Page 22 of Footlights and Forever

“Say it again!” Spit flew from between Austin’s clenched teeth as he almost pleaded with Garrett to give him permission to do what his clenched fist was begging him to do.

My eyes flew to the edges of the room, the chaperones and teachers trying to push their way through the tight rings of students eagerly stepping forward to get a front row view of the unexpected two man show. I couldn’t let Austin get in trouble for me. I couldn’t let all his hard work be put at risk due to some misguided attempt to defend my honor. I should feel disgust or concern at the level of anger and palpable desire for destruction that rolled in waves off Austin as he ground his teeth in Garrett’s fearful face. Shamefully though, I wasn’t just flattered and overwhelmed with affection, but also turned the fuck on by the pure brute strength of him as he pushed Garrett down deeper into the table.

I spared one final glance to the teachers as they almost broke into the final ring of students. I surged forward, my handscoming up to grab at Austin’s biceps. “Hey, everything’s fine, but you have to let him go.”

“No!” Austin barked. “What he said to you…”

“Doesn’t matter.” Austin’s grips tightened around Garrett’s throat, his muscles bunching up underneath my hand.Holy shit, this is so hot. “Hey look at me.” I pulled harder on his arm. I released him with one hand, only to run it up his back to the nape of his neck. My fingertips grazed the nape of his neck. I felt him shiver for a moment. “Look at me, Austin.”

As if it physically hurt him to do so, he turned his head towards me. His features softened into one of concern as he raked his gaze over my face. “He can’t say things like that to you,” he grunted, “no one can.”

“I know.” In that moment I knew that to be a hundred percent true. I knew that no matter what, Austin would not let anything bad happen to me. A small part of me wanted to watch him pummel the shit out of Garrett to prove that point, but I saw that the teachers were almost next to us. “But you have to let him go now. Please?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. Garrett’s face went an unnatural shade of red as Austin tightened his grip further. “But…”

“For me?” I must have pushed a button as he released his grip immediately, coming over to stand in front of me. He tipped my chin up, so I was forced to look up at him. I saw the confused faces of those around me, but at that moment I couldn’t care less. The only thing I could see past the lights, the balloons, the gowns, and the tuxes was Austin. His smile directed down at me was all I need in that moment.

Garrett pushed to his feet, his hand coming up to rub at his throat. He shot a sharp glare at me, before schooling his features as Austin moved to pull away from me. My hand shot out, grabbing his waistband, the tips of my fingers slipping down, holding him secure in front of me.

“Are you okay?” His hand rose up to rest against my shoulder, his thumb stroking my neck gently. I only nodded, not trusting my voice in that moment.

“What the hell is going on here?” Mr. Fletcher pushed through the crowd of students. His stare darted between the two of us and Garrett, “Mr. Marks?”

Mr. Fletcher’s pinned Garrett with a questioning glare. All it would take was for him to say that Austin attacked him, and it would all be over. The school had a zero-tolerance policy when it came to violence and bullying. Funny how it only seemed to matter when it affected those who mattered. If Garrett said something, it would be likely that Austin might be held back from graduating with the rest of the class. The teachers loved to flaunt that little loaded gun in their pocket whenever students got out of line. Graduating with your class was a privilege afforded to you by the school, it was not your right.

A cruel smile twisted Garrett’s lip. The fucker was going to say something. He was going to rat Austin out. A small bulb went off in my head as I stepped forward. “Sorry it was my fault Mr. Fletcher.”

“How is it your fault David?”I have been in Mr. Fletcher’s class for two years now and he thinks my name is David. Perfect.

“Well Garrett here said that he and the rest of the team wanted to…” That was all I got out before Garrett stepped forward and laughed.

“I fell of the back of my chair Mr. Fletcher.” The fake smile plastered on his face was like a cruel twisted mask. “Everyone got a good laugh.”

Fletcher saw through the bullshit, his narrow stare said as much. “What was you about to say David?”

“I was about to say that Garrett and the team wanted to help the prom committee by staying behind this evening to help cleanup… and Garrett here got clumsy and fell like he said.” A chorus of low groans rose up at the edges of the student circle. Likely said team planning my death.

“Oh how wonderful,” Mrs. Henstridge stepped forward next to her colleague, “that means that some of us can leave early this evening if you boys are going to stay and help. That is good news.”Anything to get out of doing her damned job.

“Get this place cleaned up.” Mr. Fletcher pointed at the overturned chair and spilled glasses on the table from Garrett’s back being slammed down into them. He and Mrs. Henstridge disappeared back into the throng of students. The DJ started the music as the rest of the crowd slowly lost interest, moving back to their own microcosms within the prom.

“Come with me.” Austin laced his fingers with mine and pulled me towards the now-crowded dance floor. Music seemed to move in waves across the room, some cheesy pop balled from a nineties rom com that for the life of me I could not remember the name of. As we approached the edge of the wooden dance floor, I started to notice the overt stares at our interlocked hands and our trajectory towards the sacred floor of dance.

“Austin…” I pulled on his hand, the freakout starting to build rapidly in the pit of my stomach. He stopped and turned back towards me, his expression confused, but still holding a warm smile. “People.” I nodded towards the cheerleaders in the corner who were quite literally pointing at me and whispering. I pointed at the couples on the dance floor who had now stopped and were watching to see what happened next, and the shocked faces of some of the teachers who were milling about between the groups of students.

Austin looked around and the realization dawned on him. I expected his face to fall or for the same fear that burned in my chest to appear. What I didn’t expect was the bright smile that he aimed my way as he turned back to face me. “Good. MeansI don’t have to have any awkward conversations tomorrow.” He pulled me once again until we reached the center of the dance floor.

I pulled my hand from his, the sweatiness making me wince a little as I ran them quickly down the legs of my trousers, throwing him an apologetic look. He laughed a little before snagging my hand and pulling me towards him. My chest collided with his, his arms circling my waist, locking behind my back.

“Dylan, put your hands around my neck.” I chewed the inside of my cheek, giving one more cursory glance around the room and seeing nothing different. Fuck it. I placed my hands gingerly on his shoulder, the tight muscle tensing underneath my touch. He breathed out slowly, the smile widening on his face like he was releasing a sigh of relief.

“You need to understand one thing, Dylan,” he whispered in my ear.

“What’s that?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“You need to understand that no matter what happens, that me and you – us – we’re the most important thing. Nothing and no one should come between us. No friends, no enemies, no spotlights or footlight. Nothing, okay?”

My breath whooshed out of me in a rush. I could barely contain the feelings I had for him, and I didn’t want to, so I tightened my grip around his neck.

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