The bell rang and Robbie stayed in his seat as the other kids filed out.

"Maybe we shouldn't be alone together," Charlie joked. Robbie blushed. 

"Mr. Parker, did you go to your prom?"  Robbie asked.

"Sure. I mean, I rode a dinosaur to the dance but..."

"Did you go with a boy?"

"I wish. It was a different time, Robbie. I went with a girl friend of mine because...well, it's prom. You kinda have to go."

"But going with a guy now won't be weird?"

Charlie smiled. "If I were in high school now, I would go with a boy. If he asked me. Did a boy ask you?" 

Robbie blushed again. "Yeah. Alex did."

Despite what Charlie may have felt about Alex, the thought of the two of them in tuxes, riding a limo, and dancing among their peers was sweet enough to make Charlie smile. "That's great."

"You don't think people will give us crap for it?"

Charlie leaned in close to Robbie and whispered: "Fuck 'em."

Robbie smiled as he grabbed his books and stood up. "Thanks Mr. Parker," he said, as he walked out the door. "I'm so glad you're going to be my English teacher again next year."

Charlie's smiled slowly shifted into a thoughtful frown. He sighed, took out his sack lunch, and got ready for his lunch-time Skype date with Ben.

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