Blowing florets
I want to dance in the air
Blowing florets
And just not care about anyone or anything
But you and me
So don't let go of me
Don't let go of me

“Where’s Frank? I see April, and that guy from outside.”
“The creepy looking one?” I asked as I tried to move to see them. “Where?”
“Behind us,” Tony replied as we moved quickly to let see them.
“Should I go over and ask them?”
“Probably not a good idea.”
Good idea, bad idea; I didn’t really care at that moment; I wanted answers. “I want to go and see if Frank’s outside.”

Tony nodded and helped me move through the crowd. My eyes locked onto April and she closed her eyes and whipped her hair back which was bitch code for 'You already know the answer but, ask me if I care anyway.'
I almost wanted to hobble over and attempt to slap her across the face. I was sure I could have gotten at least one good hit before losing my balance and falling face down on the floor.
We stepped outside of the grange and into the parking lot.
“I see his dad’s truck,” I pointed to the far side of the lot, just about on the road, “but where is he? Frank!”
Tony ran ahead of me to the truck and looked in the driver’s seat. “The keys are still in the ignition.”
“There’s no way he would have done that. His dad would kill him.” I stepped through the dim of the lone lamp post that barely illuminated anything. “Something’s happened to him.”
Tony opened the door and grabbed the keys. “The seat is kind of moved forward.”
“Anthony, please tell me that nothing’s happened to him.”
“I can’t say that. If you say you want to leave so we can report this to the police, I’m with you.”
“Can we do that?”
“I’ll get the car,” Tony replied as he handed the truck keys to me.
“I’m sorry, and you wanted to get pictures.”
“There’s always Prom.”
I nodded as he squeezed my hand.

I looked all around the truck, fearing I’d see Frank’s body lying in the back or underneath a tire. There was nothing in the back but a few pieces of loose lumber and a large roll of wire.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Tony yelled and I pivoted my body in what I thought was his location.
“What happened?”
Tony ran back to the truck and shook his head. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“What happened?”
“Tires are flat.”
“How?”
“Someone in there has a death wish,” Tony muttered.
“But we can’t say it was that guy or April.”
“And I know they’re not going to admit to anything.”
“Yeah,” I replied and stopped short of saying anything as a car pulled up onto the side of road.
We looked at the vehicle and saw someone open the back passenger side door.
“Thanks for the ride!”
“Frank?” I asked into the darkness.
Frank walked over to us, and we could see his once clean and pressed clothes were dusty and messy.
“What happened to you?”
“April! She stole my truck!”
“How?”
“I let her drive a little bit, but some loose stuff was moving around in the back. I got out to take care of it and she drives off in my damn truck and leaves me on side of the road!”
“Why?” I asked as I reached out to hug him.
The hug was quick and kind of one-sided. I understood why but I hoped he would calm down a little.
“Did you see her in there, Jo?”
“I-I-” I stammered to respond.
“She is, with some guy we saw earlier in the lot,” Tony replied while shaking his head.
“What? Who?” Frank seethed as he looked at the building.
“I don’t know, she just is.”
“She really did have a boyfriend at her old school then,” I said, but instantly regretted it.
“And when were you, my friend, going to say anything to me?” Frank barked at me.
“I didn’t really know. She said something about it but, I didn’t know if it was true. Maybe she was seeing if I was going to react. If I had told you would you believe me? Would she let you?”
“Calling me stupid, Jo?”
“No, I’m saying you’re human and some people are bitches, who know how to play others.”
“I can’t believe this shit!” Frank’s face turned a deeper shade of vermillion that he almost glowed in the darkness. He clenched his fists and ran to the door.
“I shouldn’t have said that. Whatever he’s doing we need to stop it.”

Tony raced ahead of me and if our situations were reversed I would have done the same to get out the door. I did the best I could to get inside as I envisioned Frank going right up against the gungy guy and end up eating the floor. He wouldn’t take it slow. He wouldn’t think through anything, he’d just be like me and go in with blind fury. Maybe Tony would be able to reach them in time and allow Frank to put April in her place. Even better: both of them would allow me to take a few shots at April.
I opened the door ran into a wall of students who had created a literal ring around Frank and the guy. Tony stood off to the side with his eyes on April.
“Take ‘em down, John!” April yelled over the music and then shoved Frank to the ground, instantly changing what was only the high school equivalent of counting coup into a real fight.
Tony looked at me and I gave him a nod and we both into the fray, which I will admit was a stupid idea at the time. I should have gone to find a chaperone or someone who could take charge and pull everyone apart. Tragically, the crowd devolved into a scene from “Lord of the Flies.”
Tony grabbed John from behind and hoisted him off the ground. John kicked his feet and tried to break free, but Tony had him in a wrestling hold.
“What the hell, April!” Frank yelled at April, distracting her from trying to get at Tony.
“Just be with your boyfriend!” April shouted and pointed at me.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve always talking about him. Jo this, Jo that. I got sick of it and you’re sick to think that is a girl in any way, shape or form.”
“You wrote the note,” Frank growled.
“Oooh, he’s finally showing some intelligence.”
John continued kicked his feet back and Tony held onto him harder.
“Don’t make me crush your throat, man. Don’t.”
The situation was Tony ready to put John into a sleeper hold and Frank looking like he wanted to punch April with me trying to make sense of April’s hatred of me. She had sent the moron twins after me.
“What did I do to you?” I yelled at April.
Frank stood between us.
“You exist, that’s what you did! Someone should have taken you out a long time ago,” she said with a scoff.
“Hey! I’m the one you have a problem with!” Frank shouted and took a step towards her. “I have a rule about not hitting girls. But right now…”
Frank charged at April and shoved her down.
John kept kicking.
“Just stay there before I kick your ass!”
April scrambled to get onto her feet as the music stopped and the lights came up.
Mr. Cain and a few teachers stepped into the circle. He looked at the five of us with the look of 'not this again’, and then to the crowd he clapped his hands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the dance is over!”
He then turned back to the five of us and pointed at John.
“Is he unconscious?”
“Yes sir,” Tony replied.