Chapter 17: Homecoming Dance

The day of the dance. Less formal attire than prom. To The Stars. The cafeteria is decorated with stars everywhere. They're hanging from the ceiling, they're on the wall, they're on the tables, chairs, and stage. The lights are dimmed slightly and there's rainbow lights shining on the crowd. The dance already got started. People are dancing with their dates on the dance floor and people are sitting at the tables. Dawn is dancing with Paul. Misty is dancing with Ash. Gary is dancing with a girl named Leaf. May and Drew are talking to each other at a table.

"So, first Homecoming for you." Drew said.

"Yeah. Is Homecoming always this colorful?" May asked as she looked around at the moving rainbow lights.

"Yeah, It is." Drew answered.

"The rainbow lights make the glowing stars so beautiful." May said.

Drew stared at May's eyes while she was staring at the couples on the dance floor. Drew saw a white light pass over May's face. In that moment, May's eyes sparkled.

("Her eyes are so beautiful…") Drew thought.

May saw from the corner of her eye that Drew was staring at her. She turned her head to face Drew.

"Is there something on my face?" May asked.

"No, no. There isn't." Drew said.

"So...why are you looking at me like that?" May asked shyly.

"Umm...no reason." Drew said as he looked at the couples dancing.

After a moment, May turned her head to the couples as well. "If you want to go dance with someone, you can. I'll be fine just watching."

Drew looked at May. "What kind of a friend leaves their friend alone?"

May looked back at Drew. "But really. I'll be fine. I want you to have fun at this dance."

"And who said that talking to you isn't fun?"

May blushed slightly and looked away from him. "Suit yourself."

"It's time everyone!" The hostess said into the microphone. The dancing stopped. "Is there anyone who'd like to sing a song for us tonight?"

It stayed silent for a moment. Dawn walked over to May.

"You should go sing Daisy." Dawn whispered.

"What? No. I can't." May said.

"You can." Drew said. May looked at him. "If you give it a try."

May stared at him for a minute.

"No volunteers?" The hostess asked. No one answered.

May sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."

"Yay!" Dawn said. She raised her hand in the air. "My friend, Daisy, is going to sing!"

Everyone looked at May and Dawn. May gulped under their stares. She stood up and looked at Dawn.

"You go show everyone how it's done." Dawn said.

May looked at Drew.

"Don't mess up the song." Drew said.

May's eyebrows furrowed. "Really? You wish me good luck and then you say that?" Drew shrugged his shoulders. "Drew, you are impossible."

"I know." Drew said smugly.

May smirked. "Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone."

Drew blushed and looked away. "Just go and sing."

"Come on up!" The hostess said.

May turned around and started walking to the stage. Drew looked back at May while she walked onto the stage. Dawn walked back to the dance floor to Paul.

The hostess handed the microphone to May. "Take it away." She walked off the stage.

May walked over to the person handling the music and she told him which song to play.

May walked back to the center of the stage, all eyes on her. The music started playing.

(This song is "Night Is Young" from Descendants: Wicked World.)

May closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She started singing, eyes closed. "Why you standing over there? Acting like you just don't care? We can make our own kind of music." She opened her eyes. "We might come from different worlds. Might not be your kind of girl. But I just wanna let go and lose it."

"We are lost and found." May sang. "So let's go turn the beat around. And maybe find a brand new sound. Let's turn it up right now." May gradually got louder with more confidence.

"Because the night is young." May sang with the rainbow lights moving all over the cafeteria. Everyone on the dance floor started dancing to the song. "And it's just begun. Let's get it started, get it started. And go till the sun comes up." Drew stared at May in amazement. "The night is young." May held out the note perfectly.

("She's...amazing…") Drew thought.

"The night is young." May continued. "The night is young."

"Dance together, dance alone." May continued. "Let it out or let it show. Changin' colors under the strobe light." People continued dancing with their dates. "I just wanna have some fun. Let my worries come undone. Right here, right now it's feelin' so right."

Drew thought about the words that May is singing.

"We are lost and found. So let's go turn the beat around." May sang, gradually getting louder. "And maybe find a brand new sound. Let's turn it up right now."

