27.

  Johnny, ever the gentlemen, opened his passenger door after he parked at the assembly center. He took Gretchen’s hand, and the two young lovers smiled at each other. Johnny was dressed in the best rented tux he could afford, and with that last big payday after selling the rest of his weed provisions, he could afford a nice tux. Gretchen was wearing a sequined pink dress, and Johnny wore a salmon tie to match her. Gretchen giggled after she got out of the car Johnny pulled her into a kiss. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, she went to an eye doctor and got a contact prescription so that she wouldn’t have to wear her god damn glasses tonight.

  Johnny held his arm out for her, “Shall we?” he asked, smiling.

  “We shall,” Gretchen said, biting her lip and wrapping her arm around Johnny's before they made their way inside.

  As the young couple entered the assembly center and walking under the Reagan High Prom banner, they couldn’t stop smiling at each other. Jennifer and the student body decided to go with a Royal theme for prom. Purple banners and red streamers hung from the walls, accented with gold plastic medallions lining the interior of the auditorium. To the far left was the refreshments table prepared by the Home Ec class. Kenny had personally provided over a hundred brownies for the celebration. They didn’t have weed in them, but they were so good on their own that no one minded.

  By total coincidence, the teacher working the door was none other than Mr. Bergman.

  Mr. Bergman saw his two favorite students together and smiled. “If it isn’t Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore,” He said, grinning,“ Have you two been dating, I got to say, I had no idea,” his smile widened, as the two teens blushed.

  “Just kidding, I knew from day one you two kids would hook up,” Mr. Bergman turned to Gretchen, “Watch out for this kid Gretchen, he’s so seductively dangerous, isn’t he?”

  Gretchen blushed harder and giggled as she held closer to Johnny.

  “You’re chaperoning? You don’t seem like the kind of teacher who would get roped into this?” Johnny said.

  “Well, I owe Principal Belding a debt, a ton of debt actually. That, and with all the shit that’s happened this year, I jumped at the opportunity to see how prom goes down. I really hope something fucked up happens tonight, don’t you?” Mr. Bergman asked.

  “Actually,” Johnny put his hand around Gretchen’s waist “I hope this night is perfect,” he said as he shared a smile with his girlfriend.

  “You still need more seasoning, Mr. Vincent, I hope you have a great time, I really do,” Mr. Bergman said.

  Johnny held his hand out to Mr. Bergman, “You’re the best teacher I’ve had,” Johnny said.

  “Have fun kids,” Mr. Bergman said as he gave Johnny’s hand and a firm shake, “It’s been a pleasure, Mr. Vincent,” he said before letting his hand go, stepping aside and holding his arm out for them to enter.

  Johnny and Gretchen entered the prom, and Somewhere Only We Know by Keane was playing as everyone was partying and having a great time.

  Johnny and Gretchen walked through the crowd of people.

  “Good girl Gretchen! You get it Johnny!” one of his former customers yelled out, walking up to him and high-fiving him. Johnny saw some open seats at one of the tables, Eddy and Kimmy, the freshman Asian cheerleader, were sitting together making puppy eyes with each other. Even in her formal dress, Kimmy was still rocking those irresistible pigtails. She looked so giddy, just over the moon she was invited to the senior prom.

  “Eddy my man, what’s going on?” Johnny said as he took a seat next to him, their respective dates on either side of them.

  “Things are going awesome man,” Eddy smiled, then leaned in so the girls couldn’t hear business talk, “fifty hours of community service and my record is clean as a whistle, thanks man,” Eddy and Johnny gave each other a quick five into a handshake.

  “Told you, man, everything’s going to be fine,” Johnny smiled.

  The next person to say hi was Rob. Around Rob’s arm was Jennifer, the former top student of Reagan High’s class.

  “Hello Gretchen,” Jennifer said, putting on a look of pride in front of her rival.

  “Oh, Jennifer, so great to see you!” Gretchen said as she squeezed Johnny’s hand. Thanks to both the ease of Advanced Business Studies and the difficulty of Ms. Anderson’s A.P. English class, Gretchen had pulled ahead of Jennifer by .01 GPA point. By playing the game right, Gretchen had taken Jennifer’s title right out from under her.

