The rest of the day was a blur except for when I realized I was bailing during practice. Wind and PJ were concerned.

"Max are you feeling alright?" Wind asked. I scowled.

"Practice is over guys. Had a good night's rest." I announced to the freshman varsity. They gave a couple glances and shrugged off.

"My head is cloudy. I'm put at a test...Ruben and Roxanne." I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"Yeah she was just yanking your chain. She's playing games, she knows how you quiver at the sound of her voice." Wind went on until Bobby elbowed him harshly.

"The point is that you got Hazel. Focus on that. The dance is tomorrow night and you need to make an impression for the team and the Omegas. And to show Ruben you're not just scrap Bradley didn't dispose right. You're beef man." PJ emphasized with each poke to my sternum.

"You're right. I need to let go of the past and focus on what's in front of me. Thanks guys." I grinned.


Homecoming came up quicker as the mid-terms, which I passed with a B-minus in almost all my classes except Physics. I managed to get a C-minus but the teacher was concerned because I was less engaged than usual. My status in the class was preferably under the radar that Roxanne almost forgot I was in it.

So I found a dress shirt and borrowed Bobby's old tie since he 'stepped' up with his zoot suit. As I pulled a sweater over my head PJ was tightening himself in a pair of slacks and a tuxedo shirt.

"Remember. Omega has class...we have a reputation to uphold and show as the newest fraternity on the block. And more importantly, our standards are not outdated like a certain other fraternity." I told the gang.

"'Our richest families ruled the Gammas. That's why we're full of snobs' and blah blah blah," Bobby snorted. I laughed as I tightened my tie.

"Ready to pick up our dates?" I asked them. They nodded as we headed out the dorms to find the girls.


Homecoming was booming with pop songs and some alternative rock. Everyone mostly mingled and those who didn't huddled with their cliques...which didn't stop Bobby and his 'ex' from going together and that he was okay with Roxanne.

I was happy to go with Hazel since she wore a pretty turquoise dress that was gradient to a black down the hem. She had her hair curled and not as messy as I would see her regularly. Her eyeliner was slightly sharper with a hint of turquoise that lit up her eyes.

"Want to dance?" Hazel asked. I glanced at her, rubbing my arm.

"I uh...actually never really dance." I muttered. Hazel chuckled.

"Well c'mon, I'll lead." Hazel dragged me to the floor as we mingled with the others on the floor as a really cool pop song came on.

Hazel swayed and danced to the pop song as we held hands and I soon got into the groove shortly. Dim setting, different lights shining around and a nice girl. This was the moment...when I realized I never enjoyed myself this much before...

And then the Gammas arrived. Wearing their snivelling reds and blacks and their smug faces. They marched in with their dates and some with their fellow fraternities. Then I spotted those two.

Ruben walked in with Roxanne at his side wearing a sleek back shirt and slacks. A red sash tied at his waist as Roxanne wore a black dress with red stripes down the sides. I swallowed my distaste and focused on dancing with Hazel to the end of the song.

Shortly as it ended, the DJ played a song that sent chills down my spine. That sent me back to my junior high days. That soared my popularity for the rest of my high school career and got me closer to my highschool sweetheart.

He played the Powerline song 'Standout' that got the entire dance floor roaring.


I insisted to Hazel that we should sit this song, but she loved it and wanted me to dance to it. I took a breath as I went along with it and danced.

It was hard, each moment I could remember lip-syncing and dancing on stage in front of Roxanne thinking I was the star of her life. I shut that part of my memory out and ended up bumping into somebody behind me.

"My bad-" As I immediately stopped looking at Roxanne. She glanced back at me with confusion.

"Max." She said, less enthusiastically as I anticipated...which I don't know why I would be thinking that. "Hey Hazel."

"Hi." Hazel said.

"I never saw you." I muttered as I turned back around until Ruben spoke up.

"I love this song. Don't you?" Ruben asked.

"Sure I-" Roxanne said.

"Oh no, I wasn't talking to you babe. I was referring to Max." Ruben shrugged. I flinched.

"Why you-" I snarled.

"Ruben. You wanna grab a soda or two?" Hazel grinned elastically.

"I'm with my date, Hazel buddy." Ruben smiled wickedly.

"Now." Hazel rolled her eyes, leaving me and dragging Ruben away from a confused Roxanne and leaving us awkwardly standing at the dance floor to...what was our song.

"This is awkward." I said.

"Grow up." Roxanne pouted as she folded her arms and started to walk away. But something held her back as she stared straight at me. What held her back was my hand holding her wrist.