Chapter 11

"So you're going to go?" Alan asked Gary. He was walking around town, along with Julius. Gary wheeled beside them.

"Yeah, Emma and I decided we might as well go, just as friends." Gary said, thinking of the night of his accident, when Emma had said goodbye.

Alan sighed, he had no idea who he was taking to the winter formal dance planned for next weekend. He had to get someone fast though, time was running out. He had been putting this off in his mind for a long time.

"I know you're taking your girl Julius," Gary said, "But who are you taking Alan?"

Alan shrugged, "I don't know yet."

Gary said simply, "So take Melody."

Alan looked up at him in surprise.

"I mean, just as a friend." Gary explained, "She doesn't have a date either."

"Wouldn't Ronnie kill me?" Alan questioned.

"Nah," Julius put in, "He don't hate you that much."

"Besides, you're just going as friends." Gary reminded him.

Alan shrugged, still thinking, "I guess."

Take Melody? He thought. She was a great friend and all, but take her to the dance? Besides, what if she said no?

"Ronnie!" Alan yelled, jogging after the tall blonde teenager in the hall. Ronnie turned around, waiting for Alan to catch up.

"Ronnie, I need to ask you something." Alan said slowly, trying to think up the right words to say this.

"Yes, I don't mind if you take Melody to the dance," Ronnie said before Alan could open his mouth. Alan looked up at him, as if to say, How did you know what I was going to say?

Ronnie laughed, "Alan, you told Gary and Julius, they told Rev, who told Blue, who told Petey, and Petey told me," Ronnie explained, clapping the skinnier boy on the shoulder.

"Sure, take Melody, she likes you."

Alan smiled, "Thanks Ronnie!"

Then, the bell rang and each hurried off in different directions to get to their next class. Great, Alan thought, Now all I have to do is ask her.

Alan slowly tore a piece if paper out of his History notebook, trying to make as little noise as possible. He pulled out a pen, and wrote, very quickly so as not to lose his nerve. He tossed the note onto Melody's desk, watching her reaction as she opened it. Melody read it, smiled, and after writing on it, answered with her own pen. She was handing the note back to him, when Mr. Sanders reached down and lifted the note from Melody's hand.

"Is there something you would like to share with the class Miss Clover and Mr. Bosley?"

Melody looked over at Alan, a smiled still on her face and Alan couldn't help but laugh.

"Perhaps the class would like to hear what funny thing you have written on this note." Mr. Sanders drawled on.

Melody answered, "Sir, I don't think the class would be interested." She kept her face perfectly straight, and Alan had to hold back laughter. He still didn't know what she answered him!

Mr. Sanders read the note, and put it back on Melody's desk, whispering, "Will the two of you coordinate your social calendars on your own time?"

Alan and Melody nodded, both smiling. Then, when Mr. Sanders had turned his back, Melody flipped the note back onto Alan's desk. Alan unfolded the paper and read it.

It said: Melody, will you go to the Winter Formal with me next Friday?

Melody had answered, in her loopy handwriting: Sure Alan! I would love to go with you!

Alan grinned and Melody smiled back, before turning her attention back to class and writing what Mr. Sanders had just said in his notebook.

Alan was running his hand through his hair, trying to get it to do something besides lay there. Looking in the mirror in the hallway, he realized it wasn't working. He considered using the gel his dad used, to slick it back, when the phone rang. He answered it, and was very surprised to realize it was Melody.

"Hi Alan!" she said cheerily.

"Hi," he answered, wondering why she had called. The dance was in 45 minutes, and he was sure she could've waited that long to tell him something.

"I bet you're wondering why I called," she said. Alan leaned against the wall in the hall, staring into the mirror next to him.

"Well, yeah..." he said honestly.

"I just... umm," Melody trailed off, leaving Alan waiting.

"Melody?" he asked after a long silence.

"Oh, I just wanted to tell you that, um, don't slick your hair back." Her voice faltered for a second. "I mean, you can, but I just wanted to let you know that I think it looks just fine the way you always wear it."

Alan laughed as he looked at his reflection, his eyes dancing. How had Melody known what he was thinking?

"Oh, okay," he answered her, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Melody said, "Oh, I have to go, my mom is begging me to let her do my hair."

"Okay," Alan said simply, "See you later."

"Okay, Bye Alan."

When he had hung up the phone, Alan looked up into the mirror again. Yeah, he thought, I guess my hair does look okay like this.

He smiled and walked back into his room. Alan sat on his bed, reached under it and pulled out the shoebox in which he kept his nice shoes. He put the shiny leather shoes on his feet and then reached for a tie to wear. His shirt wasn't all the way buttoned yet, and the collar flopped down when he put the shoebox under the bed. He tried to figure out which tie to wear, and finally decided on a blue one. He didn't notice it was the same color as his eyes.

There was a knock on his door, and then a rough voice called, "Alan."

Alan, knowing it was his dad, said, "come in."

Fred Bosley entered the room, and helped his son to adjust his tie.

"Good," He smiled, "You just go have fun tonight."

Alan nodded, "Yes, sir, I will."

Fred gave his son a hug, "Here, now take the car." He handed him the keys and Alan headed for the door.

"See you."

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate all of them! And i apologize for the long long stretch without updates... I was away! thanks!