Sparkle Night Blast!

At break time, students at the high school filled the halls, engaging freely with their friends. Ace and Snake of the Gangreen Gang were no exception.

"Give it back!" shouted Ace as he ran after Snake.

Snake ran with Ace's backpack. "You have to catch me firssst!" Snake boasted.

The two guys ran a few more feet when they suddenly bumped into a line of students.

"Hey!" said the girl at the end of the line. "Watch it!"

They sat on the floor dazed for a few seconds.

Ace groaned. He looked up and saw that Kirsten Crandall and her friends, Madison and Amber, were the girls they bumped into. He rubbed his head as he and Snake stood up.

"What's this line for?" asked Ace.

"You don't know?" asked Amber. "This is the line to get prom tickets. It's this Saturday."

Amber turned to talk to her friends while, Ace and Snake were silent. Then, Snake smiled slyly.

"Thisss Saturday, huh?" asked Snake. "It might be the perfect chance."

"For what?" asked Ace.

"You know," he motioned. "To ask Jessie to the prom."

"What?!" asked Ace flustered. "No! Who knows if she's even going?"

"Oh, Jessie will definitely be there," said Amber as she turned around. "She's on the planning committee."

Snake turned to Ace and gave him an "I told you so" look. "Now…" he started. "Where isss…" He looked around and noticed Jessie putting up a prom poster. "There sshe isss." He motioned with his head.

Ace looked at Snake with slight annoyance. Then, he looked at Jessie. "Well…I…" He paused. Then, he stood straight and tall. "You're right." He took a deep breath and started to walk over to her. He paused for a second.

"Hi, Jessie," he finally said.

Jessie turned around. "Oh, hi, Ace."

"Could I ask you something?" he asked quickly.

Jessie looked with curiosity. "Yeah," she said. "Definitely."

"Um," he began. "I wanted to ask if…if…if…would you…"

Jessie looked at him with anticipation.

"…Do you have any mints?" he asked quickly.

Jessie looked at him with confusion. "Uh…sure." She reached in her school bag, and gave him some.

"…Thanks," he uttered.

Jessie nodded and then left the area.

Ace looked at the mints and Snake came up to him.

"Well," started Snake sarcastically. "At leassst you'll have minty fresh breath at the prom."

"Oh, shut it," said Ace. He put mints in his mouth and stormed off. After a few seconds, Snake followed.

At the prom, students filled the ballroom in one of the most beautiful hotels in the city. They were dressed from head to toe in tuxedos and gorgeous prom gowns.

Even the Gangreen Gang were dressed to the hilt, as they came through the doors.

"Okay," said Snake. "Everyone know what to do?"

"Yeah!" said Ace boldly. "…Definitely…" He sounded less confident. "…I don't know." He walked back outside.

"Hey," said Snake. He followed him. "Ace!"

He grabbed his arm and Ace stopped.

"What'sss going on?" he asked. "You were the one who sssaid you wanted to tell Jessie how you felt about her." He let go of him.

"I know," said Ace. He was quiet.

"Sso, why don't you jusst do it?" demanded Snake. "What have you got to lose?"

"What if she just doesn't like me that way?" Ace blurted out.

Snake was silent.

"Lissten," he said finally. "If you keep avoiding thissss, ssshe'll move on and you'll lose her." He paused for a second. "It'sss now or never, Accce."

Ace looked at Snake. Then, he sighed.

"You're right," said Ace. He turned back to the gang. "Guys…Let's get started."

Inside the crowded ballroom, Kirsten, Madison, and Amber stood by the punch bowl. Kirsten pulled out a small compact mirror and checked her reflection.

"Aah!" shouted Kirsten suddenly. "I need more bronzer! Girls! Bathroom! Now!"

Kirsten rushed to the bathroom with Madison and Amber following her. Then, something got Amber's attention. She saw the plant next to the punchbowl move a little. Suddenly, Snake peered from behind the plant.

"Amber," Snake mouthed. He motioned for her to come over.

"Hey, I'll catch up in a second," said Amber as Kirsten dragged Madison in the bathroom. She went over to Snake.