  “I hear you’re acing Advanced Business studies, I’m currently in the top three at A.P. English. It’s so rewarding reading the classics of Shakespeare and Chaucer,” Jennifer bragged.

  “It’s also enriching learning real-life skills I can use in a career,” Gretchen shot back at her, “I find studying the field of business,” she looked at Johnny with lust filled eyes, “Very rewarding,” she grinned, biting her lip.

  Johnny and Rob looked at each other, both entertained and a little turned on by the pointless cat fight the two sparring academics were having in front of them. When the girls weren’t looking, Johnny shared a quick thumbs up with Rob.

  Danny and his date were the next to come up to the table, “What’s going on Johnny, Gretchen,” Danny smiled as he gave a quick nod to Johnny’s date. Johnny looked up and, shockingly, Amy from the morning announcements was holding Danny’s arm.

  “Holy shit, Danny?” Johnny said, looking at his grinning friend.

  “Told you they weren’t banging,” Danny said as his grin grew wider.

  “I can’t believe it, man, good for you but whose Zack here with?” Johnny asked.

  “Zack?” Danny laughed, he’s right over there,” Danny pointed his finger over to the back-left corner of the assembly center. Johnny looked over, and his eyes shot open with shock as he saw Zack, morning announcements, American bred, clean as a whistle Zack, making out with Lewis from advanced business studies.

  “Holy shit, Lewis is gay? I did not see that coming,” Johnny said, taken so aback by this twist of events.

  “Yeah, no one knew, and they just showed up together, this is California, no one in their right mind is going give them shit for it,” Danny said, “It was a whole thing when they walked in holding hands, everyone’s just been congratulating them all night.”

  “You know what,” Johnny nodded, “Good for them, you go, Lewis, you get yours,” Johnny said, smiling at his classmate.

  Then Brian and Tabby came to Johnny’s table. “How’s it going Johnny,” Brain said.

  “Hello Brian,” Johnny said with nothing but contempt for the guy who was probably going to plow the shit out of his baby sister tonight, Tabby was hanging off his arm, she grinned at Johnny sharing the same thought in her head.

  “Great party isn’t it, you must be a good brother, your sister is a great date,” he gave Johnny and cunning and evil grin.

  “Brian, stop teasing him,” Tabby said, making a quick bite towards him. Brain turned her on for two reasons, the main reason being he was super-hot, the minor reason being how much she knew she was fucking with her big brother by hooking up with him

  Brain led Tabby to the back of the auditorium, he pulled her close, and the two shared a deep, lust filled kiss. Brain’s hand grabbed Tabby’s ass as he kissed her neck, he moaned into it “Nothing better than an easy sophomore girl,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Woah, stop,” Tabby said, her body becoming rigid as she pushed Brian away.

  “What’s wrong,” Brian asked.

  “Did you just have the gal to fucking call me easy?” Tabby asked.

  “What, Umm, what do you mean?” Brain asked, confused.

  “I am not easy,” Tabby said, holding her finger up in front of Brian “I require skill,” she said, “Skill I thought you had because of all those games you fucking won, I guess I was wrong though,” she said.

  “Come on, babe, I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, putting his arm around her.

  “I only hook up with the best, and the best respect me for that,” Tabby said, “People respect me for that,” she forced Brian’s hand away.

  “Come on, babe. You know you want to have some fun tonight,” Brian smiled.

  “Not with you, football players have bigger dicks anyway,” Tabby said as she gave Brian’s chest a shove, pushing him away from her.

  “You don’t have to be such a bitch, you know you want me,” Brian said, putting his hands on Tabby’s hips.

  Tabby, filled with rage, reached out and slapped Brain across the face so hard he fell backward and into a chair, “Fuck you!” Tabby said, “I’m just going to fucking Uber home,” she said as she started to walk away from the dance pulling out her phone.

