A couple of hours of dancing left me breathless and tired. So when Eric took his leave for a break, I went out onto the balcony overlooking the pond for some fresh air. 

To my surprise, one of my classmates was already there. 

Jack the Jock. 

Without Nicky. 

Gazing into the starry sky with a wistful expression. 

I turned to leave, but Jack called out after me. "Stay. I could use the company."

Pursing my lips, I gripped the railing and looked over the edge. Several floors down, it sufficed to give me a healthy dose of vertigo. 

I couldn't imagine what the hell he would want with me. A part of me was mildly concerned that Jack would push me off the edge for breaking up with Bryan. But that wouldn't make sense...

"You kept your bargain," I said. "Thank you."

"I'm a man of my word," he replied, still staring at the heavens. A shooting star passed overhead. 

"I meant to ask--"

"Why did I make it so easy for you?"

"Not that I'm ungrateful," I said. "But I expected you to throw me into the vending machines."

Jack gave a dark chuckle. "It takes a lot of work to keep up a mirage, doesn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"For a long time, you dated Bryan," he said, gripping the railing. "Knowing something was wrong, but not being able to put your finger on it. Am I right?"

"Yes," I breathed. "But how--?"

"I didn't want to keep you from your dream," he said. "Not after you had the balls to tell me the truth." He scoffed. "Everyone thinks I'm the tough one. I've worked hard to make them think so."

"You're not?"

Jack turned to face me. "Not as strong as you."

And then it hit me. Like a sudden burst of inspiration, I understood. Jack let me go because I did the one thing he couldn't. 

Admit my asexuality.

"You mean you're--"

"I didn't question your sexuality," he said, gazing once again at the stars. "Please give me the same courtesy."

Ohh? Oh...! Ah...!

"I'm sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I didn't mean to pry."

"Don't be. I'm just jealous of you. So very jealous." Jack gripped the railing until his knuckles turned white. "But it gave me a kind of vicarious joy. Making things easy for you."

Even if he couldn't do it for himself...

"I should be happy," he said. "I have a full football scholarship to a prestigious school. I have the dream girl on my arm." He scoffed. "The queen bee. They tell me I should be happy. But..."

"So you understand?"

"More than you know." He sighed. "I was so fucking pissed. Angry because you could have a man and made it so damn difficult for yourself. And you hurt my best friend. But now I get it."

"Why don't you tell him the truth?" I asked in a whisper. "Whoever he is...he might feel the same way."

"He wouldn't."

"But how do you know for sure?"

"I just do," he insisted. "It's fine. I'm fine." He pushed himself away from the railing of the balcony. "I'll get over it. It's no biggie." He sighed. "Catholic school sucks, doesn't it?"

"Hell yeah, it does."

He turned back. "Congrats on Fitchburg State. You deserve more, but I've come to expect how much the system screws us over. Just remember--make the most of it."

I shrugged a shoulder. "A free ride to a decent school. I can't complain."

Jack gave me a tight-lipped smile. "Good talk, Smith."

When he left, I gazed at the night sky. For the first time, I realized how truly lucky I was. To find the man of my dreams, not only with the same sexuality but also with so much common ground.

Eric startled me when he approached with soundless steps. "I thought I might find you here. Need a bit of peace and quiet?"

I nodded. "But I enjoy you here." I reached for his hand. "You aren't people."

He gave me a gentle squeeze and turned me to face him. "We can dance out here like no one's watching."

I laughed and gazed into his eyes. His breathing was more rapid than normal. He twirled me away from him before twirling me back and pressing me against his chest, swaying me gently.

My heart thudded, and not just from exertion.

"May I kiss you, Jess?" he whispered in my ear. 

"Yes, please..."

Eric wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. He gave a soft, gentle hum as he planted a kiss on my neck. I drew a ragged breath, and he nuzzled me, trailing a row of caresses that tingled. 

"Jess..." he breathed. 

Fear stung me like a wasp. Not because his touch was wrong, but because being in his arms felt so damned right. I felt more for this man than I had with anyone in my entire life. It kept growing and spreading like a fire. But not a wildfire that would die in a few days or hours. More like smoldering embers that could continue forever as long as another log was added to the stove. 

Embers don't give off huge flames, but they burn the hottest.

But did he feel the same? What if this was just a fun night for him? And nothing more?

Eric must have felt me tense up because he pulled away. "What is it, my muse?"

My muse. What he called me in my daydream. How could he possibly know?

Some things simply defy explanation.

"What happens after tonight?" I whispered. 

He turned me around to face him. With a puzzled expression, he searched my eyes, hunting for a truth I desperately wanted to tell him. 

"This... Us... It wasn't just about prom for you..." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Was it?"

"No, but I want to make sure you feel the same," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and swaying to the faint hint of music dancing on the night air. 

"I want to be yours, Jess. Not just for a night. But all the nights. For as long as you--"

I gave him a gentle tug towards me and silenced him with a kiss. It was just a gentle peck. Without thinking. In one single, crazy moment, I acted on impulse. 

It felt like a sparkler in my heart. His soft lips on mine. So tender, so gentle. Fireworks in my brain. Butterflies in my stomach. Time stopped for that one brief moment.

Perhaps I should have asked him first, but it happened before I could think. I pulled away, searching his eyes. Praying I hadn't just ruined our night. Or worse...

But his eyes darkened a fraction, large pupils reflecting the light from the lamps on the balcony.

"I'm sorry, Eric. I shouldn't have--"

This time he silenced me. Gentle and chaste, but lingering. Tender sweetness. His lips tasting of the caramel and chocolate from our dessert. None of that stupid tongue business. Just soft, tender kisses of affection as he wrapped his hand around my neck. He trailed them down my neck. Across my shoulder. Before burying his head in the crook of my neck.

Breathless kisses. Mind-blowing kisses. Kisses that made me forget I was a physical being. 

"Wow..." I pulled away to breathe. "Eric, good God..."

Never had I let anyone kiss my lips. Never had I desired that kind of touch. Until him.

"Not just one night, then?" he asked with a smile as he pressed his forehead to mine. 

"No way."

"Good," he said with a sigh of relief. "Because I already bought an expensive semester bus pass for the line to Fitchburg."

"You did?" I exclaimed as I pressed myself to him with a hearty laugh. "Oh, my gosh! I can't believe it!"

"You're not going to get rid of me that easily, my muse."

Under that starry sky, our love might have seemed odd to most people in our class. But I could say something most of them probably couldn't. 

It is real.

THE END