Lights

Ryan was with a group of friends, who were currently against a wall, one smoking a cigarette. "Georgie," Ryan said as smoke swirled up the wall, "you are going to get in trouble for doing that in here. And get kicked out- again.” Georgie rolled his eyes, pulling the cigarette from his lips.

"It is not my fault that your flower power gets in the way of you living your life, but I am going to live mine the way I want." Georgie’s boyfriend, Connor, was under his arm and gripping the taller boy’s hips. Even though they were inside, Georgie had shades on, and he had an old black leather jacket that looked as if it had seen better days in the many years of its youth. Connor was wearing a somewhat ragged dusty rose pink tee shirt and tight white pants. Georgie slid his free hand down and put it in Connor's back pocket. "You really should go find someone to dance with so me and Connor can, maybe," he blew some smoke out, "go somewhere." Connor winked and took Georgie's cigarette from him, taking a draw from it himself

Taking the hint, Ryan tried to maneuver through the crowd of teens, getting bumped and shoved at every other turn. When he made it to the other side, he looked back to his friends who were now heavily kissing each other. Ryan watched as Connor started pulling Georgie by the belt toward the exit. Rolling his eyes, Ryan stood nervously by the wall. He wore a white dress shirt and pink polka dotted bow tie, making him look like a tall, male version of Minnie Mouse, minus the pink high heels. Ryan leaned against the wall sighing with the dissatisfaction of knowing he would not find a guy to dance with. Georgie and Connor were the only out guys in the school other than himself, and he had always been a third wheel when he tagged along with them. He wanted to have a guy for himself: someone to hold hands with in the hall, sit with at lunch, and maybe even make the comments and looks from his classmates in the hallways a little easier to bear. 

The lights bounced off of the walls, and the loud music poured out of the speakers. Ryan's eyes wandered down to his shoes which were the only casual thing about his attire. While he was distracted, an upperclassman brushed up beside him. He was trying and hoping to gain Ryan's attention, and it did not work at first. Ryan's mind was lost in thought and his eyes were staring at his shoelaces. The upperclassman put his hand tentatively over Ryan's, snapping him out of his distracted state. 

"What is your name?" 

Ryan's mind froze at the sight of the guy that was standing in front of him: the hottest guy on the football team, even the hottest guy in the school, Liam Kartwright. He was number 78, the Quarterback, and everyone's go-to guy for any problems they were having, whether academic, athletic, or even emotional issues.

"It's Ry, right?" 

"Y-yeah. My friends call me Ry." He nodded rapidly, forcing himself to smile so he would not look as scared as he felt in this moment. 

The speakers stopped blasting the normal "teen jams" and a slower song came on. Still staring at Liam, Ryan quickly averted his gaze. "Well," Liam sighed, "I came over for one of two reasons," Ryan's eyes glued themselves to the floor again, "one: you are extremely cute." Ryan's head snapped up, eyes meeting Liam's, "and two: I wanted you to dance with me, and now seems to be the perfect opportunity for me to ask and for you to say yes." 

Ryan was taken back, he blinked a few times before nodding slowly, letting Liam take his hand and lead him to the middle of the crowded room, the whole student body stopping and staring. No one dared to say a word. Liam Kartwright was Liam Kartwright, and anything he did was practically law, no matter how scandalous it was or how much uproar it would cause amongst the many gossipers in their school and community.  

As the music got louder, Liam wrapped his hand sneakily around Ryan's waist. Blushing intensely, Ryan hesitantly put his arms up around Liam's neck and shoulders. "Do you want to know something?" Liam said, "I was not sure if you were gay or not before tonight." He paused, looking into Ryan's eyes, "I asked your friends- who are currently in the locker room doing god knows what, I might add-" his eyes widening with an unspoken understanding, "if you were. Lucky for me, you are. Not only that, but you are the most handsome guy I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on, not to mention the nicest looking one in this room alone." Ryan's breathing grew unsteady as he continued to sway back and forth, noticing everything about Liam's appearance. His hair looked like a typical football player's, and he had a black suit with a white undershirt and a black tie. His lips were pretty... Realizing what Ryan had just thought, he tried to think of something, anything, else. His eyes, which were currently staring into Ryan's, were a beautiful golden brown with green flecks in them. He started to panic, and from the compliments Liam was giving him, he could tell he obviously liked him. Suddenly feeling his shyness on his face, he buried himself in Liam's shoulder and neck. Liam proceeded to embrace Ryan tighter, "Did I upset you? I'm sorry if I did, it's really hard to find someone and-"

"You did not offend me." Ryan whispered, staring at the floor, watching their feet move together. 

"Okay, good." 

"Dance with me."

"In front of everyone?" The blush reddening across his face as his eyes scoured the room, the intense stares of the student body making him feel smaller and smaller despite Liam's seemingly proud manner consuming his weight. 

"Yes, in front of everyone here."

"How long?"

"How does forever sound?" Liam said slyly, flashing Ryan a devilish grin.

Ryan just smiled and shook his head, looking down at the floor again. He nodded, slowly making his gaze meet Liam's before giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Forever works just fine."