I attended several soccer games.  I paid money,  I got looks for being out of place,  and I drove the distance.  Most games,  I went to,  were across Council Bluffs,  but I went to one in Harlan.  My grandparents live in Harlan,  so it wasn’t ALL for Lyndsey.  I saw my grandparents for a couple of hours and headed off to watch a short game.  I was more out of place at this game than I had been at any others.  The team knew me and knew why I was there.  
I headed back and went to more games that month.  Prom was approaching and I obtained my tuxedo,  one with long tales,  got flowers/corsage,  got the tickets,  and then the day came.  I borrowed my parents’ 300 M and I picked her up.  We met our friends where Prom was going to be held and met the limousine on time.  We had to rent the limo for no less than 3 hours.  We got into the limo at 7PM and drove to an Italian restaurant and paid the limo to sit and wait while we ate.  So much commotion was going on inside the limo that I don’t remember much.  The one thought I can remember I thought repeatedly:  “I hope I get to be with her.”  
At the restaurant,  the food was good,  nothing great.  Again,  so much noise and fuss I had no time to think.  We paid and got out,  spending as little time as possible at this place.  We weren’t going to pay and not use the limo,  so we drove around until our time ran out.  About 10PM,  the dance had been going for two hours all ready,  we showed up fashionably late.  We HAD to get pictures because this was a type of triumph,  for me.  First,  I went to Prom and second,  I went with Lyndsey.  I stood in line and Lyndsey left to mingle.  People came up to me and exclaimed,  “WOW!  Thane is really here!”  Finally,  45 minutes later,  we had our pictures taken and we got on the dance floor.  
We started to dance but people kept coming up to talk to us.  I knew everyone in my class. Many of Lyndsey’s class,  Sophomores,  were there and she knew most of them.  We were pretty popular amongst the two of us.  The second to last song was slow,  then the Class Song,  the DJ told all the guys to kneel to our dates.   We obeyed but Lyndsey’s back was to me,  she was fixing the strap on her friend’s dress.  Lyndsey turned around and was puzzled.  She looked around and then down.  She smiled and laughed as if to finally get my actions,  but she had a look on her face,  with a tone in her laugh saying,  “No chance,  Thane!”  I stood up and pulled her close and we slow danced.  The song picked up to a faster tempo but still a close,  slow song.  It began to feel like I was destroying myself by not letting her loose.  Everyone else was still close but it was starting to feel as either she was all mine or absolutely NOT mine.  I was leaning to the negative end.  I felt myself sink in emotion.  I looked around and everyone seemed to be watching me.  I think most were still in disbelief I was even there.  The song started to slow down,  like the beginning,  and I thought it was the end.  I let her go and smiled.  I looked around and everyone held extra tightly to their other.  I dropped to one knee and threw my arms open and grinned massively.  She was confused and people started to gaze at us.  People started smiling because they know I’m an individual and right there,  I was doing something different,  again.  I was still kneeling,  the only one at that.  Someone shouted,  “YEAH! Thane!”  My eyes were locked on Lyndsey until then,  they flicked in the direction the voice came from and straight back to her.  I gave this half smile and thought,  “I just made her the most special person here tonight.”  I gave a facial expression exclaiming,  “HA!”  I stood up and grabbed her close and swung her around and we finished the dance.
The Class Song came on and the Seniors chanted and cried and hugged.  We all discussed our happiness about leaving Council Bluffs.  That was it.  Prom was over.  I shook many hands and everyone mentioned how great my “move” was and that Lyndsey should be mine now.  If not,  she was crazy.  I wanted to believe they were right but I knew,  that would have sealed my chance’s death,  if it didn’t persuade her to me.
I took Lyndsey to her house to change for Post-Prom.  When she was done,  we went to my house so I could change.  We had an hour to kill before Post Prom even started.  My imagination ran wild about what was going to happen. I went from one extreme to the other and everything in between.  Would she be mine,  hate me forever,  or shrug it off and go on normally?  I daydreamed what it would be like to kiss her.  I hoped that would only be the beginning.  I fantasized what it would be like to make love with her.  My head was buzzing for the twenty minutes we were driving around.
