Wow, its been forever since I posted the last chapter. But I swear it will be completed guys! Trust me!

The Homecoming Dance is broken up into 2 segments.

Chapter 8: Homecoming Blues and Tension

It had been 2 weeks since the boys had been cornered by the Secret Service men. In the meantime, Virgil had "patched up" his so-called friendship with Derek and Stephanie, ditching Kyo, Charlie, and Zeke for popularity. Lame.

Homecoming was approaching and Charlie miserably sniffled as he watched Virgil whisper something in Stephanie's ear. Probably asking her to the dance, which was a tacky theme of the 50s Sock Hop. Go figure. Stephanie giggled and screeched, "Yes!" to whatever Virgil had said to her. Charlie then groaned and slumped down in his seat. He hated that Virgil was giving into something so stupid, so lame. Popularity. And who cared about it anyways?

"You still feeling glum about Virg ditching us?" remarked Kyo as she plopped down across from Charlie, "Look, Charlie, he'll come around. Soon enough he'll realize that Derek's using him for his own selfish reasons and they'll stop talking to each other. I'm thinking Stephanie's actually glad to catch up with him so yeah." Zeke agreed and patted Charlie on the shoulder.

"You'll get through it man," he told Charlie, "Trust me."

Kyo looked up to see the peppy Jeanette running toward them and remarked, "Well Charlie, I think your day is going to get better." Charlie sat up straighter and gave her a puzzled look.

"Hey guys!" chirped Jeanette as she sat next to Charlie, "Hey there Bluebird why the long face?" Kyo jabbed her thumb over at Virgil and the popular crew. Jeanette looked at them over her shoulder and murmured, "Ohhh that's why. When did he decide to change tables?"

"After he saved Derek's 'precious rep' in the football game," Kyo air quoted dryly, "Like that's going to be the crucial thing to get you to your job in the real world."

Jeanette adjusted her hat and changed the subject. "So Homecoming," she pepped up, "Anyone going?" Charlie reddened and looked down at his lunch tray. Zeke started to read his motorcycle magazine and Kyo's face fell. Jeanette studied the expressions around the table curiously. "I'm guessing that it hasn't been on your minds lately?" she suggested. Charlie shook his head no as he rumpled his hair up.

"All I can think about is what damage we're doing to the sequence of events," he sighed heavily as he crumpled up his milk carton, "I'm gonna run a print out today once I get home."

"So, um Charlie," Jeanette began, "Did anyone ask you to Homecoming yet?" Charlie choked on a mouthful of his sandwich after he heard her question. Zeke stood up and thumped Charlie on the back. Kyo stood up and excused herself.

"This is talk that I'd rather not hear," she apologized, "But Jeanette, a choke means 'No, I'm free and you are a god-send' from Charlie." Charlie had regained consciousness of the current situation and started to protest. But Jeanette had already taken Kyo's words seriously and she threw her arms around Charlie.

As she walked away from the table, Zeke couldn't help but regret that he hadn't spoken up at that moment. To ask her to Homecoming. Yet part of him wanted to ask her in private without Jeanette swooning over the mess.

He cleared his throat to get Charlie's attention. "Uh Charlie?" he started to say, "How does Kyo…feel about dances?"

"She probably hates dances," Charlie noted grimly. He watched Zeke's shoulders sag and his face fall. Jeanette jabbed him in the elbow and gave him a look. "But maybe she might say yes," he added quickly as he rubbed his sore elbow.

Normally on a Friday afternoon, Zeke would hang back in his Shop Class to finish work on the engine or motor he was currently making. Today, he shoved his way past his classmates and walked briskly to her Science classroom. His footsteps felt heavier than usual. A hot rush of blood flooded his cheeks and worries filled him up. What if she said no? That would hurt big time. His sweaty hands found themselves shoved down into his pockets.

Kyo's class was still in session when he arrived at her classroom. They were working on a metal burning lab complete with Bunsen burners. Eugene was working alongside Kyo as her lab partner and he edged closer to her. Zeke's lovestruck feelings turned into ones of rage. What was Eugene thinking? Flirting with his crush and getting all close up in her space? He ground his nails into his palm and turned an icy glare on Eugene. He felt ready to ground Eugene into a knuckle sandwich when he heard his name called from behind.

"Zeke! Oh hey its Zeke!" cried out Dana. She looked over her shoulder and shouted at Tisha to hurry up. As they hurried toward him, he plastered a polite smile on his face. He nodded at both girls and turned to face them.

"Perfect timing!" chirped Tisha, "We were just looking for you. I know this is rather last minute but Dana and I wanted to know if you wanted to come with us to the dance." After they said those words, Zeke froze and stopped breathing. Uh-oh. He had completely forgotten about them. He didn't want to hurt their feelings but spending time with them wasn't what he had in mind.

"Um uh," he stalled as he leaned casually against the wall, "Wow. Thanks guys, that was really nice of you to think of me." He swallowed hard and tried to think of a kind, gentle way to turn them down. "But see, I kind of wanted, well…" While Zeke struggled with his words, Eugene and Kyo walked out of the classroom.

"Come on already!" Eugene protested, "I'm free, you're free. You're cute and-"

"Exactly my point," Kyo firmly replied, "You and I barely know each other. So what's the point of going to the dance anyways?"

He licked his lips nervously and offered, "But we can get to know each other. Come on why can't you just-"

"This discussion is over, Eugene," she confirmed stiffly, "I don't want to hear anymore about it." While arguing with Eugene, she had overheard Zeke

's weak attempt to turn down Tisha and Dana. So far, words were failing him. If he was going to turn them down, why bother even trying to ask?

Tisha and Dana spotted Kyo and waved brightly at her. Zeke felt sick as he turned to see Kyo standing behind him. Her arms were folded and her lips were pressed into a line. She broke her stance to wave back at the girls but quickly resumed her position.

"Thompson," she began, "Have fun at Homecoming with these two. Stay out of trouble, okay?" She turned to start walking down the hall when Zeke's words beckoned her back.

"You aren't going?" he asked as lumps formed in his throat.

She shook her head no and shrugged. "Why bother?" she uttered before turning to leave. She passed Eugene who had been watching the entire drama unfold. He opened his mouth to offer again but she cut him off with, "You can still forget it Eugene. Dances are stupid wastes of my time." A crushed Zeke watched as Kyo disappeared around the corner without looking back. As she walked away, his heart broke in two. Part of the pain was a crushing blow to him. It felt like eating a meatball sub and getting cramps afterward, only worse.

"Zeke!" called out Dana, "You should go with Kyo if it means more to you."

"Yeah!" blurted Tisha, "We'll be fine, honestly! You should do what makes you happy. Whatever makes you happy, makes us happy."

Zeke turned around to face them and tried to suck it up. He smiled brokenly and bravely replied, "Ladies, it would be an honor to escort you both to Homecoming."

By the way, the Eugene stuff was made up on the fly.