Chapter 4 Slow Dance

CJ stood rooted to the ground, he couldn't speak.

"C'mon, say something" said Lucious.

"Uh.."

CJ tried but couldn't, that's when Zoey came to his rescue, she saw him and saw Lucious and immediately ran to them.

"Hey Lucious, what are you doing here, you've graduated remember" said Zoey as she laughed a little too hard.

Lucious smiled which made CJ's knees buckle.

"Yeah I know that, I just came back to see old friends"

He looked towards CJ as he said this.

"Well thanks for stopping by, we have to go now"

"Wait but I was hoping to talk to CJ I'm sure that whatever it is you guys are doing can wait"

"Yeah it can but we still gotta go"

Zoey dragged CJ but surprisingly he didn't budge, he was like a statue standing and staring at Lucious still dumbstruck. Lucious had come to talk to him, just to talk to him.

"Should I hear what he has to say, or should I go with Zoey" he asked himself this question four times before he finally decided.

"Why don't you go ahead Zo, I'll meet you later"

"Are you sure you can..."

"I'm sure" said CJ, he nodded.

She nodded and left them.

"I'm sorry about that" said CJ

"I was just shocked to see you that's all"

"Yeah it's okay, I guess I would be shocked to see me too"

"You said you needed to talk"

"Yeah but not here, let's go to our spot"

He stretched out his hand for CJ to take, CJ looked at the hand as if inspecting it and then took it, they made their way through the walkways outside the school that led to the back, on the wall at the back was an iron ladder, CJ climbed first and Lucious followed.

They climbed up till they reached the top, the roof was bare but CJ remembered all the times the both of them had up here, this was the place they would try to escape, where they could truly be themselves without fear of judgement, CJ remembered the lunches they spent here with blankets and music, the nights they spent looking up at the stars, how they talked and shared secrets that even their best friends didn't know, but now that all seemed like a distant memory.

"The stars are bright tonight" said Lucious, he placed his hand over CJ's shoulders, it was amazing how he still felt safe in his arms, like he belonged there.

"Yeah, it reminds me of the night we met" said CJ.

The night they met was the weirdest night of CJ's life, Lucious was the typical cool, bad guy that everyone knew and CJ was the emotional one, the guy who was too soft for anyone to talk to, but somehow two planets in two different galaxies happened to collide in the most unusual way possible.

"Why did you bring me here?" said CJ, he removed himself from Lucious's hold and faced him.

"Like I said I needed to talk to you"

"You and I know that's not true"

"Okay you got me"

He took his hand and looked into his eyes.

"Shit he knows I can't stand it when he looks me in the eye" yelled CJ in his head.

"I want to dance with you"

"I..."

Before CJ could say anything his two hands were wrapped around Lucious shoulder and chest while Lucious hand was on his waist.

They began to sway to unheard music, CJ's mind was reeling and at the same time he was lost, how could Lucious still make him feel this way, how could he lose his sanity just by feeling his hand on his waist, it was amazing, almost like heaven.

They continued to move like that under the stars, this was their place, their moment, Lucious came back just to see him, he could have his Friday night any other way but chose to be with him, CJ wrapped his arm around his neck and rested his head in his neck, they slow danced like that on the roof to unheard music.CJ couldn't remember the last time he felt this way, ever since Lucious had gone off to college he felt vulnerable, that's how safe Lucious made him feel and he loved it.

.....

"C'mon Zander it's Homecoming we have to go" said Skyler.

"You know that I hate all sorts of social gatherings, it's not me" said Zander as he was painting something on a canvas, his painting had beautiful light brown skin and peculiar blue eyes with black curly hair, yes he was painting CJ.

Zander sighed as he stared at the painting and added a bit more blue to his eyes.

"Why can't I get you out of my head" whispered Zander.

Just then Skyler barged into his room, he quickly covered the painting with a white cloth.

"Please can we....what's that"

"It's nothing, if it's about the dance I'm not going"

"Please, c'mon, everyone will be there"

"Hmmm, everyone will be there" thought Zander.

He hesitated for a while before answering.

"Fine I'll come"

Skyler squealed in excitement and ran out of his room to put her dress.

Zander shook his head and looked at the painting, he went to the shower to get ready.

