23

                                    

                                          
      How the hell did we manage to fit two  prom dress-ed girls and three tuxedo-ed guys in Lafayette's four-seater Lexus? I have no idea.
      Hercules laid over the back seat when the car had arrived, John in shotgun. Alex, at the wheel, honked for Peggy, as always. John ran out to greet her in a black tuxedo with a yellow corsage for her. The same yellow flowers bloomed from his shirt pocket. 
      Slipping into shotgun sneakily, I looked at Alex. "Hey, stranger." He was done up very handsome. "Wayfaring," He relied. His senior-in-high-school/post-puberty stubble was shaved down neatly and his long-ish hair was pulled back. Handing me a pink corsage, he grinned. I could kiss him. but I didn't.
      Peggy, however, obviously did not resist that urge. Smooching John, she climbed into the back seat, shoving Hercules out of the way. John swung into the seat next to her, remarking, "Very smooth, Angie." "I know," I answered. 
      Hercules yelled, "Hit the gas!" and John whooped in agreement. They threw their hands up, smacking the car's roof unintentionally. "Ow." 
                                      ***
       Sitting down at a semi-fancy restaurant, we laugh and talk. Eliza and Maria walk in fashionably late, and by that I mean after drinks were ordered. I hand them both extra waters and tell them they look very nice tonight. Maria's curly hair is (barely) held back by a gold barrette, and her red dress matches her bright red lipstick. Eliza looks so comfortable around her, somehow-usually she seems so nervous all the time. But with Maria, she seems mellow and happy. 
      Seven meals later, we once again climb into the Lexus and head to the dance.
       Lights danced over the ceiling with the same grandeur and bravado as the students on the floor. Cupcakes and cookies lined the back wall, next to a football cooler full of what I hope is punch. Maybe it's early enough that it isn't spiked. 
      I consider dancing, but why dance when you can talk and take pictures in the back hallway? 
      John and Alex escort the squad to the back hallway. Eliza and I run back into the gymnasium to smuggle back snacks- mostly cupcakes.
      Clacking through the hallway in heels, I hesitantly ask her, "Are you happy? With Maria? I mean, you seem happier-" "Yeah, I am," she says. "I love hanging out with her. She's so fun and easy to talk to- I really like her..." Eliza trails off. 
      We step back into our own little hangout, adorned with shoes off, phones laying around, plates licked clean, and the whole group sitting on the floor, talking. Hercules rises. "I think I have snacks in the car. I'll be right back." (props to you if you started singing In The Heights. If you're confused, think Blackout).
      Peggy scooches closer to John. Maria laughs at something Eliza says. I sit criss-cross applesauce next to Alex. "You look beautiful tonight," he says.
      "Smooth," I said. "but thank you." He wraps an arm around my shoulder. I look into his eyes, violet-blue and framed by thick, black lashes. I reached my face up and kissed him quickly. I smiled.
       Hercules walked in with a bag of hot Cheetos and two cans of Pringles. "Yo, get a room," He says, pointing at us. "I got snacks." 
      Dropping the snacks around the room, I pop open a can of cheese Pringles. I put two together like a duck's bill and clack them together, quacking. Peggy yanks one out and eats it. "Ewww," Eliza mutters. Maria laughed and crunched on hot Cheetos. 
      "We should probably at least dance a little," I tell Alexander. "I heard they're taking pictures." Pulling him up off the floor, I kick off my heels and run to the gym. I pull him towards me. 
      Swaying to the music, I hear a camera shutter snap. "Speak of which," I tell him, nodding to the cameraman, "There he is." 
       Slipping back out to the hallway is easy. No one really cares what you do as long as you're not hammered. The punch is now spiked. It tastes like shit. 
       Peggy and John run to the nearby convenience store to pick up more chips and drinks. Maria and Eliza dance. Hercules needed to "take a call". I see him facetiming Lafayette. 
      I am left alone with my....boyfriend. 
      A river of want flows over me, cool and swift. My mind whirls. I want to move myself closer to him. I want him to be near me. I don't know why I feel the need to eliminate all space between us, but I do. I want him close to me.
      I kiss him first. It feels so natural and comfortable. It feels so right. It feels like I'm confetti about to explode. It feels like I'm honey dripping off of a spoon. It feels so, so good.
      The door swings open. I pull away.