The next morning came and Tracy got up for school. She was a little slower in her steps but that didn't matter. She was still going to make the best of the day and love every minute of it. She sang her way to the bus and this time she actually made it on time. She walked into school and actually almost paid attention in Miss Whimsy's class. She made her way to lunch and went through her day. She hit history class and took her seat. Amber made her way past her to the back of the room with her group of friends, followed by Link, who smiled at Tracy. She smiled back as the late bell rang and Mr. Flak started his lesson for the day.

As much as Tracy tried to stay up during that class, it never happened. She would pay attention for the first few minutes and then all of a sudden she no longer heard the words that were being spoken and she was dozed off into dreamland. Yes, that quickly. Tracy could fall asleep in that class at the drop of a hat, even if she didn't want to. It just happened and there was no way that she could stop it, even if she tried.

Class has started a Mr. Flak was writing on the board in front of them. Link was sitting at his desk trying to pay attention but he found his eyes wandering up to the front of the room. Right to the seat where Tracy was sitting. He couldn't help but watch her. She had already dozed off, not even a few minutes into the class and she was out. Link laughed a little bit as he kept his eyes on her. Her mouth was making cute little snoring noises. His smile got wider as he just kept looking at her.

Amber had made her way back to her seat in history. She was on cloud nine. She had her friend in tow, she was well on her way to winning Miss Teenage hairspray, and Link was right by her side. Yes, he had the seat next to her in class but that was not what she was talking about. They were the couple to be. Amber's life could not get any better and she knew it. She sat back in her seat and happened to look over at Link, who eyes were fixed on something to the right and ahead of him. When she finally peeked over she realized exactly what he was looking at. Tracy Turnblad. Her eyes moved quickly from him to her, black and forth a few times. Why was he looking at her like that? Could he? No, no way. She said his name softly. "Link?" But he didn't even blink at her. His eyes were locked on a sleeping Tracy. Thinking for a moment her voice rang out. "They can't put Tracy in Special Ed. I won't have it. They cannot hold my friend back."

"You're a saint." Becky said as she looked over at Amber.

Amber smiled at her. She knew that she had them all eating out of her hands., "Mmmm." She shook her head a bit. "Oh, and it's totally not true about her and the entire football team. I mean, please. Anybody could get grass stains all over their back."

At first Link didn't want to listen to the conversation. He actually was too busy watching Tracy but as it went on he couldn't help but tune in. The more he heard her talk, the more it aggravated him. Tracy never did anything but try to be nice to everyone and here was Amber once again making comments about her. "Amber, stop it." He heard himself say out loud. "I'm sick-a you doin' that. Just because she's a good dancer." He meant it and he finally said something about it. He was so tired of listening to her say stuff and he wasn't going to take it anymore.

Just the thought of him speaking up against her was enough to send Amber over the edge. She was his girlfriend, he should be agreeing with her. Not trying to defend someone that he had no ties to, no feelings for. She couldn't understand it. It wasn't like they were friends or anything. So why was he defending her? "Uh I'm sorry. You think she could dance? Well, maybe you's rather have her as your partner. You could get sponsored by Goodyear." She belted out.

"Excuse me. What is going on back there?" Mr Flak yelled which caused Tracy to wake up from her sleep.

"Tracy, that's horrible. Mr. Flak does not have breasts." Amber pulled out a picture and showed it to him.

Tracy looked back completely confused about what was going on. She didn't do anything like that and here Amber was holding a picture. "What? No. I would-I would never." Link looked at what was going on in front of him. Yes Amber was cruel but he didn't think she would go that far. It was like she had this personal vendetta against Tracy but he was not sure why. Tracy never did anything to anyone and now she was going through all this to make her look bad. It wasn't right.

He wouldn't even give her a chance to explain. Not that it would matter any way. People always believe what Amber had said and she did have the picture. Sighing a bit she looked up at him. He was writing out the detention slip and she was making her way up. She slowly grabbed the slip and started to head out the door when she heard Mr. Flak speak.

"What...Oh, and Mr. Larkin, " Mr Flak spoke up.

Tracy spun around and saw Link standing up, Amber looking up at him with her arm placed on his hand. What was he doing?
"Perhaps you'd like to share with the rest of the class Patrick Henry's immortal last words."Mr Flak continued.

Link was standing there, at the point and time, as the entire class looked at him. Amber hand was slowly trailing up him arms as though she was trying to get him to sit down, trying to understand why he was even standing up in the first place. But he was tired of it. Tired of hearing the comments, he didn't want to and he was not going to sit down. He looked over at Tracy and saw the unsure look in her eyes. She didn't do anything wrong at all and if she was going to get in trouble for something she didn't do, then he might as well actually do something to get himself in trouble with her. It was at that moment that he knew exactly what he was going to say. "Kiss me ass?" It just spilled out of his lips like it had been waiting their forever. He heard Amber gasp loudly in the back of his head. He could care less about her reaction though. He has finally realize that Amber was his past and maybe just maybe this was his future. His mind and eyes were focused on the young lady standing at the door way looking at him with the widest smile on her face. There was something about his girl, something so much more than any girl that he had every met, and maybe just spending a few minute in entering her world might make him figure out just what that was. Winking at her with his trademark wink he moved from the position that he was in. Walking up to the desk he grabbed the pink detention slip from Mr Flak. He headed over to the door joining her as the headed out the hall way. They walked in silence because she didn't say anything and he wasn't sure what to say. which was weird. Very weird indeed. Link never had a problem having a conversation with a girl but this time, it was different. She was different. Finally hitting the detention doorway she broke the silence."

"You didn't have to do that Link."

Was she crazy? Yes he did. She was going to detention probably because of him. Yeah, he was starting to realize what it was that Amber didn't like about Tracy so much. And this was not going to make it any better." Hey, no problem. " He smiled as he placed his arm on her shoulder. A spark that ran from that arm to his toes ran through him. "Besides, it looks like a cool scene down here." He moved his arms and threw the detention slip on the desk.

Tracy did the same. "Right." And went to talk to a few of her friends.

Link walked over and started dancing with a girl. "Hey cool." He tried his best but the girl that was dancing with him just kept looking at him like he had no idea what he was doing. He just stopped dancing and stepped back. "Not quite, huh?" He kept completely out of place for the first time in his life and was relieved when the bell rang. "Ah, damn. Just when I was gettin' it." Saved by the bell he thought.

"My mom's havin' a platter party tonight. Y'all wanna come check it out?" Seaweed came over and looked at the kids.

"Now?!" Tracy smiled and asked him.

Penny wanted to go too. Would you mind if I, too, checked it out? I've never been to North Avenue before."

Looking at him Link felt his mouth opening before he could even think about it. "Uh, well, would it be safe? You know, for us?"

Seaweed sort of rolled his eyes and looked at him. "Calm down, cracker boy. It's cool."

Tracy was excited. Everything about going to the platter party made her even more excited. This was all so new for her and she was going to enjoy every moment of it.

"Wow. Being invited places by colored people!" Penny smiled and walked over.

"It feels so hip!" Tracy answered.

Seaweed couldn't help but smile at the two girls. "I'm glad y'all feel that way 'cause, uh, not many people do."