Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 07:24:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Fup Duck <fupduckmd@yahoo.com>
Subject: Under Pressure 27

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: 1.  If it's illegal - don't.  2.  If you can't accept
it - don't.  3.  If you're underage - don't.  That about covers it.

REALISTIC DISCLAIMER: Be safe, ok?

The dreaded dance - gawd I hated those!  I always had to buy special shoes,
two left ones.  Still do, actually.  The slow dancing wasn't so bad,
but...let's just put it this way, when the music sped up, I hit the
punchbowl.  Well, here it is....

....Chapter 27, enjoy.

Fup

*****************************************************************************
FROM CHAPTER 26

David gave a thumbs up and continued walking home.  He put his gun away,
then retrieved his book from his bedroom, a Pepsi from the fridge, and went
back to the picnic table to read.  But his mind was on what had happened.
Why did he do that?  He had to admit, Bobby was cute.  All over, he
snickered to himself.  He seemed to like playing around, but why did he act
the way he did when David tried to suck him?  Maybe he really wasn't into
that part.  Maybe he just liked jacking each other off.  Personally, he
didn't want to kiss Bobby, I mean he didn't love him or anything, but he
DID care about the boy and liked hugging him and all that stuff.  Sighing,
he put his head down on his folded arms.  He'd just have to watch what he
did with the boy, that's all.  He guessed he was just worked up - all
revved up with no place to go, as his father said - and Bobby just happened
to be available.  But there was more to it than that really, he liked the
kid.  Shaking his head in his arms, he didn't know what to think.  He felt
bad for doing what he did to Bobby, and decided that from now on, he'd let
the younger boy take the lead when they 'played' together.  That way he
wouldn't screw up again.  Partially satisfied with his decision, he raised
his head, and reopened his book.  Arthur C. Clarke had never been this
boring.


UNDER PRESSURE 27 - Social Situations

Well, the dreaded night was here - dance night.  Spiffed up in a pair of
dress pants and a button down shirt, and those gross shiny black shoes,
David examined himself in the mirror, and sighed.  Well, this was his first
real date.  Whoopee.

His dad and mom came into the room, all smiles.  His mother clucked over
his hair, and checked to make sure he had clean fingernails, and his dad
just grinned and said, "You clean up pretty good."

Putting on his best fake smile, no sense in disappointing them with the
fact he was unhappy about going, he said, "Yeah, gonna knock 'em dead,
huh?"

His dad chuckled, "Looks that way.  You about ready?"

"Yep," David answered, still smiling.

"Well, let's go, can't keep your date waiting."

Having a date for a middle school dance wasn't as structured as in high
school.  Everyone went separately, you met your girl outside and walked in
together.  No other boy was supposed to dance with your date, unless she
agreed.  You didn't have any say in the matter.  There were no tables and
chairs, the lower row of bleachers on each side of the gym was pulled out
for seating.  Music was provided by the local radio station DJ, and the
lights never went dim.  Punch and snacks were available, and sometimes the
gym was decorated sparsely, if the dance had a theme.

Arriving at the school, David saw Sally, his date, Kelly, and Polly, who
was Kelly's girl for the evening.  All three looked uncomfortable standing
there in front of the gym doors, the two girls talking, and Kelly standing
to the side with his hands in his pockets, using his toe to push something
around on the sidewalk.  Every time a car would pull up, Kelly would look
to see who it was, then resume his previous stance.

When he saw David pull up and get out of the car, he smiled and gave a
wave, motioning to the two aliens chatting beside him.  David grinned at
his friend's 'lost' expression as he approached the group.

"Hey Sally, Polly, Kel," he grinned, "ready?"

Getting three nods of agreement, they started into the gym, the girls
grabbing David and Kelly's hands.  David giggled as he noticed Kelly almost
jerk his hand away from Polly's.

"What's so funny?" asked Sally.

"Just thought of something, that's all," answered her date.

The two couples walked into the gym amidst other singles and couples, the
girls pulling them over to show off to their friends.  The music was pretty
good, thought David, especially since the local radio station started
playing rock mixed with the country.  Right now it was the Doobie Brothers'
"Long Train Runnin'."  David mouthed the words as the girls led them to
their group and introduced them - as if they were new guys at the school.

David looked around the gym, seeing most of the guys he knew from school,
either sitting on the bleachers or standing around in small groups, talking
and glancing toward some of the girls, who were basically doing the same.
The center of the gym - the dance floor was empty.  David and Kelly did the
social thing for a while, ending up standing there as the girls chatted
away amongst themselves.  Kelly looked at David and shrugged, motioning
toward the food table.  They excused themselves and walked across the gym,
greeting the guys they knew.  Reaching the table, they took a cup of punch
and moved to the side.

"This sucks," complained Kelly.

"Yeah, sorta."

"And YOU talked me into this," smiled Kelly, "I'm just glad you're having a
good time."

The music changed to a country song, and the boys wandered around the edge
of the gym, every so often stopping and chatting with a group of friends,
and all of them seemed uncomfortable too.  A few boys and girls were on the
dance floor now, dancing - or trying to - to the song playing.  They
continued around the gym, the mix of country and rock music surrounding
them until they met up with their dates again.  Polly and Sally looked out
at the dance floor at the kids there, then glanced back at David and Kelly
expectantly.  The boys pointedly ignored the looks, sipping their punch.
The girls began whispering, as the song changed to Styx's "Lady," then took
their hands and pulled the boys to the dance floor, their punch
mysteriously disappearing into two of the other girls' hands.  Almost
panic-stricken, David looked quickly to see how to slow dance, noticing
Kelly doing the same.  Reaching their destination the girls turned to their
dates, waiting.  David reluctantly wrapped his arms around Sally's waist.
Sally placed hers around David's neck and pulled him closer, until they
were pressed together, swaying to the music.  Looking over Sally's shoulder
to Kelly and Polly, who seemed to be doing ok, he flashed a smile at his
friend, and started shuffling his feet, being careful not to step on Sally.

