Chapter 58: One To Remember
The worst part of the rainfall was that it had been ’sudden’.
Even now, the skies were arguably clear... well except for a couple cumulonimbus’ here and there that had conveniently chosen to open their floodgates.
One that did a good job of pelting the students and teachers alike as most rushed for cover, the occasional yelps and curses ringing out in their wake.
Even the trees around offered no proper refuge from its sadism, hence why they’d quickly made their way towards the main building lest they got completely drenched.
As for the select few whom had chosen to stay behind, they were promptly shutting the service station, rolling up the rug, and disconnecting the festive lights in an effort to protect the food, textile and electronics.
No sooner had they done that, they equally bolted towards the main building.
As they did, Aiden whom had been clearing out the PA systems around the venue with a couple other students by placing them into the nearest game booths, tossed his jacket over the last one and hauled it onto his shoulder with a slight groan.
Promptly, he began running towards the main building with it.
Given how focused everyone was on avoiding the rain, no one seemed to register, much less question what he was doing or why he’d carried the speaker.
Aiden on the other hand, had a goal.
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[Ding!]
[Exclusive Quests Updated!]
⸢Exclusive Quests
› Mother Nature says ’LOL’.
└ Save the homecoming dance. – [0.7 LP]
-
No, not that one.
The one of him actually getting to bust some wacky moves with his buddies on the dancefloor?
Yes. That one.
That was worth all the hassle he was putting himself through.
That said,
’I really need to invest some points into strength and agility,’ Aiden inwardly remarked, the realization starting to dawn on him just how important those stats were.
In fact, he should’ve long keyed it how handy it was ever since the Pep Rally, but he’d subconsciously sidelined it in comparison to his other stats.
Today had been a revelation, though. Afterall, he’d been in situations where he had to not just carry more than the usual weights he was used to, but also run whilst doing so.
God forbid a day came when all he needed was a little over the average strength and agility to do something important and he failed to achieve it because he hadn’t been paying much attention to how skewed his stats were.
At the very least, he would try to balance them out whenever he had the points to spare. That was what Aiden had now decided upon.
At worst, the only downside to that, was that he was set to be a miser in the Life Points department in the coming months.
In any case, currently walking down the corridor, its previously pristine floors wet, stained by slightly muddied shoeprints and bits and pieces of grass, Aiden made his way to the gym.
Naturally, and without needing to be told, everyone had crowded there.
Several damp teens had already huddled up on the bleachers, most of them--especially the ladies--shivering slightly.
There were also the occasional sneezes from time to time, coupled with the frequent cavewomen palm rubs to keep themselves cool.
Though September wasn’t generally a cold month in New York, and was usually cooler in comparison to the other summer months, the sudden rain had done a good job of reinforcing that autumn was just around the corner.
And for several of these ladies whom had gone on to wear party dresses and gowns for the event, it was the worst possible get-up they could’ve found themselves in given what had happened.
Still, the lucky ones amongst them had been offered a suit jacket or coat by their respective dates, most of whom were now aimlessly wandering and seated around the gym floors in their shirt and trousers.
By now, the entire Homecoming reverie seemed long gone, and most teens seemed to have a rather resigned expression on their features as they waited out the rainfall.
Even the teachers were in the same camp, most of them waiting for mother nature to do its thing so they could all head home for the night and hit the sack.
However, that was when some of them noticed Aiden walking in whilst carrying a PA speaker on his shoulders.
Naturally, it didn’t take long before others started noticing as he casually he made his way over to the far end of the gym and placed it down slowly and against the wall.
No sooner had his buddies seen him though, their eyes found each other from various places across the gym. Without needing to be told, they promptly walked over, Theo included.
Though he had no idea what they were up to, he knew for a fact that they’d rope him in anyway so he decided to just save himself the trouble of finding out later.
Soon enough, everyone watched as all six began conversing amidst themselves, only for them to take a vote with raised hands... one that Theo reluctantly joined in after a while.
No sooner had they done that, they all nodded in agreement a minute after.
As Clarissa and the quartet’s respective dates--save for Daisy whom was already shaking her head in amusement--watched on, it only took a brief while before the realization hit them.
