CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE Cooper
The crowd blocking the doors parted when Mikey walked into the gym with me in tow. I was gripping his hand tightly and staying as close to him as I could.
Sophomore and back-up quarterback, Mark Hanson, stood with his mouth wide open. I imagined he thought his hero, Mike Hill, was pulling the best prank ever. He shoved the guy next to him to make sure he was seeing what he was seeing.
We walked straight in and waited for the students on the dance floor to catch up with the developing news. It took less than a minute. It was like watching a group of deer after the first one sees the wolf at the edge of the herd. One notices and then all heads turn, row after row after row.
Even Todd Sidwell, a senior classmate who was the night’s DJ, forgot to queue the next song so the one playing ended while everyone stared at us which replaced the music with a low buzz that vibrated through the huge room like a swarm of bees.
And out of that swarm came the queen bee herself with Hastings in tow. The crowd parted for her royal highness like it did anytime she moved through a space. Her influence was incredible to witness from this side. My new side, the banished, the voted off the island, the excommunicated.
“Fuck,” I said, grabbing Mikey’s hand with my other hand.
“Well looky here, Michael,” she said, referring to Hastings with a name she vowed was reserved for Mikey. “I should have known he was gay. I mean, what normal guy would break up with me?”
“Play fair, Jen,” Mikey said. “We can all have a nice time here tonight.”
“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” she stated, stepping to her left and zeroing in on me. “Why are you hiding, Cooper? Mike forced you to come?”
“Leave him alone,” Mikey said. “It’s not Coop’s fault.”
“Then who’s is it?” she demanded. “You’re replacing me with him. Of course it’s his fault.”
Hastings stepped forward and grabbed for Jennifer’s hand which she yanked away from him. “Calm the fuck down,” he said.
“Do not speak to me like that,” she hissed, pushing his shoulder and glaring at him. Jennifer turned to refocus her anger on us. “You two were probably sneaking around behind my back the entire time, weren’t you?
“I wouldn’t do that to you, Jen, and you know it,” Mikey defended. “I’m gay and that’s all there is to it.” The crowd gasped at the announcement, pushing closer while they watched fireworks.
“You aren’t gay,” she said. “He forced you.”
I stepped from behind Mikey. “Do I look like I could force him?” I asked incredulously. “Seriously? And besides, nobody forces someone to be gay.”
“Then you tricked him,” she said.
Hastings abandoned her and stood beside Mikey and me. “Shut the fuck up, Jennifer. Jesus Christ! You are not that stupid,” he railed.
“What the . . . ?” she asked, huffing and puffing like someone had knocked the wind out of her. “You can’t talk to me like that, Hastings.”
“The fuck I can’t. You need a person that will call you out on your shit,” he countered before spinning in a circle and gesturing to the assembled crowd.
“We get it, Jennifer. You’re fucking hot and we all know you’re on the top of the food chain, but for fuck’s sake, girl, they just want to be in love. Let ‘em be.”
“How can . . .?” she started, looking at everyone frantically. “But, why can . . .?”
Hastings stepped up to her. “Because being gay is okay, Jennifer.” He turned to Mikey and held out his hand. “I give mad props to Hill for showing up here with Cooper. Mad fucking props.”
Jennifer’s face fell in defeat. “But . . . but . . ..”
Hastings yanked her toward him and planted his lips on hers.
At first, she struggled to fight him off.
Was his move bold? Did it border on violating her rights?
Of course it did, but Jennifer began to relax and let Hastings continue to jam his tongue into her mouth.
The crowd began hollering and wolf-whistling at the pair until they eventually parted.
Jennifer looked shellshocked.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Hastings declared, pulling her to his side and claiming her like a caveman would do.
A flummoxed Jennifer went along with it.
“Lead the way, boys,” he said to Mikey and me. “We have some shit to celebrate tonight.”
Mikey led me to the dance floor when the music came back on. Teacher chaperones had watched the entire thing unfold and were impressed with how it went down, backing away after Hastings defused the argument. I’d been right. Hastings had the hots for Jennifer the whole time.
Mikey pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “Now that was weird,” he exclaimed. “And you think I’m the one acting strange in this town?”
And just like that we were officially a couple. Summer here we come.