"Hi, Snake," she said smiling. "I was wondering if you were here."

"Well…" said Snake bashfully. "It wasss kind of lassst minute. Anyway, we need your help with sssomething?"

Amber looked with confusion. "Oh?" she asked. "What?"

He looked to each side. "Accce wantsss to tell Jesssie how he feelsss about her."

"Really?" asked Amber excitedly. "That's so cute! Sure, I'll help."

"Okay," said Snake. "Here'ss what we're gonna do."

Back outside, Ace and the gang were setting up the hotel's courtyard. The center of the courtyard had a large, rectangular, paved center with benches on both sides. Arturo set a portable music player and speaker next to the benches. Billy found some line rope off to the side, and put it along the edges of the pavement. Grubber tied purple balloons to the line rope. Then, to top it all off, Ace placed a handmade, paper sign on the side of one of the benches. In purple letters, it read, "Jessie."

By the time they finished, the center of the courtyard was decorated with the balloons and it looked like an outdoor dance floor. Snake and Amber, then, showed up.

"This looks great!" said Amber. "Jessie's going to love it!"

"Yeah," said Ace. He turned to look at the dance floor. "I hope so."

"Sshe will," said Snake placing his hand on Ace's shoulder.

Ace looked at their decorations a little more. "Alright, then," he said. "Let's do this."

In the hotel, Amber looked all around for Jessie. She searched the game room, the lounges, and the sitting room next to the bathroom. Finally, she found Jessie right next to the entrance of the outdoor terrace.

"Jessie!" called Amber. She rushed over to her.

Jessie looked in Amber's direction. "Hi, Amber. What's going on?"

"I have a surprise for you," she said.

"A surprise?" asked Jessie confused.

"Yeah!" said Amber, grabbing Jessie's arm. "Now, come on." She led Jessie as she ran down the stairs, through the ballroom, and out to the courtyard.

"Okay," said Amber. "Here it is."

Jessie gasped as she saw the decorated courtyard.

"What is all this?" she asked.

"That's not the only thing," said Amber. She motioned for Jessie to turn around.

She turned and there was Ace standing in front of her.

"Ace?" said Jessie surprised.

Ace stood in silence. Jessie's wavy chestnut hair and shimmering purple dress shined under courtyard lights. He tried to find the right words to say.

"So…what do you think?" he asked.

"I'll leave you to it," said Amber. She went back inside and joined Snake and the gang.

Jessie smiled and, then, looked around the courtyard. "I can't believe you did all this."

He smiled. "Well, a night like this should be special." He lost focus for a second. "Jessie? I wanted to ask you…Do you want to…I mean…I wanted to ask if you…

"Wanna dance?" she finished.

"Well…" he started "Yeah."

"I'd love to," she said.

"Great," he said under his breath. He started the music and led Jessie by the hand to the center of the floor and started to dance.

Jessie felt herself blush. She looked up at him and then she looked forward.

Ace was quiet as he danced. He looked at Jessie.

'Man, is she beautiful,' he thought. Her large, green eyes glistened under the lights. 'Sweet, too.' He looked forward. 'Come on. You can do it. Tell her.'

"Jessie?" said Ace.

"Yeah?" replied Jessie, looking up at him.

"Uh…" he started. "…nothing."

They continued to dance. Ace was quiet for a few seconds, then he spoke up again.

"Well…" he said. "…actually…I wanted to tell you…that I…"

Jessie looked up at him again. They paused as they looked at each other. Ace lifted his sunglasses and placed them on his head. Then, before they even knew what was happening, they started to kiss. After a few seconds, they stopped kissing and looked at each other. Both of them were blushing immensely.

"I'm so happy you are here with me tonight," said Ace. "I really…like you."

Jessie paused and smiled. 'Could this really be happening,' she thought?

"I feel the same about you, Ace," replied Jessie.

They shared another kiss and then continued to dance, holding each other closely.

What a magical evening! They wondered what will happen in the future. Well, one thing's for sure, they will never forget this special night.