As the song "Never My Love" began to play, and Peter pulled Julie in close, the two people that had been laughing at Julie and Cindi began to make there way over to them. Julie knew this wasn't going to be good. Babs Carter; a cheerleader, and her boyfriend, Derk Watson; the Senior Quarterback, were always picking on Julie and the few friends that she had.
"Well if it isn't Cinderugly and her dogfaced friend the retard," Derk said.
"I not retard, I Downs! You the retard!" Cindi shouted at him. Davy had to stifle a giggle at Cindi's spunkiness.
"Why don't you just leave us alone? You can harass me on Monday if you feel you must. I just want to have a nice time with my date," Julie pleaded with tears in her eyes.
"Where did you get your date, Julie? He looks like one of those icky hippies! I guess that's all you could get," Babs said with a sneer.
"Yeah, and tardo has a midget," Derk said, making Babs laugh.
"Back off and leave them alone!" Davy shouted.
"Yeah, I don't appreciate the way you are talking about these ladies," Peter said as he protectively held Julie.
"Watch it, Simpleton! You don't wanna mess with me. If you only knew the strength of a quarterback, you wouldn't even dare," Derk said, as he looked Peter straight in the eye. Peter wanted to hit him. For the first time in his life, he felt violence could fix what he felt at this moment.
"I like your yard sale dress," Babs said sarcastically.
"Where did she get that figure?" Derk asked. Then boldly, he pretended to sneeze and pulled a tissue out of Julie's top. Horrified, Julie clasped her hands to her chest and ran out the door in tears. That was the last straw for Peter. Without even thinking, he grabbed Derk by the shirt collar and slammed him up against the wall. Derk became terrified at the unknown strength of Peter. He whimpered as he shook.
"Don't you ever pull something like that again,or you will deal with me," Peter seethed through clenched teeth.
"I...I...I..." Derk stammered with tears in his eyes. Davy became really afraid that Peter might actually hurt this kid. He had never seen his friend blow his top, so he didn't know just how angry he would get.
"Peter, nevermind that right now. Go see how Julie is doing," Davy instructed his friend. Slowly, Peter let go of the shirt collar. Without so much as an apology, Peter tore out the door to search for Julie.
He found her in the garden, blowing her nose into one of her own tissues. Her makeup had ran a little, but her gentleness shone through and enhanced her beauty. He walked over to where she was and sat down right beside her.
"Julie honey, I am so sorry that happened to you. I'm sorry I didn't protect you better," Peter said as he lifted her chin to look at her.
"No one can be protected from Derk and Babs. They run the whole school. They're untouchables because of their prestige," Julie said with hopelessness.
"I did something that kind of scared me. When Derk violated you like that, I...grabbed...his," Peter stopped, as he thought of what he could have done.
"What? What did you do?" Julie asked.
Peter took a deep breath and continued. "I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. I was filled with so much hate. I have never felt hate like that. I think I could have squezzed the life out of him if Davy hadn't brought my attention back to you," Peter confessed.
"Oh Peter, I appreciate you trying to defend my honor, but you mustn't hate anyone, not even Derk the Jerk. My daddy says when he hurts my feelings that I should pray for him, not hate him," Julie said as she lovingly caressed Peter's cheek. He smiled that dimpled grin at her as the moonlight sparkled in his eyes. There was that fluttering again, she thought. Was she really feeling that world famous emotion of "love" that everybody talked about? She knew in her generation the word love was a synonym for tolerance or peace, or lust and pleasure, even just liking something. The word love had been so jumbled, she had to search her heart for a moment to tell her. Yes, she was almost certain it was love, and if she had the power to freeze time just once she would have picked the exact moment they were in.
"Peter, I'm falling in love with you," Julie said quietly, but boldly. The smile that spread across her face ran from ear to ear, and Peter smiled with her.
"Me too," Peter said, as he pulled her in for a kiss. After a few more moments of peaceful silence, they walked back into the prom, arm in arm.
"How you two doing, mate?" Davy asked.
"On top of the world, mate," Peter replied, "on top of the world."