Another Chance

Disclaimer:I don't own Chrno Crusade or any of the characters!!!!

Sorry that this chapter is so short. I'm trying to squeeze time in as much as possible to work on this story but unfortunately I am having quite a hectic schedule...

"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"

"SHUT UP,ROSETTE!!"

"BUT SHADER!!! DO YOU EVEN HAVE A DRIVING LICENSE?!?!???"

"OF COURSE I DO!"

"THEN WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I AM RIDING ON A ROLLER COASTER?!?!???"

"DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE IN A HURRY?!??"

"YEAH! BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AT A BREAK NECK SPEED!!!"

"DON'T WORRY. WE ARE ALMOST THERE!! IT'S JUST ROUND THE CORNER!!"

1min later...

"No thanks for th ride, Shader!" said Rosette as she got off from the motor bike.

"Well, that's no way to thank someone who had just helped you get to a Halloween Party on time, isn't it?" said Shader with a teasing tone.

"Well, thanks for the ride but you are soooooo going to get it from me!!!"

"Alright. But you still owe me a meal at the restaurant, ok?"

"Whatever."

"So should I come fetch you after the party?"

"NO THANK YOU!!!!"

"Why the huge reaction? I'm just trying to he-"

"JUST GO!I'LL VISIT YOU TOMORROW AT YOUR STORE TO SEE THE NEW DRESS!" shouted Rosette as she gave Shader a shove to indicate for he to go.

"But-"

"NO BUTS. ONE MORE BUT AND I WIL-"

"Ok ok. Calm down." said Shader as she started up the engine of the motor cycle. She turned and said "Your hair's a mess!" before she drove off into the night.

"It's all Shader's fault. Why must she drive so recklessly?!" Said Rosette as she huffed and tried frantically to sooth her hair as she walked towards the bathroom.

Meanwhile...

"Um... um.. "said Azmaria as she blushed profusely while Joshua shuffled around nervously as they stood beside the beverage table.

"Uh... Thanks for agreeing to be my date tonight." said Joshua uneasily as he kept his attention on the floor.

"Uh.. you're welcome. Thanks for bringing me here tonight too." said Azmaria as she took the courage to look up at Joshua.

"It's ..uh... no big deal..." said Joshua as he finally decided to look at Azmaria and found himself mesmerised by her eyes and her gentle smile. She was enchanting. She was so breath taking that Joshua can hardly breath. How can someone so beautiful and angelic looking actually agree to be his date for the night? It must be a miracle...or maybe just a dream...

"Joshua? Joshua, are you alright? You looked kind of spaced out..." said Azmaria as she waved her hand in front of his face.

"Huh? Oh... uh.. I was just thinking about how much effort they must have spent on decorating this place.. uh.."

"Oh I see..."

There was a stagnant pause and uneasy silence passed over them before Joshua finally took up the courage to ask,"Shall we dance?"

"Oh! uh.. ok.." said Azmaria as she blushed and accepted Joshua's exetneded hand and walked hand in hand onto th dance floor.

A soft romantic song filled the air as the couples on the dance floor swayed to the music.

"You dance beautifully, Azmaria." commented Joshua.

"Thanks. I picked up some dancing skills from my parents who love dancing. What about you? You dance great too."

"Oh.. uh.. thanks."said Joshua, blushing slightly at the compliment. "My parents forced both Rosette and I to take up dancing lessons from a young age, saying something about etiquette..."

"Rosette knows how to dance?" asked Azmaria surprosed at the piece of information she just received as she tries to imagine Rosette dancing.

"Uh.. yeah. Can't imagine someone as rough as her actually knows how to dance, uh?"

"Uh.. yeah.. " replied Azmaria.

"Well, just imagine a piece of pork in a gown and swaying to some romantic music. You should be able to get the picture." said Joshua with a tease in his voice as both of them broke out into laughter.

On the other end of the room, stood Rosette as she leaned against a pillar with a bored expression. Everyone, including Azmaria, has a date except for her! Everyone is enjoying themseves while she could only stand at a corner with boredom. Sure, some guys did ask her. But most of them are either shorter than her or people whom she hardly knows. And so, she turned down every guy that comes, hoping that someone she knows will rescue her.

"Excuse me, I noticed that you don't have a dance partner or a date. So would you like to dance with me?" asked a boy. What's his name again? Oh yeah, it was Richard, the fattest boy in the whole class who goes running out of the classroom to find his mum, who works near the school, whenever the teacher scolds him.

"No! I'm going to repat this for the last time...I AM NOT INTERESTED IN DANCING WITH YOU!!!!!"

