Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "On the loveseat, with lover-boy." Jessie sniggered.

  "No, she's not. And Lover Boy is currently being accosted by the ever-charming John Vassar, his equally charming sister, and that slug he calls a best friend."

  "Shit. Where's Nickie? Fuck that, he went to the store. Damn. You're right, we need Soph. You check the bathroom, I'll see if she's outside smoking a butt."

  "Got it."

  "Now, who would have a problem with me taking this seat for myself? Heck, I just want to spend some time with my good friend Wimp-man." John was saying. "Who would want to sit next to you so badly anyway?" Anne and Rob laughed.

  "My girlfriend," Warren said.

  "Girlfriend?" All three lasted uproariously. "Don't you mean blow up rubber doll? Yeah, like a wimp-man like you actually has a girlfriend."

  Karen was knocking on the bathroom door. "Soph, you in there?"

  "Yeah, Karen. I'll be out in a minute."

  "Shake a tail feather. We got a problem."

  "Alexandra again?"

  "No. Worse. Mister and Miss Wonderful, John and Anne Vassar. And they have found Warren."

  "Shit." Sophia finished in record time, flew out of the bathroom with a "Thanks, Karen" and ran down the stairs.

  "Blow up rubber doll, that was a good one," Anne said.

  "Wasn't it." John said. "Now, Warren, ol' pal, ol' buddy, I don't think that a piece of plastic will fight too hard over this seat, do you?"

  Warren smirked. "I don't know if she'll appreciate being called a piece of plastic, that's for sure."

  "Oh, come on, Warren." John said. "Nice try, but you and I both know that you've got no girlfriend, you just want me to get out of the seat. No Kewpie Doll. Nope, you're here, and I'm going to keep you company all night."

  "Hey, Sophia!" Anne saw her approaching from behind. "Happy Birthday!"

  "Soph!" John saw her come around the front of the loveseat. "Happy B-day, kid. Having a good one?"

  "Yes I am, John. Anne, Rob. I'm having a great birthday. Now, John, you wanna get out of my seat?"

  "Huh? What?"

  "My seat. You're in my seat, John." John stood up, unsure what was going on. Sophia sat down, then spread out, her feet hanging off the edge, her head in Warren's lap. "Aah, that's much better."

  John looked at Anne. "What the fuck is going on here?"

  Warren just grinned. "Rubber inflatable doll," he said, pointing at Sophia.

  "What?" Sophia asked.

  "I'll explain later." Warren said. Then he looked up, "I told you my girlfriend was in this seat."

  "Wait just a minute," John sputtered. "Sophia Daniels, I've known you since you were born."

  Warren looked at her. "Our mothers are best friends," Sophia explained.

  John continued, "You can not expect me to believe that you are actually going out with Wimp-man Kelleher!"

  "Believe it. And his name is Warren. Or Romeo, whichever." Warren laughed. Sophia went on. "So you can stop calling the love of my life nasty names right now, you hear me, John Vassar?"

  John just stared. Anne took a shot. "Sophia, have you taken leave of your senses?"

  "No. Why?"

  "How can you possibly go out with him? I mean, of all people. Consider your rep, for Chrissakes! What's gonna happen when the whole gang finds out you're going out with a nerd?"

  "Well, the whole gang pretty much knows, now, since you guys got here late. And, it's funny, you all didn't seem too fucking concerned when I was going out with a guy who everyone thought was cool and a good partier and not a nerd--all the while he was fucking beating me up!"

  Anne looked down, and then looked guiltily at John. John looked at Sophia and said, "Soph, we didn't know about that. None of us did."

  "I know. I didn't at first. My point is, I'm done with judging people by how good of a partier they are, or how cool the gang thinks they are, or how macho they seem. I'm done with it. You guys are supposed to be my friends. You didn't know about Scott, true, but if you had known I'd have expected you to act like my friends."

  "We would have." Anne said. John and Rob nodded agreement.

  "Right. So act like my friends now. This guy whose lap I am lying on is the most wonderful guy in the world. Don't judge a book by its cover. He treats me like gold, and I am in love. Respect that, or leave me--and him--alone."

  John thought for a minute. Then he looked down at Sophia.

  "You happy, Soph?"

  "Immensely."

  "Really?"

