The Only Exception -Neil Perry

Chapter 11

Neil and I made our way through the woods to get to the cave. The others were already there as we were coming from the theater.

I was wrapped in Neil's green hoodie, one of my jackets and his scarf hung around my neck.

Neil was carrying a old lamp that he found by the dumpster, which I was confused about.

"Why do you have a broken lamp?" I asked my boyfriend.

"Because the stand underneath." He let go of my hand to take off the shade.

"Is a man. The guardian of the cave." I looked at him.

"But I'm not a man." I crossed my arms stopping.

Neil chuckled before putting the lamp on the ground and coming over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I know that. But we can't keep you in the cave. I'd miss you too much." He told me.

"You are a smooth guy, Neil Perry." I said.

"And you're beautiful Allison Reid." I leaned up, pressing a kiss on his lips.

We pulled away.

Neil picked the lamp back up.

"Don't worry, I won't fill our house with garbage." He started walking.

My heart fluttered and a blush rushed across my cheeks before running after him.

Neil helped me into the cave, as the boys cheered.

"Allison, Neil." I went to sit by Charlie.

"Friends, scholars, Welton men." Neil greeted them.

"What is that Neil?" Meeks asked.

"Duh it's a lamp Meeks."

"No, this is the god of the cave." Neil said as I lit my cigarette.

"The god of the cave."

Charlie started playing his saxophone.

"Charlie what are you doing?"

"If you play that without warning again, I'll rip your balls off." I said as I blew smoke out of my nose.

"What do you say we start this meeting?" Charlie ignored me.

"I need a light. Who's got a light?"

"Anybody bring earplugs?"

"Gentlemen. And beautiful lady. "Poetrusic" by Charles Dalton."

"Oh man." Charlie started playing again.

"Laughing, crying, tumbling, mumbling. Gotta do more, gotta be more." He played again.

"Chaos screaming, chaos dreaming. Gotta do more gotta be more!" He played again and this time it was way better.

"Wow. Nice."

"That was great."

"I am seriously turned on right now." I told Charlie as he sat down beside me.

"Where did you learn to play like that?" Neil asked as Charlie put his arm behind me.

"My parents made me take the clarinet for years!" Charlie replied.

"I love the clarinet." Cameron said.

"No one cares." I told him.

"The saxophone. The saxophone is more sonorous." I gave Charlie a look.

"Ooh more sonorous."

"Vocabulary."

Knox than slammed his hand down.

"I can't take it any more. If I don't have Chris, I'm gonna kill myself." He said.

"Knoxious calm down." Charlie said.

"No, Charlie! That's just my problem. I've been calm all my life. I'm gonna do something about that." The boy stood up.

"Where are you going?" Neil asked.

"I'm gonna call her." Knox than ran out.

The boys started cheering as we all started to run out.

Neil stood behind me, arms wrapped around my waist, chin resting on my shoulder.

Knox slammed the phone back down on the receiver.

"She's gonna hate me. The Danburrys will hate me. My parents will kill me." We all gave him a look.

"All right, goddam it. You're right. Carpe diem." Knox said.

"Even if it kills me." He picked up the phone.

"Hello Chris?"

"Hi. This is Knox Overstreet."

"She's glad I called." He took us.

I chuckled looking up at Neil, who smiled at me.

"Would I like to come to a party?"

"Yes. Say yes." We all told him.

"Well sure." Knox said.

"Great. I'll be there Chris... Friday night at the Danburrys'. Okay." I smiled.

"Thank you. I'll see you. Bye." He hung up the phone.

"Yawp!" Knox yelled out.

"Can you believe it?" He asked resting his back on the wall.

"She was gonna call me. She invited me
to a party with her."

"At Chet Danburry's house." Charlie said.

"Yeah. So?" Knox asked.

"So you don't really think she means you're going with her?" Charlie asked.

"Well of course not Charlie. But that's not the point." Knox said.

"That's not the point at all." He shook his head.

"What is the point?"

"The point Charlie... is."

"Yeah?" Charlie asked.

"That she was thinking about me. I've only met her once and already... she's thinking about me." Knox sighed.

"Damn it it's gonna happen guys. I feel it." He walked past us

"She is going to be mine." He flipped his scarf before walking away humming.

All the boys started talking as I rolled my eyes.

I turned around holding out my hand to Neil.

"Come on." I said.

Neil chuckled coming over to me, taking my hand in his.

"Bye boys." Neil said as I dragged him upstairs.