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Final bell of the day rung throughout the halls and students came pouring out of their classrooms like a floodgate was broken. Chatter is divided into groups that either linger in club rooms or it drifts it's way to the parking lot.
In the lot there sat, elegantly, an navy colored Chevrolet Camaro from the year 1979. It's dark blue hue made it stand out among the others. Like a deep ocean depth drawing you in. Boots lightly stomped their way over to it and it's rightful owner unlocked the door, swung it open, and sat on his throne.
Billy Hargrove was the new kid from the golden state California. His curly sun bleached mullet shined under the clear Indy sky, it flowed flawlessly and suited his face nicely. He reeves up his engine and starts to pull out of the parking lot till another hunk of machinery caught his eye.
It was a large Dodge Van, also from the 70's. It was a glimmering dark green with yellow stripes. Billy thought it was lame choice of colors but the shine and structure to it was nice. He pulled up beside it and honked, rolling his window down in the process. "Hey, this all your's?" He said, referring to the van.
The dark tinted window rolled down. There sat a boy the same age as Billy. A shorter and less curly mullet framed his portrait and green eyes stared at Billy. "Yeah, this is mine. Why?" Linkiden said, wary of what the interaction might lead to.
"What year?"
"Dodge Van, 1975."
"Not bad, where'd you get it?"
"Auto auction, I hate buying stuff new" Linkiden looks away a little bashfully.
He likes talking about himself but he's not used to it. "How much?"
"A little over 2 grand. Then I spent a little more for renovations."A moment of silence is between them.
Just then Billy speaks up.
"I'm going to a party tonight, you should come with. Old Cherry road, 7 o'clock. I hope to see you there." Billy then rolls his window up and, with grace, pulls out and speeds off.
The time rolls around. Linkiden rolls his van around until he eventually finds himself at his destination. Cars are lined up in front of lively house. Music can be heard from outside and people are still arriving. The sun is just behind the house and night will be soon to follow once the party gets started. Linkiden parks a block away and locks it up. Strolling up to the house, he slides past the door and sees the sea of teens colliding with eachother and dancing into the creeping night.
"Too funky" by George Michael is heard over the crowd and Linkiden lightly grooves over to the kitchen. He grabs a red solo cups and pours some tap water into, not trusting whatever amalgamation was made in the punch bowl. He takes a swig and bounces his way over to a wall. Linkiden isn't one for parties but he hopes this might be some what fun. He doesn't have much to do anyway.
Just then the crowd splits and Billy himself walks through. He spots Linkiden and strides over. "Nice to see you Van boy, you like it?"
"It's alright." Linkiden takes another sip of his tap water."Alright?"
"Sorry...I'm just not one for parties, I'd ask someone else for their opinion." Linkiden's confidence drops a little.
One of his buddies chimes in "Bet you haven't even been to a party before, virgin loser!" He giggles with his friend.
Billy cracks a smile and opens his mouth. "Well, van boy, clearly you're not partying yet if you're having run already. Here let me introduce you to some of cheerleaders, I'm sure they'll keep you busy." Billy grabs Linkiden by his shoulders to guide him to another room but Linkiden quickly slides his hand off.
"Thanks Billy but I'm not interested talking with the cheerleaders and I don't think they'll be interested in talking with me."
"Why not, you some queer?" Linkiden quickly twist his brain around a little to make a snippy lie.
"I'm just not into that kid of girl, I like someone more unique."
"Oh personality doesn't matter, it's all about physicality . By the end of the night you'll get a girl in that van of yours, you hear?"
"Yeah, not happening, thanks but no." Linkiden slides away into the flowing crowd of dancers and loses Billy's sight.
Linkiden decides to move that interaction out of his mind and dance to music that swings in the air.
A few hours into the night and some people are heading home or getting violently drunk. Linkiden decides he's had enough, another bust. He reaches into his pocket and swings his keys around his finger and head to the door. Just as he got his eyes locked on the exit Billy blocked the door. "Hey jackass, where are you going?"
"Excuse me?....to my car?" Just then linkiden is grabbed by his jacket opening and slammed into the wall next to the door.
Billy leans in, "listen, I want to make this clear. I'm gonna be the one running the school soon enough and I advise you to get along with me." He pauses for a moment, "I was so kind to you tonight and you leave me when I'm trying to help a loser like you? Never pull that shit again or I will make sure you won't see the end of the year." Linkiden stares at him.
Billy raises his voice and shakes Linkiden a little "Do you understand?!" Linkiden quickly nods.
"Good. See you Monday, Van boy" Billy smiles and gives a mocky air kiss.
He releases Linkiden and he books it. He speeds walks to his van and hops in the driver's seat. Linkiden's heart thumps hard. He should hate that but it's not bad, it's exciting. He's never been so close with a guy before face to face. This is gonna be a problem. Linkiden starts up his car and turns the radio up. "West end girls" by Pet Shop Boys fills up the car.
He buckles up and drives into the night. Looking for some over night parking. Maybe the super market again? Nah, Jim gave him shit last time for staying a week there. Maybe some neighborhood back road. Yeah, that should work. Old Cherry road slowly dies down and the street becomes empty as it once was.