Mr. High School

Ch. 2 - Homecoming

As the initial weeks of back to school came and went, things began to settle down and take their casual course as they do every school year. The daily detention getter(s), the occasional Mr Young's science class explosion or experiment, and the school's preparation for the Homecoming. School had been going on for exactly 1 month and 9 days and the Homecoming was that Saturday, October 20th. Echo and Parker were talking throughout that time as to what they'd wear and how they were planning their evenings. All the while Adam was dreading that day to come, not because he wont have a date either, but because of Parker and Echo. He's been able to manage to this point but he isnt sure what point is too much for him to be able to handle and he doesnt want to test such thing in the middle of a big event where he can create a scene. He is happy for Echo to be happy but part of him wishes it was him in Parker's shoes.

So its Friday, the day before Homecoming and its near the end of the day, everyone is excited and anxious about how their respective evenings will turn out to be. Adam was in his class teaching about how advanced the brain can be. "Human brains are only 10% controllable. Its far too sophisticated for humans to be able to handle anymore than that amount." he then looks over at a sleeping Derby, "In some cases, it tends to be far too much and is closer to say 1%. So class, theres about 5 minutes left, feel free to be at your seats and talk before you're done for the day!" Most people turn around and begin talking with the people around them. Adam went to his desk and sat behind it beginning to look over the rest of the ungraded homework assignments from throughout the week. He senses someone in front of him and looks up to see Echo. "Hey Mr Young, are you going to the Homecoming?" Adam knows not to get his hopes up on such question considering she already has a date and the question wont be if they were to go together. "I'm not intending on doing so." Echo then asks, "Why not?"
"Well, you see, its no secret that in the school, im not exactly on anyone'e eyes so, i'd be by myself, so I may as well, stay home and work on finishing these ungraded assignments. I know this may sound like a shocker but, I AM a teacher after all." Echo sighed, "Well, that's unfortunate, I was really hoping you'd at least be there with us, it wouldn't quite be the same." She turns around and heads back to her chair to get her backpack as the bell rings and the class begins to flee out for the weekend. Adam sat at his desk going over what just occurred and questioned whether or not he should go. He was considering all the good reasons as well as the bad reasons like the inner temptations he may have but doesnt want to risk doing so.

It was Saturday night, kids are coming into the Finnegan High quad for the Homecoming all nicely dressed with dates ready to have a good time. Slab was DJ'ing the party, Dang was on standby ready for cleanups but not visible to anyone unless they say his name, in which he appears quicker than they comprehend his presence. "Is everyone having a good time?" Slab asks a crowd of dancing people only to be ignored. He repeats with authority, "I said, IS EVERYONE HAVING A GOOD TIME?!" Everyone turns around and begins clapping and cheering at the intimidation as then Slab smiles and returns to DJ'ing. Parker and Echo arrive and meet Derby. "Oh Hi Echo! Hey Parker, you both look great tonight!"
"Thanks Derby, you dont look bad yourself either, who are here with?" Derby smiles then pulls in someone from a crowd, "Im here with Mrs Strawperson's daughter, Hailey Strawperson! *whispering* She's digging me tonight!" Echo and Parker exchange glances at one another momentarily to acknowledge Derby's Derbiness. "Well, i'd love to stay and chat but Hailey and I are going to hit the dance floor, come on!" Derby and Hailey move elsewhere on the dance floor and Echo and Parker move to a nearby table to sit. "Want me to get us anything to drink?" Parker asks being thoughtful. "A bottle of water wont hurt." "Alright, ill be right back with 2 bottles." Parker goes to fetch themselves water bottles.

Meanwhile, back in Adam's he is in his room, grading some papers but finds himself distracted every now and then. He cant help but feel he was late on Echo and now, Parker was going to be hers and hes going to have to deal with that. Just then his mom walks in. "Hey kiddo, why are you here tonight?" Adam raises his papers, "being a teacher, you know, doing my job." She then sits down on his bed, "I know that you can do that another time during the weekend like tomorrow or maybe even at your workplace when you dont have a class." Adam sighs, "I know mom but, I just rather not be at the Homecoming alright, I just dont think it would be all that great for me." "Why would you say that sweatie?" "Well, when have I ever mentioned a girl." "E-" "That isnt named Echo?" He took the name out of her mouth and then she sat there. "Thats my point mom, no one!" Rachel then tries to reassure him, "But what happened with Echo?" "Well for starters she already had a date for a while, Parker White, another student in my class, and hes a great catch too, and im happy for her for that reason. I just cant help but feel jealous as if I should be in his position right now." "Look honey, I know its tough being a teenager and dealing with seeing crushes with someone else especially in such big events but you're not guaranteed days with people. You have to make the most out of the days you have no matter what. You have no idea what may come out of their relationship, maybe its good maybe it isnt and she needs to know that you're more than just he teacher so you can be there at the right time for her to know you can be more than a friend." Adam was left in thought. "Im just not sure mom, I dont want to anything i'd regret." She sighed as she gets up to walk out, "I know you don't, but staying here and doing nothing would definitely be a regret of the future." She walks out and closes the door behind her, leaving Adam in thought wondering if hes about to do what he is planning on doing. He looks at his clock, "8:43 pm" grabs a quick shower, quickly changes into some nice clothes, combes his hair and looks at his clock again, "9:06 pm" He looks in his mirror, you better be right about this mom.

