Revamped!

[2019: Bad idea to listen to love songs while revamping this chapter, very bad idea. It's almost 1 AM and I'm about to sob over Can You Feel The Love Tonight].

Spring Formal:

Standing in the gymnasium in the middle of our school dance, I look around for my friends. I know that Apollo has already left for Asgard and Merida is busy doing her student body presidential duties somewhere else, so I'm keeping an eye out for Xavier, Angela or Daniel. I can't help but look at Merida, wondering if she's actually going to spike the punch. She's standing there in her black dress with lace sleeves and black heels, going over the plan for tonight with the rest of student council. I actually feel like a proud mother because she's doing a good thing instead of her naughty ulterior desire for the night (unless that's too early of a call to make).

"Stark."

I turn around at the sound of my name and see Xavier walking in, looking sharp for once in his life.

"Hey, Xavier," I greet. "Did you come alone?"

"You know I didn't," he responds.

"I'm only asking because I heard the news from other people and not you." I look around him. "Where is she?"

Then, as if on cue, Britney Braun struts in wearing a sleeveless matte green dress that goes up to the middle of her thigh. Her silver heels click against the gymnasium floor as her straightened golden hair waves behind her shoulders. I'm surprised at the higher neckline than expected. The Britney Braun pre-disappearance would've shown off her assets. Even I got to admit that, for a witch, she looks beautiful. When she approaches Xavier, she looks at my outfit from top to bottom and nods her head in approval. I'm so flattered.

"You disappear for a month and the chaperones investigate your bag like crazy," Britney says, smiling a little.

Xavier and I glance at each other, both unsure of how to respond to that statement. I know Britney meant it as a joke but considering that I don't know why she was gone for a month, I don't feel comfortable laughing at that. Judging by Britney's reaction, she said that on purpose.

"I like your dress better than your date," I whisper to her, changing the dynamic of a conversation I never expected to have. I also said it enough for Xavier to hear and he rolls his eyes.

"I agree," Britney responds, making Xavier look offended since he didn't expect her to play along with me (same here, Xavier). "But he was free arm candy."

Xavier clears his throat. "Stark, we'll see you later."

"Bye!" I exclaim, waving them off as they walk to go mingle with other people. Xavier rolls his eyes again and Britney blows me a kiss which I gag at, making her laugh.

"You're waving me off?" Someone else questions. "I just got here."

I turn around and see Angela walk in wearing a knee-high pink dress with a multi-layered skirt and a glittery top. She smiles as she hugs me and we spend about five minutes complimenting each other before I link arms with her because she finally got her stupid cast off! That was major news because her stupid navy blue cast would have ruined her dress.

"Did you bring a date?" I ask. From what I've heard, a lot of boys wanted to ask Angela to the dance but they either chickened out because she is head-cheerleader Angela Rogers, were intimidated by Xavier or her parents, or maybe they did ask and she said no.

"I did," she replies which shocks me because I didn't hear anything about it. What is it with the Rogers twins and keeping me out of the loop? I'm offended.

I look around and fail to see her date, especially since she's been on my arm for a while now. "Is your date invisible?"

Angela looks around before facing me again. "Maybe he's parking the car."

"How long does it take to park?"

Angela shrugs. She continues to look around and the narrows her eyes when she looks somewhere else. She lets go of me and starts speed-walking across the gymnasium. I follow, wondering where the hell she could be going and why in such a rush. Then, I see the situation and could make sense of it on my own even though it took me a few seconds to process it: James Pym is here, all-dressed-up, talking to some of our classmates as if they're bros (and I can clarify that they're not). He just has this James Pym charm that can help him in any social situation and it's highly admirable. He and I have that in common and we're so proud of that.

James looks at us and cheers. "See! I told you Angela Rogers asked me."

It takes me and Angela a second to realize that he's talking to his bros and not us. I grin at the idea that his bros didn't believe that Angela asked him.

"You asked James Pym to be your date?" One of the bros questions Angela. I laugh a little at how rude that sounds to James' ears and his matched look of offence.

"That's what her dad said when I picked her up!" James exclaims, sounding more proud than he probably should've.

"It was an act of benevolence,' Angela responds before grabbing James and dragging him away.

James salutes his bros farewell and I follow them.

"I thought you had plans," I tell James.

"His plans were watching Sex and the City reruns with his mom," Angela responds.

"I'm mending my broken heart, okay?!" James yells. "And when you asked me, my heart became whole again."

Angela rolls her eyes. "Your mom said that when I showed up at your place and asked you in person, and you declined."

