Flowers by Nichole Hall (the unexpected everything .TXT) 📕

“Don’t worry, you need your hands for this song.”

It’s time get Funky. Funky. Clap. Clap. Clap your hands. 

Oh yeah, the Cha Cha Slide. Old school, but never gets old. 

Charlie tries to hold in his smile. He bites his lip ferociously, but it slips. When the lyrics continue to belt out, Charlie and I take our stance in the crowd as the group of bodies moves in synchronization to the words. Herman and Luke perform the moves in the line in front. Whenever I glance at Charlie, he is shaking his head laughing. Soon the four of us end up in line together, giggling like idiots and joking between words. Drinks are splashing all over the tile floor, my feet keep slipping in the sandals, and Herman keeps bumping into my left side not quite sober anymore. Whoops, that was my fault, but overall Charlie is having a good time with his friends. 

The song ends too soon, but the four of us stay together in a group dancing around each other. Herman starts getting sloppy, real sloppy. Maybe the tequila shots were not a good idea. At one point when he almost face plants it, and the buzz the three of us have going only means we stand there laughing like true friends. Then Kevin reappears.

“Come on big guy, let’s get you to a bed.” Even being twice his size, Kevin takes most of Herman’s weight, exiting back into the darkened hallway. Once they’re out of sight, blondie and brunette are on Luke and Charlie. 

Leaving them to take Charlie’s spot on the wall since they both don’t wear the faces of people who are bothered, I take a look around. It’s crazy how living in a small town people may know me by whispers and rumors, but hardly any of these familiar faces come with names. Nancy was right, I hid out when high school started. Before then actually. In eighth grade, out of sight out of mind was my motto. Stay in the shadows to be hidden from the stares seemed like a better way to live. Now here I am, with four guy friends, one guy that my mind and body can’t get enough of, and no Mandy. Life has a funny way of turning things around on you and it doesn’t bother me one bit, not in this situation. Because if I had come out to parties and the social life earlier, would these awesome guys be my friends? Would Lucky dance up to me everyday at lunch and give me a smothering hug? Would Herman be my big teddy bear of protection? Would Kevin even be interested in me as he is now?

Those thoughts are swiped away, like an eraser to paper. Kevin approaches, the same look in his eyes when I first arrived. My back straightens up, my toes curl in anticipation and just when he reaches two feet in front, he stops. I have to tilt my head up to reach his gaze. Moments pass away and we cannot look away from each other. Neither of us reaches out to each other, nor do we move away. It may sound corny, but time freezes us in that picture. Just standing. Staring. 

“Alright ya’ll! Now this song is a baby making song, but no baby making on my floors! Nothing like an oldie but goodie to set the mood right.” Lucky’s voice booms over the microphone. His words are taunting and the song that follows pulls Kevin and I closer together, still not touching. 

He begins walking backwards, I step forward. Step by step we take, until we are in the middle of the crowd again, right next to his best friends. Not once have our eyes disconnected. An invisible string tightens and tightens until we are face to face. A hand slithers just at the edge of the shirt on my backside, teasing and trickling until it reaches the skin underneath. Warmth spreads, but sends a cold shiver all over. My free hand wraps around Kevin’s neck, tugging softly. Our faces, now nose to nose. Another hand smoothes down my bare skinned leg, lifting it higher until it wraps around his waist. Then we start moving in slow, grinding movements. 

My body waves forward as his does, connecting pelvis to waist, chest to chest. Body contact creates friction, turning into burning heat. Desire courses through my veins. The world is tuned out. In our little bubble, the movement of body to body continues. Fingers start slithering their way upwards, refreshing air soothes my steaming back. Steam could be coming out, but there is no distraction in this world. No, only Kevin and I. 

Dance moves match the rhythm and pace, words echo of grinding. Continuous and continuous, my eyelids start lowering in pure lust filled need. Just as the final beat is coming, the final words quieting down into promised whispers, both of my legs have found themselves wrapped around his waist, still pumping more intensely by the second. His head dips slightly to the side, dodging my lips. Placing a feathered kiss just below the ear, I moan and Kevin whispers, “Thank you.”

Publication Date: 08-26-2014

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