Zero Read Online Free Page B

something he had dwelt on for any length of time but once or
twice before he had wondered what a school dance looked like, now he knew.
    “Hey, was that your car? The Benz?”
    Alan had to stop from jumping as he
turned to see who had spoken to him. Her name was Amber Jacobson, she was Alan’s
own age and tonight she was wearing a short pink dress with a plunging
neckline.           
    “Ummm… yeah well, it’s a borrow but I
drove it here.”
    “Nice, car. You look familiar, do I
know you? Do you go to school here?”
    Alan raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, I’m
Alan.”
    Amber starred back at him with a blank
look.
    “Alan Price. We’ve both gone to this
school since we were freshmen.”
    No look of recognition passed across
the young blonde’s face. She shrugged as she waived to someone behind Alan. “Oh
okay. Well, cool car. I’m gonna go catch up with my friends but maybe we can
take a spin sometime or hangout later tonight.”
    “Yeah, yeah okay.”
    Amber was gone in the next few seconds
running in her high heels to catch up with a group of girls that may have well
been her clones.
    Alan stood shocked. He hadn’t even
been to the dance for a full minute before he had been approached by a
girl for the very first time, ever.
    Is this really how easy it was? Did
all you need not to be a nobody is expensive things and a haircut?
    Alan kicked himself for not trying
anything like this before. For the first time in a very long while Alan felt
good, he felt great. In place of the depression and anger was a sense of
accomplishment. Even if the rest of the night turned out to be him sitting by
himself, he had done enough. That small exchange with Amber was more pleasant
socializing than he had done with anyone that entire month. And, she had
approached him.
    Alan couldn’t help but smile as he
walked to the punch bowl and poured himself a glass of the red sugar water. He
wasn’t even thirsty but it seemed like the thing to do next. The drink touched
his lips and ran down his throat, making his taste buds pucker at its
sweetness.
    The lights in the gymnasium were
dimmed with a classic disco ball sending tiny rays of light in every direction.
It was while he was getting ready to leave the refreshment table that he
noticed Jennifer Richardson and Brent Carson approaching with their clique of
cheerleaders and jocks.
    In a heartbeat all the good feelings
and joy that Alan felt were gone. His hands started to sweat as the group
looked at him with a confused expression then stared open mouthed in his
direction. Brent was the first to speak. “Alan, is that you?”
    Alan couldn’t bring his dry throat to
say a word so he nodded instead.
    “Oh my gosh dude, what happened to
you?”
    “I decided to come to the dance,” Alan
hated how his voiced squeaked out the response.  
    “Yeah, I can see that. Who are you
here with?”
    “Nobody.”
    “Come on, Brent,” Jennifer said giving
Alan a look of surprise while leading her boyfriend away from Alan with a
gentle tug. “You said you were going to get me something to drink.”
    “Yeah okay. I’m just tripping out on
this nerd right now. You realize you’re still a loser, Price. Fancy clothes and
a haircut wont change that. You know you’re nothing, you’re less than nothing.”
    Alan will never know what came over
him in that moment. Maybe it was all the sugar in his punch. Maybe he was still
high on the feeling Amber gave him when she walked up to him and initiated a
conversation. Maybe it was all the years of ridicule and belittlement he had
endured. Whatever it was it pushed Alan over the edge. “You get off on making
fun of other people. I’m not sure why. Maybe you honestly think you are better
than everybody else. I think that maybe deep down inside you’re insecure. Does
it makes you feel better about yourself as a human being to degrade other
people?”
    The entire group, including Alan stood
stunned. The band still played on in the background but