The music was loud, the room was dark, and there were so many people there that Tracy couldn't even recognize anybody. All she knew was that she was happy, and she was having more fun than she had almost ever had before.

She was pressed up close to Link – not by her desire, just because the room was so crowded – and they were slow-dancing together. He smiled down at her, and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. So, why was everybody partying? They were celebrating the restart of the Corny Collins Show.

It seemed like everybody who had been on, been in the audience of, or even watched the show was there that day. There was free food, music, and shelter from the scalding August heat outside.

"I'm going to go get some punch!" she said to Link. She had to pretty much scream it to get Link's attention.

"I'll go with," he yelled back.

She pulled him through the mobs of people and they got to the food table. It was laid out with any imaginable foodstuff, mostly provided by Maybelle and Edna. Edna was serving things, and stopped to say hi to Tracy while handing out cookies.

"What do you think, hon?!" she asked loudly.

"It's really fun!" she shouted.

"This food is good! Try some!"

"Later!" she promised. "I'll be back!"

"All right, hon!"

Laughing at the fact that they'd just had a shouting match, Tracy grabbed her punch and went off to go find Penny and Seaweed. They were dancing on stage with Inez, so she and Link jumped up and joined them. There were immediately screams of approval.

"I guess they want me to sing," Link said, winking at Tracy. "Or maybe us?"

"I'll talk to you later!" Tracy called to her friends, as Link pulled her up to the microphone stand.

"What should we sing, guys?" he shouted to the crowd.

There were so many responses, that he couldn't even distinguish one. So, Tracy decided that they could sing "You Can't Stop the Beat."

Everyone in the crowd started jumping and swaying as soon as the strains of the music began to pump through the speakers in the studio. The cameras that were broadcasting the giant party swiveled to catch Tracy and Link beginning to sing.

Soon, everyone from the council was also up on stage, singing and dancing along. They were having so much fun, that Tracy was almost disappointed when the song was over, even though her lungs were screaming in pain.

"That was great!" Link praised her, giving her a kiss.

"Hey, whaddya say we do a reenactment?" Tracy asked.

"What?" Link started to say, but Tracy had already begun to make out with him.

When they broke free, breathless, they smiled and waved to the crowd before hopping off stage.

"That was so much fun!" Penny cried, following them.

"'Afro-tastic,'" Seaweed laughed in agreement, quoting Tracy.

"Oh, hey guys!" Tracy said. "Let's go someplace… quieter!"
Everyone nodded and followed her to a little hallway backstage where they could talk.

"So, is everybody ready to go back to school?" Penny asked. "I'm so excited!"

Tracy rolled her eyes. "Well, I know you are, but I think you're the only one here that is. I'd rather just stay here and party!"

"Well, we have to go back to school sometime," Link said.

"You just miss your buddies, cracker boy," Seaweed chuckled, giving Link's arm a playful punch. "And having all those girls around."

"Hey!" Tracy mock-yelled, giving Link her own punch.

"I'm just kiddin'," Seaweed laughed. "I love ya, brother."

"Thanks, man," Link grinned.

Tracy leaned against the wall, holding Link's hand. She looked up at him and smiled.

"You guys are such a cute couple," Penny cooed.

"Well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!" Tracy replied.

"Don't be racist now," Seaweed joked.

"Oh, stop it!" Penny scolded him. "If your mother were around, she'd…"

"…probably be wantin' some food," Seaweed said, finishing the sentence for her and laughing. "I know, I know. I'm just in such a good mood, I can't help but make jokes."

"I feel it too," Tracy agreed. "I don't want today to ever end."

"I know that you're worried about school, Trace, but this year's gonna be better than ever," Link promised.

"Yeah," Seaweed said. "We'll be seniors, baby!"

Tracy couldn't help but smile, even though she was worried. It would be fun to be "top dog" at their school. The seniors got to have lots of fun things that the underclassmen didn't.

"I can't wait," Penny said, leaning against her boyfriend. "This year is going to be so much different than last year."

"Why do you say that?" Seaweed asked.

"Well, my mom is out of my life, and you're in."

"Sounds like a good switch to me," Seaweed grinned.

"Oh, believe me – it is."

"Don't you ever miss your mom?" Link asked.

"Did you ever talk to her mom?" Tracy scolded him.

"No…"

"That's what I thought," she said, starting to laugh.

"Well, nice conversation, guys. Let's get back out there and dance!"

"Sounds good."

The group all ran out onto the dance floor, feeling even more energized than before, and ready to show what they had. Some of the council members on stage were doing a sort of recap of the year – in dances, of course; showing all of the dances they had done during the past months.

"Look at that, Link! You should get back up there," Tracy prodded him.

"I don't know, Tracy," he said. "I mean, it's pretty crowded up there. I think I'll just stay and hang out with you down here."

"All right," Tracy replied, happy with his decision.

Penny twirled by, looking shocked but grinning. Seaweed ran after her.

Corny came up to the couple, beaming and wearing his nicest suit.

"Hey, you two. I wanted to talk to you about something!" he yelled.

"Let's go over there!" Link said, pointing back to the hallway.

"Well, Maybelle and I were talking about our future," he said, a thoughtful look coming over his face. "And we decided on some things."

Link and Tracy looked at each other, and then back at Corny.

"Like what?" Link asked, curious.

"Well, you know that Maybelle will be on maternity leave for a good portion of the year," he started, clearing his throat. "And I have decided that I needed someone else to help me."

"And…?" Tracy wondered.

"Now you're going to be seniors, and Link, this marks the beginning of the fourth year of your service to you." He smiled at Link, and then at Tracy. "And you have the biggest heart out of anybody I know, little lady." He paused, and added hastily, "Well, besides Maybelle, Inez, and Seaweed, of course. And you too Link. Oh, well. Anyway: I have decided that you two deserve a bigger part in this show."

"As in?" they said in unison.

"We want to kind of steer the show in a new direction," Corny said, a smile playing on the corner of his lips. He knew he was keeping them in great suspense. "Get some new ideas…"

"What is it, Corny?!" Tracy cried.

He blew out a breath, and said quickly: "I want you two to host the show next year."

Link gasped.

"What?"

"That wouldn't even be the Corny Collins Show any more, Corny!" Tracy cried.

"I know, I know," Corny said, putting up his hands as if surrendering. "But I know what I'm doing. I'll still technically be the host. But someday old Corny here won't be the host of the show, and I want someone else to know what they're doing."

"So, this is the real thing, then," Link said slowly, in shock.

"This is the real thing," Corny smiled.

"Oh my," Tracy sighed.

"You don't even sound happy!" Corny cried.

"Oh, we are, sir," Link assured him. "So happy, I don't know what to say."

"All right, kids. Be ready to take your new jobs seriously, then. But, for now, get out there and have some fun."

He gave them a wink before leaving himself.

"I can't believe this, Link!" Tracy cried.

"I know, doll."

He picked her up in a giant hug and twirled her around in the air. She giggled and kissed him.

"You know how I thought that the Miss Hairspray pageant was the best day of my life?" she said, upon being set on the ground again.

"Yeah."

"Well, I changed my mind."

"What?"

"Today is the best day of my life," she decided. "Because I'm with you."

He kissed her again.

It had been one amazing summer.