Summer Wind

Summer Wind – (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Please let me know how you think the direction of the story is going. Yes, I know, I’m shamelessly begging for reviews. Any comments are appreciated.

Chapter 10 – Midnight Movie Madness

“I can not believe you told her about us!” Will slammed his best friend up against a row of lockers. Despite this being a playful gesture, the lockers vibrated for the length of the hallway. “You know we’re not supposed to talk to citizens about stuff like that.”

Warren recovered quickly and shoved Will back, adding a burst of fire to emphasize his annoyance. “I didn’t tell her, idiot,” he said, turning his back on his friend and heading for the cafeteria.

“Then how did she know about us?” Will stopped, perplexed, and waited for his friend’s explanation.

“All I ever told her was that a kid at school could melt. You gotta admit, that’s something you don’t hear about everyday.” Warren continued down the hall way, not looking back.

“Hey, thanks!” said Ethan, beaming, as he quickly appeared at Warren’s side.

Warren glanced over at Ethan in annoyance. “It wasn’t a compliment, and I didn’t tell her your name, either. In fact, I hadn’t told her anything about the five of you until you showed up last night. She played you and you sang right on key.”


“Whoa, she’s good,” said Zach, impressed.

“No, you guys are just easy,” responded Warren

Will was still inspecting the damage from Warren’s fire burst. Layla stepped in front of him before Will could retaliate for the burn on his new book bag. “Well, I think she’s really nice.”

“Nice, maybe, but obviously mental to be going out with Warren.” Magenta deadpanned. “However, who’s to say which of us is emotionally or mentally stable around here?”

“Actually, I think that Dr. Emoticon in the Biology Dept. is qualified. That’s why she’s the one that gives us that psyche test every spring,” Ethan pointed out helpfully.

“Unfortunately, Jamie thinks you’re all pretty cool, too,” Warren said, ignoring Magenta’s comment. “Tried to persuade her otherwise. Had her convinced about Ethan and Zack being dweebs, but she really seems to like Layla and Magenta.” Warren rolled his eyes and readjusted the book bag on his shoulder. “It really pains me to say this, but she wants to know if all of you want to join us at the movies tonight?”

“The movies sound great,” Layla bounced as they resumed their walk down the hallway. “We haven’t done anything together in a long time.”

Warren stopped again to pull a wad of papers from his bag. “Well, evidently this is an interactive movie. Here’s a list of things that you need to bring tonight.”

“Hey, fun,” said Layla, reading through her list then comparing it with Zach and Magenta’s. “What are we going to see?”

“Something called ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’” Warren left his friends and headed towards the nurse’s office. He wanted to see if he could get something for the monster size headache he could feel coming on.

“Hey, you need any help with your ‘goals and plans’ worksheet?” Warren heard Layla call to him as he turned the corner.

“No,” he called back. “I turned it in this morning.”


Jameson watched the leaves falling to the sidewalk as she waited for Warren on a bench outside of the theater. A gust of wind swept the leaves up into a multi-colored whirlwind. The weather was so much cooler, not brisk, but perfect for long sleeves. If she wasn’t boycotting the school’s football games, she would have said it was perfect footballer weather.

Jamie saw Warren striding towards her across the parking lot. The wind brushed his hair back from his face, and sent an errant leaf dancing up in front of him. Warren swatted the leaf away, grinning when he realized she was watching him. God. She loved fall. The weather, the colors, and Warren in leather. All together, it made this her favorite season.


Joining Jamie on the sidewalk, Warren leaned in to kiss her lightly on the lips. “Hi” he said, not moving away.

“Hi” she responded. “Did you bring the supplies?”

“Yeah,” Warren opened the paper bag he was carrying to show her the fourteen full water guns.

“Great,” Jamie grabbed his hand. “We’d better stake out our place in line. The doors won’t open for another thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes?” Warren stopped where he was. “Why are we so early?”

“The pre-show takes place out here. You’ve got to be here for it in order to fully appreciate the whole Rocky Horror experience.” Jamie tugged him back towards the end of the line, waving at a few familiar faces as they passed.

When Layla, Will and Ethan arrived, Jameson inspected their supplies, then announced that she had a few people she needed to talk to.

While Layla and Will were speculating on why Ethan had to bring dry toast, Jameson wandered back up the lengthening line, searching the crowd as she went. In a few moments, she spotted her objective.