"Sniff..Sniff... Are you sure you don't want to dance with m-"

"HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT INTERESTED?!?!??"

"MUMMY!!!!!!"

"Goodness... Why come to a party when he's such a mummy's boy?" muttered Rosette under her breath.

"Tsk. Tsk. Such temper you have, Miss Christopher." came a muscular voice from behind Rosette. Rosette spinned around just to find Chrno leaning on the pillar behind her.

"What are you doing here?" asked Rosette as she narrowed her eyes.

"What am I doing here? I am a part of the student body of course."

"You... "said Rosette in a strangled tone."Are you trying to be funny?" asked Rosette as steam started appearing out of her ears.

"Why... of course I am." replied Chrno with a teasing smile.

"You... You ..YOU ARE SERIOUSLY GETTING ONTO MY NERVES, YOU KNOW?!??"

"Now, Miss Christopher, you don't want to attract the attention of everyone in this place in a negative manner, do you?" asked Chrno, causing Rosette's face to turn even redder though whether it was due to anger or embarrassment is unknown.

"So... uh.. would you like to dance with me?" asked Chrno in a suddenly nervous tone as the music started for the next dance.

"OF COURSE NOT! HOW COULD YOU EVEN SUGGE-"

"Are you telling me that you are too embarrassed of your dancing skills to dance?"

"Why.. you...Fine. I will dance with you. But only for one dance." said Rosette through clenched teeth.

The next dance happened to be a waltz and Chrno did a formal bow. "May I have a dance with you, fair lady?"

"Yes, you may." replied Rosette still with her teeth clenched.

Chrno spinned her off onto the dance floor within a split second and all Rosette could think was 'Wow. He's good at dancing! Brilliant actually. Wait. What am I saying?!? Me complimenting on the high-ego freak of the school? No way! But I have to admit he dances really well...'

Little did she know that Chrno was also thinking along the same lines. 'She's great at dancing!No wait, make that fantastic! Where on earth did she learn her dancing from? The world champion? Wait. Am I COMPLIMENTING the hot-tempered little girl? I hate to admit it though that her dancing IS good!'

Suddenly halfway through the dance, Rosette suddenly had a flashback of one of her dreams.

Flashback

"Uh..Rosette? I don't know how to dance..."

"But that bossy Satella is out on the dance floor now!"

"But...But.. I really don't know how to dance, Rosette!"

"No buts. I'll teach you, ok?"

"But I don't even know the basics!" said Chrno desperately, looking aruond for someone to stand in his place while Rosette dragged him out.

End of flashback

"Rosette?Rosette?? Are you ok?" asked Chrno concerened, while he continued leading her through the waltz.

"Huh? What?" asked Rosette as her flashback ended.

"You looked kind of dazed for a moment just now and you even stepped on my toes twice, which I thought for someone with your dancing skills is impossible to do so."

"Huh?" asked Rosette, this time out of pure confusion as she slowly realised that Chrno had just praised her on her dancing! "Are you, the so called 'master' of this school ... actually praising me?" asked Rosette.

"Uh... I guess you can say that.." replied Chrno starred at her with awkward eyes.

After an umconfortable silence as they continued dancing, Chrno decided to break the silence. "I don't always praise people, you know. But it's just that so few girls know how to dance that I was pretty surprised when I see that you can dance and an expert at that!"

"Oh.. uh.. i see... Thanks.. uh.. for your compliement...Well, I actually started taking up dancing lessons since young due to my parents' insistence since they themeselves love dancing." replied Rosette blushing slightly at the compliement. "You? Your dancing was great too!Where did you earn dancing?"

"Oh. Uh. Thanks. Well, I learned dancing from my housekeeper when I was young. She was my nanny then and before working for my parents, she actually joined international dancing competitions so when I was around seven and since I was home-schooled then and had a lot of free time, she decided to teach me dancing during those times." ranted Chrno as he tried to hide his shyness at being complimented on his dancing.

'Am I actually blushing?!? Goodness.I'm a guy for goodness sake!' thought Chrno as the music slowed and come to an end. Chrno led Rosette to a stop and said,"It was pleasant to dance with you."

Still blushing slightly, Rosette replied,"Oh. Uh... it was great dancing with you too."

Chrno watched as Rosette ran towards the direction of the bathroom. ' I don't know why. But I feel taht I'm starting to like this blondy girl...' thought Chrno as he walked towards the beverage table to get a drink.

Well, how's the story? I know it isn't as exciting as the previous chapters where I tried to introduce someone new into the story and interesting story plots but I thought that this chapter is crucial for the story to continue. It was slightly longer than intended which is good. Please review:)