Page 106 of Ancient History

Amos: A sexy idiot!

I smiled at my phone, imagining his face as he came up with that expression.

Hutch: How’s chaperoning going?

Amos: I already found kids drinking from a flask. And they’re on the prom committee! Tonight is going to be an experience. We’re going to be narcs!

Amos: You owe me a dance tonight.

Hutch: You know it.

I poked my head up at the sound of a dish and silverware clanging to the floor.

Hutch: Pop got so excited about prom he dropped his mac n’ cheese. I’m heading over. I’ll see you soon. [heart emoji]

I flopped my phone onto the bed and jogged downstairs, dance songs running in my head.

“Pop, are you making a mess?” I hopped into the living room. It was quiet. Too quiet. “Pop?”

From the entryway to the kitchen, I spotted his legs sprawled across the floor.

“Pop!”

I leapt over the coffee table and ran to him. I kicked away the spilled mac n’ cheese.

“Pop? Pop, what’s wrong?”

His face was bright red and quickly turning blue. He clutched his left arm.

“I’m okay, I’m o…” He lost consciousness, eyes fluttering closed.

“Pop!”

29

AMOS

Prom was overrated. Or so I thought. All these years, I’d been dying to know what attending prom would be like. South Rock High held their prom in the gymnasium. Even with the streamers and decorations adorning the walls, and a DJ set up on a makeshift stage, the whole thing felt like an elevated pep rally.

But that didn’t stop my excitement. Maybe that was the joke of prom. Everyone knew it was corny and silly, but we all secretly loved it.

Julian and I were stationed by the front door collecting tickets and checking purses for flasks. It was a half-hearted attempt to stop covert drinking because guys could easily hide them in their jacket pockets and we weren’t patting people down.

I actually loved my position because I got to see everyone.

Kids filtered into the gym and beelined for tables, then the dance floor. My students cleaned up well. It was night and day seeing them in tuxedos and fancy dresses. The night began to buzz to life. The music was pumping. Some kids went right to the dance floor.

Renaysh and Dale entered hand-in-hand, eliciting a gasp from me.

“Good evening,” I said to them, my eyes shamelessly going to their hands.

“Evening, Mr. Bright,” Dale said.

“And I thought Coach Hawkins and I were going to be the only same sex couple here tonight.”

“What makes you think we’re a couple?” Renaysh asked.

I gulped back an awkward lump. “Oh.”

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