They finished up and soon they were all sitting around the locker room. They decided to go to Goldberg's parents' deli. They all put on their roller blades and started off towards the deli. The group of thirteen made their way there with no problems. Goldberg actually stayed with the group the entire time. They ordered and sat around their normal tables. Julie, Connie, Guy, Portman and Fulton sat at one table. Charlie, Adam, Goldberg and Averman sat next to them, with Luis, Dwayne, Ken and Russ at the table next to them.
"Great game Ducks," Charlie said, "but Goldberg, I think we'll keep Julie as number one."
"Yeah, yeah!" Goldberg replied with a smile.
"Julie," Connie said, "are you up for some shopping?"
"I asked that once and I ended up with a box full of stuff she bought and couldn't fly home," Portman replied.
"Hey, you were the one who suggested it. Of course I'm up for some shopping."
"Alright! Anyone else wanna come?" Connie asked.
"I'm sure we could use someone to carry our bags," Julie said, looking at Portman.
"Sure, why not?" Portman replied. "I can always use the training."
"It's strength and endurance," Guy replied.
"I know. I spent two weeks chasing her around Chicago."
"I'll come, if you don't mind," Fulton said.
"Not at all," Connie answered, 'the more the merrier."
"Anyone else?" Julie asked.
"I'm in," Guy said, while everyone else shook their heads no.
"We'll either have to all squeeze into one of your cars, or split into two," Portman said, "because there is no way five people will fit in my car."
"I'll take mine," Connie said.
"Mine's in the shop, so it's out," Fulton said.
"I can take mine, but only one other person will fit," Portman said.
"I'll ride with Connie," Guy said.
"I'll go with Connie so you two can catch up," Julie said.
"You don't have to," Fulton replied.
"I know," Julie said.
They bladed back to Eden Hall along with everyone else. Julie, Connie, Guy, Portman and Fulton split into the two cars and took off for the mall. After they parked and regrouped, Portman put his arm around Julie and they entered the mall. "Where to first?" Fulton asked.
The girls looked at him like he had grown two heads while the guys looked at him sympathetically. "Fulton my man, it's obvious you've never been shopping with a woman before. You see, unlike us, they don't have a specific place in mind," Portman said.
"Prepare to run around this mall at least once," Guy added.
"Are we going to stand here all day or are we shopping?" Julie asked.
"I'm shopping," Connie answered.
The girls took off and the guys were soon chasing after them. Julie and Connie entered a dress shop and Portman, Fulton and Guy sighed then slowly came in after them. Julie was looking through a rack of formal dresses when she felt Portman come up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist. As she leaned back against his chest, he asked, "any particular reason you're looking for a formal dress?"
"I don't know, you never know when you might need one," Julie replied.
"Like, for say, the dance coming up in three weeks?" Portman asked.
"Hmm, maybe. Is someone asking?"
"Maybe," Portman replied with a smile.
"Well you need to figure out if you're asking before someone else does."
"Julie Gaffney, would you do me the great honor of allowing me to escort you to the dance?" Portman asked while trying to keep a straight face.
"Maybe," Julie answered, then broke out into a huge grin.
"Maybe?!"
"Alright, I guess," Julie said with fake exasperation.
"Well, if it's too much trouble."
Julie turned around in his arms and placed her own around his neck. She softly pecked his lips then said, "if you're asking, then I'm accepting."
"Let's find a dress for you and then we can go order a tux for me."
"Alright," Julie said, then turned around and picked out a few dressed. She then found Connie and the two headed for the dressing rooms.
They both came out twenty minutes later, back in their normal clothes. "Do I get to see the dress?" Portman asked.
"You'll see it when you pick me up," Julie said.
"Alright then," Portman replied as he got a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He took the few steps that separated him from Julie and picked her up. "Do I get to see it now?" he asked playfully.
"No, you'll get to see it when you pick me up for the dance. Are you going to put me down?"
"No," he replied. She gave him the look and he said, "fine, but only if you kiss me."
"Well if that's all you want," she said, then placed a feather-light kiss on his lips. He set her down and she said, "why don't the three of you go wait outside while we pay for our dresses."
"Alright," Portman said and the three left.
Julie and Connie paid for their dresses and arranged to have them delivered. They left the store and met back up with Guy, Fulton and Portman. "Where's your dress?" Portman asked as he took a hold of Julie's hand.
"We're having them delivered. We wouldn't want you peeking, now would we?"
They continued on their way until they got to the tux rental place. The five walked in and started looking at different tux styles. Julie and Connie both noticed that Fulton didn't appear all that interest. "What's up?" Julie asked as they approached him.
"Not much," he replied dejectedly.
"Alright, now we'll try what's wrong?"
"With you and Portman finally hooked up, I guess I, I just, it's different now."
"How?" Connie asked.
"The first week of school, Portman and I would check out all the girls and decide who we were going to ask. Now he's taking Julie, and that's a good thing because you're perfect for each other, but..."
"But now you don't have him to check out the chicks with?" Connie guessed.
"Yeah," Fulton replied.
"Do you trust us?" Julie asked.
"Of course," he replied.
"Enough to let us pick your date for the dance?" she added.
"I guess."
"Alright, it's settled then," Connie said. "We'll pick your date, now you go pick you tux."
Fulton walked over to the guys and started looking at different tuxes. "So you finally decided to join us," Guy commented.
"Yeah, I was having a little chat with Julie and Connie," Fulton replied.
"Really? Anything interesting?" Portman asked.
"With them, isn't it always?" Fulton remarked. "Anyways, they're gonna set me up with someone for the dance since my usual pick-up partner is officially out of action."
"That I am buddy."
"And I'm really happy for ya. You and the Catlady are meant to be."
"I second that," Guy said.