Second chances
Winter, 1987
The strobes cut through the dancefloor, brilliant blades of white light illuminating throngs of barechested boys. Red-hot faces eyeing each other, even the plainest of faces made striking amidst the smoke and mirrors.
From his perch in a secluded corner booth, two boys caught his eye, one dark-haired and confident - his brilliant blue eyes radiating unbroken hope, the other, a gangly dishwater blonde whose awkward movements betrayed his feigned entrancement.
The straight gin is his hand was failing to quell his moving thoughts, a wintry mix of meandering melancholy and ripe regret. He was contemplating leaving when a shadow fell over his table.
"Wanna dance, stranger?" the pure voice belying the lined face that met his own when he raised his head.
"Um, ok" he managed, the words spluttering like the first water through a dry pipe.
The two strangers danced together, unstirred by the stares of the teen crowd. And then they were standing together on the cold street bracing against the unforgiving early morning air.
"I'll see you around, huh?", the words seeping out of a cautious smile,
After a pause "Right.", said Ennis.
Driving away he eyed the dark stranger is his rear-view. And his heart skipped a beat.