one of the most overlooked indie jangle pop bands of the post-punk movement.”
I blinked. “Wow. Uh . . . yeah, I totally agree.” I pulled my sweatshirt out straight to read it even though it was upside down and stuffed with prank ammo. “I don’t get why they’re not bigger.”
“ ’74–’75 did pretty well in Europe.” Johnny raised his eyebrows. “Who else do you listen to?”
I turned and put my knee up on the bench. “I’m a mad, psycho fan of the White Stripes.”
“Totally understandable. They’re beyond innovative. Jack White is a brilliant musician.”
“No kidding. And the Raconteurs?”
Johnny swiveled to face me. “Oh my God, his work with them is insane. ‘Salute Your Solution’ is coming up later in the mix.”
“Awesome.”
We grinned and nodded at each other.
CHAPTER 7
61
The Velvet Underground & Nico’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”
started playing, and I said, “Wow, nice choice. God, if I’d known you were putting together the playlists all these years, I might have come to more dances.” Johnny opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but when the lyrics started, he just spun forward and hunched over his knees.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Super.” He shot me an okay sign without looking up.
“No problem.”
I searched the dance floor for Gabe. Didn’t see him anywhere. But I did see Todd and Amanda plastered together, bobbing to the music. She dragged her claws up and down the back of his polo shirt as they danced.
Johnny lifted his head and watched the crowd too. One guy wrapped a silver streamer around his girlfriend and held the ends as she slow-danced in front of him.
“Do you like dancing?” Johnny asked.
Oh God. This was awkward. Was he asking me to dance?
My mouth hung open while I pondered the deeper meaning of his question. He must have sensed my apprehension, because he blurted out, “I hate dancing. I mean, I don’t hate it. I just—I’m terrible. I’m totally into music, but I really can’t dance.”
Phew. Relief. “Yeah, you said that this morning. Neither can I.” I hitched my thumb at the couples on the dance floor.
“Not that I’d call that dancing.”
“Heh. Yeah.”
“Sometimes I wish I lived back when people had balls.”
62 Kristin Walker
Oh God. That did not come out right.
I said, “I mean back when they had elaborate parties and dances and everyone dressed up and knew all the formal dances and everything.”
“Heh. Yeah.”
We sat not talking for several songs. There were one or two predictable crowd-pleasers, but also some obscure gems. A little Chairlift. There was a little bit of The Killers. Some Plain White T’s (gotta play the hometown boys). And even this other local band I love called Kicked Off Edison. It was enough to show that Johnny Mercer’s taste in music basically rocked. I drummed my fingers on the bleachers. “How much time?”
Johnny looked at his watch. “Eight minutes.”
I stretched my arms above my head and arched my back.
“Where’d Mar get to?”
“Dunno.”
“Maybe I should go look for her.” As I stood up, though, the music suddenly stopped and Principal Miller blew into the microphone. Her watch must have been running fast. Maybe that was how she caught her cheating husband. The lights brightened, and I saw Mar wave and give me a thumbsup from across the gym. It was nearly showtime. Principal Miller said, “Seniors! Seniors! Señoritas and señors !” She paused to laugh at her own lame joke. “Let me interrupt you for one moment. Well, we’re here to kick off the year with style! Yes! And to celebrate learning about marriage and partnerships! To start things right, I’d like each of
CHAPTER 7
63
you to dance the next dance with your marriage education partner. After that, have fun ! And enjoy the evening!”
Nobody moved.
Except for Johnny, Mar, and me. I signaled to Mar and she made a beeline for Amanda. Johnny and I headed for Todd. We knew we only
I blinked. “Wow. Uh . . . yeah, I totally agree.” I pulled my sweatshirt out straight to read it even though it was upside down and stuffed with prank ammo. “I don’t get why they’re not bigger.”
“ ’74–’75 did pretty well in Europe.” Johnny raised his eyebrows. “Who else do you listen to?”
I turned and put my knee up on the bench. “I’m a mad, psycho fan of the White Stripes.”
“Totally understandable. They’re beyond innovative. Jack White is a brilliant musician.”
“No kidding. And the Raconteurs?”
Johnny swiveled to face me. “Oh my God, his work with them is insane. ‘Salute Your Solution’ is coming up later in the mix.”
“Awesome.”
We grinned and nodded at each other.
CHAPTER 7
61
The Velvet Underground & Nico’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”
started playing, and I said, “Wow, nice choice. God, if I’d known you were putting together the playlists all these years, I might have come to more dances.” Johnny opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but when the lyrics started, he just spun forward and hunched over his knees.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Super.” He shot me an okay sign without looking up.
“No problem.”
I searched the dance floor for Gabe. Didn’t see him anywhere. But I did see Todd and Amanda plastered together, bobbing to the music. She dragged her claws up and down the back of his polo shirt as they danced.
Johnny lifted his head and watched the crowd too. One guy wrapped a silver streamer around his girlfriend and held the ends as she slow-danced in front of him.
“Do you like dancing?” Johnny asked.
Oh God. This was awkward. Was he asking me to dance?
My mouth hung open while I pondered the deeper meaning of his question. He must have sensed my apprehension, because he blurted out, “I hate dancing. I mean, I don’t hate it. I just—I’m terrible. I’m totally into music, but I really can’t dance.”
Phew. Relief. “Yeah, you said that this morning. Neither can I.” I hitched my thumb at the couples on the dance floor.
“Not that I’d call that dancing.”
“Heh. Yeah.”
“Sometimes I wish I lived back when people had balls.”
62 Kristin Walker
Oh God. That did not come out right.
I said, “I mean back when they had elaborate parties and dances and everyone dressed up and knew all the formal dances and everything.”
“Heh. Yeah.”
We sat not talking for several songs. There were one or two predictable crowd-pleasers, but also some obscure gems. A little Chairlift. There was a little bit of The Killers. Some Plain White T’s (gotta play the hometown boys). And even this other local band I love called Kicked Off Edison. It was enough to show that Johnny Mercer’s taste in music basically rocked. I drummed my fingers on the bleachers. “How much time?”
Johnny looked at his watch. “Eight minutes.”
I stretched my arms above my head and arched my back.
“Where’d Mar get to?”
“Dunno.”
“Maybe I should go look for her.” As I stood up, though, the music suddenly stopped and Principal Miller blew into the microphone. Her watch must have been running fast. Maybe that was how she caught her cheating husband. The lights brightened, and I saw Mar wave and give me a thumbsup from across the gym. It was nearly showtime. Principal Miller said, “Seniors! Seniors! Señoritas and señors !” She paused to laugh at her own lame joke. “Let me interrupt you for one moment. Well, we’re here to kick off the year with style! Yes! And to celebrate learning about marriage and partnerships! To start things right, I’d like each of
CHAPTER 7
63
you to dance the next dance with your marriage education partner. After that, have fun ! And enjoy the evening!”
Nobody moved.
Except for Johnny, Mar, and me. I signaled to Mar and she made a beeline for Amanda. Johnny and I headed for Todd. We knew we only
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