Chapter 9 – The School Dance
At the dance, Clover is running into some problems. Alex and Sam are having no trouble getting asked to dance, but Clover, because she has gone out with and broken up with so many boys, is a wallflower.
"Gee, Sammy! That was the fourth straight song no guy asked Clover to dance to!", says a concerned Alex.
"I know! I couldn't even talk Jason into asking her for the next one!", says Sam.
"And I couldn't convince Aaron either!"
But then, to everyone's shock, one of the class perceived "nerds", Matt, approaches Clover, saying "Hi, Clover. I realize I'm not the cutest guy here, or a guy you would normally consider dancing with, but would you do me the honor of this next dance?"
Matt is certainly not Clover's usual dance partner. On a scale of 1-10, he'd be a 6 or 7, not Clover's usual 9. He is only about as tall as she is, which makes him slightly shorter than Sam, and a little taller than Alex. He is of stocky build, though he is not fat. He has dark blond hair, and wears thick glasses. Thanks to the glasses, most students perceive Matt as a nerd. He is smart and does well in school, although he is only passable in gym class.
Everyone in the gym is expecting a classic Clover putdown that should destroy this nerd completely.
They are surprised when she says, "OK Matt, let's go!"
Clover is pleasantly surprised to find that Matt is a decent dancer.
"Matt, you're not a bad dancer!", says Clover.
"I take that as an extreme complement from an awesome dancer like you, Clover! I wish I was better at it!", says Matt.
"You might want to try letting yourself go, Matt. You're holding back! Just get into the music and let yourself go!"
"I'll try!", and Matt gets into the music. He is dancing much better now. Matt and Clover are becoming the dance sensation of the affair.
"Let's sit the next one out, Matt! I need a little break after three fast dances in a row!"
"Ok, Clover. By the way, who is your favorite band?"
"Teensicle!"
"Mine too! I especially like their song 'Have a Heart'!"
"No way! That's my favorite too!"
Clover is pleasantly surprised to find out that Matt is very conversant about all of the bands of the day. He likes a lot of the television shows she does, and most of the movies as well. He seems to share similar opinions on teachers at school. Clover is really enjoying her time with Matt. He's not just a guy who can talk about computers, and dungeon games, as she had pegged him before. He even plays guitar and keyboard!
Sam and Alex join Clover and Matt on one of the breaks they are taking.
"Hi, Clover, Matt! How's it going?", asks Sam.
"Yeah, how are you two doing?", asks Alex.
Matt says "Hi, Sam, Alex! I was just going to get us some refreshments. Can I get something for you also?"
"Sure, Matt. That's nice of you! I'd like a cola!", says Alex.
"Thanks, Matt. Could you get me a latte?", asks Sam.
"No problem ladies! That's two colas, and two lattes coming up!", says Matt happily as he goes on his errand.
With Matt gone, Sam asks Clover "How is it going, really?"
And Clover responds, "You know, none of the three of us would usually even give Matt the time of day, because we perceive him as a nerd. Well, I learned from Stan that you can't judge a book by its cover. Matt is one of the nicest, most pleasant, and gentlemanly guys I've ever been out with!"
Alex says, "Maybe we all need to learn that lesson."
Sam adds, "We all tend to want the hunk or stud, myself included, but we tend to overlook some quality guys who may not be 10's, but offer a lot more depth in areas besides looks."
Alex asks Clover "Would you mind if I had a dance with Matt, Clover?"
Clover says, "If it's all right with Matt, it's all right with me."
Matt returns, not only with the drinks, but also with a plate of bacon nachos and jalapeno nachos. The gals enjoy their refreshments, food and conversation with Matt. He really is a nice guy! Matt ends up dancing with all three girls, and after the dance he escorts all three home.
The first gal to be dropped off is Sam. Matt walks her to the door of her house.
"Thanks for a sharing the evening with Clover and I, Sam! It was fun!"
"Thanks for being a friend, especially to Clover! Good night, Matt!", and Sam kisses Matt on the cheek. Matt's face momentarily flushes in embarrassment, but he quickly gets over it.
Matt says "Thank you, Sam! Good night!"
Alex is the next to drop off. Again, Matt escorts her to the door of her house.
"Thanks for the sharing the evening, Alex!", says Matt.
"Your welcome!", says Alex as she kisses Matt on the check "Good night!" Both Alex's and Matt's face show a little embarrassment, but they recover quickly.
Lastly, he escorts Clover to the door.
"I especially want to thank you Clover for sharing the evening with me, and allowing me to share it with your friends! I know you deserve a cuter guy than me, and this is probably the first and last time you'll go out with me. But thanks for a memorable evening!"
"It's only the last time I'll go out with you, if you want it that way, Matt. You're a great guy, and I enjoyed the evening very much!"
"Really? I mean, you don't have to feel like you owe me, because no one else was asking you to dance!"
"I mean it, Matt! To prove it, why don't we go to the dance together next Friday?"
"Why... Why sure Clover! I'd be proud and ecstatic to take you!"
"Then it's a date?"
"Yes! Thank you!"
Clover gives Matt a kiss on the lips, instead of the cheek. "Goodnight Matt, and thanks for a wonderful evening!"
Matt says "WOW! Thanks Clover! I'll be dreaming of you all night!" and he goes to his car walking on air.
As Clover enters her home, she feels good too. She'll be thinking about Matt tonight as well.
