“What?” Mike cocks his head to the side.
“Liz is crushing on Mr. Dreamboat here.” Jim jabs a finger at him. “How did we count Liz out as a chick?”
“Maybe because she doesn’t act like one… more like a grinch.”
“Or a negative Nancy,” Kota adds.
“Great… now you’re even more annoying.” Jim scoffs. “You got the most difficult girl in your pocket, too?? Show off.”
“Maybe a little…”
“A little??”
“You have another thing you do with your hair.” Mike points to his long, lush mane.
“My what?”
“You do something extra to it, so it’s super bouncy.”
“Wow… you’re reaching with that one! I just use shampoo.”
Jimmy analyzes his lavish mane of dark hair. “And a conditioner.”
“No.”
“A native kind that makes you one with the wind.”
“With herbs and shit in it,” Mike seconds.
They have to be kidding! A secret native conditioner??? Kota titters. “You two are something else…but I accept your envy.” He remarks, drinking from his cup.
When Liz returns, the boys stand in awkward silence, not wanting to address her being sweet on Kota. She looks between the three, skeptical of their quietness. “What are you guys up to?”
“Nothing.”
“Just chilling.”
“Yeah, we’re up to nothing,” Kota seconds swiftly.
“Sure… I totally buy that.” Liz tightens her lips. “What were y’all talking about when I was gone?”
“Nothing.” Jimmy lies.
“So, none of you spoke a word; you just stood here like creeps?”
Jimmy bobs his head up and down. “Yep, we were total creeps the whole time.”
The current song fades out. Holy Diver by Dio blasts the speakers. This stirs up a rave concert. All the teachers march over to the pit forming on the dance floor. The crowd rapidly grows in size. “Wow, they’re actually playing a good song??” Liz is impressed.
“Wanna headbang? We can’t be wallflowers,” Kota suggests.
“Sure… but we’re the only two with long hair.” She pokes.
“There’s no ban against us short-haired participating.”
“YEAH, WHAT HE SAID!” Mike backs up Jim.
“Alright, let’s go then.” Kota gestures to the dance floor.
“I guess I can mingle with the goofies…” Liz huffs.
The four place their cups down and join rowdy teens in the middle of the floor. The adults find it hard to de-escalate the wild students, who hop aggressively. Most give their best impression of the seizure dance. Mike and Jim break into crazed neck movements since they lack long hair, while Liz and Kota headbang properly. “Race for the morning. You can hide in the sun till you see the light,” she sings along with the track.
The other three join in. “Oh, we will pray it’s all right!”
The crowd around shouts, “Gotta get away, get away!! Holy diver, yeah!!” The teachers throw ridiculing looks, covering their ears because of the hollering.
“Got shiny diamonds like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue. Something’s coming for you!!! LOOK OUT!! Race for the morning. You can hide in the sun till you see the light!!” The teens distort their voices as the singer does. Everyone jumps and rocks their heads. Mike almost falls, Liz points and laughs. When the solo shreds the speakers, the crew mimics air guitars, continuing their hostile head jerks.
“Gotta get away, get away!! Holy diver, yeah!!!” the youth bellow out the lyrics.
The principal, a tall man, stomps to the DJ, jabbing his finger. The music host leans to hear what the man is saying. The man points to their Numark mixer, stressing his words. The music cuts.
“What? Seriously??!!” Liz throws her hands into the air.
“Behave yourselves!!” the principal shouts into a microphone. “That behavior isn’t allowed here!! The DJ will play something slow.”
“Aww!” all of the teens groan. The song On the Wings of Love mellows out the rocker mood. The romantic piano and air strings course through the gym.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAzlaCOcIN
