Chapter 24

They say that school is all about cliques and social status. I was pretty sure that between quarterbacking the best football team the school had in years and walking into the Spring Dance with two beautiful ladies on my arms, I had peaked. Nobody was going to top that.

It had taken a lot of convincing to get Tami to come. She hadn't wanted to be a fifth wheel. But I told her that at worst she was a third wheel and that trikes were a lot more stable than bikes. Then I added she'd be a fifth wheel if I invited Mikee and Kelly too. She just gave me her look and let me talk her into coming.

"Everyone's staring," Tami whispered.

"Yeah, they are," Robbie agreed, sounding very satisfied.

I don't think they had coordinated, they hadn't had time, but Robbie and Tami complimented each other. Robbie's dress was a vivid blue, while Tami's was a bright red in a similar style. I almost wished I'd gone all white, but I wore a light blue sport shirt and jeans.

The dance was typical middle school. The gym was decorated in streamers and posters, though we did have a disco ball suspended from the ceiling that somebody had donated years ago.

The band, a local high school group, was playing a slow dance when we walked in, so I parked Tami in a chair and took Robbie out on the dance floor. I guess I'm old-fashioned, but I like the slower dances where I actually get to touch my partner. Of course, back in the fourth grade when I'd learned, I thought it was torture.

Robbie was a good dancer. Which was no surprise. If there was anything Robbie wasn't good at, I hadn't discovered it yet. And she felt good in my arms as I held her close.

From the looks we were getting from Mr. Parker, the vice-principal, too close. But the student handbook didn't specify a distance for dancing, so I ignored him. But I wouldn't be surprised if next year's handbook didn't fix the omission. Do you measure from the thighs? The hips? Or the chests? Maybe take an average of all three. I could see Parker wandering the dance floor with a tape measure and a calculator.

The song ended and the band started another slow one, so I exchanged Robbie for Tami. Tami wasn't as sure of herself as Robbie, but she was a good dancer anyway. Especially when she forgot about trying to dance and just let the music take over.

Robbie lost no time in finding another partner, a seventh grader who'd been leaning against the wall, trying to be invisible. A couple of minutes in Robbie's arms and the kid looked like Casanova. Damn, I love her.

The next song was faster, so I brought Tami over to the side and sat down. Tami hesitated, then plopped down on my leg. A minute later, Robby joined us, sitting in the chair next to me. "I got dumped," she said and pointed.