, while he wouldn't admit it, he kept an eye out for Rogue and her date as well.

After circling the gym twice, Lance raked a hand through his dark hair in frustration. Where the hell was that girl? He might've said the bathroom, but he seriously doubted Casey would stay in there for twenty minutes. This was getting annoying. He started walking around yet again. It was harder to see in the dark, but Casey wasn't exactly hard to miss. She didn't blend into the crowd.

Suddenly, through a glimpse of some people, he thought he saw some familiar blonde hair. Pushing his way through the crowd, he made his way over to Casey. "Hey," he said. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over for you." Then he noticed the guy holding his girlfriend's hand.

Casey gave Lance a frosty smile. "I told you I'd find another guy and I'm not expendable."

That wasn't what was making Lance upset thought. It was the identity of the guy that was holding Casey's hand that made his angry. Damn the bastard! Lance clenched his fists, as he glared at his foe. The floor around him started to shake.
* * *
Enrique Englesias's 'Hero' was on as Fred Dukes and Cindy Margolis slowly danced to it. Cindy was practically lost in his arms, she so tiny and he so big. He held her extra gently. She was so frail, like a crumbling autumn leaf.

Cindy's arms were wrapped around Fred (as much as possible anyway) as she leaned her head against his upper stomach, since she couldn't reach any higher. Her eyes were closed, almost like she was sleeping, and she had a contented look on her face.

Fred could only marvel as he looked down at his tiny date. Despite being extremely nervous, the night had been the best of his life. Except for accidentally crushing Cindy's corsage when he tried to put it around her wrist, the night had gone smoothly. Cindy's brother, Andy Margolis, had driven the two of them, along with his own date, to the dance. Now, he felt so at peace and at comfort. Dancing in a slow circle, to a romantic song, it was all just so right. And nothing had ever been right before.

"Mmm, what are you thinking?" Cindy murmured softly from within his arms. She looked up at him imploringly, her eyes heavy-lidded.

"Nothing." Fred answered. "Just, well, I'm having a good time."

His date uttered a tiny sigh. She leaned closer against him. "Me too." She said dreamily. "I'm so...content, you know?"

"Yeah, I do." He smiled and held her closer. And he did.
* * *
Pietro grinned arrogantly at his reflection in the boy's bathroom. Running a comb through his sleek white hair, he laughed aloud. "I am one sexy bastard."

"No you're not," said a voice behind him. Pietro turned around in surprise. His mouth quirked downward at the sight of Evan, who came out from one of the stalls.

"What are YOU doing here?"

"Uh, using the bathroom? It is a public facility."

"Why? Lorena dump you already?"

"Haha, no. Lily find out you're actually a pansy-ass homosexual?"

Pietro's cheeks flamed in fury. Evan smirked at him. "WHAT did you call me?"

"I called you a pansy ass-,"

"Argh!" The enraged and insulted speed demon leapt on his foe. "I'm gonna kill you, freak!" He got on top of Evan and started pounded the blond boy's face.

"Who you calling homosexual, you stupid fairy boy!"

"Ahh!" Evan put up his arms to deflect the white-haired boy's blows. Several spikes flew out of him, and Pietro jumped back. His fists were up and he was breathing hard. Evan got to his feet with a groan. He glared at Pietro. "Asshole," he muttered. He glanced in the mirror. "Ugh." He was a mess. His face was bloody and his shirt was ripped.

"You deserved it," Pietro muttered. He glanced in the mirror too. "Shit!" He zoomed over to the mirror in despair. "My hair!"

"What about your hair?" Evan grumbled. "It looks like shit all the time anyway."

"Look who's talking, Evan!" Pietro snarled. "You don't even have enough hair to qualify." He fixed his hair at super speed. "That's better." He glared at Evan. "Now that I've used my pent-up anger on you, I'm going to go find my date. Who, by the way, is a lot hotter than yours."

Evan snorted. "Please, they're identical."

"Yeah, you wish." Pietro scowled. "You're just such a pimp that you don't even see past the face."

"All you want from that Lily chick is to get up her skirt. So who's the pimp?"

"What! I do-," Pietro paused. "Well, maybe I do. But so do you! Only a homosexual wouldn't want to get laid by those girls!"

"Ha, told you! You're only in it for sex!"

"Well, so are you, so fuck off."

"You fuck off!"

"No you!"

The two enemies glared at each other. "You know," Pietro said finally. "I'm not going to waste my breath talking to you. I'm going to go find my date."

"Yeah, me too."

The two boys left the bathroom. Lily and Lorena were sitting at a table, waiting for them. They scowled. "What took you so long in there?" Lily scolded Pietro. "I've been waiting out here forever."

"I thought only GIRLS were supposed to take a long time in the bathroom," Lorena told Evan.

"It was HIS fault," Evan and Pietro said in unison. "He tried to start a fight again!" The two foes glared at each other.

Lily and Lorena exchanged exasperated glances. "Again?" Lorena asked.

"Honestly, you guys have been fighting all night. It is so immature!"

"What?" Pietro cried in outrage. "I am SOOOOO not immature."

"Yes you are," Evan said. "Besides, you always start the fight."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Asshole!"

"Reject!"

"Dumb jock!"

"Dumb loser!"

"Oh my!" Lily said, covering her face. "This is so embarrassing."

"You know, do we really have to put up with this? I think we deserve so much better." Lorena agreed.

Meanwhile, Evan shouted, "well, you know what? I'm just going to take MY date, away from you! And we're going to go off and have a nice time, without YOU!"

"Fine then! So will I!" Pietro shouted back. He grabbed his date's arm. "Come on, Lorena, let's go!"

"Yeah, let's get out of here," said Evan. He reached for the twin with the red dress.

Lorena jerked her arm out of Pietro's grip, and Lily backed away from Evan. The two girls stared at Pietro and Evan coldly. "WHAT?"

"Huh?" The two boys were confused. Then realization dawned over them. Their faces paled.

"Oh man!" Evan moaned.

"What did I do?" Pietro whispered. He couldn't believe he'd grabbed Lorena.

"We're sorry, we're sorry!" They both cried, prostrating before their respective dates.

Lorena and Lily looked at each other over the two boy's weeping heads. "Oookay, I think this night is over." Lily commented.

"Yeah," Lorena rolled her eyes. "Let's go find someone else."

"Give us one more chance," Pietro sobbed. "I swear, I'll never make that mistake again."

"It was dark, I couldn't tell your dresses apart!" Evan wailed. He grabbed at Lorena's dress.

"Please, please, please!"

"You're powerful, you're beautiful, I'll worship you! Just please don't dump me!" Pietro begged to Lily. "I'll make it up to you, I swear."

"I'll make up a new religion, and you'll be the goddess!" Evan told Lorena. "I'm sorry!"

Lily and Lorena just looked down at the pathetic weeping figures in disgust. "Sorry, you two blew it the moment you stepped into the car." Lorena said. "See ya."

The two girls walked away, without looking back. For a moment, the two boys with tearstained faces could just stare after the two beautiful retreating figures. They looked at each other. For once in their life, their wet eyes were devoid of hatred for one another. They sank to the floor. "Noooooooo!!!!!!!!" They wailed together. Collapsing in each other's arms, the two mortal enemies hugged each other and wept.