At the dance, Clover is running into some problems. Alex and Sam are having no trouble getting asked to dance, but Clover, because she has gone out with and broken up with so many boys, is a wallflower.
"Gee, Sammy! That was the fourth straight song no guy asked Clover to dance to!", says a concerned Alex.
"I know! I couldn't even talk Jason into asking her for the next one!", says Sam.
"And I couldn't convince Aaron either!"
But then, to everyone's shock, one of the class perceived "nerds", Matt, approaches Clover, saying "Hi, Clover. I realize I'm not the cutest guy here, or a guy you would normally consider dancing with, but would you do me the honor of this next dance?"
Matt is certainly not Clover's usual dance partner. On a scale of 1-10, he'd be a 6 or 7, not Clover's usual 9. He is only about as tall as she is, which makes him slightly shorter than Sam, and a little taller than Alex. He is of stocky build, though he is not fat. He has dark blond hair, and wears thick glasses. Thanks to the glasses, most students perceive Matt as a nerd. He is smart and does well in school, although he is only passable in gym class.
Everyone in the gym is expecting a classic Clover putdown that should destroy this nerd completely.
They are surprised when she says, "OK Matt, let's go!"
Clover is pleasantly surprised to find that Matt is a decent dancer.
"Matt, you're not a bad dancer!", says Clover.
"I take that as an extreme complement from an awesome dancer like you, Clover! I wish I was better at it!", says Matt.
"You might want to try letting yourself go, Matt. You're holding back! Just get into the music and let yourself go!"
"I'll try!", and Matt gets into the music. He is dancing much better now. Matt and Clover are becoming the dance sensation of the affair.
"Let's sit the next one out, Matt! I need a little break after three fast dances in a row!"
"Ok, Clover. By the way, who is your favorite band?"
"Teensicle!"
"Mine too! I especially like their song 'Have a Heart'!"
"No way! That's my favorite too!"
Clover is pleasantly surprised to find out that Matt is very conversant about all of the bands of the day. He likes a lot of the television shows she does, and most of the movies as well. He seems to share similar opinions on teachers at school. Clover is really enjoying her time with Matt. He's not just a guy who can talk about computers, and dungeon games, as she had pegged him before. He even plays guitar and keyboard!
Sam and Alex join Clover and Matt on one of the breaks they are taking.
"Hi, Clover, Matt! How's it going?", asks Sam.
"Yeah, how are you two doing?", asks Alex.
Matt says "Hi, Sam, Alex! I was just going to get us some refreshments. Can I get something for you also?"
"Sure, Matt. That's nice of you! I'd like a cola!", says Alex.
"Thanks, Matt. Could you get me a latte?", asks Sam.
"No problem ladies! That's two colas, and two lattes coming up!", says Matt happily as he goes on his errand.
With Matt gone, Sam asks Clover "How is it going, really?"
And Clover responds, "You know, none of the three of us would usually even give Matt the time of day, because we perceive him as a nerd. Well, I learned from Stan that you can't judge a book by its cover. Matt is one of the nicest, most pleasant, and gentlemanly guys I've ever been out with!"
Alex says, "Maybe we all need to learn that lesson."
Sam adds, "We all tend to want the hunk or stud, myself included, but we tend to overlook some quality guys who may not be 10's, but offer a lot more depth in areas besides looks."
Alex asks Clover "Would you mind if I had a dance with Matt, Clover?"
Clover says, "If it's all right with Matt, it's all right with me."
Matt returns, not only with the drinks, but also with a plate of bacon nachos and jalapeno nachos. The gals enjoy their refreshments, food and conversation with Matt. He really is a nice guy! Matt ends up dancing with all three girls, and after the dance he escorts all three home.
The first gal to be dropped off is Sam. Matt walks her to the door of her house.
"Thanks for a sharing the evening with Clover and I, Sam! It was fun!"
"Thanks for being a friend, especially to Clover! Good night, Matt!", and Sam kisses Matt on the cheek. Matt's face momentarily flushes in embarrassment, but he quickly gets over it.
Matt says "Thank you, Sam! Good night!"
Alex is the next to drop off. Again, Matt escorts her to the door of her house.
"Thanks for the sharing the evening, Alex!", says Matt.
"Your welcome!", says Alex as she kisses Matt on the check "Good night!" Both Alex's and Matt's face show a little embarrassment, but they recover quickly.
Lastly, he escorts Clover to the door.
"I especially want to thank you Clover for sharing the evening with me, and allowing me to share it with your friends! I know you deserve a cuter guy than me, and this is probably the first and last time you'll go out with me. But thanks for a memorable evening!"
"It's only the last time I'll go out with you, if you want it that way, Matt. You're a great guy, and I enjoyed the evening very much!"
"Really? I mean, you don't have to feel like you owe me, because no one else was asking you to dance!"
"I mean it, Matt! To prove it, why don't we go to the dance together next Friday?"
"Why... Why sure Clover! I'd be proud and ecstatic to take you!"
"Then it's a date?"
"Yes! Thank you!"
Clover gives Matt a kiss on the lips, instead of the cheek. "Goodnight Matt, and thanks for a wonderful evening!"
Matt says "WOW! Thanks Clover! I'll be dreaming of you all night!" and he goes to his car walking on air.
As Clover enters her home, she feels good too. She'll be thinking about Matt tonight as well.