  Brain got up out of the chair, most people were too distracted by their own dates to see what had just happened, but some did. He said nothing, straightened his jacket, and walked onto the dance floor. He went up to Wally and Eliza, the junior cheerleader, “Hey Wally, mind if I cut in?” he asked.

  “Umm, what?” Wally asked, confused.

  “Bet she doesn’t,” Brian said as he took Eliza’s hand in his.

  “Fuck yeah I don’t!” Eliza beamed with joy as she pushed Wally away and accepted Brian’s embrace and started to dance with him.

  Back at Johnny’s table, everyone was laughing, enjoying punch and a great time, “Oh my god Johnny, you know everyone,” Gretchen whispered in his ear.

  Johnny turned to her, “Yeah babe, I do know everyone,” he said, kissing her neck.

  Just then, the opening riff of Danger! High Voltage! By Electric Six started to play.

  “Oh my god, I love this song!” Gretchen said as she got up and pulled Johnny’s eager arm getting him out of his chair, “I want to grind on you to it!” she said looking at Johnny with lust in her eyes.

  On the dance floor, the two were for lack of a better word, electric. Gretchen up against him, grinding her hips with lust and passion against Johnny’s crotch, driving him wild.

  Gretchen ground on Johnny as his hands slid up and down the sides of her body. All the other kids dancing did the same. His hands found hers as he buried his face in her neck, the two felt so close, so intimate, in almost perfect rhythm with the song. Gretchen turned around and put her arms around Johnny’s neck as she moved with him in a moment that felt like forever.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Meanwhile, in the Denero county police department holding cell Hector sat in a very uncomfortable chair in front of two very imposing officers of the law. His hands were locked in cuffs behind his back, and a small amount of blood was dripping down from his nose.

  “It doesn’t look good for you, kid,” the good cop said.

  “We got you red handed you fucking beaner,” the bad cop said as he looked over Hector with total disdain and disgust.

  “You had a lot of weed on you, a lot of weed in your house, you’re looking at some serious charges,” the good cop said.

  “You’re going to fucking rot, you hear me? You’re going to be tried as an adult, you know that, right?” the bad cop said.

  “Listen we don’t want to be too hard on you, you’re young, you got your whole life ahead of you,” the good cop said as he gently rubbed Hector’s right shoulder.

  “You don’t work with us you’re going to be in a cell with some big guys, really friendly big buys,” the bad cop said as he forcefully grabbed Hector’s left shoulder.

  “Where did you get this, we know there’s a big weed market in your school, in every school, we just want to help you kids from making decisions that could ruin your lives,” the good cop said.

  “You better fucking start talking right now!” the bad cop said, yelling that last “Now” into Hector’s ear.

  “I can tell you who I got it from,” Hector said, half-paralyzed with fear. He wasn’t going to sell out his cousins, they were hardcore guys who had friends, friends that would come after him if he did, friends both outside and inside of a cell, “You want to know where I got it?” Hector said.

  “It would help us a lot,” the good cop said.

  “Quit playing fucking games with us and drop the hammer you fucking wet-back piece of shit!” the bad cop said.

  “First off, I’m Ecuadorian, I was fucking born in San Fran,” Hector said, “And the man you’re looking for, is Johnny Vincent,” Hector said.

  “Who the fuck is Johnny Vincent?” the bad cop asked.

  “None of my classmates would ask that question, he’s the biggest pot dealer in school,” Hector said, “He sold me the shit, he moves tons of weed, you want to root out my school’s drug problem, it’s gringos like Johnny Vincent you need to go after,” he said.

  “That’s good, that’s really good, you’re working with us, that’s what you have to do,” the good cop said.

  “Yeah, it’s what you need to do if you don’t want to worry about dropping the soap anytime soon,” the bad cop said.

  “Where can we find him, do you know any of hangouts, locations he would be vulnerable?” the good cop asked.

  Hector laughed, “Are you serious. I know exactly where he is,” Hector grinned, “It’s prom night.”

  Back at the Prom, Tiffany was pacing the back of the room, alone and without a date.

  “Hector, where the fuck are you?” Tiffany said to herself. She couldn’t believe that she, Tiffany, of all people, had been forced to go stag at prom. They had a deal, Tiffany would agree to be seen here with him, and Hector would get her more of what she wanted, what she needed.