10 minutes later, Skyler wore a white pantsuit and heels, while Zander wore a black hoodie and white sneakers, they told their parents where they were going and walked out the door, the night was still young so they weren't worried about getting there late. Zander drove to the school and they got out of the car, they made their way to the school field.

On their way there people were looking at Zander weirdly,

"Couldn't you have worn something nice" said Skyler scowling at her brother.

"I told I didn't want to go, I'm just your ride"

They got to the school field and saw that the party

was just getting started as the students were dancing to the beat of the music that was playing.

"C"mon let's go" said Skyler as she dragged her brother to the field , they started dancing.

At first Zander was reluctant but then started getting into the rhythm of the music, he was moving his body left and right.

"See aren't you glad you came, let's do the moonwalk"

"Don't push it" said Zander as he momentarily gave her the eyes then continued dancing.

....

CJ and Lucious were in each other's arms, the night seemed perfect and CJ never wanted it to end, all he wanted was to stay here forever.

Lucious whispered his name into his ear and he shivered a little,

"CJ ?"

"Mm"

"There's actually something I needed to tell you"

He sounded nervous and CJ noticed, he raised his head frim his shoulder and looked straight into his eyes.

"What is it"

"I....I don't know how to say it"

"Lucious you can tell me anything"

Lucious fell silent for a while, he gently pushed CJ's head into his shoulder and leaned into his ear.

"I fell in love with someone else"

CJ creased his brows, he raised his head and pulled away from Lucious, he heard it but he needed confirmation.

"What did you just say to me" said CJ, his voice was shaky and frail.

"I didn't mean for it to happen, I just....."

CJ put his hand in his pockets, the warmth he had felt in Lucious's arms was gone, everywhere felt cold.

"You just what Lucious ?"

"I just....I left college and you weren't there and I just felt kind of lonely"

"Are you fucking serious, were all the night we spent up here nothing to you"

"They were everything, but things happen and..."

"People change, I thought you've changed"

"CJ please just listen"

"What's his name"

Lucious didn't say anything.

"What's his name Lucious"

"Her name is Erica"

CJ felt a sting, a wave of feelings rushed in and he could feel himself getting tipsy.

"You're a moron"

"CJ it just happened...."

"And to think you brought me here to tell me that piece of shit"

"This was the only place I could think of"

CJ didn't know what to say.

He went passed Lucious towards the ladder.

"CJ please can we talk about this"

"We're over, in case you didn't know, I mean you've got nothing to lose right"

CJ went down the ladder and ran to the front if the school, Lucious pulled his hair and squatted on the floor, nearby he could see CJ's hat on the floor, and a tear fell from his eyes.

....

Zander was getting tired of dancing.

"I'm gonna go get us something to drink"

"You mean you're getting yourself something to drink"

"Whatever"

He went to the hallway exhausted, he put two drinks in two separate cups, he gulped down one, refilled it and turned around when someone bumped into him pouring the drinks all over him.

"Hey, watch were you're....CJ ?"

Zander looked at the figure in front of him, his eyes were red almost on the verge if tears and his hair was ruffled as if he'd been wearing a hat.

He said a silent sorry and continued running.

Zander whipped his head around to look at the retreating figure, what made him so sad.

.....

CJ scanned the crowd for Zoey, he had just had his heart broken and bumping into Zander didn't help matters.

He finally spotted her in the crowd, she was having the wildest time.

"Zoey I'm leaving"

Zoey noticed the tone of his voice.

"CJ what happened"

"I don't want to talk about it right now"

That's when Lucious came through the crowd and came to him, everyone stopped dancing when they saw Lucious pummeling through the crowd, the music stopped and everyone's eyes were on the three of them.

"I tried explaining to him Zoey he wouldn't listen"

CJ looked at her.

"You knew about this ?"

"I was trying to protect you"

"Fuck this I'm going home.

CJ was already running but Lucious grabbed his hand and turned him around his hand was back on CJ's waist.

Everyone gasped seeing the image in front of them, what were they doing.

"Lucious what do you think you're doing"

"Look I'm sorry I hurt you but like I said I didn't mean for it to happen, you will always be my first love"

Lucious tried to lean in and kiss him but CJ pushed him away, the dam was on the verge of falling apart and the river of tears was almost at the edge of the bank.

"I told you it's over, remember rule number one, you just broke it"

It finally dawned on Lucious.

Rule number one: Make sure no one knows.