Quick A/N: Big thanks to everyone who is reading this and to those who review!! The Larkins and Turnblads will meet, be patient! Also, I know, the Council kids ride a bus to the station, but having Link drive them home fit the scene better, so bare with me.

"And we're off!"

"That was great, everyone! Before you go change and go home, C'mere a minute." Corny called out. The council gathered around him. Link found Tracy amoung the crowd and grabbed her hand. She looked up and smiled at him. "Alright, Ms. Stubbs and I have been talking about the new dances, and we have the partner assignments today, just like we promised."

Maybelle held up a sheet of paper and smiled. "Listen up. After I call your names you may leave. Ok, so... Obviously our two lead dancers are together, Inez and Link, and after that we have Tracy/Joey, who are Link and Inez's backup partners when they have solos...We've got Seaweed/Brenda, Josiah/Noreen, Paul/Doreen, Bix/Kelly, Jesse/Sarah, I.Q./Naomi, Fender/Christi, and Lou Ann/Matthew. Have a nice night, y'all."

The crowd dispersed. "I'll give you a ride home after we change," said Link. Tracy smiled at him.

"You say that like one of these days you're gonna make me walk. Makes me uneasy!"

"Never," He said, smiling, and winking at her. They squeezed hands and parted ways.

After changing out of his stage clothes and checking his reflection (gorgeous, as always... his hair looked great), Link wandered through the makeup mirrors to the stage to meet Tracy. He'd never noticed it before, but when he looked up, he saw the names of those who'd left had been pried off from above the mirror, but no one had bothered to replace them yet. Instead, a paper taped to each mirror bore the (sloppily) handwritten name of that council kid. Link frowned. They must not have had time, what with all the changes to the station and all.

He smiled when he saw Tracy on the outer edge of the stage. He walked up and nudged her. "Ready?"

"Shh!" Tracy looked at him, angry. Link frowned. Tracy had never been like that before! But then a comotion on stage grabbed his attention.

"No way! No!" Joey was right up in Corny's face.

"Ms. Stubbs and I payed attention, close attention, to good chemistry."

"I got to insist I get a new partner! I can't be dancing with that...that...whale! Not when agents are watching!" A fire of anger lit up in Link when he realized that Joey was talking about his beloved Tracy. His fists clenched and unclenched at his side. Joey was in for it.

"Hey! With the exception of Inez, Tracy is the best dancer on this show! You oughta be glad we paired you up with someone who'd make you look good!"

"Yeah, that's another thing! If you expect me to touch that... girl"

( can't write it but we know what he really meant)

"while that stupid crooner tries to act cool, you got another thing coming. It's bad enough they're even here!"

"You're on thin ice." Corny was visibly seething.

"Things were better when Mrs. Von Tussle were here. We weren't forced to dance with them. No wonder so many people have left already."

"Then maybe the Corny Collins Show isn't for you anymore, Joey."

"Maybe not. Good luck with ratings... People might call the repairman when disgusting black spots show up on their sets, especially the one you wrongly crowned Miss Hairspray." Joey sneered.

"Leave. Now."

"Don't have to ask me twice." Joey stormed out the door while Corny disapeared off stage into the back rooms, mumbling angrily under his breath.

"Oh, I'm going to get him." said Link, ready to chase Joey and punch him, "Tracy, don't listen to a word he says!"

Tracy looked at him. "What? Who cares? Look, Inez heard!" With that, she ran across the room.

Link watched Tracy, she was already across the room, hugging Inez, who'd heard the entire thing. As had much of the rest of the Council, he saw as he crossed over to Tracy. That sinking feeling returned, the one he had when Seaweed had told him why the Von Tussles were gone.

"People only say stupid things like that when their jealous, Inez, don't listen to him." Tracy crooned.

Link patted her back. "Inez, you and the other new kids make us look like rookies, you're the experts."

Maybelle Stubbs came flying towards them, trailed by Seaweed. "Oh, Inez, honey, c'mere!"

"Mama, it's ok, I know he wasn't telling the truth. He's just ignorent." said a dumbfounded Inez into her mother's bosom.

Seaweed surveyed the scene for a moment before leaving without a word, anger seeping out of his every pore. Link watched him go.

After several minutes, and more hugs between Tracy, Inez, and Mabel, Link and Tracy left. The ride on the way to Tracy's house was quiet. Neither one of them tore away from their own thoughts. As they pulled onto Tracy's street, she spoke.

"I just don't understand some people. Inez and Seaweed rock! Why hate them and everyone else? Different is better sometimes."

Link was quiet for a moment. He parked in front of her house. "I know. But things are changing. Starting with people like you." He smiled at her. She smiled back and hugged him.

"Thank you. See you tomorrow." She climbed out of the car, and Link watched her open the door, turn, wave, and close it, like she did every day.

As Link drove away from the Hardy Har Hut, he could only think of one thing. How he didn't deserve Tracy. She was verbally attacked and insulted, yet she didn't care. She was more concerned with other people. She was so much better than he was. He had so much to learn from her.

But he had time. Hopefully, the rest of their lives.