“I’m going to grab a shower,” Henri informed Flynn. “I’ll leave the clothes in here so nobody notices I’m about to head anywhere.”

Flynn nodded in agreement. “Sandra and April already left with their dates.” He told him.

“Great.” Henri rubbed the back of his neck. He was nervous.

Flynn could tell. “Just relax. I won’t let anything happen to you. You want this to be an amazing night then it will be. That’s what I’m here for.” Flynn reached into his pocket pulling something out. He waved his hand.

Henri studied him closely, a look of embarrassment revealing itself on his face. “Flynn. I have my own condoms.”

Flynn shrugged, pocketing them. “It’s been awhile I wasn’t sure. Do you need any tips?”

Henri shook his head. “I’m not thinking about sex right now. I am more worried about sneaking out of the house.” Besides if that happened, he wanted it to be spontaneous and impulsive.

Flynn ignored him and decided to throw him a few pointers. “Make sure you make it about her if you know what I’m saying. Girls these days hate guys that rush to the finish line.”

Henri didn’t have a rap sheet as long as Flynn’s arm, but he knew enough to know better than that.

“And don’t get too creative. Girls don’t like being turned into pretzels.” Flynn wiped the scuff from the toe of his dress shoe. “And be careful. You’re the only person I know who could die while making love to a girl. Your mother would kill me.” Flynn stood, worried. “Maybe sex should wait. Or you let her do all the work or something.”

Henri laughed. “Don’t worry about my sexual endeavors. No matter what happens I’ll be fine. I’m not an idiot.”

Henri left to shower while Flynn fashioned a ladder out of bed sheets to stealthily sneak Henri from the house. They had it all set up perfectly. After Henri showered he would tell them all goodnight. Say he was going to get some much needed rest for the big day tomorrow and more or less tell them all to back off for the night because he needed to get in the zone. As long as his mother and Flynn’s bought into it he was pretty sure he could manage a night out with Maven without anyone noticing he was gone. And he could be back by morning.

***

Maven anxiously spritzed herself with one finishing puff of perfume. She turned her head in the mirror, admiring her black earrings. They swayed with every movement she made.

Nick tapped on her door. He was already decked out in all black. Black dress slacks and a black dress shirt and tie. His hair perfectly styled, looking nothing less than messy and like he just rolled out of bed into a bunch of hair product.

“Could you do us a favor?” Nick said. He handed over a camera before Maven agreed to any favors. April appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a pencil dress with a shiny white belt around her tiny waist. Her hair swept up in soft waves, fashioning into a messy bun at the back of her head.

“Let me guess. A picture?” Maven waited for them to pose themselves. April looked Maven up and down, admiring her turquoise dress and soft makeup. She was a little concerned why Maven was going when Henri wasn’t going to be there, but before she could say anything she was blinded by the flash of the camera. She straightened up. Slipping one hand behind Nick’s back, pressing her cheek against his. In her heels she was the same height as him.

“One more,” Nick instructed. Maven pushed the button on the camera again and then handed it back to her brother.

“Nice dress,” April said, quietly slipping out of Maven’s room before Maven could offer her the same kind words. Nick lingered for a moment.

“What?” Maven asked, he was acting strange.

Nick shrugged. “Nothing, I just wanted to say you look beautiful, Maven.” He headed down the stairs.

Maven raised an eyebrow. She fluffed her shiny waves, eyeing her makeup. She was trying for natural yet chic. She wanted Henri to smile at the sight of her.

Her phone chirped. It was Henri.

Fifteen minutes.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. The dance had started twenty minutes ago and Henri and Flynn were just showing up. She stood on the porch, hands on hips wondering what the holdup was. But all that was just as soon forgotten when she saw Henri.

Her mouth fell open. Flynn grinned. He shoved Henri forward. He apprehensively stared at the ground, looking a bit shy yet pleased to be on her porch step she thought.

“A bow tie.” She touched his neck a big smile filling her face. “Henri you look really great.”

“I’ve always wanted to try a bowtie,” Henri said, causing everyone to laugh. He was wearing a black dress shirt, with a dark gray bow tie and matching gray slacks. At the compliment he smiled, but quickly pushed it aside to compliment her now.

“Not as great as you.” He lifted her hand, kissing the top of it ever so gently, a small grin creeping up on his face. Formal events made him a bit silly.

Flynn cleared his throat, slinging a hand around Tori, his girlfriend. “I think it’s safe to say we all look amazing.”

They introduced the girls before heading to the Hop.

Walking through town, through a swarm of fellow townspeople, Henri had to admit he was nervous. His parents and Flynn’s weren’t there of course, but that didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t recognize him being there. Flynn had to keep reassuring him that anyone who saw him wouldn’t break the news until the weekday once business resumed. It took a lot of reminders from Flynn for Henri to believe it and just enjoy the night.

As the four of them approached, it was very obvious a gathering was happening. A lively trumpet medley sounded, flowing through the streets. Kids and adults of all sizes and shapes laughed and danced, everyone was full of summer bliss. It always reminded Maven of a time, long before any of the kids her age were around, when people danced to songs with no words, songs fueled by instruments and nothing more and just had plain old fun. Maybe that was why everyone enjoyed it so much—it was simple and easy.

Just as Miss. Lisa had promised, tiny twinkle lights hung from the willows, making a beautiful canopy of lighting overhead. Candles perched in windows, turquoise and black balloons swayed in the breeze as they got closer. It was perfect.

Henri stole Maven’s hand as they slipped into the crowd. It wasn’t hard to see that soon they were an insignificant part of the community. There were too many people to pick Henri out. And the only thing that mattered to anyone was the music.

“Do you want to dance?” Maven said in his ear, talking louder than usual so he could hear her.

“Let’s get it over with.” Henri joked, taking hold of her waist. He kept telling himself not to step on her toes. He smiled, watching Maven smile back, showing him just how to enjoy himself as they began dancing, she held on to his neck as they circled the floor—which was a task with so many people in the way.

“See...fun right?” Maven asked him. She poked his bowtie. “You’re light on your feet, Henri.”

Henri smirked. “I might know a thing or two about the art of slow dancing. Just don’t ask me to break dance.” He took her hand, securing his other hand on her back and dipped her. Maven giggled, her hair spilling down across her shoulders when he set her on two legs again.

They spun in a circle, a little too fast and a little too playful, but neither of them cared. It wasn’t about the music it was about the moment and they both were in this one together.

As the song ended and another one began, Maven noticed this one had lyrics. She raised an eyebrow. Henri smiled even bigger than he was already smiling at her. “Sound familiar?” he said.

Maven kissed his cheek. “How did you…?”