  Sophia looked John in the eye. "Happier than I have been in a long time. Really, John. This is one special guy. "

  John took a deep breath. He looked at Sophia, then looked at Warren. Then he shrugged his shoulders.

  "Who the fuck am I to argue with that?" He gave Sophia a lopsided grin, which she returned, and said "Happy Birthday, Sophia." Then he turned to Anne and Rob. "Let's go find the damn beer!"

  "It's over there," Warren pointed helpfully.

  John just looked at him. Sophia cracked up, "He's been fetching mine for me all night."

  Even Anne had to laugh at that. "Well, at the very least, you've got him well trained."

  "You betcha," Sophia agreed happily. The threesome walked away, heading for the beer, and Sophia exhaled. "I'm sorry, Warren."

  "Shit, I think half of your old friends used to torture me at one point."

  "Oh, John and Anne are complete assholes--to most people. I'm almost family, though. And when I talk, John Vassar listens--because he knows if he doesn't I tell his mother." They both laughed.

  The rest of the party proceeded nicely.

  Chapter 15 - Whispers

  Sophia sat at a table in the cafeteria at Oceanview High, tearing into a salad. She usually ate with Jessie, but Jess had something to do today and was going to be late, so Soph was alone. That was OK.

  Behind her Maureen Kenney was sitting. She was quickly joined by two of her best friends, Cheryl Wheeler and Christine Vlora.

  "Hey, look," said Cheryl. "That slut Sophia Daniels is sitting behind us."

  "Yeah, and she's all alone," interjected Christine. "She must be in between boyfriends." Christine and Cheryl sniggered.

  "Shh! Keep your damn voice down," demanded Mo.

  "What's gotten into you, Maureen?" asked Cheryl.

  "Because I have to be nice to Sophia Daniels, now, or I'll hurt someone that I care about a lot."

  "What is going on, Mo?" asked Christine.

  "The slut behind you is now, God help me, my best friend's fucking girlfriend."

  "Huh?" Chris and Cheryl looked at each other. Then Cheryl realized" "WARREN?"

  "Yup."

  "Warren Kelleher is going out with SOPHIA DANIELS?"

  "Believe it or not, it's true."

  "What has gotten into him?" asked Christine.

  "He's getting laid, no doubt," smirked Cheryl. "What I can't figure out is what's in it for her? I mean, Warren's a wimp. He's not the usual type of burnout asshole she goes out with."

  "Ah, she probably just wanted to bag a virgin," said Christine.

  "Which Warren most definitely is, or was--I don't know for sure that he's slept with her," admitted Mo.

  "I have to say, I'm just worried that that little viper is going to chew Warren up and spit him out. " Mo sighed. "Y'know, I've never felt that way about Warren, but if I knew he was going to hook up with someone like her, I would have asked him out myself, just to save him from it."

  "Ah, nothing you can do about it now," pointed out Cheryl.

  "True," agreed Mo. "I just hope that little slut doesn't leave my best friend in too many pieces when she's done with him. Warren's experience with girls is just about nil. If she just fucks him and moves on to the next victim, he's going to be devastated. He thinks he's in love."

  "With her?" laughed Christine. "Poor boy, he's in deep. Girls like her aren't there to fall in love with, they are there to sleep with. Warren needs a slap!"

  They left the table, still laughing over Christine'
s joke. They didn't look back at Sophia.

  If they had, they would have seen her crying. She had heard every word.

  Sophia talked with Warren that night, but didn't say a word about what she had overheard. She thought about it--knowing Warren would be furious, but Mo was his friend. Sophia didn't want to come between that. Warren had acted like a true friend in allowing things with Nickie to be sorted out--the least she could do is do the same with him where Mo was concerned. No, she would try to handle this one herself.

  She made sure she got to the cafeteria early, got her lunch, chose an outdoor table, out of the way, and then went to try to intercept Mo before she could be joined by her friends.

  She grabbed her coming out of the lunch line. "Maureen?" Mo looked up, and frowned. "I'm Sophia Daniels."

  "I know who you are."

  "I'd like to have a talk with you, if you're willing."

  Mo laughed. "What, on earth, could we possibly have to talk about?"

  "Warren."

  "I do not need you to talk with me about my best friend."

  "I know. But I need to talk to you about him."

  Mo sighed. "All right, if I must." Sophia led Mo to the table she had picked. Mo sat down, looked at Sophia, and said, impatiently, "Well?"

