a/n: This has been in the works for, literally, months. I wrote about half before summer camp started, which has left me absolutely exhausted. I have, however, decided to put one of my days off to good use. An extra at the end, as far as what was going through my mind regarding something mentioned. Anyway - enjoy!

After Hours

March, Junior year

"Seriously, you all go. I'll finish up the cover up," Cricket said, shooing her fellow crew members towards the door.

"We can't leave you here alone," Jenna protested, crossing her arms. She was a senior and stand-in mother for the theatre crew members and therefore reluctant to leave Cricket on her own. "Besides, there's a lot of painting to go, you won't finish it by tonight."

"No, perhaps not, but I'll get the majority done. I know the rest of you want to go to the 'Spring' dance, anyway. I don't want to and I've finished my homework for this weekend, so I need something to do."

"Kuo, that's silly. You oughta come with us; it'll be fun! Richards won't flip if we don't finish these before rehearsal tomorrow. Dress isn't for two weeks." Benji, a slim sophomore, interjected. Alec, leaning on Benji's shoulder, nodded in agreement. Selene and Jem murmured in agreement, though the young couple seemed more eager to leave than to stay and work. Cricket rolled her eyes. Everyone was silent for a moment; the pulsing music of the dance could be heard faintly throughout the auditorium. Cricket sighed.

"Just go. If it makes you feel any better, come back and check on me in a couple of hours. Jenna - I'm serious. I know you want to go, too, especially since Dexter is going to be there." There was a string of suggestive 'Ooo's as a number of crew members nudged the now blushing Jenna.

"Fine," Jenna reluctantly gave in, "I'll be back at ten to check in."

"Deal."

Cricket watched as the small group left, joking with each other, pushing through the auditorium doors. Cricket heard a brief snatch of Green Day before the auditorium doors swung shut once more. She walked over to the small radio sitting on a stool, pulling her dark hair out of her face. She quickly tuned the radio to the "80s, 90s, and Today!" station and went back over the rows of backdrop pieces on the floor.

They still had scenes from last year's musical - Beauty and the Beast - specifically. The castle, the "poor, providential town," among others. They were lovely backdrops - some Jenna had done single-handedly. Due to the budget, though, they had to reuse them, which meant they had to paint over the old scenery. Currently, three gallons of white paint as well as some miscellaneous green were waiting to paint them over, to prep them for the new scenes for their next play (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Cricket was trying to get in on actually painting the scenery this time around. Not that she didn't enjoy being a techie, but she wanted to paint.

Pouring the slick paint into the tray and dipped the roller in. She'd finished the one before dropping the roller in its tray to stretch her back. She leaned and twisted, hoping to get the knots out. White paint was now splattered on her khaki cargos. She sighed softly before rolling the roller again in the glossy paint, ready to start on the second backdrop. Just then, the auditorium door slammed open.

"Cricket!"

She turned around, putting her hands on her hips (best she could with a paint roller in her hand anyway). "Billy Pratt, what in the world are you doing here? And in that?" Cricket wrinkled her nose. Billy was wearing the most horrendous Hawaiian shirt she'd seen, including the ones she'd seen on Sammy's grandfather.

"It's festive," Billy responded with a shrug before bounding down the aisle of the auditorium.

"It's painful actually. And you never answered my first question."

"I came to see why you're not at the dance. I looked everywhere for you. Twice." Billy leaned against the edge of the stage, gazing up at her. Cricket's stomach gave an odd little flutter as she rolled her eyes.

"Jenna sent you."

"Nope, haven't seen her tonight. Why didn't you come to the dance?"

"Can't dance; don't like being squished in a room with that many people."Cricket shrugged.

"Oh, there aren't too many."

"For me there is."

"Oh … well, then, we can have our own dance in here then." Billy hoisted himself up on the stage. Cricket turned away, turning back to work on the backdrops.

"And by dance I assume you mean paint."

"Not entirely." Billy approached her, smoothing his hands 'round her waist as she painted. Cricket, ticklish, gave a yelp and dropped the roller.

"Billy!" Cricket struggled to turn around and face him, only to find herself barely inches away from his face. She frowned, annoyed.

"Com'n, Mojo Kuo-jo! It's a good song."

"Ricky Martin."

"Okay, not good, but danceable!" Grabbing Cricket's hand, he swung her out, nearly running her into the backdrop, before pulling her back in, grabbing her waist once more and trying to do a very cartoonish tango. Cricket stumbled over her feet, laughing at his ridiculous expression.

