Leslie Ferra

Illustrations by Marcus, Grumblebee.com
"Are you going to the dance?" my brother Edward asked.

"I don't know." I liked the dances. Much to my surprise I had discvovered that I was a pretty good dancer, even when it wasn't poppin', lockin' or breakin'. The end of the year dance was a big deal though, the kind of dance where you needed a date and I had no girlfriend at the time. "Are you goin'?"

"Yeah. I think I'm gonna ask Leslie Ferra." he answered, and no doubt Leslie would say yes. Edward was a good half a foot taller than me and one of the most notorious freaks in School but in a good way. He was amongst the most popular kids in school as well. He was the first white kid to be invited into Mecha the Mexican-Amercian club.

I thought about who I might ask to the dance over the next couple of days. I had plenty of time to mull it over durring my math class as the teacher sent me to sit outside daily. This class took place at the same time as second lunch so sitting outside meant I got to see my friends. As punishments go it wasn't a big successs.

The second lunch kids had passed and were in the cafeteria. I was working on writing and illustrating a comic book when Leslie Ferra herself passed by. "Hi." She greeted me with a smile. She was so pretty with her brown skin, pale mascara on her lips, cool neuro clothes.

"Hey." was the best I could muster in response. It must have been enough, she walked toward me.

"You're Keith right?"

"Yeah." I was the skilled conversationalist.

"Why are you always out here?"

"The teacher sends me out here when I'm goofing off in class. I really hate math."

"That's cool. What are you working on?"

"It's a comic book about the end of the world. It's called Revalations. It should be pretty scary."

"Nice. I better get back to class. I'm on a bathroom pass." She held up the toilet scrubber bathroom pass she was holding, designed to discourage bathroom breaks. "Can I give you my number?"

Her hands were so soft and smooth as she wrote her number on my arm. Too bad she was just talking to me to get to Edward. "Give me a call later." And with a wonderful smile she was gone.

I quickly copied her number onto paper in case the writing on my arm got smudged, and I tried to enjoy the thought that maybe she liked me. I knew though, that even if she wasn't just trying to get to Edward she'd trade up to him in a heart beat when she found out he was interested. She was the same height as me, a grade higher than me, and one of the prettiest girls in school. I was sure I didn't stand a chance. I bitched and moaned to Kim about my dilemna and being the good friend she was, she cursed my evil, life-ruining brother to hell.

I got home that day and Edward greeted me excitedly. "Hey, I heard Leslie Ferra likes you."

"Aren't you asking her to the dance?" I asked, hoping he'd make it quick and as painless as possible.

"Not if you want to. You should go for it. She's a really cool girl. Just don't screw it up."

I couldn't believe my brother was being so nice to me. I called Leslie after dinner.

"You seem really nice." she told me over the phone. "At first I was afraid to talk to you because you looked so angry all the time." This surprised me and I started practicing a more relaxed face in the mirror. "Will you be sitting outside of your math class tomorrow?"

"Maybe." I was determined to get kicked out of class the next day.

"Cool, I'll get a bathroom pass."

We talked outside of my math class where she sat with me through most of the period. I asked her to go to the dance with me. She said yes, and my 8th grade year would be closing out wonderfully.

The dance was amazing. Leslie and I hung out with my friends for a brief while, but then we moved over to her crowd of older kids. No better way to rise to the top of your social group then to show them you don't need them. We danced mostly to slow songs and my hand on her back, her hand in my hand, head on my shoulder made it the best school dance ever, even if I didn't get a chance to show off my fancy footwork.

The last week of School was filled with the occasional test and lots of goofing off, the last day especially. The classes were open and we were mostly free to wander the School. I got my year book signed, and hung out with Leslie. I let her put make-up on me, paint my nails and style my hair, much to my poor mother's dismay. Leslie was a good kisser. She didn't over do it with the tongue, just a subtle flick against my lips now and then. It seemed to me like a classier way to kiss.

We posed for a picture together and she lowered my arm from around her shoulders to her waist. I was still a dork. My mom picked me up and freaked out when she saw the make-up and hair. I said so long to Leslie, who I'd never see again.

She had met Chris H. through me and he lived closer to her. Several friends called to tell me that they had hooked up. I told Chris I was going to kick his ass but I wouldn't get my chance. My dad had gotten a new job. I'd finally climbed to the top at School and now I would be moving to Sacramento, an 8 hour drive from Corona. It may as well have been across the ocean.

I cried to Kim and she cried back. What would we do without each other? Things kept getting worse that summer. My three older brothers all announced they'd be staying behind when moved, even Edward who was only 16. My parents knew better than to fight him on this. Edward did what he wanted and they'd have more influence by working with him.

No matter how big a dork I was, I was always a Jensen, and that helped. Now, in Sacramento, it would mean nothing. My last summer in Corona would be a long one.

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