Would you go to the Dance with me?
Cheers erupted, as the ball entered the goal. The blue-clad soccer players screamed and hugged each other. It was basically a win, with only a handful of minutes left.
Dave didn't cheer. It was his school team, that had now essentially won the game, but that didn't matter to him. He ignored the player who scored the goal. Instead, his eyes were on the opposite side of the field. At the goal of his team. At the goalkeeper. Billy.
Dave couldn't keep his eyes away, as Billy brushed his blonde, sweaty hair back. It would be in the same position as before in a few seconds, as always.
“At least act like you care for the game. People might get suspicious, if you only look at one, single player.â€
The voice broke Dave out of his focus. Blushing, he turned to his friend Mark. “What? No, I'm totally into the game.†Only now did he realize the excitement around him. “Did something happen?â€
Mark shook his head, grinning. “No, nothing. We just won.†He nudged his friend with his elbow. “Why don't you ask him for a date?†His face lit up. “There is a dance in a few weeks, remember?! Maybe he'll go with you.â€
The light red on Daves cheeks turned into a deep crimson. “Oh god, no!†He turned away, back to Billy. “I don't know if he is gay. And even if, he is way too cool to go there with someone like me.â€
It was the same as always. Mark sighed. “If you don't ask, you'll never know.†He put his arm over his friends shoulder.
A light nod was the answer. When nothing else came, he continued.
“And I already told you, he is definitely gay. You two are the only guys in this school who actually know how to dress well.â€
A chuckle. Dumb, cliched jokes always did the trick.
“It's fine. I'll just keep staring at him.â€
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A few days later, during lunch break, Billy couldn't help, but notice a boy watching him. Whenever he turned his head to look, the boy was strictly focused on his food. But it was obvious, even so.
“Why is he staring at me?â€, he asked, barely audible. “Every day. What's up with him?â€
“Maybe you have a very special fan?â€, Neal, the team captain, said. “Did you look? Was he at the game?â€
Billy nodded. “Yeah, I saw him. Always looking at me.â€
Both looked, and this time, they just caught Daves eyes, before he ripped himself away.
“Hmm, someone wants our attention, huh?â€, Neal said. “Maybe we should teach him a lesson. It's very impolite to stare at people.†He grinned. “Maybe he has a crush on you. Wouldn't that be fun?â€
Dave shook his head. “Come on, don't be like that. Just leave him alone. I'm sure he will stop soon enough.â€
For the rest of the break, he didn't give the starring boy another thought. Focusing on his food, he didn't realize the grin, that wouldn't leave Neals face.
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A few hours later, after his last class, Dave was walking through the hallways of the school. Most students and teachers had already gone. But as always, he did stay back to catch a glance at Dave, who would soon be on his way to the changing room.
He was hidden in a corner, next to a barely-used vending machine, which gave him a chance to get a look at his crush.
Mark had told him, that he acted creepy. But he couldn't help himself. Just a look, that was all he wanted.
Soon enough, members of the team walked by. Dave didn't care about them. The only one he recognized was Neal.
But instead of keeping on going, he and two others stopped. “Oops, I forgot my water at homeâ€, said the captain. “Isn't there a vending machine here, somewhere?â€
Dave froze. They would catch him. He managed to hide behind the machine, as the three soccer players came closer.
Each step increased the terror. What should he say, if they saw him? Now that he was hidden, it was too late to act like he was just getting a snack. He stood perfectly still, breathing as lightly as possible. Hoping for the luck of his live.
At first, it seemed to work, as Neal was focused on the machine. Dave couldn't see them, so he was likely invisible to them, too.
He heard the bottle falling down, and Neal getting it out. He heard the fizzing sound. Soon he would be save.
“Well, let's goâ€, felt like salvation, like he had escaped, just-so. He heard the footsteps of people walking away.
A few more seconds, just to make sure. Waiting. Hoping not to have missed Billy.
The steps were barely audible now. Dave came out, happy to have avoided whatever the soccer team would have done to him.
Only to stare at the grinning face of Neal.
“Hey, buddyâ€, the team captain said.
Dave was frozen. He stared in horror at the other student. There was no way out, a wall behind him. The only exit was blocked, by this trained, big guy.
“I have a present for youâ€, Neal said. He held out a small bag. “Open it.â€
Shivering, Dave did as he was told. He had no idea what to expect, but he imagined that the easiest way, to get out of this, was to do as he was told.
He stared at the open bag. It only contained a roll of duct tape, and a coil of rope.
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Billy was confused. When he had gotten to the change room, Neal wanted him to get something out of his locker.
He wondered, if it was a prank. Did something wait to scare him, in there? He sighed, but then grinned. An excuse for a counter prank was always welcome.
As he reached the locker, he started to hear noises. A voice, but unintelligible. More like grunting. It sounded exhausted. Sometimes, there was also a bang against the door.
“Hehe, poor kidâ€, he said. “What did you do to Neal, that he put you in there, huh?â€
Only grunts came out. It didn't matter much. This happened from time to time, a student not respecting the soccer team getting a bit of punishment. Never lasted more than half an hour. Just a lesson.
“Keep calm, I'm going to free youâ€, he said, as he opened the door. And stared at the boy who seemed obsessed with him.
He had to think for a second, as Daves lower face was wrapped in silver tape. But the eyes, and the short, spiky hair gave it away soon enough.
He couldn't hide a chuckle. “I guess, Neal made me a present, huh? Do you need anything?â€
Some guys were fun to deal with, getting angry at the dumb question. The rope around their torsos, their legs and feet, the hands bound behind their backs – it was obvious what they needed.
But the boy only stared to the side, his cheeks deep red. Billy could see how fast the kid was breathing, how he was shaking.
“Hey, it's ok. Just a prank. I'll let you go now, wait a secondâ€, he said, as his look got caught at a note, attached to the bound body. He couldn't help but take it, with Dave only being able to wait.
I talked with a friend of this guy. Apparently,
he has a HUGE crush on you, but is way too shy
to ask you out.
Tell him, that you will go to the dance with him.
That's an order from your captain.
he has a HUGE crush on you, but is way too shy
to ask you out.
Tell him, that you will go to the dance with him.
That's an order from your captain.
Billys smile grew wider and wider, as he read the letter. The boy wasn't a stalker, or at least not a malicious one. He tried to meet Daves eyes, who still did his best to avoid his.
“Come on, look at me. I need to ask you something, before I free you.â€
He waited, trying to look as welcoming as possible. It took Dave the better part of a minute, to meet his crushes eyes.
Billy, suddenly getting self conscious, needed a few seconds to actually say it.
“You know, there is a dance coming up. Saturday, next week? What am I saying, of course you know.â€
The soccer player needed to clear his throat, before finally adding:
“Would you go to the dance with me?â€
