End of May // Luke Patterson

14

The boys, Ruth and Willie and sat at the table as Willie watched them eat food.

"Oh, pizza, man, I missed you!" Luke exclaimed.

"Reg, are you kissing that meatball sub?" Alex asked.

"It's what you do with the things you love!" Reggie cried. "Just like Alex and I know you wanted to do with Ruthie, Luke. But not in front of me."

"Dude, shut up!" Luke cried, seeing Ruth's expression. "I don't -- I mean -- I-"

Ruth nodded with a teasing smile. "Convincing."

"I take it you're all enjoying this feast?" Caleb asked as the crowd cheered. "So many delicious sights, so many tantalizing sounds, but your eyes still hunger for more! Something sweet, something savory! How many newcomers do we have in the club tonight?" The boys and Emilia raised their hands. "Ladies, let's show our guests how we do dessert. A one, two, three, four!" Several dancers and a singer came out as Caleb was scat singing. They broke out into another dance number.

Willie joined as the boys hit Alex's shoulder while he looked at Willie. The boys stood.

"Whoa, catch him!" Luke cried.

Reggie was caught before he could pass out and Alex asked, "You good?"

Reggie, Ruth and Luke walked off, leaving Alex alone.

Caleb walked up to Alex and said, "Come now. You can't be the only one at the party not dancing."

Alex held a hand up. "No, I... I know. I'm just... I'm looking for Willie." He glanced back.

"Dante, Fuego..." Caleb called, "meet Alex." Dante and Fuego linked arms with Alex. "You're welcome."

"Whoa!" Alex exclaimed before chuckling.

Caleb continued singing. He caught Willie's eye and motioned for him to leave.

Alex noticed Willie and said, "Come over!"

Willie looked at Alex and left to obey Caleb.

Alex was lifted into the air.

Twins came up to Reggie and Luke and started dancing with them. Ruth's lip curled and her chest felt strangely tight.

Before her thoughts could jumble around even more, Luke took Ruth's hand and spun her around.

"May I have this dance?" Luke asked in a teasingly haughty tone.

Ruth smiled. "You may. But you've already started."

"Should I have asked first?"

"It's all right you didn't."

The clock struck midnight and Caleb said, "Oh! The haunting hour is upon us!"

"Oh-ooh!" the crowd cheered.

Luke's his eyes widened. "Twelve! How... How'd that happen?"

Ruth shook her head. "I-I don't know." She accidentally bumped into someone. "I'm sorry."

"Dude, dude! Dude, we lost track of time!" Luke cried.

"Reggie, come on!"

"Not right now, man, Ruthie!" Reggie said, dancing with the twin.

Luke picked his bandmate up. "Reggie!"

"Hey, what the..."

"We were supposed to be at Julie's school at nine!" Ruth reminded her twin.

Reggie registered her words. "Oh, shoot. That's right. Maybe we can still make it."

"Where's Alex?" Luke and Ruth wondered.