  “Ugh,” Tiffany said, she couldn’t wait any longer, luckily, she had a little bit of love left with her, and she decided if she was going to be at prom alone, she was going to enjoy it.

  Back on the dance floor, Johnny had his hands around Gretchen’s waist as her arms rested on his neck as they slowly swayed to Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight.

  “You look amazing tonight, Gretchen,” Johnny said.

  “So do you, you’re so cool Johnny, I can’t believe you like me,” she said, blushing.

  “Why wouldn’t I like you? You’re amazing,” Johnny said.

  “You’re beautiful and smart, way smarter than me,” Johnny said.

  “Didn’t Mr. Bergman say the only thing that shows your smart is if you can make money?” Gretchen said as she smiled at Johnny.

  “After everything we’ve seen in his class, you’re going to believe that drunk, you should go to MIT,” Johnny said.

  “But you’re going to UCLA,” Gretchen pouted.

  “It would be wrong to keep you from it. I don’t want to do anything wrong anymore, at least I don’t want to do anything wrong that would hurt someone,” Johnny said.

  “But Johnny,” Gretchen said, and was quickly quieted by Johnny’s hand moving up and down her body.

  “It’s okay, we have the rest of the year and summer, and after that, we can keep in touch, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but whatever happens, I’m okay with,” Johnny said.

  “Are you sure,” Gretchen said.

  “Yes, I am, Gretchen I’m out,” Johnny said.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Dealing, I stopped dealing, I sold off the rest of my stuff to that kid Hector, I got out of the game, I want to live clean now. Something happened, I saw things Gretchen, awful things that would happen if I kept going down this path,” Johnny said.

  “How are you going to pay for college then?” Gretchen asked.

  “I’ll figure it out, I am a businessman after all,” Johnny smiled, “Heck, I’m making a better grade than Good Girl Gretchen,” he leaned in and kissed her. A deep, loving, knowing kiss. The high school sweethearts pressed their foreheads together and just swayed to the music.

  A fleet of California’s finest were gearing up for the raid. They had their person of interest, Johnny Vincent. He was at the prom. Some of them had a few reservations of ruining what was supposed to be a magical night for a lot of the kids there. But their superiors reminded them, that this night was meaningless when it came to these kid’s futures. Futures that could be saved from lives of drug addiction and debauchery. The Force was easily convinced, as mentioned earlier, it was an open secret that Reagan High had was one of the worst schools in the country when it came to drug abuse. Most people turned a blind eye to it because it was an affluent white school that pumped out college grads. No more though, this was going to be a night that would live in infamy for Reagan High. The men and women of California’s finest were going to do their jobs and rend this obscenity out of their community once and for all.

  A fleet of a dozen cop cars made their way towards the assembly center. They pulled up to the parking lot, parking their cars next to the collection of limo’s and privileged kid’s Camaros and Corvettes. They got out, and fanned out in the same kind of attack pattern soldiers in a war would have. Slowly moving towards the assembly center, the music coming from it getting louder and louder as they approached.

  Tiffany sneaked off to the bathroom as Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams are Made of This started to play while the other kids continued to dance or refresh themselves with punch and pigs in blankets.

  Tiffany had a much different kind of party favor for herself, though. She reached into the cleavage of her prom dress to pull out a small folded manila envelope. She smiled, giddy with anticipation of as she unsealed it and started to gently tap out its contents on the upper deck of the toilet. Soft white powder fell onto the toilet, and using the side of the envelope. Tiffany straightened it out into a neat, thin, inch and a half long line.

  “Fuck yeah,” she said, giggling as she pulled out a small straw she picked up by a punch bowl on a refreshment table. She put the straw at one end of the line as she put her nose to it. Making a quick inhale through one nostril as she held her finger on the other, she moved down the line and pulled the cocaine into her nose. It hit her immediately. This was good shit.

  “Fuck yes!” She yelled as her body erupted into instant euphoria.

