Just a few more hours until the Annual People Pampering Pets Charity Ball! Everyone was over-the-moon excited about this; the last ball was a huge success. Sure, Penny Ling broke down when she accidentally mistook Blythe's father's suit for her outfit, but after all that everything went along even more than just smoothly.

This year, Mrs. Twombly managed to get a few more tickets for herself, Blythe, and a few guests for the ball, and Blythe was planning on making new, revised additions to their outfits they wore last year. And of course, with her skills, everyone was completely ecstatic.

But new attire was the least of Vinnie's concern. Sure, he loves his outfit, the boots, the vest, and sparkling tights, the bandana... He loves it so much he wore it when he danced for Blythe during her going-away present before she went to F.U.N. But something else, or rather someone else, overtook all possible excitement for new wear: Zoe.

There was nothing more beautiful on four legs that could ever overtake Zoe's style, beauty, and pizzazz. And this wasn't just a crush the little gecko had on the dog; he knew it was true love. However, last time, he couldn't find the courage to ask her to the ball.

But there's always a second chance for everything, right?

"What do I do? What do I say? How should I even go through with this? Should I even?" he fretted to Russell and Sunil, gripping his tail in his tiny hands, where it would usually be Sunil taking that role.

"You have nothing to worry about, Vinnie," Russell smiled in assurance. "All you need to do is be yourself."

"Don't forget this is Zoe Trent, the most beautiful creature on the planet, we're talking about here!" the gecko retorted, gripping his tail harder and slightly tugging on it. "She don't want no clumsy loser! She'd want a high-class, sophisticated man."

"Sophisticated?" Sunil couldn't help but hoot as he giggled. "You clearly have never seen those types. They are not compatible in the slightest!"

"Believe me, Vinnie, I've read enough romance novels to know that the only way to impress a woman is to be yourself," the hedgehog repeated, placing a supportive orange paw on Vinnie's shoulder. "She doesn't care if you're a clumsy dancer or even a sophisticated millionaire. It's in here that counts." He slid his paw down to his heart, only to have it smacked away by a green hand.

"Okay, okay, don't get all mushy-gushy on me, man," the gecko grunted in disgust.

"Well, in that case, you may want to go now, for she approaches," Sunil warned, looked past his best friend. Vinnie turned around and felt his heart beat in his throat when his eyes landed on the dog, whose lilac coat shone in the overhead lights and purple-pink hair flowed silkily as she trotted gracefully.

Taking a deep breath, Vinnie smiled confidently, lifting his head and tail into the air, and walked towards her. Russell and Sunil waved to him and watched him go before turning to each other.

"He's not gonna do it, is he?" Sunil sighed.

"Not a chance," Russell snorted.

Gritting his teeth, overhearing the mongoose's and hedgehog's comments, Vinnie lifted his head higher and walked casually - well, as casual as he can get - towards Zoe. "'Sup, Zoe?"

"Hello, Vinnie, darliiiiaaahh!" Zoe yelped when she tripped over her forepaw, falling forward. Seeing this, the gecko zipped forward and caught her before she landed on her chest.

"You okay?" he asked, helping her back up to her feet.

"Yes, I am," she huffed, clearly flustered, and toyed with her ears and hair in embarrassment. Looking back at Vinnie, she smiled, her cheeks turning rose pink. "I'm so clumsy, aren't I?"

The gecko chuckled, a pink tint of his own spreading across his cheeks. "No more than I am."

"Then... I suppose you wouldn't mind if... the two of us, being so clumsy and all... were to go to the Charity Ball together?" Zoe yipped with a shy smile.

Vinnie's heart nearly stopped dead.