Chapter 3

"Hey, Lily, Lincoln!" Mr Harrison said.

"Hey," Lily said, surprised to see him in the local pub.

"Should you really be in a bar?" Mr Harrison asked.

"It's coke," Lily said, holding up her glass.

"That's not," Mr Harrison said, indicating Lincoln's beer.

"Come on Sir, like you didn't drink underage," Lincoln said.

"Well I guess I didn't see you with it, in that case..." Mr Harrison said. Lincoln smiled and patted his back to say thanks.

"Hey guys," Mr Rose said, coming up to them both with two pints of something. He handed one of them to Mr Harrison. "I didn't know you guys came here,"

"Yeah, sometimes," Lincoln said. "Now we're both seventeen it's slightly less illegal," he said. Mr Rose shook his head laughing. "Plus my mates are playing on the stage," Lincoln said, indicating the band setting up.

"Do they go to Phoenix?" Mr Harrison asked, not recognising them.

"No, my Saturday school," Lincoln said.

"Where's that?" Mr Rose asked.

"The performing arts one about a mile away," Lincoln said.

"Ah yeah, we went there for sixth from," Mr Rose said.

"Really?" Lincoln asked.

"Yeah," Mr Harrison said. "God, remember those days..."

"What were you guys like in sixth form?" Lincoln asked.

"Emo," Mr Rose said.

"Ah yeah?" Lincoln asked.

"Proper emo, unpopular, punk kids, who everyone avoided," Mr Harrison said.

"Come on... we weren't that bad, were we?" Mr Rose asked.

"Oh, we were..." Mr Harrison said. "We were that bad and more... everyone knew I was bisexual, thank god they didn't know your sexuality..."

"Okay, first of all, I didn't know my sexuality at the time; second of all, if people hate us for that, then fuck them; and third of all, we went to a performing arts school. I'm pretty sure we were looked down on because we weren't gay," Mr Rose said.

"Yeah, starting to cross a line, mate..." Mr Harrison said. "Not all guys who go to a performing arts college are gay. There were loads of straight guys there. Girls, too, but I can't imagine you paid them much attention,"

"Hey, I dated more people there than you did. And yeah, you're right about the straight guys, sorry. So Linc, what do you do there? Sorry, I immediately shortened your name, is that okay?"

"No, it's cool," Lincoln said. "I do drama,"

"Ah wicked," Mr Harrison said.

"Did you do drama there?" Lincoln said.

"Yeah," Mr Harrison said. "Do I have you for drama at Phoenix? Or is that the other class?"

"No, you have me,"

"Yeah, I thought I did... we'll be doing a practical next lesson, so hopefully it will be more interesting," Mr Harrison said.

"Oh, shit, yeah, that reminds me, we're doing a practical next lesson in music as well, so if you could bring your instruments in and stuff, and tell the others to do that, then that would be great," Mr Rose said.

"Yeah, absolutely," Lily said.

***

"You wanna dance with me?" Mr Harrison asked Lily.

"I... can't dance..." she replied.

"Please?" He asked, however it was a command. Lily sighed.

"I don't know what to do..." she said.

"Just put your arms around my neck," Mr Harrison said.

"Isn't that a bit too intimate...?" Lily asked.

"Just do it, it'll be fine..." Mr Harrison said. Lily put her arms around his neck. Mr Harrison hiccuped and burped slightly.

"Are you drunk?" Lily asked.

"A little..." Mr Harrison said. He put his hands on her waist. They gently swayed to the music. Lily rested her head in his shoulder.

***

The song came to an end, and Lily thought Mr Harrison would just go away, but instead he leaned even closer into her, and gently brushed his lips against hers. Lily gasped at the move. Mr Harrison turned bright red, and went off. Feeling dizzy, Lily went over to Lincoln.

"Where's Mr Rose?" Lily asked.

"We went to the toilet," Lincoln said. "Your lover gone off?" He asked, taking a large gulp of his third or fourth beer.

"My lover? What are you on about?" Lily asked.

"You and Mr Handsome-son," Lincoln said.

"Nothing's going on between us..." Lily said.

"Apart from that kiss..."

"That kiss? That kiss was not a kiss! We barely touched, and he is very drunk..." Lily said.

"Defending him?" Lincoln asked.

"Fuck this, I don't have to listen to you and your shit," Lily said, grabbing her jacket. She went outside.

***

Just then she was grabbed by someone, and pressed up against the wall. She then felt someone's lips against hers. Moulding hot and hard against her own. She could smell his aftershave... it reminded her of something... suddenly she placed it. "Sir?!" She gasped.

"Shh..." Mr Harrison said, kissing her again. Completely under his spell, Lily allowed him entrance into her mouth. His tongue swirled around, reaching every inch. Lily had never imagined him to be like this - it was crazy the influence alcohol had on some people. Knowing he would probably not remember it, she decided to be brave and return the kiss.

"Lily! Jack!" Mr Rose asked, running over to them and breaking them apart. "Jesus Christ! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"I have to go..." Lily said, doing her jacket up.

"No, Lily..." Mr Harrison said, but Lily ran off into the night.