As the song went on, he became more comfortable and started to enjoy
dancing with his date.  He looked over and Kelly and Polly seemed to be
getting a lot more comfortable too.  As the song ended, he removed his arms
from Sally and smiled, "That was great."

"I guess," she replied, "but next time loosen up, you danced like a stick."

His good humor was deflated by Sally's comment, why couldn't you seem to
satisfy a girl?

"Ok, whatever," he answered, and turned to walk over to the punchbowl.
Getting another cup of punch, he looked over to where Sally had gone.  She
was whispering and giggling to Polly, who was still holding Kelly's hand.
Kelly seemed to be taking to this stuff better than he was.  He watched for
a few minutes, then went over and sat on the bleachers close to a small
group of his friends, pretending to listen to their conversation.  He was
zoned out until he felt someone sit beside him.  It was Sally.

"Sorry, Dave," she whispered, "didn't mean to give you a rough time."

"Whatever," he said dismissively.

"I said I was sorry," said Sally, "what else do you want?"

"Nothing," he replied, still not looking at his date.

"Well, Kelly and Polly are having a good time, why can't we?"  "You go have
a good time, I need to use the bathroom."

Getting up, still not looking at Sally, he walked off to the door leading
to the bathroom.  Standing in front of the urinal, releasing the punch he
had drunk throughout the night, he looked at his watch.  Good, it was like
8:00 and the dance was over at 8:30.  Finishing his duty, he washed his
hands and headed back to the gym.  Finding his previous seat taken, he
joined a group of boys standing around talking about how much fun they were
having.  Snorting to himself, he walked away, wandering toward the other
end of the gym.  Glancing to the dance floor, he noticed Sally slow dancing
with a 7th grader she liked, and Kelly and Polly were slowly swaying to the
music.  As Kelly was dancing, he glanced up over Polly's shoulder and saw
David watching.  His initial smile faded, as he noted the look on David's
face, he tried to stop dancing, but Polly held on, determined to complete
this dance, unaware of the drama playing out over her shoulder.  As she
turned, Kelly lost sight of his friend, and when he was able to look again,
he was gone.

David was getting hot, it was warm in the gym, and since he was dateless,
decided to catch some fresh air, and walked outside.  He sat on the low
wall beside the steps, kept company by a few widely separated boys and
girls who seemed to be out here for the same reason.  He sat, swinging his
legs, trying to calm himself down a little.  This WAS his idea.  And he was
glad Kelly was having a good time, he just wasn't comfortable in social
situations like this.  As his mind settled, he noticed his dad's car in the
parking lot.  Looking at his watch, it was 8:10.  Good enough, he thought.
He wasn't about to ruin Kelly's good time by being a dick, so he walked
over and opened the door, startling his father.

"Hey, how come you're early?" he asked, concerned.

"Oh, Sally left early, so I've been bored.  I came out here to get some air
and saw your car, so..." he answered, sliding into the passenger seat and
closing the door.

"Oh, sorry David.  But did you have a good time?"

"Yeah, it was fun," David answered with a slight smile, "we can go now, my
fun's over."

"Ok, if you're sure."  Seeing David's nod, he started the car and backed
out of the parking space, heading for the exit.  David settled down in the
seat, and closed his eyes, leaning against the coolness of the window.  His
dad laughed, "Well, she must have worn you out!"

David laughed, "Yeah, I guess.  It was hot in there."

They started toward home, then his dad pulled into an ice cream stand.
"Well, how about a cone to celebrate your first date?"

Grinning at his dad, he NEVER turned down ice cream, he answered, "Yeah!
Sounds good to me."

They sat at one of the small picnic tables, eating their ice cream, making
small talk - school, friends, scouts and so forth until the cones were
history.  Then, they finished the drive home.

David suffered through the typical 20 questions from his mom, then
announced, "I'm really tired, think I'll go to bed."

"Ok, honey," his mom answered, "glad you had a good time."

"I did," David smiled.  "For a while," he thought, and got into bed.  He
was drifting off when the phone rang in the kitchen.

He heard his dad pick it up and say, "Well, he's in bed right now, let me
see if he's awake."

David rolled onto his side, facing away from the door, pretending to be
asleep as his dad opened his door.  His dad backed away from the door,
easing it closed, and David heard him say, "Yeah, he's asleep.  Want me to
have him call you tomorrow?"  A pause, then "Ok, I will, bye."

He overheard his mom ask who was on the phone, and his dad reply, "Kelly,
he was worried."

"Oh, well make sure you tell David he called," then she laughed a little,
"I know how good you are at messages."

His parent's conversation faded as he started to drift off to sleep.

******************************************************************************

Yep, a short chapter.  The green-eyed monster has attacked.  LOL But making
up can be fun too.  Til the next one....tah!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback.  Thanks!

email:  fupduckmd@yahoo.com
AIM and Yahoo: fupduckmd

Fup