  Jennifer stood at the front stage holding her microphone, as student body president her big duty for the night was announcing the prom king and queen. “And now, it’s time to announce this year’s prom king and queen, first up, for getting our team its record-breaking third championship in a row, the one the only, MVP! Brian Austin” The baseball team all cheered for their leader, Brian, of course, was sitting in the back, Eliza on his lap, his hand running up and down her leg as they made out.

  “Oh shit,” he said, then turned to Eliza and grinned, “I’ll be right back,” he said as he got up, straightening his tux as he walked across the dance floor, high fiving his teammates and eying up all the girls. When he got up to the stage, he put his hand on Jennifer’s back and gave her a little wink. She blushed and had to collect herself for a second before the next announcement.

  “And now, this year’s prom queen, is the beautiful, the talented, best girl you’ll ever meet, Tiffany Logan!”

  “Oh my god!!” Tiffany screamed out, jumping up and down. She hopped like a revved-up bunny rabbit to the stage, saying “Oh my god, oh my god,” repeatedly. She grabbed the microphone from Jennifer, hyperventilating, and almost in tears of pure happiness.

  “Wow she sure is excited,” Johnny said, his arm around Gretchen’s shoulder.

  “Is she okay?” Gretchen asked.

  “From the looks of it, she’s gone way past okay,” Johnny said, “Good for her.”

  Tiffany held tight to the microphone, “Oh my god, thank you so much, everyone, I just, I just, I just love you all so much, this is so amazing! This is the greatest night of my life!” She said as the crown was placed on her head, she bowed her head down for the sash to be put on, and when she got back up, everyone’s eyes went wide, the cheer and applause stopped, and Tiffany was left in front of silence.

  “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” She quickly darted her head back and forth, side the side, “What’s going on,” She brought her hand up to her lip to gently rub under her nose, her nose was so itchy. The crowd of students looked on as she looked down at her fingers and made a startling realization, her nose was bleeding.

  “Umm, umm,” Tiffany said, her heart beating a mile a minute, “I’m okay, I’m just really, excited.” She said.

  The silence of the crowd was broken by a single, roaring laugh coming from the back of the gymnasium. Mr. Bergman was laughing his ass off.

  “I, I got to go,” she said, running offstage as she kept her hand to her nose to cover the blood leaking from her sinus.

  Everyone just stood there looking at each other, they all knew what happened, they all knew that this school was capable of pushing people to start fucked up shit. Some people, mostly other girls, couldn’t help but shoot smiles to each other laughing internally at the fall of the prom queen.

  It was then that the S.W.A.T. team started to enter the building. Out of the corner of his eye, Johnny saw them, dressed in all black with bulletproof vests, filing in one after another, so many of them. In that instant, Johnny reached out to grab Gretchen’s hand.

  “You need to get out of here right now,” Johnny said.

  Gretchen turned to him, “What?” she asked.

  “Go out the back door, it’s behind the stage, get out of here right now,” Johnny said, looking at Gretchen with a severe tone in his voice, and his eyes.

  Gretchen looked over. Her eyes went wide as she saw the cops filing in at the back of the auditorium. Her heart jumped, she looked at Johnny, “I love you,” she said before leaning in to give him one last, sincere, loving kiss. She got up, and obeyed him, quickly making her way behind the stage and out of the back door. Johnny looked forward and saw the cops moving in on the high school prom.

  “Stop the music!” the officer leading them called out.

  The music paused.

  “We’re looking for Johnny Vincent,” he said. Everyone’s eyes instantly turned to Johnny. Johnny never told anyone that he had prepared for this. He didn’t tell them because he wanted to instill confidence in his organization. He had thought about this, and he had prepared for this moment, in his head, he thought this situation an unlikely inevitability. Johnny stood up and strolled towards the black-garbed swat team, holding his hands up in the air.

  “I’m right here,” Johnny said, getting on his knees once he was past the other kids.

  The S.W.A.T team descended on the prom. Two officers approached Johnny, one standing in front of him as the other went behind him and locked his wrists in handcuffs.

  “If anyone else who knows we’re here looking for you if you want to make this easy, step forward now,” the lead officer said.

