Chapter four
That popular Fergie song started playing.
Chester thought it was a stupid song, London Bridge, really?
But the girls liked to dance to it and they were all there on the makeshift dance floor in the center of the barn.
Most of the cheerleaders were dancing together, while the jocks and other kids hung around the edges watching them, drinking watered down beer from red solo cups.
Hunter said his parents looked the other way with the drinking as long as it was watered down and that he managed the situation, taking car keys from anyone that drank too much.
None of the drinking games like beer pong or quarters were allowed, though, and no chugging.
From the way everyone moved to the beat, they were okay with that.
The cheerleaders did look good out on the floor, but he wasn’t overly interested in them. He was keeping his eyes open for Mary Beth.
It took a few more songs, but by the time Pink’s raspy voice came over the speakers, Chester considered leaving, but then he turned and saw her.
She strutted across the floor wearing a pair of dark jeans plastered to her ass and riding on her hips.
A fancy tank top, silky with a sparkly rhinestone broach clipped to the center flowed around her as she walked.
Her shoes were flat and silver, matching her top, and her hair was pinned up in the center of her head, cascading down her shoulders and back.
Chester had to admit she looked good and confident.
He loved that. He loved her. That didn’t really change anything, though.
She switched directions when she saw him and headed over.
“Hey,” she said, leaning in so he could hear her.
She kissed him on the cheek. He could feel the stickiness from her gloss.
“Let’s go outside.”
She nodded and grabbed his hand, letting him lead her out the back door. They walked a good ways away from the barn, into the darkness. Chester could still hear the music and Justin Timberlake’s sexy song, but it was barely there in the background.
“We’re breaking up, aren’t we?” she asked.
He turned toward her and let go of her hand. “I think that’s what you want. Am I wrong?”
“You want to break up too, right?”
“It doesn’t have to be...I mean...I don’t want to hurt you. You mean a lot to me.”
“Yeah. I know. You too. It’s been like two years, but...You know? We’re juniors now and the year is almost over. So, a summer, and then we’re seniors and then we’re gone.” She raised her hand, palm up. “Where are you going to college, Chester? ‘Cause I’m getting the hell out of this town.”
“I get it. All of that.”
She stepped close and brushed her thumb across his lips. “I want to you to be happy, but I want to be happy too.”
“Back at you, sunshine.”
She laughed at the nickname. It wasn’t the first time he’d used it, but they both knew it was probably the last.
“So, that’s it? We’re done.”
Chester nodded. He didn’t think there was anything else he could say. She leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the mouth before walking back to the barn. She didn’t look back once—like putting the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. Part of him felt like something good had died.
He glanced at the barn. Inside everyone was having fun, and he could go in there and have fun too, but he was standing in the dark, beside a broken down fence, feeling like the only one in the world.
A few minutes later Hunter walked up to him. “Hey, Mary Beth said she left you out here.”
“We broke up.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, but I think I’m just going to go home.” He felt flat like a bug that had been stepped on by a pretty silver shoe.
“Hey. You knew it was coming. You weren’t upset about it earlier.
” Hunter stepped up close, right in front of him and slid his arms around his neck.
He smelled like his shampoo from earlier, but also a little like leather, like he’d put on a musky cologne.
It was so different than Mary Beth’s fruity perfume, and he wondered for just a moment how long it would take until he stopped comparing everybody to her.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of sad now. That's all.”
“Let me cheer you up. Come on. Let’s go dance. Oh...they’re playing Ludacris. Let’s dance. Dance with me?”
“Okay, but you better be serious about this. If I find out you just did all this to get to Mary Beth...”
“Forget you...I’m not.” Then he laughed. They both laughed.
Chester put his arm around Hunter’s shoulders. “I’m joking. Kind of. I want to know you’ve got my back and I’ve got yours. If we’re doing this thing...”
“I’ve got yours. Let’s do it.”
Chester kissed the side of his head and lead him back to the barn.
They pushed their way to the dance floor where a few cheerleaders were still shaking their asses, but also a few of the jocks had managed to work up the courage to move to the center with them.
Chester and Hunter pushed to the center of them.
They moved their bodies together; Chester had one hand in the air.
Dancing next to the cheerleaders that were showing a lot of skin, Hunter was shaking his ass and looked better than them all.
His jeans hugged his ass and his shirt hugged the muscles of his shoulders and chest. He turned in a circle in front of Chester, until Chester finally grabbed his waist, tugging him closer.
Then, they danced together, shaking and moving, their bodies brushing against each other. Chester had to admit it was fun.
No one gave them a second glance, they were all just dancing and having fun, until the next song queued up.
It wasn’t one Chester was very familiar with.
