AN: Haha, just wanted to clarify that Dilandau is not ACTUALLY Van's little brother, it's just their sort of "bond" and "nickname" for each other. No one thought that yet (or at least they didn't ask me), but I'm just clarifying! XD FF.net has been acting oddly @_@ I'm not making any money off the song lyrics I use, and the hockey players names I use are made up too ^-^ (Er, it's coincidence if there ARE hockey players matching the names I used)

Me: Haha, I've always wanted to try Escaflowne High School style! XD
Magicman/Smokegirl: Yeah, I don't like Jacob at all (even as a character XD) So I plan to kill him off! Haha
Ruby: Sorry! I wish I could make Van and Hitomi be together, but then this fic would end too soon! XD I swear I'll make things up by TONS of Van and Hitomi fluff later! Sorry! ^^;;
PrincessCool: Haha, yay! I feel special ^-^ Now go update your story! XD
MaboroshiTsuki: Yay! Go emotional roller coasters! Even though I'm killing off Jacob *hehe* I'm still not going to smack those two together! Not till the very end will they actually -be- together! MUAHAHA! But there will be moments..... ^_~ Fluffy moments!
SabineballZ: Sorry! I couldn't make Van and Hitomi be together right away! ^^;; But I swear they will be by the end! And I'm going to add some fluffy moments too! Lots of them! I just have to wait till the middle ^^;;
Taya: Thanks! I loved the romance between V/H too! ^____^

"I'll see you at the dance" Millerna shouted before turning down the road towards her house. Hitomi kept walking down the street after waving bye to Millerna, and after about 5 minutes she reached her house. She unlocked the door and walked into the sunny kitchen. A yellow post-it was stuck to the fridge, and she peeled it off after setting down her back pack.

Hitomi, I'm going to be working late tonight so you'll have to
make your own dinner before heading to that dance of yours.
Your father is coming home tomorrow from Fried, so could you
be a dear and buy a turkey tomorrow from the supermarket?
I've left the money on the counter.

-Love, Mom XOXO

Hitomi stuck the note back on the fridge, and opened the cupboard. She quickly whipped up some instant noodles, and washed the dishes, stomach full. She bounded up the carpeted stairs to her room, and changed into a green halter top and a vintage calf length jean skirt. Opening a jar of cold shimmer cream, Hitomi dabbed a bit on her cheek bones, while letting her thoughts wander.

I think Jacob's sweet. He's attractive and just because he doesn't like hockey doesn't mean I can't like him. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. And he seems to be smart, at least in French, and he's cute, and he's nice to me, and he has manners and everything's just perfect. I couldn't be happier. Everything's perfect! Perfect! Parfait, in French!
Are you trying to convince yourself something, Hitomi?
No.
Is Jacob the one you really want?
Yes, of course.
But what about another certain hockey player that causes you to blush bright red every single time you see him?
He does not-- Hitomi started, and then she stopped.

I'm having a fight with myself she thought wryly, shaking her head, and she screwed the jar shut. She brushed her straight hair till it shone, and she slipped on her green satin sandals. Turning around in front of the mirror, she smiled at her reflection.

***

Van, Dilandau, and Millerna were hanging around in Van's living room.

"Just go" Millerna and Dilandau chorused, who were both collapsed on a tan suede couch, trying to persuade Van to come with them to the dance.

"No" huffed Van, stubbornly, crossing his arms, sitting in a black arm chair.

"Dances always cheer you up" coaxed Millerna.

"Come on" Dilandau whined. "If you don't go, I can't go. And if I can't go, Millerna can't go."

"Excuse me?" Millerna interrupted. "Who said you two could stop me?" she grinned.

"You know Van! He'll be giving us looks for a week, and sending us his stupid telepathic guilt trips!" teased Dilandau. Van fought a smile from appearing on his face.

"Fine, I'll go to the dance and have fun, possibly getting me over this state of longing. But I'm only doing this for you guys" Van grinned, getting up.

