It was an average day in Miracle City, the students were in school waiting for their assignments.
"Good morning class." Their teacher said. "Sorry I'm late but the traffic was murder. We will begin with homework checks. Manny Rivera and Frida Suarez I assume you don't have yours again."
"That is correct." Manny said.
"Of course well those of you who did do it let me say-"
But he interrupted when the ground shook and then something shot out of the ground like a bullet. It broke through the ceiling and went high up but came back down and landed in the classroom. All the girls gasped at how handsome he was.
"Django?" Frida said.
"Ah Frida." He said smiling. "You are as beautiful as Manny is stupid!"
Frida blushed, Manny growled. Django grabbed a hand and began kissing it.
"I have missed you as the sun misses the dawn."
"Well that's very flattering..." Frida trailed off.
"But that's my hand pal!" Manny snapped pulling it away. "And I can easily turn it into a fist!"
"Hello Rivera, miss me?" He asked.
"Not really."
"Here now what are you doing barging into my class young man!" The teacher said.
"Zip it gramps!"
"What are you doing here Django!" Manny demanded.
"I'm just here to make an announcement." He said. "It's the annual Harvest Moon Ball tonight. A romantic evening where the spirits, demons, and other creatures join together for music and dancing and I am here to personally invite the lovely Frida Suarez as my date."
"Me?" Frida said.
"Her?!" Every other girl said in surprise.
"So what do you say?" He asked her.
"Well I-"
"Sorry! She's not interested!" Manny interjected.
"Manny what's the matter with you?"
"Hello arch rival here. I don't trust him and furthermore I don't want you around him."
"Excuse me! Who are you? My Dad?" Frida said.
"No, no, that's okay Frida. I can understand him being protective over you after all I've had a history of breaking hearts." Django said.
"Django I would love to be your date." Frida said. "But only if my friends can come."
"Ugh! Fine." He handed her four invitations. "Also it's a costume ball so you'll need a costume. It starts at sun down and to get there go to the cemetery and look for a crypt with a red door."
With that said he disappeared in flames.
"This is great." T.J said. "It's been too long since I've gone to somewhere exciting. I can see the babes now."
SLAP!
"Ow! What?!"
"There's no way I'm going to let that happen." Andrea said.
"Jealous?"
"Oh please. Don't make me sick."
"Well if I can't flirt will you be my date?"
"No way."
"Okay then I'll just find another."
"Ugh! Fine but only to protect the poor unsuspecting girl you might take."
"I can't believe you all are actually going to this." Manny said.
"Come on Manny it could be fun." Frida said.
"Oh yeah watching you and Django dancing cheek to cheek. Totally fun. Won't see you two smooching will I?"
"Of course not I hardly know him." She said. "Right now my biggest concern is finding a suitable costume."
"We can stop by the costume store or just the mall." Andrea said.
"You three can go and have fun at the Dead feast but I'm going home. See ya!" Manny said.
Manny went back to his apartment. He couldn't believe she was actually going with that creep. Why? What was so great about him? Manny tried to ignore it but soon the thought of Frida and Django slow dancing got to him real bad so he went to the costume store but the only thing in his size was a suit that consisted of a long sleeved black shirt with a collar and gold stitching complete with a cape and boots.
"Not bad."
"Hey kid are you gonna pay this time or are you gonna rob me like you did last Halloween?"
...
"But Dad why can't I go?" Frida asked.
"Because it's with a boy!"
"Come on please! Andrea and T.J will be there." She gave him the baby eyes.
"Oh...Alright but I pick your outfit."
"Noooo. You'll just make me wear a turtleneck sweater and long skirt."
"Well you're definitely not wearing that cocktail dress I saw you about to order online."
"I have an idea." Carmela said. "She can wear my old costume."
"No Mom."
"I know what you're think Mija but it's adorable. Come see."
She went up into the attic and pulled out a box which contained her costume from the play she was in.
"What do you think?"
"I don't know."
"It's this or your father's choice."
"Ugh!...Fine!"
"Trust me Hija you will look beautiful."
"That's what you said when you made me wear that poofy yellow dress at Easter and I looked ridiculous."
"Well this is different."
She got dressed in her mother's costume. It was a perfect fit then her mother and her sisters came in to do her hair and make up. Sometime later Andrea and T.J came by to pick her up. Andrea wore a gold and red dress with a silk corset, trim, and flats. T.J wore a white dress shirt, brown jacket, stockings, and boots.
"Wow you look great." Andrea said.
"Shall we?" T.J asked offering his arm.
