new beginnings

The Dance

I woke up, with the feeling of something pressing down on my lips. It was hard, but soft. I didn't want to open my eyes, I was tired from the restless sleep last night.

I opened my eyes. I immediately recognized who it was.

"Good morning, sleepy," he rose up from my head and smiled.

"Ron?" I asked, rubbing my eyes with my hand from the dull sunlight that shined in the bedroom.

"Who else would it be?" he laughed. "I've been trying to wake you up for ten minutes. And who would've known a kiss would wake you up?"

"Oh, well, that's the best way I've been woken up," I smiled. "Why so early?" I asked, looking at the sun, which was barely out.

"I wanted to take a walk and we can talk about something I've been thinking about," he buttoned his flannel shirt over his white t-shirt.

Shit, he doesn't like me and he's going to tell me that.

I stood up and got dressed, just changing my shirt and I put my hat on.

We went out the door together and started to walk.

"I've been wanting to talk to you about this. You probably heard from last night that my mom is homophobic, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you before," he looked down.

"But we need to talk about us. I don't know if we should start dating, I haven't known you that long, and, of course, my mom's views on gay people. And, our parents, since they're dating now," he said glumly.

"I've been thinking about that too. I like you, a lot, for that matter, but I don't know either. I want to date you, but with everything going on, I don't know what's best for us. I want to come out to Dad, but I don't know what he would say," I said. I felt sad.

We walked until we decided to sit down on the bench by the pond.

"I think we could try something. Why don't we sit our parents down when they come back, and tell them we're gay? It could be alright," he said to me.

"That sounds better than doing it alone. I'm in," I looked over and smiled at him. He smiled back.

I ran the back of my hand on his cheek. He gave me a flirty look.

I decided to take it a lot further and grabbed his head. He looked unsure of what I was going to do.

I pulled him down off the bench gently and laid him on the ground. I gave him a devious smile and began making out with him. We started off with slow kisses but then they turned into full-on rough and starting pushing our lips harder on each other's and used tongue. He reached his hands up and grabbed my upper back. I returned his gesture by placing both hands on his head. I started slowly grinding on him, well aware someone could walk through those bushes anytime. I pushed his beanie off onto the ground and ran my fingers through his hair. I felt truly happy and adrenaline fueled me.

But all that came to a quick stop.

"Hey g- Woah!" Enid stepped through the bushes.

Oh, great timing.

I pushed myself off of him and quickly sat up. He got up and our faces were beet red.

"H-Hi Enid," Ron said shakily, clearly embarrassed. He tugged down his shirt.

"Wow, I didn't know Carl was into that. Good morning, guys," she smirked. I took my hat off and held it on my lower abdomen, trying hard to be casual but it was very obvious I wasn't.

"Hey, Enid," I rolled my eyes and smirked a little.

"Wow, your voice is really deep. I wonder why I barely hear it," she smirked and looked at both of us.

"Funny. Okay, what are we going to do today? We're all going to hang out," Ron said, answering his own question.

"I have a bucket list for today, actually. I want to go outside the walls and make dinner altogether," she said very serious, for some reason.

"Can do. I'll have to ask Sarah," Ron said.

We all walked to Sarah's house and went inside. Sarah was in pajama pants and a oversized t-shirt with bedhead, but still looked oddly nice. She greeted us with her usual smile and sipped the coffee she had made.

"What're you kids up to?" she asked.

"Can we go outside the walls?" Ron asked boldly.

"Just as long as you don't tell Rick and Jessie. I'll give you two hours this time," she smiled and we went out the door. I felt like she was the 'cool mom' in the movies I had seen before everything started.

We walked out the gate and I gave Ron a knife and Enid a pistol.

"What are we going to do?" Ron asked after we walked a while.

"Roller skating!" Enid exclaimed and ran towards a building that had a big sign over it that said "The Linden Arena". Ron and I followed her.

We walked in, immediately seeing about a dozen walkers.

"Oh, shit! Back up!" I yelled and ran backwards as the doors swung entirely open and they trudged out.

I began stabbing them in the head and Ron and Enid began firing. I didn't want to tell them the shots would attract more walkers. And in just a few seconds, the walkers were on the ground.

"Now we're good," Enid said and we all walked in.

It was a huge room with a hardwood floor that was probably once shiny, but now dull. A few planks were missing. It was really dark, but we could see a little.

We searched around and found a room full with skates. We found our shoe sizes and put them on.

Ron seemed to be the best at keeping himself from falling, and started without even stumbling, even on the rough floor in the middle of the building. Enid was alright at it, she stumbled, but didn't fall.

I, however, could not skate. I could barely move without falling. I held onto the rail on the side while Enid and Ron were in the middle, going fast. I heard their chuckles and their scoffs.

"Here, let me help," Ron chuckled and skated beside me. He held on to my upper arm and guided me slowly, smiling.

I shakily skated slowly with Ron holding on. I tried to hide the fact that I really enjoyed him holding my arm. 

I eventually got the hang of it, and was able to skate on my own.

Enid skated quickly to where the DJ would play music, leaving Ron and I wondering what she was doing.

"And now, ladies and gents, it's couples skate!" Enid said into the non-working microphone in a mocking tone and laughed.

Ron and I looked at each other and smirked.

"Go on, now. I'll sing. This is the school dance we never got," Enid laughed.

Ron skated towards me and placed my hands on his shoulders, and he put his hands on my lower back and held me close. We started swaying slowly back and forth. We were dancing like a man and a woman would, and of course I was in the woman's role. But I didn't mind. I began laughing softly.

"Wise men say..." she began to sing. Enid had a beautiful voice, surprisingly, and the song she picked made Ron and I look at each other and smile. I laid my head on his shoulder. I felt so peaceful as her voice sang beautiful slow notes.

I didn't know Enid was this cool with us, considering Ron is her ex.

When she finished her song, Ron continued to hold me for a few more seconds. Then he let go and gave me a wide smile.

I loved it as much as he did.