Disclaimer:I do not own Digimon.

Author's Note(s):

I'm glad people are enjoying my fic, and I hope it will continue to do so. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I enjoy getting your reviews. To everyone who reads this fic and is not reviewing, thank you for reading my fic. For the suggestion of creating a villain for the tamers and their digimon to help the romance along, I'm going to stick to my original plans for this fic; I will consider that suggestion if I decide to do another fic in the future. Anyway, there's already a lot of great Henrika fics out there that have villains to help the romance along. I'll still think about it, maybe there is a spot in this fic for that, but you'll have to wait and see. I'll stop talking now, so you can start reading.

Giving it a Chance

Chapter 3: The Dance

It was the day of the dance, and Rika was sitting in class, staring at the clock, waiting for class to end. Once the long hand of the clock reached the number twelve, the bell went off. 'Finally,' Rika thought to herself. She stayed at her desk for a while and watched the majority of her classmates rush out of the classroom. Rika was in no hurry to go anywhere, and she didn't want to get stuck in the rush, so she waited for the majority of her classmates to leave. Once the majority of her classmates left, Rika got her stuff and left the classroom as well. As she walked down the halls of her high school, she could hear girls talk excitedly about the dance tonight. Rika wasn't excited about going to the dance. Dances weren't her type of thing. She didn't see what was the big deal about dancing in a big dark room to music with teachers chaperoning. Rika walked out of her school and headed home. When Rika got to an empty street, Renamon appeared.

"How was school?" Renamon asked.

"Boring as usual," said Rika, "How's your day?"

"Same as usual," Renamon replied.

Renamon and Rika looked down the street and saw some people in the distance.

"I'll meet you at home," Rika said to Renamon who quickly disappeared.

----------

"Grandma I'm home!" Rika said out loud as she entered her house and took off her shoes.

"I'm still fixing lunch," Rika's grandmother responded from the kitchen.

"Take your time grandma," replied Rika as she past by the kitchen. Rika went down the hallway, and into her room to change out of her uniform and into a t-shirt and a pair of denim capris. After that she went to the kitchen where her grandmother was cutting up some avocados.

"How was school today deaar?" Rika's grandmother asked

"It was fine," said Rika as she sat down at the dining table. Rika noticed a shopping bag sitting on the table. "Did you go shopping today?" asked Rika as she took the bag to see what was inside.

"No, you're mom did before she went to her photo shoot," Rika's grandmother replied.

Rika pulled out a spaghetti strap denim summer dress out of the shopping bag and examined it. "Did she try on this dress before she bought it? It looks small for her."

"That's because she didn't buy it for herself," Rika's grandmother replied.

Rika looked over at her grandmother in fear, "Please tell me it's for you."

"I'm sorry Rika, but you're the only one who can fit into that dress."

Rika let out a big sigh of frustration as she placed her forehead on the dining table.

"I tried to talk her out of shopping for you."

"Thank you for trying," replied Rika.

"I know something that will cheer you up."

Rika lifted her head from the table and looked at her grandmother with hope, "You'll put on this dress and go to the dance as me?"

"No, but I made your favorite for lunch," Rika's grandmother said with a smile as she placed some sushi in front of Rika.

"Yum, California rolls," Rika said with a grin, "Thank you grandma."

"You're welcome. Where's Renamon?"

Renamon suddenly appeared in the kitchen and sat down next to Rika.

"Here you go Renamon."

Renamon bowed at Rika's grandmother in respect, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So mom is at a photo shoot?" asked Rika.

"Yes she is."

"Her photo shoots usually don't end until eight. I'll just wear my usual to the dance and you can tell her I wore the dress."

"Your mom is coming home early today because she wants to see you before you go to the dance."

"Great, I have to wear the dress. Can tonight get any worse?"

"An evil digimon can appear and start ruining the city while you're at the dance tonight," said Rika's grandmother.

"If it gets me out of the dance, I'll be ok with that," Rika said right before she started eating her lunch.

Rika's grandmother gave off a small laugh at Rika's remark as she brought her own lunch to the table. All three of them sat there and eat lunch together.

----------

It was 5:45p.m. Rika was in the bathroom getting ready for the dance when the doorbell rang.

"Rika take your time, I'll get it," said Rumiko as she went over to the door to answer it. Rumiko slid open the door and saw Ryo who was dressed in khaki pants with a bottom up red collar t-shirt.

"Good evening," Ryo greeted.