"Billy, I need to paint!"

"No one else is."

"I told them to leave."

"Obviously you just wanted some alone time with me." Billy wagged his eyebrows at her flirtatiously.

"Har–Billy!" She shrieked quietly as he dipped her.

"And that was Ricky Martin's 'Livin' La Vida Loca'. Next we have a request from Sue in Santa Luisa – Matt Nathanson's 'All We Are'–"

Billy smoothly pulled her back into the upright position as the song's sweet melody began flowing from the radio. Cricket shook her head, trying to return to her task. Billy held fast; Cricket whipped around with a glare, her expression softening into confusion when she met his serious gaze.

"Dance with me," he murmured, left arm winding around her waist, pulling her closer. Cricket allowed him to lace his fingers with hers, moving slowly around the stage in a hesitant circle. So self-assured moments ago - he was now gazing over her shoulder, cheeks faintly tinged with pink. Cricket, well, … Cricket wasn't sure what to think. She was dancing with Billy Pratt. School Clown.

If Cricket wanted to be completely honest with herself (and even if she didn't want to, she knew she had to be), she would have to admit to having a crush on Billy. Despite all his antics … or maybe because of them. He was charismatic; his personality and charm infectious. But the issue with having a crush on Billy was that he provided all sorts of false hope. In addition to all his other characteristics that made Billy Billy was that he was a flirt. A serious flirt. It didn't take Cricket long to notice that he not only flirted with her, but anything else that moved – girls and guys alike. He was a charmer, and relished in evoking reactions in others. Even so … she recognized that she'd developed feelings for her friend.

Billy, finally noticing her stare, flashed a winning smile, tightening his grip on her waist. His blue eyes gazed right back at her intensely. Cricket looked away. See – it was things like that, that made her wonder if, in fact, he did feel something beyond friendship for her as well, but … she knew not to get her hopes up. Especially since she'd caught him locking lips with Johanna of the Ensemble the other day.

She'd tried to make her peace with her situation; said she really didn't care, but it was so difficult when she was with him. This (she leaned closer to Billy) was just so comfortable. She'd never felt like this around a boy before. Infatuation she'd felt, sure, but she knew her feelings were on the edge of genuine for the boy in her arms.

As the song wound down, the auditorium doors flew open, the sound of P!nk jarring Cricket back into reality.

"Hey, Kuo! Pratt, what are you doing here?"

Billy spun Cricket out with a flourish, holding on to her right hand. With an elaborate bow, he kissed her hand twice – first, tenderly; the second time with a loud smack. He stood up and walked confidently toward the Jenna and Alec, smug grin back in place.

"Cricket wouldn't go to the dance so I brought it to her. Can't have her being the party killer."

"Ah, well, that's …. Sweet of you, Pratt," Jenna responded, a disapproving frown tugging at the corner of her lips. Alec just grinned at Billy. "Why don't you head out to the dance? Cricket and I can finish up here."

"Only if Alec promises to save me a dance." Billy winked rakishly; Alec blushed faintly before silently heading toward the auditorium door. Billy shook his head and leapt of the stage. "So sensitive. See you later, Cricket!"

Cricket watched as Billy and his obnoxious shirt leave, a slightly forlorn expression on her face, all previous thought and feeling screeching to a halt. She sighed, an annoyed frown taking over.

"Status quo is god," Cricket thought, rolling her eyes.

"You okay there, Kuo?"

"Yea, Jenna."

"You sure? 'cause … well, the last girl Billy led on like that ended up brokenhearted. I don't want that to happen to you," Jenna murmured, placing a gentle hand on Cricket's shoulder. Cricket shook her head and smiled up at Jenna.

"Really, Jen, we're just friends." Cricket nodded her head once with resolution.

"Billy's just a guy who flirts too much for his own good."

"Damn straight … now, help me finish painting?"

a/n2: The whole Hawaiian shirt thing? I had a crazy (or, in fandom terms, crack) notion about a year ago that Shawn Spencer from Psych is Sammy's biological dad, which means - Henry Spencer, in all his Hawaiian shirted glory, is Sammy's granddad ... I love this idea and no one will convince me otherwise until WVD reveals Sammy's dad in the book. It totally makes sense to me.

In other news ... Toy Story 3, anyone?

~Loriot