A/N: Hey guys! It's been about a year since I've posted anything new, and probably 3 years since I've posted a new How To Rock story. Since the popularity of How To Rock stories have diminished, I feel like the last thing I can give to all you dedicated Rockers is a few one shots of How To Rock I've long forgotten. Enjoy!

Masquerade

I'm not much for school dances, and if I go it's in attempt to whisk a single lady off her feet, which usually ended in disasters, but this time around I was persuaded to go on the account that I would be given the perfect opportunity.

I sat on a high chair, tuning my ukulele, when Nelson and Kevin came barging in. In an attempt to finish, I ignored their presence and continued strumming, but their voices bounced on every wall and corner. Frustrated and irritated, I gave up tuning and set aside my ukulele to hear what they had to say.

"Okay, but Grace is a Perf. We don't associate with Perfs!" Kevin argued, plopping down on the couch and setting his feet on top of the growing pile of empty pizza boxes.

"We already went through this a few months ago! I like Grace and that doesn't change anything about how I feel about the band or you guys," Nelson defended himself.

I took it as my cue to enter the conversation. "I'm so confused. What are you guys arguing about?"

Kevin let out an exasperated sigh and said, "Haven't you been listening? Nelson wants to ask Grace out to the Masquerade Ball tomorrow night."

"But Kevin doesn't want me to go with Grace because we were supposed to have a boys' night out tomorrow night," Nelson added.

They kept going on and on, explaining every detail of their senseless argument. Meanwhile, I listened while rubbing my temple. At some point, they let me voice my opinion on the matter. I took a seat at the other chair before giving them my verdict.

"Kevin, let Nelson go this time. You can always do boys' night out tomorrow." Kevin and Nelson began to start another argument, but I cut them before they could breathe a word. "I'm not finished. Nelson, you have to ask Grace this time. You can't leave Kevin hanging after all of this."

Though Nelson was the one who came up with the idea minutes ago, he looked as if he wanted to shrivel in a corner and never come out of the band room again. Kevin noticed and proceeded to tease him about being all talk. Nelson turned bright red and turned away trying to brush off Kevin's words like they were merely dust on his shirt.

Kevin paused for a moment, looking as if he was precociously debating on an important idea. Confusion crossed Nelson's face as he took a seat across from me and waited for Kevin to say something. I attempted to speak up but the silence was somewhat comforting after all of the loud disputes.

After a brief contemplation, Kevin shouted, "I have an idea!" We all looked at Kevin, wanting to know his solution to the problem. "Let's have a little challenge."

Our ears perked up at his words. "Normal challenge rules?" I asked.

"Yeah, you guys remember don't you? We each have to wager something of equal quantity. Loser has to do what the winner says. Tie breaker is decided by a neutral party."

My lips curved into a smirk as I replied, "Okay, so what are we betting today?"

Kevin took on my smirk and glared at Nelson. Nelson squirmed in his seat and looked away from Kevin towards the ceiling.

"I challenge Nelson to ask Grace to the dance."

Nelson cursed under his breath. "And what about you guys?"

Now it was my turn to squirm in my seat as Kevin and Nelson turned to me. "Zander has to make his move with Stevie."

I abruptly stood up from my seat and protested. I shouldn't feel this uncomfortable with pulling all the stops on a lady, but when it comes to Stevie, my mind doesn't know where to start.

I could imagine what I would do and how I would terribly fail. Stevie would pull the "just friends" card to avoid getting herself in another relationship, just like she had to the two other guys who had asked her to the dance. And if I tried to slip my way into her heart on the night of the dance, she would take her bass and crush me.

Even though I had my greatest fears replaying on my mind, I couldn't help but think of what could happen if she opened her heart up to me. I could finally, just finally, surpass the friend-zone box she's been shoving me in. Maybe she'd let me hold her close as we dance. Maybe she'd let me…

"Zander, snap out of it. The look on your face proves why you need to make your move with Stevie. It's been a year and you've barely scratched the surface of being more than friends," Kevin exclaimed.

"Man, but what if she friend-zones me like she did with Andy and Justin?"

"Then you upheld your end of the challenge and we'll hook you up with someone else."

"Before we get ahead of ourselves, who is Kevin going to do?" Nelson asked.

"Who else? Kevin has to ask the one and only Kacey Simons."

Kevin gave me a chilly glare before replying, "Fine then, fair wager. Let the games begin!"