We were walking into the performance hall. Professor Douglas was talking to Joey at the front of the stage.
Gavin and I walked down the aisle toward them. “Hey guys,” I said. “This is my friend, Gavin. He’s gonna stay to watch practice so he can give me a ride home. My car’s still broken down.”
Gavin looked at me and squinted. I guess I had surprised him with that.
Joey rolled his eyes. “Now you’re bringing boyfriends to practice?”
“He’s just a friend—”
“Yes,” Gavin said. “She is.”
Professor Douglas turned his attention to Gavin. “Welcome. Have a seat anywhere you’d like.”
“Does this mean I can bring friends to practice, too?” Joey asked.
“She needs a ride home,” P-Doug argued.
“I bet she does.” Joey was scanning Gavin up and down.
I looked out of the corner of my eye at Gavin and watched him wink at Joey. When I elbowed him, he said, “What? I’m gonna help you out here and kill the little prince with kindness. I think he likes me anyway.”
“I’m sure he does. He thinks he can convert anyone.”
“Get warmed up, Penny,” Professor Doug said.
“I gotta get up there. Sit by Doug. He’s cool.”
Gavin nodded and took a seat.
5.Fourteen Years Ago
GAVIN
What was I doing chasing this girl around? Until an hour ago, I literally believed we were put on this planet to eat and fuck. Now all I wanted to do was wash her hair and suck on her ears. What was happening to me?
I was currently hungover and tweaking from coffee. And this girl, Penny, the dancer with the almost black eyes and silky hair, was making me crazy.
I want to swim around in her dark oceans I’m gonna fuck her. No, I want to cook breakfast for her in my underwear. I want to kiss her with a mouth full of hot chocolate, then fuck her.
I was confused.
“Hey man, so what do you think?” the professor asked.
“She’s amazing.” That was a gigantic understatement. She was warming up, and I was observing her flexibility. Joey had his hand on his hip, staring at us from the edge of the stage. I waved at him and batted my eyelashes. He looked embarrassed. I could tell he was jealous of Penny. She danced beautifully. It was impossible to take my eyes off her. Not to mention I could see her nipples through her tank top.
“She and Joey have been partners for two years. They really are the best we have here,” Doug said.
“What’s his problem?”
“A crisis of confidence, perhaps. Not unusual for seniors.”
Penny was doing this insane jump across the stage while Joey Jackoff was just standing there.
“She’s so good,” I said.
“Yeah, almost too good for this place.”
Joey took his eyes off Penny for one second and seemed to miss his mark where he was supposed to catch her and fall back, shielding her from hitting the stage. She fell to the floor with a thud and landed on her knees.
