Disclaimer: don't own any from HG, but i do own everyone else.

A*N Hey all, thanx so much for the reviews, i love reading them! I'll let you know that the ending is sooooo totally cute! Well im asking for 10 reviews,:) i hope thats not too much, i just don't want to post more, if no one is interested! Okay well laters*

** These mean thoughts





******************************Chapter3**************************

"Wow, they did an amazing job!" Shelby said breathlessly as she and David walked into the Riverside High cafeteria. The walls were all covered with black paper, and streamers and ribbons hung down from the ceiling, making the room look like a psychedelic jungle scene. Couples and intimate little crowds already dotted the room, and some of the braver souls were sporting loud, colorful Mardi Gras masks in keeping in the dances theme. Confetti and glitter sparkled all over the floor. Riversides High's
resident rock band, Xenophobic Linguistics, was setting up, while the DJ spun warm-up tunes in the corner.


Shelby quickly grabbed onto Eric when the girl voted Most School Spirit, Sarah Waters, came exploding out of the crowd, like a clown on speed.
"Son of a mother." Shelby muttered. Sarah came up to them and pit colorful beads around their necks, to get the in the Mardi Gras spirit.
" Why are we here?" Eric muttered wrapping the lime green beads around is hand.
Shelby scanned the room and picked out Scott instantly. Her heart skipped a dangerous number of beats. He was standing against the far wall, with Rebecca and her friends, wearing a perfectly black suit. Chris Lowe, who was standing to Scott's left, said something that made Scott laugh, and just the sight of his smile sent shivers down Shelby's arms. *this has to work.* Shelby thought. *I have to win this thing. I know! I'll bribe people into voting for me. I can do homework, cook, baby-sit, anything!*
" Want to get something to eat, you look a little flushed?" Shelby asked, with a smirk on her face.
" Yeah," Eric said shoving his hands in his pockets.
" You'd almost never know that we get poisoned in this very room everyday." Shelby said sarcastically.
" How are you planning on getting people to vote for you? Just out of curiosity?" Eric asked with his eyebrow up.
" One word, bribery, I ask them to vote for me, if they do I will do one thing for them." Shelby said.
" So when are you going to get started on the bribery campaign?" He asked.
Shelby looked at her dress and smiled. " I think were allowed to have a little fun first. Don't ya think?" she asked.
" I couldn't agree anymore." Eric smiled. " You know with that attitude, I could get the varsity basketball team to vote for you." He said happily.
" Perfect." Shelby smiled. She wrapped her arm around Eric's. " Shockingly enough, most of them are already over there, chowing down." Shelby pointed out, all the V. b-ball players were over there sticking their hands on any food item they could find.


Scott took a long sip of punch and scanned the cafeteria, while Rebecca talked about her next trip to Paris. A bunch of people were on the dance floor, but things were still pretty tame. It would take people a little bit longer to loosen up. Rebecca laughed, and Scott felt a sudden pang in the back of his neck. He reached his hand out of Rebecca's grip, and rubbed his back shoulder. He wasn't sure if he was going to loosen up at all.
" So what do you think, Scott?" Rebecca's voice broke into his thoughts.
" I'm sorry. What were we talking about?" he asked, taking his gaze away from the door to Rebecca's blue eyes, he realized for the first time her eyes matched her dress. She probably paid some staggering amount of cash to have it made.
" Sarah's outfit," Rebecca said pointing out Sarah Waters outfit as she inspected the snack table. Her tank top was too sparkly, and her skirt was too gauzy, but Scott's first impression was that it suited Sarah's loud, boisterous personality perfectly. She looked great. But he also knew Rebecca wasn't Sarah's biggest fan, so she was probably looking for a negative response.
" She looks... Interesting," Scott said. That's all he could say to not make Rebecca upset.
" It's no wonder she's deep in convo with Trauther-I can't believe he wasn't named biggest nerd!" She exclaimed.
Scott felt the knot in his shoulder tighten. Whenever Becca was around her friends she instantly became about as shallow as a puddle.
" Actually," Scott started, " I think she looks good. Even pretty."
" Really?" Rebecca's face reddened slightly as she flicked her eyes over Sarah's dress one more time. " I guess it's okay."
" Yeah. I mean it's not like she's on the bottom five list." One of Rebecca's friends, Katie, butted in, twirling her hair around her finger.
" What's the bottom five list," Scott asked, pretty sure he didn't want to know.
" You know, the list of the five people worst dressed," Katie explained.
Scott rolled his shoulders feeling both of them tighten up. " Please don't tell me you have a top five list?" he asked.
" Of course we do," Rebecca said. She reached up and brushed some lint off his shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "We're not doing it to be mean," she whispered, " We're just bored. Letting out a sigh, Scott put his hand around her waist.
" Then let's go dance." He said. Hoping moving around would calm him down. Getting out on the loud dance floor would prevent them from talking to Katie any longer. But Rebecca quickly moved away. " Just five more minutes, I want to see what Michelle is wearing." She said.
" Whatever, have fun, I'll be over there if you need me." He said. He plopped down into a chair and let his shoulders slump back, hoping to get the knots out of them. Looking past Rebecca and her friends he looked at the other crowds on the other side of the room. * I wonder if Shelby is here yet? What is she going to wear? Would it be long like Sarah's or something that showed her legs? She would look beautiful even if she wore a bag* He thought.

And then, like out of a dream, Shelby appeared in his line of vision. She joined her date near the windows and did a twirl for her friends. She looked like a model. Her pink dress flowed in all the right places. He studied her while she laughed along with her friends. Normally Shelby would wear sweatshirts and jeans, and throw her hair up in a ponytail. Scott would of thought she would be uncomfortable wearing a dress and high heels, but she didn't look the least bit bothered. In fact, she looked confident and just plain beautiful. Just looking at her was making his heart pound against his ribcage. Scott closed his eyes and sighed. Why of all people did he have to fall in love with Shelby Merrick?

A*N Okay um i wrote a songfic called *Stand beside me* Read it if ya want, and tell me if i should write more to it. I could, but i won't unless i get some reviews telling me too!