It still had a hip hop beat, but slower.
Much slower. Hunter slid around and stretched his arms around Chester’s neck; his fingers played at the hair on the nape of his neck, sending tendrils of tingles down his spine.
Chester smiled and wrapped his arms around Hunter’s waist, pulling him closer. So, they were different? So what? He agreed with his mother. He was just going to do his own thing.
The female artist singing was talking about saying things and the potential of a relationship.
Chester could relate to that. He didn’t know what to say or not to say most of the time, but in that moment with Hunter swaying in his arms, he thought, as the song said, Hunter could mean everything to him.
“Chester. What the hell?” Mary Beth tugged Hunter’s arm from around Chester’s shoulder. Hunter stared at her with pleading eyes, but Chester knew it wasn’t worth his effort, she’d already decided to make a scene.
The music stopped.
“Don’t.” Chester gave her a headshake, but that wasn’t going to stop her either.
“You broke up with me? Me? For, for...Hunter? How are you even gay?”
Chester did not want to get into it with her.
He should have went home. He looked at the front door of the barn, wondering how fast his sneakers could get him out of it.
Then, he glanced at Hunter. He looked hurt and confused.
Hadn’t they just said they would have each other’s back, but here Chester was already contemplating running at the very first confrontation.
He gave Hunter a weak smile. This wasn’t even really about the gay issue, this was about him already being with someone else less than an hour after they split up.
“Mary Beth...”
“Don’t Mary Beth me, Chester. This is like what? You were cheating on me?”
“No. No. But, come on. We’ve really been over for weeks now.”
Tears were forming in her eyes and her voice became a bit strangled from holding back tears. “We only made it official like...Shit, Chester. Just a few minutes ago and damn. I really liked Hunter. This is just not fair.”
Chester felt all the other eyes on them, and a few murmurs flowing through the crowd.
He’d been right, she liked Hunter and was going to make a move on him, and now this scene was because of her jealousy.
“So, had I not been dancing with Hunter right now...you were planning on being with him by the end of the night? How is that different?”
She blew out a long, slow breath. Her eyes squeezed shut like she refused to see what was right in front of her. “No, yes, maybe...okay, yes.” She made a dramatic eye roll. “I’m being ridiculous right now, aren’t I? I’m sorry. But, wow. This...this surprised me.”
Chester pulled her over and hugged her. “Sorry, sunshine. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Not ever. But, we both agreed it was past time to move on. Okay?”
She nodded vigorously before stepping out of his arms, and directing her piercing stare at Hunter. “So, all the questions about Chester, weren’t because you liked me?”
Hunter smiled shyly. He was very cute with a blush across his cheeks. “No. Sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on. I, uh...” He scrubbed a hand through his sandy locks. “I like Chester.”
“Okay. I misread that. But, looks like he likes you back.”
The silence in the barn drowned out Chester’s thoughts.
In front of most of the school, most of their class and a few sophomores and seniors, Chester and Hunter were being called out.
He didn’t like it, didn’t like being put on the spot, but he’d meant what he said to Hunter earlier.
He wouldn’t deny it, even in front of the whole world.
“Yeah. Yeah, I do. Got a problem with that?” Chester evil-eyed the whole crowd standing around staring at them.
No one spoke up.
“Really, all I care about right now is that we like each other and this is a new thing we want to explore. It shouldn’t make a damn bit of difference to anyone else. We’re not hurting anyone by liking each other.”
No one spoke up.
Hunter looked over to the stereo equipment and the sophomore he had running it. “Then, let’s turn the music back on. This is a party.”
The music kicked back in and everyone, including Mary Beth, danced and had a great time.
Eventually around one in the morning, the last of the party-goers left.
A few were crashing in the loft, having drank too much to drive, but for the most part, the night grew quiet and Chester had Hunter all to himself.
They held hands, walking back to the main house. Chester didn’t want to talk about anything, really. He wanted to just go to sleep with Hunter in his arms, but Hunter apparently needed to say something. “I’m kind of surprised no one gave us a hard time, after Mary Beth.”
Chester shrugged. Using their clasped hands, he pulled Hunter closer. “I don’t care if they did. Don’t care if they give us a hard time on Monday. I meant what I said. I care about you.”
“Thanks.”
They stopped under the porch light and for a long moment, examined each other’s faces, both searching for something in the other. Finally, Hunter smiled. “I really love your freckles.”
Chester laughed and pulled Hunter in for a hug and a kiss.
Despite how different he’d felt over all of this, and how much his life had changed since Tate Jordan had kissed him, Chester knew that it’d work out the way it should.
He knew that Hunter had his back and together they could face whatever came next.
After all, Chester was just a boy who liked another boy.