“Love the costume, Brian. You’re really getting good. Almost no extra holes in the stockings this time. The eyeliner seems a little heavy tonight, however.” Jamie reached up to dab at the edge of her friend’s eyes, softening the effect of the kohl.

“Thanks, how come you’re not dressed,” the leather and fishnet encased six foot two inch brunette wanted to know.

“I brought friends tonight. Didn’t want to scare them off.” Jamie tried to downplay her statement by looking around at the surrounding revelers.

Brian’s interest perked up. “Virgins?” he asked immediately. He wasn’t easily distracted.

Jamie thought of Layla, Will, and Ethan, and shook her head, unsure of how they might feel about being thrust in to the spot light at their first show. The extra attention probably wouldn’t appeal to Zach or Magenta either.

And she feared for the safety of the other participants if anyone tried to drag Warren into the middle of the show.

“No, I just wanted to let you know I was here, but I’m sitting with someone else tonight.”

Brian watched Jamie critically for a few moments. “Everything going okay, Jamie?”

He’d known Jamie since second grade, knew her family history, and knew her self-destructive tendencies. He worried about his friend and where she was headed.

“Things are looking up, Brian. Don’t be a worrywart.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and headed back down the long line.


As she headed back towards Warren and his friends, Jamie stopped occasionally to chat with some of the other movie goers waiting in line. Some costumes warranted comments and an occasional applause. Sometimes, if she found a particularly noteworthy outfit, she would call it to the attention of the surrounding assemblage. Most of the people in line seemed to recognize Jamie and had a word or two to add to her roaming commentary. Many wanted to know why she wasn’t in costume herself.

Warren watched Jamie making her way back down the queue to where he was standing. He watched her interaction with the crowd and the warmth with which she greeted many of the people she spoke to.

This was such a different side of her than the one that he knew that insisted on baiting her father every chance she got. This wasn’t the person that vandalized others cars, or broke into private property. Though, is it really breaking in when you have a key?

Even on those instances, he had to admit, she had still been more mischievous than destructive. It was only occasionally that her mood had tipped over the edge towards dark and melancholy.

Jamie wrapped her arms around Warren when she returned, squeezing hard. He decided not to ask about the kiss on the cheek he had seen her give to the guy near the front of the line.

Jamie stepped back to scan her surroundings to see if Zach and Magenta had arrived yet.

Warren twined his fingers through Jameson’s hand, and pulled her close. “Why are there so many people in costume here?”

“Why have you never told me about your friends? They seem really nice.” She lifted her head defiantly.

“Answer my question first.” Warren didn’t let her go or move away.

“Fine, then, a trade,” she smiled.

“I’m afraid we may have reached our detente. No one says we have to trade information.” Warren shook his head in negation.

“You’re right and no one says I have to answer you, either. If you really want to know why everyone is dressed up, then, we trade. Tit for tat.”

Warren stepped back in resignation. “Fine. I didn’t think I had the right to reveal anything about my friends’ powers or their names. And calling them friends is a very liberal use of the word. Now, why the costumes?”

“I told you this is an interactive movie. People like to dress up as the characters, and sometimes even act out the parts during the show.” Jameson noticed that Warren had distanced himself from her as soon as he had started talking about the other teenagers. “But I think your underestimating your friends. They seem pretty sincere. How did you meet them?”

“I tried to roast Stronghold alive one day in the cafeteria. The others just kind of got mixed into the problems we had. Why are there guys in dresses?” Warren crossed his arms and waited for her answer.

Jameson could see that he really wasn’t comfortable talking about the subject of the occurrence between Will and himself. She knew there had to be more than what he was revealing. Best to wait until he was ready to talk about it, she decided. “They’re dressed as Frank, one of the characters. You’d make a good Frank.” She watched him digest that for a moment, then asked her next question. “You and Will must have worked your problems out. Do all of you spend much time together at school?”

“Yeah, the six of us kind of worked together last year to save the school. Long story.” As Jameson had been asking about his relationship with his classmates, Warren realized that he didn’t know anything about her school friends, but he was too distracted by her comment concerning seeing him in a dress to continue with that train of thought. “What do you mean I’d make a good Frank?”

“Usually, I come here with a group in costume. We pick our costumes in a variety of ways. Which character are we most like personality wise, or physically, or who would we most like to be, or sometimes, who’s our anti-thesis. You’d make a good ‘Frank’.” She watched him squirm for a moment before adding, “He’s really tall and dark haired, just like you.”

