Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Page B

since …” Her blue eyes drifted up as she thought. “Gosh … since last spring?”
    Cindy smiled. “This is the best night ever.” She paused, then held Debra’s hand. “Of course, it would be better if you’d won.” Debra shifted in her seat. She’d lost homecoming queen by only twenty-three votes, but she was being a good sport.
    Corey laughed. “I heard Nelson Glassman was going to run.”
    Debra flung her wrist in the air. “But he’s already a queen!”
    Cindy joined in. “He’ll probably show up in an evening gown any minute.”
    Jason sat back in his chair, leaning into the shadows. Why did they have to bring up Nelson just when he was starting to enjoy himself?
    “Whoops,” Debra said, contritely covering her mouth. “I think we just stepped out of bounds for proper homecoming conversation.” Corey clapped his hand onto Jason’s shoulder. “Come on, Jason, what’s with you, man?”
    “Nothing. I just don’t like—forget it.”
    Debra placed both hands on the table. “It’s not like I’m saying anything bad about him,” she protested. “He’s told the whole school he’s gay.”
    Cindy scowled at Jason. “So, what do you care?”
    Jason tugged at his tie and glared back at her. “I don’t.”
    Michelle Phillips, the homecoming queen, waltzed over wearing a smoldering red strapless and a wrist corsage of speckled carnations.
    Her tin crown sparkled in the light of the mirrored ball. She asked if everyone was having a good time and made dutiful chitchat. Two seconds after she left, Cindy grabbed Debra’s hand again. “The bitch. You should have won.”
    “I really don’t care,” Debra said. “We’re seniors and I’m going to have a ball this year, no matter what. I’m going to drink, f like a bunny”—She leaned against Jason, laughing—“and have a fantastic time.” She lifted her eyes to Jason and extended her hand. “Shake on it?”
    But Jason didn’t want to shake on it. He didn’t like her bringing up their sex life in front of the whole world, either. In fact, he felt irritated by the entire evening. “I wish you wouldn’t talk that way.”
    Debra let her hand fall to the table. “Talk what way?” Her tone turned serious. “I’ve always talked that way, Jason.” He pulled at his tie again. It was choking him to death. Corey and Cindy stared at him, making him feel like it was his fault he was having such a shitty time. “Well, it makes you sound like a—” He stopped, about to say something terribly hurtful. Corey and Cindy braced against the table, poised for the verbal blow. But Jason backed down. “I—I just don’t like it.” The DJ started to play a slow number, and Cindy pulled Corey onto the dance floor. Debra leaned into Jason’s shoulder and kissed the tip of his earlobe. “Please, let’s not fight anymore,” she whispered.
    He put his arm around her. He didn’t want to fight. He felt bad for being such a downer. “Want to dance?” She looked up at him, and he knew she wanted him to kiss her.
    For the next couple of hours they danced and talked, and then the lights flashed on, the crowd booed, and the DJ thanked everyone.
    Mr. Mueller got on the mike and told everyone to go home. The dance was over.
    In the parking lot, they said good-bye to Corey and Cindy. Debra waltzed toward the car. “Wasn’t it beautiful? Mr. Mueller said it was the best homecoming he’s ever seen, and you know he’s been at Whitman forever.” Jason pulled at his tie. “I’ve been wanting to take this fucking thing off all night.”
    “Oh, don’t.” Debra circled her arm through his. “You look so dashing!”
    Jason slipped away from her arm, yanking the tie from his collar, then pulled his jacket off. Debra twirled in a circle beside him. “This has been the happiest night of my life.” She gazed up at the sky. “Look at the stars!” A t the car, Jason opened the door for her and climbed in the driver’s side, draping his tie over the rearview