I gasp. "You declined?!" That's so unlike him.

"Carrie wouldn't give me this much shit," James tells Angela.

"Shut up and dance with me," Angela says, taking him to the dance floor.

James looks at me with a smile and thumbs up. I mimic him as he holds Angela's waist even though a fast bop is playing. I watch them feeling like a proud mom again. Don't tell either of them this but a part of me has always shipped them. I've noticed that they've always had some sort of attraction to each other but I don't know if it's lust or something along the lines of we're friends so I like you anyways. Besides, they've dated other people so who knows how they feel for one another?

"I thought he wasn't coming," Merida says, pointing at James as she approaches me.

James looks over and blows Merida a kiss which Merida responds with both of her middle fingers. It's like the group chat in real life.

"He had to cancel his night with Carrie," I tell Merida.

Merida scoffs. "He can have Carrie any other night. This is a night where he can have Angela and possibly not get beat up by Xavier. Although, the night is still young and there may come a moment when Xavier is not distracted by Britney and he notices James spinning his sister around. Kind of rooting for that."

"Considering that you had a hand in planning the dance, did you have any other goals in mind?" I ask, wondering if she'll reveal the results of whether or not the punch is being spiked.

Merida glances around and eventually breaks into a grin. "Actually, I have another trick up my sleeve."

"What?"

Merida looks at the DJ for one second and the song immediately changes. It becomes a slow song incredibly quick. I look at her, a bit confused as to why that was her magical ace.

"Did you want to dance with me?" I ask her.

Merida scoffs. "Don't think too highly of yourself."

She takes my hand and starts walking to where I see Angela and James standing this song out. I look back to where I saw them dancing, wondering how they got there so fast and looking like they never danced at all. Standing with them, I see Daniel who lights up when he sees me. I feel the same way when I see and stand next to him.

"You bored?" I ask him casually.

"Not at this moment," Daniel responds.

"Because I'm here talking to you?"

"And because I'd like to dance with you."

How smooth. How could I resist? Daniel holds out a hand and my stomach starts to flutter as I accept his gesture. We walk out to where the other dancing couples are. My arms circle his neck and my hands dangle behind his neck. His hands graze my waist and after a few moments, we're both standing mere inches from one another. I look back at James who has his phone out to record this moment for the sole purpose of posting it and captioning it something like: mom and dad are dancing together.

I turn back to Daniel and notice that he's already looking at me. I hope I'm not blushing but I think I already am.

"When did you get here?" I ask.

"Just recently," he responds. "I was actually debating on bailing last minute."

"Why?"

Daniel shrugs. "I honestly have no idea."

"If you decided not to come, you could've told me."

"Why? So you would pop on over to my house and drag me here?"

I hold back a laugh which makes him smile a little. "Maybe I would've changed my plans, show up to your house and sit with you on your couch to do whatever."

He raises a brow. "Maybe?"

"Maybe," I whisper back, leaning into him.

I don't move away. I stay closer to him and his transitions into holding me by the small of my back. I look up at him and he's staring down at me. I don't know about him but I can no longer hear the music. My focus is solely on him and what we've been through together. Sometimes, I admittedly worry about him. He's been through things I could never say aloud and even though he's taken some time to overcome them on his own, he could tell us that he's fine now but we know that he's not a hundred percent okay. There are just some experiences that hinder you from returning to who you were before it happened.

He's someone I would never want to forget.

I straighten up, looking right into his eyes. My hands travel up his shoulders until I'm holding his face, focusing it on mine even more than it already was. I bite down on my lip and almost lean forwards to kiss him but am stopped by someone tapping on a microphone. Both of us jump a little, returning to reality where the music is no longer playing.

"And now, time to announce your floral queen and king!"

I narrow my eyes. Did I seriously get interrupted for this? As much as I would love to win and think I would win, I know it's not going to be me. My bets are on Britney only because she just came back from the dust, is a cheerleader, and Xavier's date so everyone's talking about her. As much as I still don't like her, she could have this moment if it's hers. But if it is hers, I wouldn't be surprised that it just happened to ruin my moment.

"Want to get out of here?" Daniel asks me.

I pause for a moment. "In a minute, I want to see where this goes."

[2019: This just hit me now, as I type this chapter in the middle of the night - Annasophia Robb has always been my face claim for Angela and James has always liked Sex and the City. There's a prequel show called The Carrie Diaries and Annasophia Robb is the female lead, Carrie. That's just another beautiful coincidence that just works for me and I love it].