CHAPTER 21 #2
Cameron checked the clock on the wall. The class was halfway over, which felt just about right. His hand shot into the air. Once he got the teacher’s attention, he asked permission to use the restroom and took his backpack with him on the way out, his heart thudding in anticipation.
This was crazy… and exactly what they needed.
Spring break was about to begin. Technically there was still another day of school before then, but he didn’t want to do this on April Fool’s, when people might think it was some sort of joke.
That included his boyfriend. Cameron needed Anthony to know how serious he was.
He reached the cafeteria, making a beeline for the table he’d shared with his friends during the previous school year.
Ricky was the first to notice him, blinking in surprise before his mouth moved.
Anthony and Silvia turned around at the same time.
Cameron unzipped his backpack, removing something special while keeping it hidden from view.
He tucked this into his back pocket. Then he pulled out a megaphone, which screeched loudly when he switched it on, already drawing attention.
“Sorry about this,” Cameron said when placing a foot on the bench and a hand on Omar’s shoulder. “Coming through.”
He climbed right onto the table. Once there, he brought the megaphone to his mouth and pulled the trigger.
“If I could have your attention for just a moment. Cameron Huxley here, former student council president. I might have stepped down from the position, but I hope you’ll hear me out anyway, because as you all know, prom is coming up.”
A few people cheered. Cameron’s eyes darted down to Anthony, who was already blushing. In a good way, he hoped.
“You only get two shots at it,” he continued.
“Junior and senior year. They don’t do this sort of thing in college.
So I want to encourage all of you to think about who you want to take.
Find someone special to you, set aside your fear, and ask them in a big way, even if that means embarrassing yourself by—” He lifted a foot and grimaced theatrically. “—stepping in the cafeteria pizza.”
A ripple of laughter encouraged him to continue.
“As for me,” Cameron said, “I already know who I want to ask. The most beautiful person in the world.” He used his free hand to pull a wooden rose out of his back pocket.
Cameron had spent hours carving it, staining the petals delicately to ensure the natural grain remained visible.
He extended this to Anthony, who had to stand to accept it, which thankfully, he did.
Cameron lowered the megaphone, so his entire face could be seen, but made sure his voice boomed across the cafeteria regardless. “Anthony Cullen, would you do me the honor of being my prom date?”
His boyfriend’s eyes were shining. He nodded before giving his answer. “Yes!”
Cameron grinned in response. “Sorry,” he said into the megaphone. “One more time so everyone can hear. That’ll make it legally binding.”
Anthony laughed. He stretched himself out to reach the mouthpiece that Cameron had turned toward him. “Yes! I will be your date to prom.”
Applause erupted around them. There were some jeers and booing as well. Cameron heard someone shout a particularly unkind word and traced it back to Graham Fowler’s doughy face, which was twisted up, but their circle of friends drowned out most of the dissidence with their clapping.
“Thank you for your attention,” Cameron said. “You may now return to your regularly scheduled lunch.”
He hopped off the table. Anthony was gazing down at the rose. “This is beautiful.”
“So are you,” Cameron said. “Speaking of which, prom doesn’t take place in the walls of this school. Do you realize what that means?”
Anthony shook his head. “What?”
“No dress code.” He moved closer, his voice a murmur. “I want to take you to prom. As in the real you.”
Anthony blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We’ll talk about it later. I have to get back to class.” He glanced around and risked a quick smooch. Then he grabbed his things, smiled at their beaming friends, and rushed back to the classroom.
The teacher raised an eyebrow at how long he’d been gone but didn’t comment.
As for Cameron, his heart wouldn’t stop racing, even after he’d caught his breath.
There hadn’t been much doubt about Anthony’s answer—unless he disdained school dances as much as he did Valentine’s Day—but now it was a sure thing.
Instead of spending spring break morosely dreading the upcoming move and their impending separation, they could plan for the most romantic experience a high school student could have.
News had already spread by the time Cameron took his own lunch break. Mindy practically swooned when he recounted the details for her. People looked at him funny on his way to his next class as well. Let them stare and think whatever they wanted. He hadn’t been this happy in a long time!
Even while he was taking notes, a smile remained on his face. Although it slowly faded when Principal Preckwinkle made an unexpected appearance and scanned the room, her eyes locking on him. She had a hushed conversation with the teacher before addressing the class.
“Pardon the interruption,” she said before gesturing with her index finger. “Mr. Huxley, come with me, please.”