"I think he's coming back" Millerna nudged Dilandau.

"Shhhh! Don't scare odd, freaky, usual Van away, or slightly depressed Van may come back!" Dilandau whispered as loudly as he could. Van punched a smirking Dilandau in the stomach, and they all climbed into Van's car.

***

Dilandau went off towards the DJ, his friend Robbie, and Millerna went off in search of Merle and Hitomi. Van stood idly beside the punch bowl, when someone nearly pushed him into it.

"VAN!" said a cheery voice. Van turned around.

"Hey Merle" he grinned, prying her off him. "Where's Gaddes? He didn't actually leave your side for more than 5 seconds did he?" Van gasped. "Knowing I could easily use my manly charms to win you over" he smirked. Merle hit Van on the head, and he rubbed it, grinning. "So where is he, anyways?"

"Sick" pouted Merle.

"What happened?" smiled Van.

"Well..." started Merle, blushing.

"Come on" coaxed Van, grinning expectantly. She took a deep breath.

"We were slow dancing in the rain and..." Merle trailed off, turning fire engine red. "It wasn't as corny as it sounds--" she tried to defend herself, but Van was laughing hysterically.

"Hahahaha" he laughed, as he gasped for air. The thought of "slick, cool, confident" Gaddes dancing in the rain with one of his best friends, who happened to be a hopeless romantic, WILLINGLY, brought tears of mirth to his eyes. "You actually convinced him to slow dance in the rain with you??" he choked out.

"Oh you're impossible" said Merle exasperatedly. A memory hit him like a thunderbolt, and Van instantly calmed down. He remembered the day at Starbucks when Hitomi had said those exact words.

"Hey, you okay?" Merle asked softly at Van's sudden distant look.

"Yeah, fine" said Van. He covered up with a grin, and smiled warmly.

"Well...If you're sure. I just came to ask Hitomi something, then I have to go and take care of Gaddes" Merle called over her shoulder, a twinkle lighting up her blue eyes. Van nodded, and tossed his plastic punch cup into the garbage.

***

"Would you like to dance?" asked Jacob, smiling. Hitomi felt her cheeks glow, and she nodded. The song blared from the speakers, and Hitomi rested her head gently on Jacob's shoulder.

Hold on to the light that guides you,
Hold on to the air that cools you,
Hold on, hold on to me...

Van watched from the shadows as Jacob's hand rested on the small of Hitomi's back.

And then my eyes stretched out,
As I saw her hand slip away...

He averted his eyes, and was about to leave the dance when Millerna grabbed his shoulder.

"Uh uh, not so fast" she grinned. "Are you going to leave me alone on the dance floor?" she teased. Van smiled, and she pulled him into the middle of the floor. "It's okay, she'll see who he really is sooner or later." she whispered into his ear.

"Why can't he be a cheating bastard, and then she'd run into my arms, making this so much more easier" Van complained, while the two slowly turned on the spot.

"Well, he's a bastard, that's a start" Millerna smiled.

"True, but he's a smart bastard" he grinned.

"If you'd just let me--"

"No, Millerna"

"Please?"

"No. As long as she's happy, I'm fine."

"But look at her. Do you honestly think she's happy?" Van looked over Millerna's shoulder at Hitomi. Her green eyes were softened, and her cheek was resting against Jacob's chest. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she seemed to be only focused on him, nothing else. Her eyes suddenly looked up at him, and he dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Yes" Van said confidently, hiding his slight unease.

...Hold on, hold on to me.

The song ended, and Millerna gave Van a tight squeeze on the arm.

"I'm going to go look for Dilandau" and she went off. Van leaned against the wall, and a female voice spoke.

"Bored, too?" she asked. Van looked at the speaker. She had bright red hair, and brown eyes. She had a friendly look about her, so Van grinned. He nodded.

"I'm Yukari" she introduced herself.

"I'm Van. Want to hang around outside for a bit?" he suggested, looking for any excuse to get some fresh air.

