Small Town Days [Malec]

Life Tip #2- Never Dance Alone

Anti-Prom was being held in abandoned barn off County Highway G. It embodied the stereotypical barn theme: red paint, white trim, with a neat little hay loft above the tall main door. There were a few stalls that had held horses in the barn's glory days. The doors had since been ripped off, and the last hay had been beaten down into the ground so it was one with the rotting wood now.

Anti-Prom was organized by some mysterious figure. If you heard about Anti-Prom, you were invited. It was free. Bring your own drinks. Bring your own friends.

The music and a temporary supply of electricity (thanks to Gerald Brigham's generator for his family's cabin) were to be supplied.

Magnus wasn't thrilled. The underground scene wasn't really his.

He preferred the spotlight. But high school wasn't giving it to him.

He had a life planned beyond Garrington. It involved lots a spotlights. Lots of parties. And nothing that had to do with Indiana, barns, cows, or camo print.

His dream was in New York City. Loud. Free. Dirtier than Indiana but with cleaner intentions.

New York.

That's what he was thinking about as miles of vast, empty farmland, yet to be planted, passed by outside the window.

"New York City," Magnus whispered. He couldn't help but smile.

"Are you day dreaming again?" Cat asked. "Because I was talking!"

Magnus looked over at Cat.

"I'm sure who ever he is, he's a great guy," Magnus said. If Cat was talking, it was either about a boy or Indiana State's medical program.

"That's not what I was talking about," she snapped.

"Are we almost there?" Magnus asked.

As a car passed them, it's head lights made the beads on Cat's top sparkle. Yesterday, she had picked out a light blue dress, accented with silver beading. It was shorter but still managed to look classy. She was beautiful. She really was.

Magnus wished he could just be into her.

Life would be simpler.

Him and Cat.

Cat and him.

Against the world.

.........

"Take off the mask until we get on stage," Simon begged of Alec.

"No. I can't get caught," Alec said. He obviously hadn't been thinking when he agreed to play this set.

Simon rolled his eyes but backed off.

Thankfully, the real Prom was masquerade, so they could attempt to act like they were making fun of the real thing.

To clarify, Alec didn't get nervous. Playing-- performing-- was natural. But doing it in his own town was pushing the line he had set up to separate his secret rocker life and his conservative home life.

So now he was nervous.

More concerned about getting caught than anything else.

"Please relax," Joe, the drummer said. He put a reaffirming hand on Alec's shoulder.

It was easy to relax when you were high.

Alec took a deep breath. Despite Joe's inability to relate to Alec's situation, he was right in all his cannabis-inspire wisdom.

"We go on in five," Simon announced.

.........

The barn was lit by twinkle lights stringing from the rafters.