We ended up sitting next to each other looking at pictures my mom had prepared for my graduation.  The hour flew by and we left to party all night long.  We got there and we sort of went our separate ways.  She went off to find her friends and I found mine.  I felt ditched only because she broke away first.  I just went on.  I wanted some attention from her but I was sure her friends disliked me or disapproved of me.  
A friend of mine,  Chris,  and I were known for singing about taking off our pants and then doing so.  Chris was a year older but his girlfriend,  Erin,   was my age and a friend,  too.  A teacher,  who always asked us to sing the song during the break  between first and second periods,  was running a microphone.  Chris and I both had the idea but I said it.  We asked to borrow the mic for one last BIG performance.  Of course,  he agreed.  Chris and I loosened our belts,  stepped up to the mic,  adjusted our voices,  and bellowed:
“I’m taking off my pants for you
I’m taking off my pants for you
Everything will be divine
Everything will be just fine (We dropped or pants here)
Because I’m taking off my pants for you (We bring up our arms and drone on,  “you,” while shaking our hands)”
Everyone laughed and clapped and,  of course,  stared stupidly at the two people who had no remorse and only wanted fun.  And we had no pants on.  A while later,  I caught up with Lyndsey and she congratulated me on my show.  We just sat for a while and talked to people who walked by.  Between the two of us,  I’m sure we knew every person in school.  
The late show was a hypnotist.  He went on for 3 hours.  Lyndsey and I had seats together but she never leaned on me nor did I ever put my arm around her.  Afterwards,  we decided to go.  There was more fun to be had but people had other plans.  On the way out,  again,  people were crying,  hugging,  and congratulating one another.  I was asked numerous times,  “What are you two?”  I replied with my most honest answer,  “I don’t know,”  with a blank wondrous expression on my face.  I didn’t think anything changed but almost 20 people asked me,  so I thought I would ask Lyndsey.  I,  also,  wondered if anyone asked her the same thing?  
I opened her door,  like I did every time she got into a car,  or a building,  and then I got in.  I turned on the Pietasters and started to drive.  I was nervous!  This was the most decisive factor in the entire evening.  The truth was coming out whether I liked the answer or not.  After a whole year of running after her,  I needed to know.  I wasn’t going to let any more time go by.  I was pretty sure the answer was “Friends…” but I had to hear it for myself.  I gulped,  shuddered,  and asked for an answer,  or for my death sentence.  I started like I always do when I’m nervous,  “You know…,”  of course she didn’t.  Or did she?  “People asked what “WE” are.  What are “WE?””  I got behind a car in a long train,  at the exit,  and stopped.  I looked right at her with an expression of,  “GOD,  don’t hate me now.”  She was smiling.  I thought,  “OH MY GOD!  She is going to say something good.  She’s smiling and wants to be mine.”  I looked right past her,  out the window,  and saw the rain,  the grass,  and the people,  stop.  Nothing was moving,  no noise,  not even breathing.  This entire night sat on this point in time and watched me.  I was the focal point of the entire universe and I felt immortal.  Everything was warm despite my shuddering.  I felt calm and cool;  relaxed and tranquil.  I think,  I was emanating a faint glow.  A happy aura had engulfed me.  There had to be a reason.  She opens her mouth and says,  “Friends?”  She asked in such a questioning manner that I thought maybe she didn’t even want that.  I heard an “UGH!” noise in my head but,  I’m pretty sure I actually made it aloud.  A stab in the back,  a slit in the wrists,  a choke of the throat,  and an arrow to the heart.  DEATH!  My heart sank and I sank into my seat.  I looked forward and drove home.  
We were completely silent and solemn the whole drive to her house.  I imagined bad things happening to her.  I still loved her,  of course,  but I was hurt.  I knew nothing like something bad happening would make me feel better,  but that’s the trick of vengeance.  I parked the car,  in her driveway,  and let her out.  I walked her to the door and wished her a good evening and sweet dreams.  Friends don’t kiss and we were friends,  so I didn’t even try.  I got into the car and drove around town swearing and cursing at my luck.  Never once shedding a tear but shutting off my heart,  piece by piece.  An hour later,  I drove home and went to bed.