She locked her arm with his and they walked to the cemetery until they found a glowing red crypt. They opened it to reveal a passage way that led to an underground ball room. Music played and spirits, demons, and humans alike were dancing. Manny couldn't recognize anyone except Django who was dressed as the red death.
"Wow original." He thought sarcastically. "Where could Frida be?"
He saw T.J flirting with girls, then Andrea pinching his ear. Then he saw Django speaking to Frida. She was beautiful, she wore a dress that consisted of a midnight blue bodice that was decorated with stars, the sleeves were short and below the shoulder, the skirt was pink and also decorated with stars. She wore sliver boots and her hair was pinned back with a moon comb.
When Django left to get a drink he walked over to see her. He gently took her hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi." She said back. She looked flustered and nervous.
"Are you okay?"
"Why...Why did you-"
"Every other guy was doing it,"
"Gotcha. I'm glad you came."
"I only came for the free food."
"Okay. Do you wanna dance?"
"What about your date?"
"He's getting a drink. We have time for one dance."
"Well better me than him I guess."
"Great."
"Andrea." T.J said.
"What?"
He kissed her hand.
"May have the pleasure?"
"Pleasure?" She said nervously. "What pleasure?"
"Of dancing with you."
"Well I...Uh...Um...You see...I-I-I-I."
"I-I-I think that's a yes."
The lights began to dim as a new song was prepared. Manny led Frida over to the floor. He bowed, she curtsied, their hands joined while her free hand went to his shoulder, and hers went around her waist. When the music began they started to waltz, Manny spun and dipped Frida. She was amazed by how good he was, it almost seemed like they were on air. She then looked down to find that they were no longer on the ground. She gasped and clung to him nervously.
"Are we floating?" She asked.
"A little trick I picked up over the years. It's not long but it's the best I can do."
She giggled then wrapped her arms around his neck, and laid her head on his shoulder making him blush and feel flustered. But he smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist as he lowered them back on the ground. After that they just held each other and swayed slowly.
"What the hell is this?!" Django pulled Manny away from Frida. "Rivera! What are you doing with my girl?!"
"Your girl? You don't own her." Manny said.
"She was my date!"
"Django we were just dancing." Frida said.
"Shut up Frida! I don't want you spreading your legs for anyone but me!"
"You bastard!" Manny punched him and held him to the floor. "Don't you ever talk to her like that! Ever! You apologize this instant!"
"Rivera you're crazy!"
"Apologize or I'll break your skull!"
"Fine! Frida I'm sorry! I was rude! Forgive me!"
"And?" Manny twisted his arm.
"Ow! Ow! And I'm a dirty, disgusting, son of a bitch! Now let me go! Losing feeling! Losing feeling!"
Manny released him.
"You alright?" Manny asked Frida.
"Ye...Yes...Um I think I wanna go home now."
"Okay."
"T.J? Andrea?"
They found them dancing cheek to cheek, blushing, and smiling.
"Awww." Frida sighed.
"Ewww." Manny gagged. "I hate it when humans get affectionate."
"Shut up this is romantic."
But T.J and Andrea's dance of love and romance was put to a stop when he grouped her behind.
SLAP!
"Ow!"
"You pervert!" She cried.
"Sorry but can you blame me? You have a nice ass."
SLAP!
"Ow!"
"I'm out of here."
During the walk back Frida didn't say a word. She was surprised by what Manny did back there and somewhat flattered. She never imagined he would do something like that for her. She found it quite chivalrous and before that he was behaving like such a gentleman. She hated to admit it but she actually found him attractive back there.
"Are you okay?" Manny asked her.
"Yeah I...I just wanted to say thank you."
"For what? Beating up your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend, I don't even like him. I only went out with him to do something fun."
"Oh...Well it's not I care."
"You wanna know a secret?"
"That depends is it disturbing?"
"No."
"Okay what is it?"
"You're the sweetest guy I've ever met."
She kissed his cheek.
"Will you stop that?!"
"Stop what?"
"This nice stuff. It's creeping me out."
"You're so silly." She giggled.
"Okay you're seriously scaring me right now."
"Goodnight Manny."
She said going to the door of her house.
"Um...What just happened?"
"Dude are you that blind?" T.J asked.
"What?"
"She totally likes you maybe even loves you."
"What?! That's not true?!"
"Oh yes it is. She loves you and you love her. Manny and Frida sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-"
"Shut up!" PUNCH! "I do not love her! I'm not some creepy leacher like you! Okay?!"
He then transformed and ran back to his apartment. Andrea helped T.J off the ground.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Ow! How many times are people going to hurt me today?"
"Don't worry when we get back I'll get the first aid kit and fix you up."
"Beautiful and compassionate, Andrea you are my dream woman."
"Easy Casanova."