  Sophia took a deep breath. "Firstly, I heard you talking about me with your two friends yesterday. I heard every word." Mo looked up, startled. "Don't worry, I haven't said a word to Warren. And I won't."

  Mo regained her composure. "You weren't meant to hear that, but I really don't care what you do or don't tell Warren about it."

  "I care. Look, Warren thinks the world of you. He's told me that. He calls you his surrogate sister."

  "True. We're very close, you know."

  Sophia took another breath. "Have you told him what you think of me?"

  Mo blinked. "Not quite in the words I used yesterday, no. But I have voiced my displeasure. He knows I think he's absolutely nuts."

  "OK."

  "Of course, he won't listen to a fucking word I say." Mo was starting to get worked up. "You've got him so hoodwinked he thinks he's in love with you."

  "He is."

  "Oh really."

  "Yeah, he really is in love with me." Sophia got a little lopsided smile. "Almost as much as I'm in love with him."

  Mo couldn't believe her ears. "Oh, don't give me that shit! You? In love with Warren? Get real!"

  "What, you think it's impossible for someone to fall in love with Warren?"

  "No, Godammit, and you know that's not what I meant. I mean you. You? Fall in love with someone? No fucking way. You're incapable of truly loving somebody, especially somebody as sweet and kind and generous as Warren. So go back to sleeping with every roughhouse burnout loser you can find, and leave my best friend alone!"

  Sophia looked down. She didn't want to cry, dammit. She did not want to cry. Finally, she said softly, without looking up: "I know I have a reputation. I know what it is. And at least part of it is probably deserved. I'm not going to deny that. But I'm done with it. I can't live like that anymore. I have had enough of roughhouse burnout losers. And if we were having this conversation six months ago, you'd most likely be correct--that I was incapable of truly loving someone." She looked up, her eyes moist. "Until Warren showed me how."

  Mo blinked. Sophia went on. "I really do love him, you know. I fell for him so hard it still hurts." Even Mo had to grin a little at that. "I'm not using him. I'm not going to chew him up and spit him out. I'd rather slit my wrists than ever hurt him." Now the tears were readily apparent. Sophia paused and sniffled, trying to control herself. Mo didn't know what to say.

  "Look," Sophia went on, calmed down a bit. "I'm not asking you to open your arms and start hanging around with me." Mo smirked. "All I'm asking is that you give me a chance. Give us--Warren and me--a chance. The absolute last thing I want is to come between Warren and someone who is as important to him as you are. I can't change my past, and there's no point in apologizing for it or trying to explain it. But Warren knows, and understands. Please, please believe me--he knew what he was getting into. He knows what I'm like now, and he knows that we really do love each other."

  Sophia stood up and gathered up the remnants of her lunch. "For Warren's sake. If it were just me, I wouldn't care. But I don't want Warren hurt. Any more than you do."

  Sophia walked away. Mo had a lot to think about.

  * * *

  "So, you're having the first oustide bash this Saturday?" Warren was on the phone with Mo.

  "Yup. And they're calling for good weather."

  "The whole crew gonna be there?"

  "Looks like it. Crash and Ally coming?"

  "I think so. I'll have to make sure, though."

  "Good. Oh, and Warren? Bring Sophia."

  Warren paused. "Are you sure?"

  "Yeah," Mo smiled. "After all, she is your girlfriend, isn't she?"

  "Thanks, Mo."

  Chapter 16 - Confession

  "Warren, heads up!"

  Warren took the pass, looked up, and went over his opponent to put the ball in the hoop.

  "Nice pass, Rick."

  "Of course."

  The party at the Kenney's was just getting started, and a group of them had taken over the basketball court for a little three-on-three. Warren was teamed up with Rick Kenney and their neighbor Jack Houle, while the opposing threesome were the brothers Kittredge, Matt and Kevin, and Rick Kenney's best friend, Darren Volauskas.

  Mo was holding court at the picnic table with Cheryl and Christine. Mo and Rick's sister, Tina, was there with her best friend Kate Rinelli. Lisa Nevin, who lived next door to Warren, was sitting in a lounge chatting with Len Gallagher, who lived next door to the Kenney's. More people were on their way.

  Matt lobbed a pass to Darren. He went up for a shot, and Warren swatted it away. Rick corralled it.

