Dancing King

Chapter 1

As always I have a lot planned behind the scenes that I hope I can accomplish.

...

Junmyeon's POV

...

~present~

A lot in my life had calmed down these days. The end of my high school career was fast approaching, and I'd begun to focus more on my studies rather than any sort of social life. Save for one event. I still did not miss a single Saturday performance by Lay and his crew, who'd grown in numbers rapidly in recent years. Their dancing still blew me away, and the only way I'd miss a night of it was if I was dying.

"Knock knock," a familiar voice said. I swiveled on my desk chair to face Kyungsoo. He was dressed semi formally in dark jeans and a black button up. "It's almost time. You ready?" I grinned, abandoning my paper for my foreign studies class. Kyungsoo had taken to frequenting the subway tunnel with me under the guise he wanted to watch the dancing, but I knew that the irresistible and mysterious Kai was the one who always held his attention. He'd quickly become Kai's biggest, secret fanboy.

"I'm always ready," I told him, glancing around for my cap. "Is Baek gonna join us tonight?" Baekhyun didn't like the scene as much as Kyungsoo and I did, but he still liked to tag along most nights.

"Nope," Kyungsoo replied. "He's hanging out with Chanyeol tonight. And Sehun is at his father's house, so it's just the two of us." I found my prize, adorning the cap with pride. How could I not wear the cap that Lay gave me to every Saturday night? That would be insane. I swore I also saw him shooting me pleased looks on occasion, though with the beanie and mask it was hard to tell. Kyungsoo threw a simple sweater over his button up.

"Mom!" I called as we exited my room. "I'm going over to Baekhyun's! I'll probably spend the night, so don't wait up." Mom stuck her head out of her room, eyeing me up and down. She'd begun to suspect on Saturdays I had more going on than I said I did, and while I loved her, she couldn't know about the place I loved so much. I smiled at her, motioning to the backpack on my back. "There's a test on Monday in Calculus, and Kyungsoo, Baek, and I are all going to help each other study."

"Don't stay up too late," was all she said, meeting us in the hall. She kissed my forehead. "And listen to what his parents say."

"Yes, of course," I assured her. "Have a good night. Love you." And then I practically dragged Kyungsoo out of the house after me, itching to be in the tunnel already. He cackled behind me, a sign he'd found that whole exchange amusing. As we walked, I removed the large sweater I'd thrown over my outfit to reveal a purple button up and open black vest. I stuffed the sweater in my backpack.

In a short while, we were at the entrance to the tunnel. Kyungsoo headed right down, but I paused at the top of the staircase. I felt a smile lifting the corners if my mouth. This place... It had become so special to me. Without another thought, I made my way down, and as the musty smell grew stronger and the thumping bass grew louder, I was transported back to the first time I'd descended these steps. I felt the same sort of euphoria as I did then.

It seemed everything was already in full swing. The table of snacks was overflowing to accommodate for the extra onslaught of people. Taemin, a newer recruit, seemed to be in a heated dance off against Jimin, though judging from their smiles they were having a blast. Ten and Jisung were chatting with Taeyong, J-hope, Luhan and Yugyeom. And Lay and Kai stood off to the side, observing the happenings around them. I stared at Lay for an extra second before joining Kyungsoo in the cluster of fans.

"I heard through the grapevine that soon there's going to another initiation," someone spoke up. "With another crowd vote." An excited buzz began to circulate.