Chapter Text
The music blares through the speakers in the dimly lit gymnasium as the young teens dance about; well, most of them.
“This is stupid.” TJ mutters to himself, watching as Ashley Q dances happily with Vince.
He doesn’t begrudge his friends for having a good time, but he’s far too stubborn to admit he wants that for himself too.
…No use wanting something he can’t have right?
At least that’s what he tells himself as he sighs, hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.
“Seriously?” Ashley T asks
“Like you’re not in the same boat.” TJ says, knowing she can’t be having a much better time than him.
Sure, she’d gotten to dance with some girls, but mostly just the other Ashleys who only saw her as a friend.
“Mm, I just came to dance.” She says, pursing her lips but not commenting further.
TJ sighs, somewhat envying her position; girls get away with more socially, but then again, that double-edged sword must make it difficult to tell flirting from just being nice.
Still.
“Hey.” A guy’s voice says to the two as he approaches.
“Ugh, another one to shoo away?” Ashley T thinks to herself as the popular guy nears them.
“Hey.” TJ says back rather flatly.
“Wanna dance?”
The popular young rebel stares for a moment as his question hangs in the air unanswered.
Ashley T. nudges the red-capped brunette next to her.
He gives her a confused look, before she returns it with a silent gesture. TJ then turns his attention back to the guy who’d approached them, where his gaze is met with a questioning look.
“Wait, you’re asking me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” He questions, skeptically.
“I think you’re hot.” The leather-clad young man discloses.
Smiling a little, TJ responds
“You know we’ll get stared at, and we might even get told we can’t, don’t you?”
“So? ‘Sides, when have I let other people tell me what I can and can’t do. Now c’mon, whadda ya say?”
Mundy offers, extending a hand.
Smiling, TJ takes it into his own, responding
“I’d like that.”
A moderately-paced song blasts in the background, as TJ initiates a brief conversation to satiate his curiosity.
“There’s somethin’ I gotta know.”
“What’sat?”
“What made you interested in me?”
Smiling a little before rolling his eyes & shaking his head, Mundy teases,
“You’re so self-centered! Wantin’ me to tell you all about why I like ya.”
With only an amused smile plastered across his face, TJ neither agrees nor disagrees, but simply waits for Mundy to go on.
“Alright, alright.” The redhead seemingly protests, before motioning with his finger for the other freckled young man to lean in closer to him.
TJ does so, his heart picking up pace at their proximity, the nerves of his excitement at a guy – a hot guy no less- showing real interest in him indistinguishable from the nerves of being surrounded by so many of their peers & chaperones who may give them a hard time. Regardless, he’s never been one to let his fear hold him back, so despite this, he bravely turns his head to the side as they each lean in.
Mundy leans forward until his lips are just a hare’s breath away from the other’s ear, and then he whispers
“I like your smile. You’ve got a cute face, ‘n you’re adorable when you’re scheming-up somethin’ funny; but most of all, I like how you don’t give a damn about what other people think. You’re just you, no matter who likes it or not, and I like that about you.”
Holy crap this is real!! He actually likes me!
TJ realizes as goosebumps form under the long sleeves of his flannel shirt. Gulping, he decides to go for broke just before Mundy pulls back slightly.
The two make eye contact, as TJ slides his hand up onto the side Mundy’s face.
Mundy, seeing what TJ’s eyes are asking of him as he feels the hand placed upon his cheek, licks his lips a little before he nods & leans in once again.
The 8th graders close their eyes and lean in. Before they know it, the two young men are enjoying an honest-to-goodness kiss, despite being surrounded by their peers at a lame school dance.
One of the young men who’d hassled TJ prior had been tempted to say something, until he’d seen that it was Mundy he was kissing; damn near everybody knew better than to mess with Mundy.