  "Damn," said Darren. "Since when did you become a shot blocker?"

  "Just lucky, I guess," grinned Warren.

  Rick brought the ball back in-they were playing half-court-and passed it into Warren. Warren was covered by Darren, so he made a nifty bounce-pass to Jack, who laid the ball in.

  Just then, the gate to the yard opened, and in entered..."CRASH!" as everyone yelled it at once.

  He was accompanied by Alison.

  "Damn, I feel like Norm on Cheers," Crash grinned. "Oh, look, HOOPS!"

  "Go in for me," Warren offered. "I need a breather."

  Warren went over to the picnic table, where Alison was saying hello to everyone. "Yo, Ally, what's up?" greeted Warren as he sat next to her.

  "Hiya, Studley." Alison teased. "How's the love life?"

  "Couldn't be better."

  "Yeah, if you like sluts," Cheryl whispered. Warren heard her but ignored it.

  "I heard," Alison continued. "I'm glad. You happy?"

  "Delirious."

  "Good. She coming here tonight?"

  "Yup. Should be here any minute."

  "WHAT?" Cheryl was incredulous. "Sophia Daniels is coming here?"

  "I told Warren to invite her," Mo said quietly.

  "WHAT? Mo, you are nuts." Cheryl was beside herself. "You're letting her in your yard?"

  "Yeah, well, she lets you in, so obviously the standards aren't all that high," quipped Warren.

  "Shut up. Mo, what were you thinking?"

  "She's Warren's girlfriend. Warren is my friend. Everybody is always welcome to bring friends, and especially boyfriends or girlfriends to my parties. You know that."

  "Oh, yeah?" Christine interjected. "You weren't all that open-minded about the little slut when we were talking about her at lunch the other day."

  "What?" asked Warren.

  Mo looked embarrassed. "Yes, Warren, I confess. We were discussing your girlfriend at lunch the other day, and I said some things that weren't very nice. We all did." Mo looked at Cheryl and Christine. "I found out later that she heard every word."

  "Dammit, Mo!" exclaimed Warren.<
br />
  "I know, I know. Sorry, Warren, but she does have a reputation, and it's not a good one."

  "I would think that a friend of mine, which you are supposed to be, would cut my girlfriend a bit of slack, reputation be damned."

  "That's what she said. Although she was nicer about it." Mo smiled. "She grabbed me at lunch the next day. Told me that she really loved you, that I shouldn't be worried, and that she's not using you."

  "She's not."

  "OK. And she was right-she's your girlfriend, you are one of my best friends, I should cut you guys some slack. That's why I told you to invite her. It was a nice conversation. I may have misjudged her-I'm willing to find out."

  "Thanks, Mo," Warren said.

  "Oh, yeah, thanks a whole hell of a fucking lot, Mo." Christine interjected.

  "My party. My invites," said Mo quietly.

  Meanwhile, a car had pulled up out front. Sophia got out and looked around hesitantly. A woman who was out getting something out of the car saw her.

  "Can I help you, dear?"

  "Is this the Kenney residence."

  "Yes it is. I'm Sharon Kenney. Can I help you?"

  "Hi. I'm Sophia Daniels. I was looking for Warren Kelleher."

  Mrs. Kenney smiled. "Sure, dear, follow me. I'll show you where they are. Are you a friend of Warren's?"

  Sophia smiled. "His girlfriend, actually."

  Mrs. Kenney smiled in surprise. "Really? I didn't know Warren had a girlfriend. That's wonderful, he's such a nice guy."

  "He certainly is."

  Mrs. Kenney led Sophia into the yard, and over to the picnic table.

  "Hey, look, Juliet found the place!" Warren exclaimed.

  "I sure did, Romeo," Sophia laughed. They shared a kiss. "Hi, Maureen." Sophia said.

  "Romeo? Juliet? I think I'm gonna be sick," Cheryl whispered to Chris.

  "Hi, Sophia," smiled Mo. "I'm glad you came."

  "Hey, Ally!" Sophia exclaimed. "Where's Crash?" Ally laughed and pointed towards the basketball court.

  "Hiya, Crash!" Sophia shouted.

  "Hey, gorgeous, where you been all my life?" shouted Crash. Sophia just giggled, while both Ally and Warren mock-glared at Crash, who faked an innocent look.