  Tiffany was freaking the fuck out, “What the fuck is happening!” she said, turning her head back and forth, having no idea what was going on. An officer looked over at the only student that wasn’t completely silent and motionless.

  “Look at her nose,” one of the officers said.

  “Take her in,” the lead officer said as he picked Johnny up off his knees, holding his handcuffs.

  “Who’s your date?” the officer closest to Tiffany asked as he put her trembling hands behind her back and cuffed them.

  “I think it’s this guy?” another officer said as he grabbed both of Brian’s hands, assuming he was with her as they were both wearing crowns. “Okay, Prom King, no funny business,” he said.

  “Get the fuck off me!” Brian said.

  “If you haven’t done anything, you got nothing to worry about,” the officer said as he cuffed Brian.

  “Take him in too,” the leader said, “Fuck it, it’s a high school prom, get everyone who even looks like they’ve done something,” he ordered.

  Eliza ran up to Brain as he was being hauled away, “Oh my god Brian no!” she cried.

  “It’s nothing, these fucks don’t have anything on me,” he said, “Do you know who I am? I’m the fucking baseball captain, I’m a fucking pillar in this community!” he said, as he thrashed against the grasp of the officer holding him.

  “Yeah, we would be an economic tragedy without you, I’m sure,” he said as he hauled Brain away.

  “I’ll wait for you!” Eliza cried out.

  The cops fanned through the prom, Eddy locked eyes with one of them, one who happened to be Officer McNamara, “I know this kid,” McNamara said, “Night this special, he’s got to be holding,” McNamara said as he grabbed Eddy’s wrists and cuffed them behind his back.

  “I know you!” Eddy said, “You’re that dick cop!” Eddy said as he tried to fight the restraints of McNamara’s cuffs, “I’m clean you pig, I’m fucking clean!” Eddy said.

  “Edward, what’s going on?” Kimmy asked, shocked by what she was seeing.

  “Nothing babe, I’ll be at the after party by midnight, I swear,” he said, looking to Officer McNamara, “I’m clean, I swear to god,” he said.

  “For your sake, I hope you are kid,” Officer McNamara said.

  The Prom was pretty much over after that. Nothing ruins a bunch of high school kids having a good time like a fleet of cops showing up. After most of the kids who were lucky enough not to be arrested had left, Mr. Bergman and the other chaperones were sitting at one of the tables. Mr. Bergman brought his flask of whiskey and was passing it around.

  “So, I think we can all agree any prom pictures taken past ten o’clock won’t be showing up in the yearbook,” he said.

  “It’s about damn time,” Ms. Raymond said, “It sets a good example for the next class of kids,” she said.

  “I’m guessing you voted against prop four-twenty huh?” Mr. Bergman said as the flask made it's way back to him. He took a deep drink as he looked at Ms. Raymond.

  “Of course I did, look at all the trouble marijuana can get kids into, it’s so dangerous,” she said as she took the flask from Mr. Bergman and took a swig of it, “It’s substance abuse,” she said before gulping down another shot.

  “It only gets them into trouble because people our age decided it should get them into trouble,” Mr. Bergman said taking the flask from Ms. Raymond.

  “Look at Doug Whitman, killed because of drugs, another statistic, that stuff is nothing but trouble,” she said.

  “You know, I knew a guy who bought a coffee shop on Fontaine Boulevard, he bought it the day after prop 4-20 was announced to be on the ballot, it was in the perfect area, equidistantly far enough from schools, churches, and federal parks, he was going to convert it to a marijuana dispensary,” Mr. Bergman laughed, “When the prop failed, he lost his fucking shirt, now all he’s got is a useless gutted out café’, he got rid of all the equipment so he can’t even sell coffee there anymore.”

  “That’s what he gets for trying to profit off of degeneracy,” Ms. Raymond said in a haughty matter of fact voice.

  “Well,” Mr. Bergman said as he put his flask back in his pocket, “I should be going, I got something I got to take care of, I guess I’ll see you Monday Elizabeth,” Mr. Bergman smiled.