"Hello Ryo, come in. Rika is still getting ready. Do you want anything to drink while you're waiting?" said Rumiko as she stepped aside to let Ryo in.

"No thank you, I'm fine," said Ryo as he entered the house.

Rika's grandmother walked over to Ryo and Rumiko. "Rumiko, why don't you go get Rika, I'll keep Ryo company."

Rumiko did what her mother told her and walked down the hallway over to the bathroom where Rika was in and knocked on the door. "Rika, Ryo is here."

Rika opened the door and walked out. Rika was wearing her hair down and was wearing the denim spaghetti strap summer dress, which showed off the curves of her body, with a pair of white sneakers. Rumiko looked at her daughter from head to toe. "You look remarkable!" Rumiko said as she hugged her daughter. "Ryo is waiting for you, but before you go, I want to give you something."

Rika looked at her mom wondering what her mom would give her. Rumiko took Rika's left hand and put a small wrapped package with something circular in it onto the palm of Rika's hand, and she put Rika's fingers over it to cover it up. Rika looked at her mom stunned. "I'm giving you this just in case... you know," Rumiko said shyly.

Rika looked at her hand and opened it to see what her mom gave her. "A mint?" said Rika, surprised.

"Yes, like I said earlier. You might need it in case you get your first kiss tonight," Rumiko said with an innocent smile.

"Umm... I don't think I'll need it, but thanks mom," Rika said sarcastically and thought to herself, 'At least she didn't give me a con-'

"You should be going now Rika. You don't want to keep Ryo waiting all night," said Rumiko cutting off Rika's thinking.

"That's a good idea," said Rika.

"What is?"

"Letting Ryo wait all night."

"Rika!" Rumiko said with a laugh.

Rumiko and Rika went over to where Rika's grandmother and Ryo were waiting.

Ryo did a trouble take once he saw Rika. "Hi Rika, you look really pretty."

"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself," said Rika, as she looked Ryo over.

Ryo was stunned to see her wearing a dress, and he couldn't help but stared at her not believing what she was wearing.

Rika could feel Ryo staring at her and it made her felt uncomfortable, "Ryo, why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer."

"Talking about pictures," said Rumiko as she lifted her right hand to reveal a camera.

'I should have kept my mouth shut,' Rika thought to herself.

Rika stood next to Ryo and they both smiled for the camera.

"One... Two... Three!" said Rumiko as she took a picture of Rika and Ryo. "That was cute. You two better get going or you'll be late. Have fun!"

Ryo and Rika walked out of the Japanese style house and walked towards Ryo's jeep. Once Rika heard her mom and grandmother closed the front door, Rika took the hair band around her wrist and tied up her hair.

"Why are you putting up your hair? It looked perfect down," commented Ryo.

"Do you think I would ever wear my hair down in public?" responded Rika.

"Hey, I thought I would never see you in a dress," responded Ryo.

"The only reason why I'm wearing this dress, and why I wore my hair down earlier was for my mom," said Rika as they got to Ryo's jeep.

Ryo open the door for Rika.

"You know Ryo, I can open doors myself."

"I know, but what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't madam," Ryo said in a British accent.

"I'll let you open doors for me tonight if you promise me that you won't ever put on that bad British accent again."

"Deal," Ryo said with a smile as he closed the door for Rika.

Ryo got to the driver sit and they drove off to the dance.

'Have fun you two,' Renamon thought to herself as she sat on the roof of Rika's house and watched the jeep drive away.

----------

The dance was almost over, and Ryo and Rika were talking about random stuff near the refreshment stand. Rika was surprisingly having fun at the dance, and was surprised that she was having a conversation with Ryo without having it turn into an argument.

"I'm surprised that Cyberdramon, a power hungry digimon, acts childish when he's Monodramon," said Rika.

"Well, everyone who's tough has a soft side," said Ryo hinting at Rika.

"Just like how annoying people can't be annoying all the time, which is a big surprise," responded Rika getting Ryo's hint.

"This is the last song for tonight. I hope all of you had a good time. Have a safe drive home, and a safe night!" announced the D.J. as he put on the slow mix of Simple and Clean by Utada Hikari.

"Last song of the dance. We haven't dance to a slow song yet," said Ryo as he looked at Rika.

"Yeah, so? I don't want to dance to a slow song," replied Rika.

"This song isn't that slow. Come on, it's the last song," said Ryo.

"If it'll make you shut up, fine," said Rika.

