Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

Youth Hostel

Trying to teach high schoolers has tried and tested Geordie's patience to the limit. He's mentally exhausted. Having our lunch at the pub was supposed to be chill out time but Geordie's wolfed his food and washed it down with a pint, now is waiting impatiently for us to finish our dinner.

"I think giving these numskulls combat training is gonna be a waste of our time. I'll think of a better phase two."

"You can't teach someone to wield a sword in a day." Charlie swirls rice round with his fork trying to ignore the fact that Geordie's eyeballing his almost full plate.

"I ain't stupid. Knew it'd take time. But this lot are hopeless. Some cheerleader was howling over a broken fingernail. We've got Milo thinking he's a pirate, and a couple of jocks who don't know left from right. All the while gossiping about Corsey going to prom."

"Don't worry they'll stop soon. Case won't put up with slush." I stare into space wondering what I ought to wear for prom.

"Good." I get a thump to the shoulder. "Quit mooning, Al."

"Sorry, can't help it. I've a date for prom."

"I'll be glad when Hillcrest has finished his exams and can get his head fully in Cloudy zone. You don't even like Kensington so why bother going to their pointless prom?"

"Because Casey asked me. That's mega."

"Why? You live together; see him every day."

"We'll be with his friends. Him asking means he's accepted me properly." I nibble at my last chunk of bread. "I can't help being excited."

"That's if we survive till then," says Danny. "There's still like a whole semester to go."

"Skies sake," groans Geordie as he leaves the table, "you know their school rota too. I'm surrounded by-"

"Teenagers?" suggests Charlie.

"Don't you two class yourselves as teenagers?" I say on following Geordie outside.

Abandoning the majority of his dinner Charlie tags behind us. "Yeah of course but they've normal teenage problems to deal with rather than ours. Two worlds are colliding."

"Thanks to Corsey," snorts Geordie. "We need to get home and plan phase two properly. Would help if we had that lad of yours about. He's not pulling his weight; is too busy boarding and stirring trouble at school."

"Hey, he pulled his weight yesterday. Saved me!"

"He was insubordinate yesterday. He'll get us killed."

"At least he leaves his student life in Kensington." Danny fusses over Honey, letting her know they need to give Charlie a ride again seen as Hotaru is resting up at home.

On getting home we're met with an unusual sight. Outside our house are three carts. Six horses roam around while Prince sleeps oblivious, curled up on the roof. Chunk gives an almighty roar at seeing his spot taken. Sunshine abandons me to follow curiously after a speckled horse. Charlie rushes over to Hotaru who sits sighing on the veranda, beside a wooden table and couple of chairs. These are new.

"What the fuck?" Geordie storms into the house, thrusts open the lounge door. We're hit with loud music playing from Casey's wind-up record player. There's like a rave going on in the middle of our lounge. Sixth formers jump up and down to what I think might be Iron Maiden. "Out!" yells Geordie. No one hears him. Milo slides by us holding a tray of drinks which are snapped up by everyone dancing.

I shriek in excitement as the next track to play is my favourite song in the world. My head can't help bopping despite Geordie being super angry. I shriek again as a hand grasps my arm from the crowd of dancers and pulls me into the centre of fun. At first, I thought it was Casey. I'm wrong. Surprisingly it's Frankie. Both him and Milo push me into Casey. Awkward. I've never actually danced with him before. How does that work with two lads at a party? Casey stops jumping. We totes stare at each other in a stalemate. If a house party dancing is awkward how bad is prom gonna be? My eyes slant onto Frankie who's snickering away to himself. I shouldn't have been surprised. He's being his usual spiteful self. He probs thinks I'll flee in embarrassment. Instead I bop my head wanting to break this awful awkward moment. Dance with space between us, so it's almost as though I'm dancing alone, knowing Casey needs space and it's nothing personal. I think we're good 'cause he's started up his jumpy dance thing again. He even flashes me a naughty smile when we reach the chorus. I laugh as Milo drags Charlie over to me and thrusts cups of voddy at us both.