Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes

Chapters 11 and 12

Chapter 11

The gymnasium was decorated from floor to ceiling in yellow, green, blue and pink. Alan couldn’t help but think that Dr. Seuss had been employed to make the event come to life. Despite his own misgivings about the décor, everyone seemed to be having a great time. A live band covered the latest hits on stage; there was a table set up with refreshments and balloons lay across the gym floor in every direction.

Alan stood by himself soaking in the scene. It wasn’t something he had dwelt on for any length of time but once or twice before he had wondered what a school dance looked like, now he knew.

“Hey, was that your car? The Benz?”

Alan had to stop from jumping as he turned to see who had spoken to him. Her name was Amber Jacobson, she was Alan’s grade and tonight she was wearing a short pink dress with a plunging neckline.

“Ummm… yeah well, it’s borrowed but I drove it here.”

“Nice, car. You look familiar. Do I know you? Do you go to school here?”

Alan raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, I’m Alan.”

Amber starred back at him with a blank look.

“Alan Price. We’ve both gone to this school since we were freshmen.”

No look of recognition passed across the young blonde’s face. She shrugged as she waived to someone behind Alan. “Oh okay. Well, cool car. I’m gonna go catch up with my friends but maybe we can take a spin sometime or hangout later tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah okay.”

Amber was gone in the next few seconds running in her high heels to catch up with a group of girls that may have well been her clones.

Alan stood shocked. He hadn’t even been to the dance for a full minute before a girl had approached him for the very first time, ever.

Is this really how easy it was? Were expensive clothes and an expensive haircut all I needed to be noticed?

Alan kicked himself for not trying anything like this before. For the first time in a very long while Alan felt good, he felt great. In place of the depression and anger was a sense of accomplishment. Even if the rest of the night turned out to be him sitting by himself, he had done enough. That small exchange with Amber was more pleasant socializing than he had done with anyone that entire month. And, she had approached him.

Alan couldn’t help but smile as he walked to the punch bowl and poured himself a glass of the red sugar water. He wasn’t even thirsty but it seemed like the thing to do next. The drink touched his lips and ran down his throat, making his taste buds pucker at its sweetness.

The lights in the gymnasium were dimmed with a classic disco ball sending tiny rays of light in every direction. It was while he was getting ready to leave the refreshment table that he noticed Jennifer Richardson and Brent Carson approaching with their clique of cheerleaders and jocks.

In a heartbeat, all the good feelings and joy that Alan had felt were gone. His hands started to sweat as the group looked at him with a confused expression then stared open-mouthed in his direction. Brent was the first to speak. “Alan, is that you?”

Alan couldn’t bring his dry throat to say a word so he nodded instead.

“Oh my gosh, dude, what happened to you?”

“I decided to come to the dance,” Alan hated how his voiced squeaked out the response.

“Yeah, I can see that. Who are you here with?”