The party is average to say the least at the moment. It wasnt a borefest yet nothing exciting or memorable had happened, generally speaking. Derby and Hailey Strawperson were hitting off, people were applauding Slab's DJ'ing skills (probably due to pressure), and Echo and Parker had been talking all night and occasionally dancing and just getting to know one another. At this moment in time Parker and Echo were on their phones taking a break from dancing, Echo the sees Parker getting up. "Sorry Echo, but I just got a text from my mom saying I need to go home. Its some private stuff that id rather not get entirely into." Echo stands up as well, disappointed. "Oh, sorry to hear that Parker. I hope you had a great time tonight, I know I did." Parker smiles, "Yea I did have a good night. Again, im sorry I have to go but I hope you enjoyed the time we had tonight, see you on Monday!" They hugged, then, Echo glanced at her phone's time as he walked out, "9:20 pm" She was there, by herself, wondering if this was going to be the rest of her night until the dance was over. Derby was elsewhere, Slab DJ'ing, Ivy, nowhere to be seen nor would she Ivy want to be associating with Echo in such event. I just wish someone could show up right about now so that I dont have to be by myself the rest of this night.

"Hey Echo." She looks up to see exactly who had dwindled their way into her mind in trying to hope for someone to show up. "Hey, Adam! You showed up! A bit late, but you showed up after all. What changed your mind?" Adam didnt really know what to answer to that question, "Ummm, well, I just had a thought come across my mind tell me I should just come her and try and make the most of the night." She smiled at that comment, "Hey, where's Parker?" "Wouldn't you know, he left about 5 minutes ago. His mom texting him, something urgent and private." Adam frowned knowing what the evening had meant to her coming in. "Im sorry to hear that." "Its fine," Echo tried to reassure, "We had a great time while here and thats what matters." Adam nodded at that, in agreement. "Sooooooo..." Echo says after a short period of awkward standing. "Care to dance?" Adam asks her. "Sure"

Adam and Echo were dancing away through the rest of the night, having the time of their lives, both laughing at the good time and laughing at one another's questionable dance moves. Challenging each other and more. Near the end of the night Slab played a slow dance song and all the couples and dates got onto the dance floor to dance together. Adam glances around seeing this and looks at Echo with a questioning look as if to ask if she would be fine with that, to which she didn't verbally reply, she went forward and got his hand and they went into place as they got ready to dance to the song. "Thanks for showing up after all Adam, I dont know what I would've done after Parker left." Adam jokingly says, "you probably would've gone home too." Echo chuckles a bit at that, "Yea, probably but that would've meant missing out this past hour with you. You know, despite your obviously lower dancing abilities than mine, I had a great time." Adam laughed at her saying his dance abilities being less than hers, "Definitely, I also have had a great time." They paced around steadily in each other's arms to the pace of the music as is everyone else present. Adam looking deeply into Echo's eyes realizing how rarely he ever gets to be this close to her. Sure, she had kissed his space shield when they were in space and shes hugged him before but, in that moment he felt as if that was the most intimate moment they both shared and he felt it was mutual. She was just there, looking at him too unsure what to make of the situation. "Thanks for coming out tonight everyone, we hope you had a fantastic evening!" says Slab, getting ready to pack his DJ'ing equipment up, "I cant wait to get back to my nerds on Monday!"

Adam and Echo distanced a bit after the song ended that announced the end of the event. Adam offered to walk her home considering how late at night it was. "I hope you guys stay safe, wish me luck, Hailey cheated with me immediately after the song ended. WoMeN, am I right?" Adam and Echo make a puzzled face but brush it off, as they're now commencing the walk home. It was generally silent, but at some point in the walk they held hands, not for long however as that moment that they did was just before they got to her house. "Well this is me." Echo tells Adam, indicating they've arrived. "Thanks for showing up tonight and making the most of the night with me." Adam smiles, No problem, im glad I made the decision to go after all." They were there silent for a few seconds, no words being exchanged, just looks into eachother's eyes once again. But that got interrupted as the front door of the house opens, "Hey honey welcome back! Is that your science teacher Mr Young? Hi!" Echo's mother says while at the door, whilst Echo is a bit embarrassed, "Yea mom i'll be in in a second, (to Adam) yea thanks for the night and ill see you in your class Monday. Bye." She says, kissing his cheek. He was dumbfounded at what had just happened, he was standing there, watching her go in her home and he is still trying to perceive what had just occurred.