"Because the night is young." May sang. "And it's just begun. Let's get it started, get it started. And go till the sun comes up. The night is young." She held the note out. "The night is young. The night is young."

"And I wish that it would never end." May continued. "I wish this song could play and play. Be who you want to be and then. Just let the rhythm take away."

"Because the night is young." May sang. Drew smiled and stood up from his seat. "And it's just begun." Drew slowly started walking to the stage from the edge of the gym. "Let's get it started, get it started. And go till the sun comes up."

"Because the night is young." May sang again. "And it's just begun. Let's get it started, get it started. And go till the sun comes up. The night is young." Drew still continued walking to the stage. "The night is young." Drew leaned against the stage, back facing May. "The night is young." May finished the song.

Everyone stopped dancing and applauded. May beamed and bowed. The hostess went back on stage. May handed her the microphone.

"Thank you for that song Daisy!" The hostess said. "Now, let's continue the dance!" With that said, the DJ played another song and everyone got back to dancing.

May started walking in the direction of the stairs and she stopped when she noticed Drew's green hair. "Drew? What are you doing over here?" She continued walking and went down the stairs.

"Like you sang, you just wanna have some fun, right?" Drew asked.

May stood in front of him. "Yeah…" May answered.

"Then how about a dance?" Drew asked.

"With you? But, I can't." May said.

Drew took May's hand in his. "I'm sure one dance will be fine."

May blushed and stared at their hands. "Umm...I…"

Drew lifted up May's head with his index finger and thumb. He smiled while staring into her eyes. Her blush deepened.

"So can I have one dance with you?" Drew asked.

"I-I…" May started. "Would love to." May answered.

Drew led May to the dance floor. The gang all saw May and Drew dancing together. Dawn squealed on the inside.

"Umm...Drew, can I ask you something?" May asked.

"You just did." Drew said.

May's eyebrows furrowed. "No, that wasn't the question I wanted to ask you."

Drew chuckled. "What is it Daisy?"

"Do you think you'll ever find your mystery girl?" May asked.

"Why ask that?" Drew asked and then smirked. "Are you jealous of her?"

May fumed. "Jerk!"

"You seem pretty jealous…" Drew continued.

"I'm not!" May yelled. "I was just wondering."

"Well," Drew said. "I'm pretty sure she'll eventually turn up."

"Hmm...okay." May said.

"I still want to know why you asked that question."

"I was just wondering." May answered. "If you don't end up finding her at all this school year, will you give up on looking for her?"

"...I might." Drew answered after some hesitation. "I really want to know who she is though. She has an amazing voice and I feel like I can relate to the song she sang that day."

"What song did she sing?"

"I can't say." Drew said.

"Why not?"

"Because what if you will just try and sing the same song and hope that you're the mystery girl?"

"Fair point." May said. "But I don't plan on singing to you to see if I'm the mystery girl."

"If you say so."

The song ended. "Well, I guess that's it." May said. "I'll go to the table. You can stay and dance with someone else if you want." May started walking towards the table they were at before.

"Wait for me." Drew said, walking after her.

They sat at the table.

"Why'd you follow me? You should go see if someone wants to dance with you." May said.

"Didn't I mention earlier that I'm not leaving you alone?" Drew questioned.

"Yeah, but-"

"And didn't you say that you want to spend your first Homecoming with friends?" Drew cut May off.

"Yeah…"

"Then I'm staying here to talk to you." Drew said.

"Fine." May admit defeat. "What should we talk about?"

"How about your amazing singing voice?"

"You think I sing...good?" May asked shyly, blushing slightly.

"You definitely are better than most people at this school."

"Umm...thanks."

"And you seem to have gotten over your stage fright." Drew added.

May violently shook her head. "No. I don't think I did. I'm still scared to sing in front of people."

"Even after all that applause you received?"

May slowly nodded her head. "It still scares me to think of going up on a stage and singing for a lot of people. I gain more confidence the further in I get in the song. But it's still nerve racking to sing for an audience."

"Well, you crushed it up there." Drew said.

May blushed. "T-thanks…"