The bell for the end of ninth period rang. Link grabbed his bag and quickly moved to the hall to meet with Tracy so they could catch the bus to his show. (I know, earlier he drove, it bothers me too, and i wrote it! How bout we pretend it all matches up anyway? Smiles!)

She was in front of Penny's locker, talking to her. He came up and put his arm on Tracy's shoulder and tried for charm.

"Penny, may I steal this lovely lady away?" He smiled. Penny smiled back, but it was a sad smile. Tracy turned and pushed his arm off her shoulder playfully. She offered a dazzling smile that still somehow made Link's knees weak.

"In just a minute. I'll meet you outside, ok?"

"Ok." Link walked outside and waited outside of the bus for Tracy, feeling a bit glum. People piled onto the bus and offered a hello to him. He nodded and smiled but continued to stare at the door, waiting for Tracy.

Inez came up and stared at him. She waved her hand in front of his face. He blinked and smiled. "Hello."

Inez smiled back. "So how's everyone in La La Land?"

"Oh, no, I'm just waiting for Tracy. She said she'd be out in a minute."

"Ok..." Inez shook her head and laughed at him. She got onto the bus. The bus driver shouted to him.

"You coming?"

"I'm waiting for someone...Tracy's not here yet!" he called back over the turning engine.

The driver looked at the school entrance. "She's got five minutes!"

"She's coming!" Link watched the door.

Sure enough, with two minutes to spare, Tracy came running out the door. She stopped in front of Link. "Sorry," she said through gasps, "Penny started crying again. This whole thing has just got her so upset."

Link nodded and pulled her onto the bus.

"You're late, I leave without you." said the bus driver as a warning.

"Yes, sir," said both Link and Tracy. They made their way to the back of the bus, where the only empty seat was. Link sat next to the window, and Tracy leaned across the isle to talk to Inez.

Link leaned over to listen, too.

"So anyway, Mama's almost got the bail. After that," Inez shrugged, and Tracy nodded knowingly. Link raised his eyebrows, confused.

Tracy leaned back into their seat, and Link looked at her.

"What comes after that?" he asked.

"Maybe later." She said, raising her eyebrows to indicate the place they were in was a bit too public.

Link nodded, and looked out the window to watch Baltimore stand still as they moved ahead.

Corny was waiting for them. "Alright everyone, gather 'round, gather 'round." The council made a semi-circle around Corny. Link noticed with a smile everyone except Joey and Seaweed was there.

"As you guys probably know, there was some trouble over the weekend. However, that has nothing to do with the show, you hear? What you kids do on your own time does not have anything to do with the show. Also, Joey Fontadore...left...the show before any of this happened. So, lets just dance like we do everyday, and be The Nicest Kids in Town. Alright?" Everyone made agreeing sounds and went to get dressed.

Aside from an awkward pause in the music during roll call, the show went just fine. After the cameras stopped rolling is when it went downhill.

Tracy and Link were just standing around talking. "Inez told me that I should come over to the record shop tonight. She said you should come, too. We can talk there."

Link nodded. "Ok." Finally, a time to really talk to Tracy.

Or so he thought. The doors to the studio flew open, and through them came Mrs. Larkin, chased by Mr. Larkin, grabbing her hand and hissing into her ear, "Brenda! Your ulcers!"

Everyone stared as Mrs. Larkin clutched her purse and cried out, "Link! Link Larkin!" Link looked at Tracy. She offered him a weak smile and a shrug of her shoulders. He walked over to his parents, where Mrs. Larkin grabbed him.

"Oh, thank goodness you're ok! Link, we have to leave now! This show isn't for you anymore!" She looked on the verge of tears.

"Ma," said Link, pulling away, "Stop making a scene!"

"A scene? A scene! Link, you're not dancing on this show again!"

"Ma!"

"Brenda, calm down!"

Mrs. Larkin lowered her voice. "You already got signed! You don't need to dance on this show ever again! Link, my nerves! Did you hear what that... Seawen fellow did?"

"Seaweed, Ma, and yeah, but that doesn't have anything to do with the show."

"He beat up that poor boy!"

"Ma, it's not like that! He just..."

"I'm just sitting, minding my own buisness, and I hear from the TV, 'The Meanest Kids in Town...Whats wrong with the Corny Collins Show?'"

Link could feel the entire council and stage crew watching this exchange. Suddenly, a hand was on his shoulder. He turned to see Maybelle and Corny behind him, both with charming smiles on their face.

"Well, if it isn't the Larkins. My, I haven't seen you two in quite some time. And how are you today?"

Mr. Larkin smiled and nodded. "Corny. We just came to pick Link up."

"How nice. Well, this gives you a great opportunity to meet our new co-host, Ms. Maybelle Stubbs."

Mabel stuck her hand out. Mr. Larkin shook it and smiled. Mrs. Larkin took it hestitantly."Mrs. Larkin, you look lovely. I must say, your son is quite the charmer!" Mrs. Larkin smiled.

"Maybelle S-Stubbs, you said?"

"Yes. So glad you came up here." She just nodded.

"W-We have to go now," said Mrs. Larkin, nervously pointing to the door.

"Of course you do, I apologize. You know you two are welcome to the set anytime to watch us film." Mrs. Larkin nodded and grabbed Link's hand.

"Link, lets go." Link nodded.

"Yes, ma'am." He waved goodbye to everyone on the set. Tracy waved goodbye from the back of the set. Behind Link and Mrs. Larkin, Mr. Larkin offered a quick apology and said good-bye to everyone.

In the car on the way home, all Link got to listen to from the back seat was his mother and father saying things like, "Stubbs! That was her! That was his mother!" "Brenda, calm down," "The horrible things that happen on that show! Maybe he shouldn't ever dance again!" "Link hasn't done anything," "Hugh, my nerves! I can't handle this much stress!"

They got home, and Link excused himself to his room. "Link, darling, you don't want dinner?"

"No thank you," he said. He started to walk away, but Mr. Larkin grabbed his arm.

"Link," he said, looking at his wife, who was out of earshot, "Don't listen to your mother. I'll convince her you can still dance. The show is just something we have to move past. For her, huh?" Link offered his father a smile.

"Thanks, Pops." He went to his room without another word. After shutting and locking the door, he sighed. Time to sneak out.