"Just Friends?"
"Tori!" a female voice called.
"Kelly, what's up?" 12 year old Tori Hanson asked her blonde classmate.
"Did you hear about the Fall Dance? It's one month from today. Are you going?" Kelly asked.
"I haven't been asked yet but I guess we'll see what happens." Tori said closing her locker.
"Who do you wanna go with?" Kelly asked.
"I don't know. I guess I would kinda like to be asked by Brad Miller. He's cute." Tori said.
"Yeah, he is. Well I hope he asks you. Anyway, got to get to class. See ya!" Kelly said running off.
Tori walked into her math class and sat in the desk next to her best friend Dustin Brooks.
"Hey Tor," Dustin said.
"Hey Dustin. Have you asked anyone to the Fall Dance yet?" Tori asked.
"No. Why?" Dustin asked.
"Just wondering. The guy I want to ask me hasn't asked yet and I was wondering if other guys are asking yet or not." Tori said.
"Who do you wanna go with?" Dustin asked.
"Brad Miller. He's such a hottie." Tori said.
"Right…dude, Tori…please keep comments like that for your chick friends." Dustin said.
"Why?" Tori asked.
"I don't like hearing other guys, especially the class bully, referred to as a 'hottie'" Dustin said.
"He's not a bully. You just won't get over the fact he calls you Waldo." Tori said.
"Dude, everyone else stopped calling me Waldo in 4th grade but Brad can't get over it." Dustin said.
"Whatever." Tori said.
Later that day word had gotten to Brad that Tori had a thing for him and he decided he would ask her to the dance. He headed to her locker.
"Hey Tori."
"Hey Brad" Tori said trying to remain cool.
"So, what's up?" Brad asked.
"Not much. Just getting my books for the next class." Tori said.
"Cool. So um, has anyone asked you to the dance yet?" Brad asked.
"Not yet." Tori said.
Just then Dustin walked up, not noticing Brad.
"So Tor did the hottie ask you out yet?" at that moment he noticed Brad standing that, "Dude, there's the hottie himself. What's up Brad?"
"How's it going Waldo?" Brad smirked.
"The name is Dustin. Got that? Dustin. It's not hard. I'm sure your little brain can get that if you try hard enough." Dustin said.
"DUSTIN!" Tori cried.
"What? It's not my fault his brain is too small to understand the fact no one calls me Waldo anymore." Dustin said.
"I can't believe a girl like you is friends with him Tor" Brad said.
"Better than being friends with a guy like you. At least I have the common sense to know people's names" Dustin said.
"That's it. I'm outta here. Laters Tor." Brad said walking away.
"DUSTIN BROOKS!" Tori cried.
"What?" Dustin asked.
"He was about to ask me to the dance. God, you're such a goof. I hate you." Tori said.
"You don't mean that…" Dustin said.
"Yes I do. Just stay away from me. I don't want you near me at all ever again." Tori said.
"Fine. That's just fine!" Dustin said walking off.
The two friends didn't speak at all for weeks and their mothers began to worry about it because it was clear they missed each other and were very lonely. Especially Dustin, who had never had any friends besides Tori. Britney Brooks decided it was time to take action. She called April Hanson.
"Hey April. It's Britney."
"Britney, hey. How's it going?" April asked.
"It's been better. I don't suppose Tori has shown any interest in fixing things with Dustin?"
"No. It's such a shame, they've been friends for so long." April said.
"I wish there was something we could do." Britney said.
"I think this is one of those things we have to leave up to the kids." April said.
"You're right…well if Tori says anything about wanting to talk to Dustin have her come on over. She's always welcome here." Britney said.
"Same goes for Dustin…I have to go but I'll talk to you later" April said.
"Ok. Bye." Britney said hanging up.
The night of the dance rolled around and Tori was miserable. She paced around her room with tears in her eyes. Dustin was in his own room and finally made a decision. He was going to that dance. He got dressed and went to Tori's house. Emily Hanson let him in. He went to Tori's room.
"Hey, get dressed." He said.
"Dustin…" Tori said shocked.
"Will you please go to the dance with me?" Dustin asked.
"Are you serious?" Tori asked.
"Yeah." Dustin said.
"Not a chance" Tori said still angry.
"Please Tor…this last month has sucked. I want to be your best friend again." Dustin said.
"This last month has kinda sucked." Tori said.
"So will you please go to the dance with me?" Dustin asked.
"Ok…but I don't have anything to wear." Tori said.
"I think I can help you with that little sis…come to my room. Dustin she'll be down in 15 minutes." Emily said.
Dustin went to the living room and waited. 20 minutes later Tori walked in the room wearing a knee length blue dress with white flowers on it. It was semi casual, just right for their first Middle School dance.
Dustin and Tori went to the dance together and had a lot of fun, then Tori spotted Brad dancing with Kelly.
"That backstabber." Tori said.
"Ignore them." Dustin said.
"I don't believe she'd do this to me. She knew I really wanted to go with him." Tori said about to cry. She finally ran out of the gym. Dustin ran after her and finally caught up to her. He grabbed her wrist.
"Let me go Dustin, I just want to get out of here." Tori said.
"No Tor…you're not leaving. I don't want you to be upset…not about Brad…he's not good enough for you." Dustin said.
"Or I'm not good enough for him." Tori said.
"That is so not true…you're amazing Tor…you're kind and caring and beautiful…"
"You think I'm beautiful?" Tori asked.
"Yeah…especially tonight." Dustin said as a slow song came on. The song could be heard even outside the gym, "Dance with me." He said.
"Here?" she asked.
"Yeah. Here." Dustin said taking her hands.
The two pre-teens danced as best they could to the song and as it ended looked at each other. Dustin was feeling about Tori in a way he hadn't before. He followed his gut and kissed her. She returned his affection and kissed him back. The kiss broke and the two friends looked at each other.
"Was that your first kiss too?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah." Tori said.
"Should I be sorry?" Dustin asked.
"No…not at all. I liked it." Tori said.
"Can we still be best friends?" Dustin asked.
"Always." Tori said.
The two friends decided to leave the dance. They went for a walk and eventually Dustin walked Tori home. He took her to her door.
"Thank you for tonight Dustin. You're the best friend ever. I'm sorry for what I said." Tori said.
"It's ok. I deserved it. I'm just glad I got you back." Dustin said.
Tori smiled and the two kissed again before Tori went in her house. She went to her room and fell on her bed. She didn't know what was happening with her and Dustin but she knew she was seeing him in a way she never had before.