"Sounds great" she said, and they headed outside.

***

"And then he got checked in the wall--"

"--and then shit! Did you see that gash on his face? Then Maldiegh tripped over Solnicki--"

"--the puck flew in the air--"

"--then Orgon tried to pass it to Bates--"

"--Ginga intercepted it--"

"--and WHAM! Into--"

"--the net" finished Yukari. Van and Yukari laughed.

"That was a great game" smiled Van. Yukari and Van had been chatting away for about an hour, sitting on a picnic bench outside the school. There was no chemistry, they both knew, but a great friendship could be formed. They had started off slowly, exchanging small talk, when they landed on the subject of hockey. Then they had blabbered on and on, never stopping. Suddenly Yukari's ears perked up, and she put her finger to her lips.

"...Is that square dance music?" she asked, grinning moronically.

"Let's go!" said Van excitedly, and they ran like kids back to the dance.

Sixteen hands and roll that wheel, the more you dance, the better you feel
Now drop your hands and fall in line, ladies in the lead and the gents behind
Step right back and watch her smile, step right up and swing her awhile...

Yukari, Van, Millerna, and Dilandau were all swinging around, having the time of their lives. They linked arms, skipped around, clapped, and do-si-doed. Several people were staring at Millerna, Van, and Dilandau in awe. The most popular people in the school was square dancing. Dilandau picked up Millerna by the waist as Van did the same for Yukari, and both guys lifted the girls up into the air, twirling them around.

Hitomi watched with Jacob on the sidelines, and longed to join them.

"How immature" Jacob remarked, rolling his blue eyes. He put his arm around Hitomi's shoulder. "I can't BELIEVE my sister is embarrassing me like this"

"Your sister?" asked Hitomi.

"The one with the red hair" Hitomi frowned at Yukari who was being twirled around by Van, who seemed to be extremely happy. His eyes were twinkling, and she felt a slight pang of jealousy hit her. "She's a hockey freak too" he sighed. Hitomi frowned slightly at the comment.

Yukari and Millerna skipped around the boys, and switched places. Millerna grinned happily at Van, who seemed to be back to normal. She thought of saying 'See? Dances do cheer you up' but she feared it might ruin the moment, so she kept her mouth shut. As the girls got into a row, and the guys got into a row facing the girls, they all took 3 skips back, then 3 skips forward to meet again. Then they all paired off and swung around, linking arms. Surprisingly, over half the dance floor was joining them, matching them step for step.

"I guess learning square dancing from Mr. Lindenhurst paid off" Yukari grinned at Dilandau, speaking of their gym teacher. Dilandau grinned back.

"Your hair's cool. It's like the color of fire" Dilandau remarked. Yukari smiled shyly.

"You're one to talk. Look at your hair. It's silver!" Yukari laughed. Dilandau smiled proudly, and the two looked at each other for a moment, then looked away, blushing.

Van nudged Millerna. "Love's struck Dilly boy" he smirked while linking arms with her. Millerna's eyes widened with glee.

"Everyone's getting hooked up! All we need to do is pair off you and me!" Millerna beamed. "Say.... Can you set me up with Allen?" she pleaded, giving him a puppy dog look.

"Haha, like you need setting up. You know he likes you. Just be a big girl and ask him" Van teased. Millerna pouted, but broke into a smile.

"Jerk" she laughed.

"Who, me?" said Van, raising his eyebrows in mock shock.

"Yes you" she grinned, and he grinned back, while the four of them danced the night away.

AN: *cowers from everyone* I tried my best! Everyone told me to hitch Van and Hitomi together, but I CAN'T! Don't worry! Later in the story there will be MOUNDS and MOUNDS of Van and Hitomi action! (get your mind out of the gutter, not that kind of action, this is rated PG 13 XD) Please review! In the next chapter... Jealousy arises! Fights occur! And more of Jacob's true side.... Puahaha! Okay, Jacob is pissing me off, so I think I'm going to get rid of him soon XD