Mrs. Delacroix and the other teachers supervising the event, alongside Damian, Megan and other members of the student committee, equally clocked what the group of six were up to.
It was just that none of them could be bothered to stop them as they were already pretty tapped out of the festivities.
To that effect, a familiar disco beat thumped through the speakers from that one german-pop band .1
Even with all eyes now landing on them, the gang began shuffling forwards in a goofy sync while dragging Theo along, their hands clapping in sync.
Hey, hey, hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Then, as the beat landed, Larry started with his own dance move, a poor imitation of that one disco groove from the 70’s from that one popular [Sunday Night Fever].
By the time he was done, a few chuckles rippled through the gym, everyone shaking their heads in amusement at the gang’s shenanigans. At this point, they were starting to get used to it.
No sooner was Larry done though, he passed it to Casper who immediately did the old-time rock and roll dance, his head bobbing side to side in sync to the music.
Casper however, had a knack for dancing, hence why his moves came out far more smoothly than he’d imagined.
As a result, Daisy did a catcall whistle, one that earned a wave of laughter from the gang and equally several people in the gym, their heads already bopping to the song.
As the next beat landed, Casper passed the song to Aiden who honestly did the very first dance that came to his head. The Bully Maguire dance.
Naturally, the rest of the gang--Theo included--burst into laughter, as did more than half of the gym as the gang sang the chorus in sync;
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen,
There was a cat that really was gone,
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia’s greatest love machine,
It was a shame how he carried on,
Effortlessly, Aiden passed the dance to Clyde who did a funny Egyptian-inspired wavy dance, his hands and head moving in a rather wiggly, snake-like movement.
By now, several students had moved from the bleachers to join in, encircling the gang as they continued with their shenanigans, their laughs rippling through the gym.
Upon passing the dance to Benjamin, the slightly chubby teen did a simple cabbage patch, with an infused running man into it, both of which combined to create a rather amusing move.
Yet, as the next chorus came up, Benjamin passed the beat to Theo who was still moving from side-to-side, unsure of what to do just yet.
But, since he’d realized everyone here was pretty much just having fun without judging whatever move was busted, Theo actually executed a perfect 360° moonwalk that landed right as the chorus hit!
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen,
They put some poison into his wine,
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia’s greatest love machine,
He drank it all, and said, "I feel fine"
Naturally, the gang’s eyes had widened, clearly stunned by it, only for them to start cheering him on;
"Go Theo! Go Theo! Go Theo!"
At the same time, the entire gym whom had been just as stunned, joined in as he continued the move;
"Go Theo! Go Theo! Go Theo!"
No sooner had he ended the move and returned back to the gang, a beaming smile of exhilaration on his features, they all immediately broke into proper dance moves of their own whilst laughing.
Just like that, the circle dispersed as most in the gym finally joined in to dance along to the song!
As Daisy pulled Casper away, as did the rest of the quartet’s date, Theo was equally dragged off by someone.
Before long, Aiden was the only one left vibing to the song alone...
...only for Clarissa to arrive literally a minute after, her hand in two peace signs as she shimmied over, some strands of her damp hair bouncing in sync.
Soon enough she and Aiden began executing a rhythmic upper-body sway, their shoulders moving back and forth in a fluid, mirrored but opposing flow as they shared an amused laugh.
Then, as the last chorus came along, the entire gym sang in sync;
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen,
They didn’t quit, they wanted his head,
Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Russia’s greatest love machine,
And so they shot him, ’til he was dead!
No sooner was the song over, the gym erupted in applauds and cheers, their smiles and laughter full of gleeful exhilaration. Even the teachers were clapping much the same, genuine smiles on their faces.
Though the rain may have ruined the formal Homecoming Dance for the students, this had turned out to be a far better experience overall for them.
In fact, amidst all the ones they’d done, they were sure this would be one to remember... a moment that would leave rent free in their heads for years to come.
As a result, even though Aiden hadn’t prioritized completing the quest... it updated anyway.
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[Quest Completed!]
⸢Exclusive Quests
› Mother Nature says ’LOL’.
└ Save the homecoming dance. – [0.7 LP Awarded!]
-
Rasputin (Single Version), by Boney M.