Cameron felt like gesturing with a finger of his own, because he already knew what this would be about. He shouldn’t have left in the middle of class. Whatever. He’d take the slap on the wrist and get back to dreaming about having Anthony in his arms as they danced.
“I thought it was prudent to come collect you in person,” Preckwinkle said as they walked toward the front office. “From the sound of things, you have a habit of slipping away at inappropriate times.”
“Sorry about that,” Cameron said. He was willing to swallow his pride to get through this quickly. “I should have waited until we were between classes.”
He’d considered the possibility, of course, but then Cameron had wanted a captive audience, so as many people as possible were forced to bear witness.
Especially after all the abuse his boyfriend had taken over the years.
People could hate on Anthony all they wanted, but it would never change the fact that he was loved. Now they knew.
Preckwinkle didn’t seem appeased by his demonstration of humility. Her mouth remained a flat line until they were alone in her office.
“I’m very disappointed,” she said after taking a seat behind her desk. “I would have expected better from a former student council president.”
“Sorry,” he said. “I got carried away and couldn’t wait. If it helps, I’m getting an A in that class. I do my homework and study for tests.”
Preckwinkle narrowed her eyes. “That does nothing to excuse your disruptive behavior. And your call for other students to follow your example. You’re inciting chaos!”
Cameron was almost too stunned to reply. “You mean by asking someone to prom?”
“Yes, Mr. Huxley, that’s exactly what I mean. Your little stunt will not go unpunished.”
“Are you kidding me? Taking an unauthorized detour from a bathroom break I can understand. But a public prom proposal… that’s traditional, isn’t it?”
“Decorating someone’s locker is a far cry from spouting political rhetoric over a megaphone. Which has been confiscated, by the way.”
“You went into my locker?” he asked in disbelief. “Wait, what do you mean political rhetoric?” Cameron leaned back and reconsidered her. “Is this because I asked another guy?”
“No,” Preckwinkle said firmly. “As I said, your behavior was disruptive and inflammatory.”
“It happened during lunch,” he stressed. “Not the middle of class. What about the breakdance routine some guy did last year when asking his girlfriend out? He used a boombox and everything! Was he punished?”
“I’m certain he would have, had the incident been brought to my attention.”
How could she not have known? There were always teachers around during both lunch breaks.
“I think you’re full of it.”
“Excuse me, young man?”
“You’re full of it,” Cameron repeated. “If I had asked a girl instead, I wouldn’t be sitting here now.”
“Believe whatever you like,” Preckwinkle said. “That doesn’t change the facts. Your disruptive behavior—”
“Stop calling it that!”
“—and the disrespect you’re showing me now, warrant the disciplinary action I plan to take. Your parents will be called—”
“My mom won’t care. Come to think of it, neither will my dad. He ran off on us.”
“That certainly explains a few things,” Preckwinkle said without an ounce of sympathy. “You’ll report to detention today and tomorrow, and for another week once school resumes after the break.”
“Oh no,” Cameron deadpanned. “I’m trembling.
Did I mention that I’m moving to a different state at the end of the year?
I’ll be out from under your thumb soon, but even if that wasn’t true, I’d still see you for what you really are: a sad little woman whose shriveled heart is filled with bitterness and hate. ”
Preckwinkle’s mouth puckered as she adjusted her glasses. “Well then, why don’t we make it a month’s worth of detention? Perhaps then, whatever unfortunate school you enroll in next will receive a student who has learned some self-control.”
“Good luck breaking my spirit,” Cameron shot back.
“I suggest you cease this reckless behavior,” Preckwinkle said warningly. “Keep in mind, it is well within my power to prohibit you from attending prom. School dances are a privilege, not a right. Does that get your attention?”
Cameron pressed his lips together.
“Good. I’ll have someone escort you back to class. You’re dismissed.”
Preckwinkle picked up her phone. He glared openly at her.
She wasn’t looking at him anyway. Cameron’s indignation accompanied him until he was seated at his desk again.
Then he let out a sigh. A month’s worth of detention!
He wouldn’t get to hang out with the theater group as much.
Or work on projects he actually cared about, since his time would be even more limited.
He didn’t regret anything though. Someone needed to stand up to Preckwinkle. Nobody would forget what they’d seen in the cafeteria today. Not just the haters, but people still too afraid to be who they really were. If staying after school every day was the price Cameron had to pay, then so be it.