However many months later…

The Formal Spring Dance.

Delia stood on her tiptoes to lean into Dexter so he could hear her. "I'm gonna park you next to Chris, okay?"

"Why?" Dexter asked, a wry smile stretching across his face. "Did you spot a better looking blind guy?"

"Not a chance," she laughed, and led him to where Chris and Libby were giggling wildly about something. Libby had a glass of fruit punch and kept spilling it due to her violent laughter, and Chris was clutching her arm to prevent himself from falling over. "Hi. I'm going to the bathroom. Please do not allow Dexter to escape."

"Wait for me!" Libby cried, latching onto Delia's arm. "I've had too much to drink!"

"How do you feel about Captain Kangaroo?"

"He should be shot."

"Yes." Tabitha tried to think for a moment, although Vern's hands low on her back distracted her. "What's your favourite colour?"

"Blue," Vern said confidently. He looked down at her and smiled because the way the dim lights fell on her shimmery strawberry blond hair was like magic. "How about you?"

"Red. Because it's pretty and bright and it's like 'ooh look at me, I am very red.'"

"Colours don't talk."

"But if they did, that's what red would say." She grinned. "We have retarded conversations."

"I know. That's one of the reasons I love you." He rested his forehead against hers. "No one else agrees with me about how amazing Mighty Mouse is."

Her laughter was beautifully musical. "Oh yeah? What are some of the other reasons?"

Vern kissed her.

"So you taking care of my sister, man?" Chris asked Dexter, the two of them leaning against the gym wall. He was keeping his eyes away from the sight of Gordie and Abby making out on the dance floor.

"I guess the wise thing to say would be 'yes of course I'm taking care of her,'" Dexter said, grinning.

"She's happy," Chris told him with a shrug. "And you probably had something to do with that."

"Don't beat me up or anything, but I kinda love her."

"Why would I beat you up?"

"Because you're her brother? And I can't see?"

"Nah. It's about damn time someone loved Delia for who she is and not for what she looks like or what they could use her for." Chris shook his head. "But if Gordie doesn't get his hands off my other sister, I might do some damage."

"So she's like 'DAMMIT Abby, act your age not your shoe size' so I'm like 'I have HUGE feet, Delia!' and then she was like 'Are you a COMPLETE moron?' and I'm like 'NOPE! INCOMPLETE!'"

Gordie watched, a smile deepening on his face as Abby bounced to the music, breathlessly telling him about a fight that she and Delia had had that morning over a piece of toast. She always had too much energy.

He loved her, but lately he had been feeling drained. So he excused himself to get a drink, oddly feeling sad when she sounded cheerful saying 'I'll still be here.' She had no idea what was going through his head. But neither did he, really.

Out in the cold air of the hallway, Gordie felt like he was spinning out. Leaning over the fountain, he just closed his eyes and let the water run over his face.

A realization fell on him. He was sinking back into the stupid hole of sadness and inadequacy and never-ending grief. Nothingness without end.

And there was a girl back in the gym that was willing to help him in any way she could; the first girl he'd ever loved. He didn't know what he was going to do if he kept slipping. He couldn't just let Abby continue to try and keep him from sinking below the surface. It wasn't fair to her.

What am I gonna do? He pleaded silently to Denny. I'm sacrificing the girl that means everything because I can't stop being alone without you. What do I do? Do I keep her?

"Hey, Gordie, you taking a bath?" Abby called. He stood up to face her, and she was just so perfect he wasn't sure if he could talk.

"Yep. A bath," he said softly.

"You okay?"

"Sure."

"Missing Denny?"

Nodding, Gordie looked up at the ceiling miserably. What are you thinking, Denny? Are you even there anymore?

Holding his hand firmly, Abby put her head on his shoulder. "He'd be so proud of you, Gordo."

Walking out of the girls' room, Delia sighed, "I hate going into the gym when it's all hot and gross and stuff. I think I'll see if I can talk Dexter into leaving."

"Ooh, that sounds like it could get scandalous," Libby said eagerly.

"Uh, yes." She looked down the hall and grumbled to herself. "Son of a bitch. I feel attack of niceness coming on, you coming with me?"

"Where?" Libby asked. Delia didn't reply, but Libby followed her anyway.

The sun was setting deep into the sky as Andie looked out the window. Kids were streaming past her, not noticing the tears flowing down her face.

She couldn't bring herself to go inside the gym. Not like this. Not when they could see how weak she was.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the window's reflection. Her cheeks were bright pink, and she had never looked more sad. Andie turned away from herself, only to see Delia and Libby behind her.

"Jesus, Delia," she muttered, bristling with defensiveness. "I don't need it right now, okay?"

"Need what?" Delia demanded. "Friends? That's the only reason we're here. You look like you could use a friend."

"You two have never been my friends."

"Yes, well, tonight, we're all you've got judging by the looks of things," Delia said casually. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Andie cried. "Why can't you just leave me alone, Delia?"

"Andie…"

"Fuck off!"

"Andie, no," Delia said, and forced Andie into a hug.

Libby watched in amazement as Andie stopped struggling, and sunk into Delia's arms, crying.

"I just wanted him to really love me, you know?" Andie sobbed. "I wanted him to get better so that he could love me back, but no one thinks I'm worth it, Delia--Who's going to change for me?"

"You're talking about Teddy, right?"

"Yes," she murmured.

"Teddy does love you, Andie," Delia insisted. "He keeps on going back to you."

"Because he thinks I'm easy."

"Shut up," she snapped. "People have been trying to help Teddy for years now. You are the only person Teddy has trusted. You're the only person he's allowed to get close to him."

"He got wasted tonight."

Delia could feel Andie shaking in her arms.

"He hasn't had anything to drink since January. Then he goes out with me, and…Jesus, Delia, why do I love him so much?"

"What did he do to you tonight? Did he say something?"

"He changes when he's drunk. I mean, he's called me a slut before, but tonight it just sounded like he meant it…"

"You know what, Andie?" Delia said. "I don't usually like you all that much. And I don't usually like Teddy all that much. But I still care a lot about both of you. And Teddy has changed over the past few months, and it's because of you. Because you believe in him, because you don't think he's a waste of time or that he's too far-gone. Both you and Teddy have hurt a lot of people to be honest with you. But when you two are together…you don't hurt anyone. You just belong." She ran her fingers through Andie's sun-bleached blond hair. "And so what if he made a mistake? All those months he went without drinking, he did it for you, and he'll do it again until he's not going to make anymore mistakes."

Andie had stopped crying. She just stood there with her cheek pressed against Delia's shoulder. She turned her eyes to look up at Libby. "I suppose this is very gratifying to you?"

Libby shook her head. "No."

"You don't think I deserve all this?"

"I think you deserve Teddy."