“For a moment there, I was worried. Who do you usually dress up as?”

“I’ve got one of those nurse’s costumes at home.” Jameson nodded towards a tall girl in a short, skimpy white outfit.

Warren wrapped his arms around Jameson’s waist again, and bumped her hips suggestively. “Really? Ever wear it anywhere other that the movies?” he questioned eagerly.

Jamie smiled, “It could be arranged, for a price.” She hesitated for a moment. “One more question.” She watched his face for his reaction to her next question. “Were you ashamed of me? Is that why you never told them about me?”

Warren leaned down so that their faces were only inches away, “One of my friends melts, the other glows, and one is frequently a guinea pig. How could you possibly be the embarrassing one?” He hugged her tightly. “C’mon. You know me by now. Do you think I go around sharing details unless they are dragged from me by force or threat?”

Jameson realized that this probably was more true than Warren cared to face, but didn’t pursue the topic. “Hey, look, there’s Zach and Magenta. And just in time. The line’s moving.” She looked around for Will, Layla, and Ethan. “Everyone, grab your gear. I’ll brief you inside.”

The movie line moved forward loudly, to say the least. Between the catcalls, some ambiguous praise for others’ dress, and a few helpful hints about the need for modesty for a few of the movie goers, there was more noise going into the theater, then in Sky High’s gym when Will and Warren defended their title for ‘Save the Citizen’.

Jameson directed the group towards a row of seats near the back of the theater. “Now, listen, be ready with your props. I’ll let you know when it’s time to hand them out.”

Warren leaned close to whisper to Jameson, “Are you sure about this. This crowd is a little more avant garde than I think my friends are used to. Zach looks a little worried.”

“Relax. They’ll be fine.” She leaned forward to look for Layla. “Give everyone their bags of rice.” Jameson said as the lights began to dim. “There’s a wedding scene at the beginning of the movie. Watch everyone else. You’ll know what to do.”

The theater’s moderator stood up to go over a few rules, then the head master for the night introduced the actors who would be acting out the scenes along with the movie. As Jameson watched the initiation of two of the movie virgins she was glad she hadn’t volunteered Warren’s friends. That might have taken them one step too far.

As the movie progressed, Jamie had to hand it to the small group of teenagers. They took an even more involved part in the audience participation than she had on her first show. They really seemed to be having a good time, and as she studied Warren, he seemed to be more relaxed than the night before when he had to introduce Jamie to his friends. Maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe he wasn’t embarrassed of her. Just secretive about his private life, as usual.

Jameson realized that during her musings, she had fallen behind in her job. Quickly she leaned over to Warren. “Hand out your water guns.” Jameson reached into the bag she had brought with her, and began dispersing newspaper sections. “Here, guys, you’re going to need these. It’s going to rain soon.”

As the rainstorm began on screen, Jameson’s new friends didn’t need any coaxing as what to do with the water pistols. Neither was there an explanation needed for the newspapers, as everyone in the theater covered their heads, along with Brad and Janet in the movie. The newspapers provided a good cover and kept most everyone dry until Zach decided to shoot Ethan in the face. Since he missed Ethan and soaked Magenta there were a few tense moments until seats were re-arranged allowing for Will and Layle to act as a buffer between Magenta and the apologetic Zach.


Jameson asked Will to pass out the flashlights as the scene involving the song, “Over at the Frankenstein Place” approached. They would need them for the verse, “There’s a light.”

“You could have asked me to supply the light,” Warren suggested, as he observed a few people in the front row with lit candles during the song.

“You’re really not supposed to have open flames in here.” Jameson frowned as she noticed the group at the front. “The management would like to keep the damage to their establishment to a minimum.” Jameson explained. “Besides, we do have newspapers on our heads, remember. Never a good combination.”

Before Jameson could worry anymore about whether or not she should speak to the movie goers at the front, she saw Brian approach the group with a super soaker and take care of the whole open flame situation.

“Your friend seems to have handled the problem,” Warren whispered into her ear. “You don’t think any one will cause a problem for him later, do you?”

“Are you kidding?” Jamie asked, incredulous. “He’s a six foot two, man in a dress. By this time of the evening those high heels are pinching the hell out of his feet. He never buys them big enough. You do not want to mess with him when his feet hurt. Believe me.” She paused for a moment. “Thanks for asking, though. I’ll let him know you were concerned.”

Warren watched her for a moment. “Do the two of you discuss me much?”

