People Like Us

Gays Can Dance

I watched Conner setting up the speakers, he seemed happier here and more at home. He put on the song Five Minutes to Midnight by Boys Like Girls as everyone started getting food and talking. I grabbed a piece of pizza and sat down in the back on a table. I felt someone sit down on the table next to me. I looked to my right and saw Carmen, I smiled.

"Hey Hun." She laughed lightly.

"Everyone wants to meet you! Why are you sitting over here?" I shrugged.

"Just wanted to eat pizza in private I guess." She laughed shaking her head.

"Well eat fast, everyone is excited to meet you." She jumped off the table, I took my last bite and followed her over to people. The song Hips Don't Lie came onto the speaker and I felt a smile spread onto my face. I grabbed a couple people and started getting them to dance. I walked over to Izzy and Ryder, Izzy looked at me confused until she saw people dancing.

"Cmon Babes, let's dance." Izzy squealed and pulled Ryder out onto the floor.

I watched Izzy go from person to person dancing with them, Conner and her both messing around. She glanced at me and saw I wasn't dancing, grabbing my arm she pulled me over.

"Cmon you got everyone out here, you better dance." Conners eyes lit up and he walked over to the music. As I shook my head the song I Don't Dance from High School Musical 2 came on. "You've gotta at least be able to move your hips." She was right, I could dance, and really well to be honest. I laughed lightly and joined her, the two of us dancing together as though we had been friends for years. I had been raised in a house where you would grow up fast, all the hip shaking and hip hop moves you would learn at 14 I learned at 4. My mom would take my out country line dancing too so I was quick at picking up. By the end of the song we were both out of breath and went to get a drink. We sat down on a table watching people dance.

"Damn, I knew you had a strong influence on people but I didn't think you were this good." I knit my eyebrows together confused on what she meant.

"What do you mean?" She drank some of the punch and laughed.

"I hope you don't mind the boys spiked the punch."

I shook my head, "Nah, I don't care, alcohol is one of the few drugs I do. So what do you mean"

"What I mean, is everyone is listening to you. You got the group to dance, like randomly! You got a lady who has lived here her whole life to listen to you. You have me listening to you and that never happens, I'm the leader, I'm not trying to say this to be rude I'm sorry of it comes off that way I never try-" I cut her off laughing lightly.

"You're fine, I get it, I'm the same way don't worry about being rude. Just talk, preferably English but whatever language you choose I can probably understand."

She took another few sips. "Okay so everyone is listening to you." She pushed her hair out of her face and took another sip. "Which is amazing because people in this town are close-minded. Like except for a few of us. I try to help them but it's hard, I have to try to influence them and to lead. But you, you just sorta go and everyone listens."

"So the whole town is stuck in their own world and you think I have an influence?" She nodded and I couldn't help but laugh loudly. "Baby, I'm nothing, I'm just me, nothing special."

"Maybe not, but you have a huge impact on the people here."

"Dude, I'm not special! People only listen because-" I cut myself off not knowing why.

"Yeah, I tries that, it doesn't work. You have a gift, I have it, Conner and Ryder have it. The difference is yours is strong, and you don't have to try as hard, unlike us." Ryder came over to us.

"Izzy? Scar? You guys okay? You sorta stopped." I don't know if Izzy wanted to say something but I came up with a quick cover.

"Yeah, we're good, I just don't like being in the spotlight and needed a break. Izzy thought she would stay and help me." He rolled his eyes playfully.

"Sounds like Izzy." She scanned my face carefully before speaking.

"Yeah, that does sound like me." She looked away from me. "Conner! Come here?"  He ran over to us a smile still on his face.

"Yes ma'am?" He gave a salute causing Ryder to laugh and Izzy to roll her eyes.

"Are you able to stay the whole time? It's Scars first time walking home."

He nodded and looked at Ryder, then back at Izzy. "One of us walking her?" She nodded her head. "Alright, Scar address?" I closed my eyes for a moment going through my new information. 

"400 Harvest drive." Conner smiled and so did the other two. 

"Wow that's perfect," I tilted my head and Conner continued his statement. "Izzy, Ryder and I all live a couple streets down from you, and you only live a few houses down from me." I gave a forced smile, although I knew it would most likely seem real to them. 

"That's awesome!" Conner scanned me quickly as though he knew something but looked at Izzy before I could see if he did. 

"Do you want me to show Scar around the building? And the neighborhood? We still have an hour and a half, and this won't be interesting to her until she starts getting to know us." Izzy nodded slowly.

"Yeah, that's a really good idea, but keep it to the building, and be back by a quarter to five so we can all meet up. It's Thanksgiving soon and a lot of people have stuff to do so we're closing early." Conner gave another salute with a smile on his face.

"Sir yes Sir!" Looking at me he held out an arm dramatically, "Shall we Madam?" I fought a giggle, Ryder couldn't and burst out laughing. I gave a smirk and took his arm. 

"We shall my kid Sir, let's move it!" We marched to the door and walked out of the crowded classroom. 

He yelled, "We're going on a trip!" As we darted down the hallway.