Dead Poets Society

don’t have a meeting?”
    Neil raised his eyebrows questioningly at Charlie. “Join?” he asked.
    Charlie ignored him and turned to Tina. “‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate—’”
    Tina melted into warm goo. “Oh, that’s so sweet!” she cried, and threw her arms around Charlie. The other boys tried to appear disinterested, as if they weren’t really jealous.
    “I wrote that for you,” Charlie told Tina.
    Her eyes popped in delight. “You did?!“
    “I’ll write one for you, too, Gloria,” he said quickly, noticing her face turn red with envy. He closed his eyes. “‘She walks in beauty, like the night...’”
    Charlie opened his eyes after the first few words and stood up from the fire. Trying to cover up his forgetfulness, he walked across the cave. “’She walks in beauty, like the night,’” he repeated. He turned his back, opened a book, and read quickly to himself, while Gloria watched expectantly. He closed it, put the book down, and turned back to Gloria. “‘Of cloudless climes and starry skies;/ And all that’s best of dark and bright/Meet in her aspect and her eyes.’”
    Gloria squealed with delight. “Isn’t he wonderful?”
    The other boys sat ashen-faced and seething with jealousy over Charlie’s escapades. Gloria squeezed Charlie tight.

    At that same moment, Knox Overstreet was experiencing some jealousy of his own as he stumbled through the crowded Danburry house. “Boy, were those guys right, ” he mumbled to himself as he thought of Chris and Chet and remembered his friends’ warning not to get his hopes too high over Chris.
    The house was dark, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the windows. Music by the Drifters played loudly. Couples were intertwined everywhere, making out.
    Drink in hand, Knox tripped over a couple on the floor, tipsy from the innumerable bourbons without coke that he had downed with Bubba and Steve.
    “Hey!” an angry voice shouted. “Watch where you’re going! What’d ya have, too much to drink, buddy?”

Chapter 10

    “Sorry, ” Knox whispered, as he fell onto the sofa. He leaned back, clutching his half-full glass, and took a long swig of the bitter bourbon. It seemed to burn less now as it slid down his throat.
    He looked around, loosening up from the effect of the booze. To his left was a tangled couple that sounded like a giant panting beast. To his right was another pair who seemed to have sunk right into the sofa. Knox wanted to stand up, but he realized that the couple he had tripped over was now rolled against his shins, pinning him in place. He looked around and almost giggled. Oh well, I may as well make himself comfortable, he said to himself. The bodies surrounding him were too busy to notice him anyway.
    The music stopped, and the sound of heavy breathing filled the room. This sounds like nn artificial respiration ward, Knox thought to himself, wishing he too had a partner. He checked on the couple to his right. I think he’s going to chew her lips off, he thought. He turned to the couple on his left.
    “Oh, Chris, you’re so beautiful,” he heard the boy’s voice say.
    Oh my God, it’s Chris and Chet! Knox thought, his heart beginning to throb. Chris Noel was sitting right next to him on the couch!
    The music started up again, and the strains of the Drifters singing “This Magic Moment” filled the room. Knox’s head was spinning. Chris and Chet were going at it full force. Knox tried to look away but his eyes were riveted on Chris.
    “Chris,” Chet groaned, “you’re so gorgeous.” Chet kissed Chris hard, and she leaned against Knox. In the moonlit room Knox stared at the outline of Chris’s face, the nape of her neck, the curves of her breasts. He quickly downed the rest of his drink and forced himself to look away.
    Oh my God, help me, he thought as Chris leaned Wore heavily on him. Knox’s face was contorted in agony as he felt himself struggle with temptation. He tried not to look but he knew he was losing his inner battle.
    Suddenly, he turned toward Chris again. He melted as his emotions took over. “Carpe breastum, he said to himself, closing his eyes. “Seize the breast!”
    “Huh?” Knox heard Chris say to Chet.
    “I didn’t say anything,“ Chet said.
    The pair continued to kiss while Knox felt his hand, drawn by a powerful magnetic force, reach out and lightly stroke the nape of Chris’s neck, then down toward her