“Only minimally.” Jamie squashed a smile, as she let Warren ponder that for awhile.

By the time the show was over, most of the group was wetter than during any previous showings that Jamie had attended. She wasn’t really sure how that had happened, but was considering banning Zach from the use of water guns at any future shows.

Warren seemed to be taking the soaking pretty well, considering the fact that she didn’t think that wet leather could be very comfortable. Really, what was he thinking? He was the one assigned to bring the water guns. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a heads up before hand.

As they started their walk home, he seemed a bit taken aback by the fact that Jameson had so much to discuss with Magenta and Layla. Already they had made plans to meet at the Bead Shoppe in town the following afternoon.

Deciding that joining their conversation had to be better than listening to Zach and Ethan discuss their new playstation game, Warren fell into step beside of Jamie, sliding his arm around her shoulders. Feeling her shiver in the cooling night air, he sent a slight flicker of flame along the length of his arm to subtly warm her. Evidently it wasn’t subtle enough, for he saw Layla frowning in his direction.

In an effort to distract her disapproval from the public showing of his powers, Warren asked Jamie if she had told Layla about her pre-occupation with mice.

Jamie pinched Warren in the stomach and attempted to shush him, but his comment had already piqued Layla’s interest.

“Oh, yes,” he continued. “Jamie is quite an advocate for the rights of mice and small rodents everywhere. In fact, she is the president and current spokesperson for the MLF.”

“You are so dead.” Jamie pinched the fingers that Warren was attempting to entwine in her own. “Warren didn’t mention that he is the treasurer of the same organization. Although that’s not a very hard job, seeing as we don’t collect dues or have any money whatsoever,” she pointed out. “Although, I’m thinking that perhaps we should have a little money in the treasury in case we need to post bail after any of our demonstrations. Peaceful, though they are, there might be a problem at some point.”

“If you ever contribute to me being arrested in your search for mouse rights, you’re going to have a lot more to worry about than bail,” Warren pointed out.

“You were working to help her with this?” Layla questioned. “How sweet.”

“Not sweet,” Warren glared at Layla and squeezed Jamie’s fingers harder than she was expecting.

Jamie ignored him anyway, “Oh, yes, he’s very dedicated. Despite being bitten and peed on repeatedly.”

“Really,” Will asked. By this time Will, Ethan and Zach had joined the conversation, much to Warren’ disapproval.

“Yes, mice really aren’t as open to new ideas as one might think. In fact, they were resistant to the whole rescue idea.” Jamie continued.

By the time that Warren and Jamie had walked each member of the group to their respective homes, he deeply regretted having brought up anything having to do with mice in general.

Jamie stopped under the shadows of one of the large trees on her street. She crooked a finger at Warren, and he joined her, wrapping his arms around her as he backed her up against the old oak. Leaning into her, he nipped teasingly at her lower lip. Watching her eyes widen in surprise and desire, he flicked his tongue out and she opened her mouth willingly.

He felt her slide her hands underneath his shirt. Her hands were chilly despite his efforts all evening to keep her warm. He felt his body temperature rise as she rubbed her thumbs along the edge of his pants. She hooked a finger in his waist band, as his kiss deepened. He felt, more than heard, her intake of breath. Felt her heartbeat quicken, as his pulse began to pound. He dropped his head to suck at her neck. As her hands moved up to pinch at his nipples, he clinched his hands in the material at the back of her shirt. He moved one hand around to the front of her body, moving his fingers up to cup the fullness of her breast. Wishing suddenly that he hadn’t promised himself that he was going to be the responsible one in this relationship, Warren lifted his head to meet Jamie’s eyes.

“It’s already late.” He realized his voice was harsher than usual. “You need to go home.”

Jamie breathed in deeply, watching Warren’s lips, not eyes, as she said, “Like you said, it’s already late. What’s a few more minutes?”

Warren ran his hands down her arms, warming them with a gold-green flame as he did. “You know it wouldn’t be only a few minutes.”

Jamie smiled, “Well, I was hoping it would be a little bit longer. You’re usually pretty talented.”

Warren laughed. “Tomorrow Jamie. When we have more time. Like you once said, what’s the rush?”

“God, and you called me a tease!” But she let him walk her the rest of the way home.

Neither of the hormone entrenched teenagers had noticed that the work van parked across the street from Will’s house had been the same one parked at the movie theater. Nor did they notice that the same van was now parked at the end of Jameson’s street.