They walked onto the dance floor. Ryo put his hands on Rika's waist and Rika wrapped her arms around Ryo's neck. Ryo could feel Rika tense up.

"Don't worry Rika, I won't make a move on you," said Ryo.

Rika took in one deep breath to help her relax. They started to sway to the music. Once Rika got comfortable dancing with Ryo, the song ended.

"See, it wasn't that bad," Ryo told Rika as they stopped dancing.

"You're right, it wasn't that bad. It was just really boring."

"Well the dance is over. Do you want to eat out?" asked Ryo.

"I don't think there's any restaurants around here that's open at midnight, and I better get home because I don't want my mom and grandmother to worry about us," responded Rika.

So they left the dance and Ryo drove Rika home.

----------

Once they got to Rika's house, Ryo walked Rika to her door. When they got to Rika's door, Rika turned to Ryo.

"Thank you for coming with me to the dance," said Rika.

"My pleasure. Thanks for inviting me," said Ryo as he stepped closer to Rika.

Rika took a step back when Ryo did that, but Ryo took another step closer to her.

'Oh no. He wants a kiss. Why can't he get the hint that I just want to go inside and sleep,' Rika thought to herself.

Ryo started to lean in.

"Ryo?" Rika's question stopped Ryo from leaning in any further.

"Yes Rika?"

"Why do you like me?" asked Rika.

Ryo looked into Rika's purple eyes and thought about her question, "I like you because you're strong, independent, brave, truthful, and pretty. And I like the fact that you like me for who I am, and not for my fame and looks."

"What fame and looks? And where did you get the idea that I like you?" said Rika sarcastically.

"If you didn't like me, we wouldn't be friends."

Rika was caught off guard by that comment.

"I also like how we're alike."

'He likes me because I remind him of himself. How conceited,' Rika thought to herself again.

Ryo started to lean in closer to Rika again.

"I'm sorry Ryo, but we can't," said Rika, stopping Ryo from getting any closer to her.

"Why not?" asked Ryo, "Didn't tonight mean anything to you?"

"Tonight was special, because I got to know you better. Tonight also showed me that I do like you, but only as a friend."

"How do you know you don't like me as more?" asked Ryo in a calm voice.

"I don't know, I just don't," stated Rika.

"That's not a valid reason Rika."

"Why do you want to know?" asked Rika, annoyed that Ryo wouldn't drop the subject.

"To make sure that you don't like me more than just a friend."

"Probably because you're annoying at times."

"I have a feeling that that's not the reason."

Rika turned her back at Ryo and hurried to slide open the door of her house to get away from Ryo, so she wouldn't have to answer his question, but Ryo put his hand on her shoulder and turn her around so she could face him again.

"I know you're hiding something from me. There's a lot of girls that want to be with me, and I don't understand how they can like me, but you can't."

"There's a lot of girls that like you, why don't you date THEM!" exclaimed Rika.

"Because I like you, and I won't believe you don't like me until you give me a good reason why."

"Probably because you're annoying and conceited."

"And?" said Ryo.

Rika looked into Ryo's eyes and saw that he wasn't going to stop questioning her until she told him the reason.

"You're not him," Rika finally whispered out.

Ryo looked at Rika stunned.

"Who?" asked Ryo.

Rika looked away from Ryo. Ryo knew Rika wouldn't tell him who it was, no matter how much he bugged her.

"Then why did you ask me to the dance and not him?"

"To make sure there wasn't something between us besides friendship. Everyone says that there's something between us, and I wanted to see if there was. Ryo, you are a great guy, but you're just not the type of guy I want to be with. Can you picture us being all cute and cuddly with each other?"

Ryo thought about the question for a while, "You're right, that would be scary."

"Yes it would," said Rika as she laughed.

"Sorry I forced you to answer me."

"You're forgiven if you promise me one thing."

"Ok, what's the promise?" asked Ryo.

"Don't tell anyone about the conversation that just took place."

"Ok," said Ryo with a smile.

"Good night Ryo."

"Good night Rika."

Ryo started to head towards his jeep, but stopped and turned around to Rika who was unlocking her front door.

"Rika, one more thing."

Rika looked at Ryo.

"Even though we know there's nothing between us, it doesn't mean I'll stop teasing you."

"We can't get everything we want."

"No we can't," replied Ryo, "Bye Rika!"

"Bye Ryo!"

Ryo got to his jeep and drove away, as Rika slid open the front door and entered her house.

~