- Clay -
As usual, they held the dance in Huntington High's gym. Emmett commented that Heron Prep had a banquet hall for such occasions. "We only use our gym for P.E. and sports." he said.
"Well, ain't y'all fancy." Brandon quipped.
It was Carrie's turn to chime in: "Nobody wants to smell moldy old jock straps while they're trying to party."
Summer appeared from the crowd on the dance floor in a flouncy, strapless yellow dress that fell to her knee. She ran over to hug me. Shawn trudged behind her, giving a nod by way of greeting. He wore a very basic charcoal suit that strained against his broad shoulders. He'd even matched his tie to her dress.
Summer took my hands and lifted my arms, looking me over. "The suit looks even better in person than in those pictures you posted."
I grabbed my lapels, twisting my waist, and puckering my lips, doing my best to imitate a male mode in a fashion show. I'm pretty sure I just looked like Zoolander giving his Blue Steel face. "A picture just can't capture all of my gloriousness."
Summer shoved my shoulder before offering a hug to Emmett, pulling back to survey him. "And you. Wow! I'm surprised Clay can keep his hands off you."
I wrapped an arm around Emmett's waist, hugging him close. "Believe me, I'm having a hard time. In more ways than one." I winked at her.
"Gross." Summer said.
Brandon gave me a playful punch to the shoulder. "Nice."
The girls huddled together to compliment each other's hair and dresses, each of them saying the others' were better, denying the praise heaped on themselves.
I slipped my hand into Emmett's and ticced my head to the side for him to come with me. We broke away from the group, off toward a table in the darkest corner of the room. Not because I wanted to hide him, I just wanted a place we could hold hands and kiss without being a spectacle. There had been very little backlash from my coming out, except for one incident where I opened my locker and a bunch of printouts of gay porn fell out, scattering across the floor. I suspected the culprits were the three guys at the end of the hall cackling like idiots. But I ignored them, picking it all up to throw it away, with the help of Summer, Jackson, and a few random underclassmen I'd never met.
Most people just didn't care enough to be offended, so long as it didn't directly affect their lives. The ones that did care were a minority I could easily ignore.
Although, I had suddenly found myself the center of attention in most rooms. People treated me like a celebrity, and not in the good, give-me-free-stuff way, more so in the "Oh my God, look! It's that guy," way. It was seriously anxious-making to have so many watchful eyes on me, scrutinizing my every move.
As we skirted the edge of the dance floor, we passed Robin with her date. A very cute boy from the swim team who could really fill out a speedo—front and back. Robin seemed to appreciate his assets as well, her hand gripping his butt firmly.
When she spotted me, she waved and called out, "Save me a dance?"
I pointed toward our intended destination. "Find me later."
She waved again, giving her attention back to the boy, who was also getting very handsy, verging on inappropriate. That was technically against the rules of the dance, but the chaperones were all gathered at a table, chatting. I suspected their cups had more than soda. No doubt there was a confiscated flask passing between them under the table. They usually ended up more wasted than the students by the end of the evening.
I squeezed Emmett's hand, weaving through the tables. A few people greeted me like they knew me. Some I recognized, though I didn't know any of their names.
Someone squealed, and suddenly Emmett yanked my arm back, nearly pulling it out of the socket. I turned to see him hug Rachel in her voluminous black tulle dress that could've been a costume in Black Swan. Rachel got a limo with her own friends, who were all gathered at the table with their dates. Her friend Jenny was holding hands with another girl. They both smiled brightly at me.
"You look so good, Em." Rachel said. "Way too hot for my brother, frankly."
Emmett smiled while I rolled my eyes.
Rachel tugged on her boyfriend's arm to make him stand up. He'd gone for a basic look in a simple white button-down with a black tie. "This is my boyfriend Dylan."
"Hi." Emmett said.
Dylan gave a nod in acknowledgment and raised his hand to offer Emmett a horribly uncoordinated dap. He was cute, but he rarely spoke. He'd been to our house many times, but I couldn't remember him ever giving much more than a monosyllabic response. At first, I thought he was nervous about being around his girlfriend's family. But that seemed to just be his personality. I figured since Rachel hardly ever shut up, maybe they were perfect for each other.
"Okay," I said. "You've monopolized my boyfriend's time enough."
"Don't be rude." Emmett scolded.
I was slightly annoyed because we could see Rachel any time. But I wanted Emmett to have fun, so I heaved a resigned sigh. "Fine. While you're doing this, I'm going to get a drink. Want one?"
Emmett nodded.
I leaned in for a quick peck on the lips. "Be back in a sec."
Halfway across the gym, a meek voice called my name. I turned to find Jenny racing up to me. Her date trailed behind her, moving much slower, despite the fact that she was wearing Chucks while Jenny had on heels.
Jenny's dark hair was all pushed to one side, and it had fallen to cover half her face. She pushed it back in a gesture that I suspected she'd done more than once, given the amount of annoyance she showed. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." I said with a half shrug. I wondered what she could want. I knew her well because she was my sister's best friend, but we didn't exactly converse one-on-one like this.
"I'm part of this club that I thought you might be interested in."
"What kind of club?"
"The Pride club," she said, speaking hesitantly. "It's like an LGBTQ+ thing."
"I didn't know Huntington had one of those."
"We do. But we don't exactly have a ton of members." Her hair fell over her eye again and she scoffed, tucking it back again.
Her date finally caught up. She was wearing an awesome purple velvet jacket that I would very much like to own. Though, I doubted I'd have the confidence to wear it. The other girl took Jenny's hand.
Jenny rubbed the girl's arm, leaving marks in the velvet. "This is my girlfriend, Ciara, by the way."
"Nice to meet you." I said.
Ciara gave me an acknowledging nod, turning to Jenny. "Did you ask him?"
Jenny looked at her and nodded.
"So, what does the club do, exactly?" I asked.
"It's kind of a support group, mostly." Jenny said. "We talk to each other about stuff that we maybe aren't comfortable talking about with friends and family. Either because they aren't supportive, or they just don't understand what it's like."
I nodded. My parents were great, but I doubted they could understand the turmoil I felt during those months of questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.
"Rachel said we should mention that we also do philanthropy." Ciara said. "Something about your parents taking your car."
My parents would never accept a school club's charity work as a substitute for our deal. Besides, I kind of enjoyed volunteering at the hospital. I didn't have to wear the pinafore that Emmett and Brandon joked about, just a blue polo shirt with the hospital's logo on the chest. It was actually pretty easy. When I wasn't working in the gift shop, I was basically a delivery guy, taking flowers and balloons and such to patients' rooms.
I looked at Jenny. "So, Rachel put you up to this?"
"She thought it might interest you." Jenny replied.
"How many members do you have?"
Jenny rubbed her hand up and down her arm. "Six, including us and Rachel. We also accept allies if any of your friends might want to join with you."
"Well, seven just happens to be my favorite number."
"Does that mean you're in?" Jenny asked, wincing at me apprehensively.
I patted her on the shoulder. "That means I'm in." I wouldn't mind knowing some other people in my new community besides Emmett.