Hey everybody! Okay, here'sanother chapter to this story! Summer has past and now it's part way through the next school year. Oh and this not only has Nigel's point of view, but Hoagie's too. Thanks to all of my reviewers to the first chapter! Hope you enjoy this one!

"But now you have to find me a girlfriend," Hoagie said.

Nigel and his friend laughed as they finally left the school.

Nigel knew that Hoagie had only been joking, but ever since that night last school year, he felt sorry for his best friend. He had seen the longing in his friend's eyes whenever Abby would come to talk to Nigel in the hallway or something like that. Not that Hoagie wanted to go out with Abby, but he did deserve somebody.

Nigel thought about his own relationship with Abby. They were still busy as ever, Abby landing the main part in the school's fall play and Nigel getting a promotion at work, thus almost tripling his workload, not to mention payroll. But they almost always found time to spend together and do things, like go see a movie, go to the park, or whenever Abby could, drag him along to the mall. Not that he minded too much. Just spending time with her was good enough for him.

Sometimes they would go on double dates with Wallabee and Kuki, who were finally going out as well. They would have a blast just going somewhere nice to eat and then acting silly. That's the way they were.

But that would leave Hoagie alone. He didn't really hang out with anyone after school except for Nigel and occasionally the other former KND. They were good friends but Nigel could tell that he still felt lonely.

'That's it,' Nigel thought determinedly, 'I'm gonna find my best friend a girlfriend!'

The next day at school, he admitted that he would need help. Sitting at his table during lunch, he planned what to say and waited for the rest of his friends to join him. Thanks to their schedules, he, Abby, Wallabee, and Kuki all had the same lunch. He, Hoagie, and Wallabee also had the same last hour, Math.

"Hey guys?" Nigel said as his friends finally got their lunches and walked over.

"Yeah?" they all asked as they sat down, Abby next to him and Wallabee and Kuki across.

"Can you guys help me with something?"

"No, I'm not helping you with your homework anymore!" Wallabee joked.

"Seriously guys," he said.

"Sure," Kuki said, "What do you need help with?"

"Well you know that dance that Student Council is putting on for only the seniors this weekend?" They were finally seniors, and got all of the perks that came with it.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Abby said, smiling.

"Oh, no, no, that's not what I meant," he said, "I want to go, I really do."

Abby laughed, Wallabee rolled his eyes, and Kuki giggled.

"What I mean is, I want to try to find a date….." Abby raised an eyebrow, "…..for Hoagie," Nigel finished.

"Oh," they said.

"I mean," Nigel continued, "he's been really lonely lately and I figured maybe we could find him a date."

The two girls exchanged a look. "I don't think that's such a….."

"That's a great idea!" Wallabee said, clearly not hearing what Abby had started to say.

"Yeah," Nigel agreed, also not hearing what Abby was trying to say, "But I don't know that many girls, present company excepted."

Kuki sighed and Abby shook her head. "Don't you think we should just let Hoagie find his own girlfriend?" Kuki asked.

"Hey, he had all of high school to do that," Wallabee said, "Now we're just gonna give him a little help."

"And do you guys not remember that you only just found girlfriends at the end of last year," Abby reminded.

"Well, we've liked you guys for a long time," Nigel said.

"My point exactly," Abby said, "You don't think that whoever you find for him is gonna like him at first sight, and the same for Hoagie as well. These sort of things take time."

"Sooooo you're not gonna help?" Nigel said.

Abby sighed. 'They'll never get it,' she thought. "Sure, fine. I'll help. I'm just saying I don't think it's gonna work."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Wallabee said. Then he turned to Nigel. "So how is this gonna work."

"Well first….." Nigel started.

"Nigel's up to something," Hoagie said the next day in his advanced woodworks class.

"What makes you say that?" said the girl next to him. She stopped the spinning piece of wood that would soon become the leg to the coffee table they were making, looking up at her shop partner with green eyes through the strange goggles that everyone was wearing.

He laughed slightly at her appearance, even though he knew he looked just as silly. The goggles magnified everyone's eyes. "I don't know," he answered, getting back to work, but continued talking, "He's just been acting strange lately."

"When doesn't he?" she asked.

"Hey, no talking bad about my friends!" he said, smiling.

"Alright, sorry. How is he acting stranger than usual?"

Hoagie sighed. "He's just been asking me really strange questions lately, personal stuff."

"Like what?"

"Like I said, personal stuff."

She pouted at him and he laughed. "Fine don't tell me," she said, and turned back to her work. Then she jumped back around. "Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you!"

"You got over that fast."

"I wasn't upset. I just like to annoy you. Anyway, I've been asking all my friends this. Taking sort of a poll."

"And?"

"Are you going to that dance thing this weekend?"

Hoagie wasn't expecting that question. "Hmmm, I don't know. I don't have anyone to go with."

"But didn't you go with a group of friends to the end-of-the-year dance last year?"

"Yeah, but they have dates this year." Hoagie thought a little. "So where am I in your poll?"

"You're the third don't know, eight yeses, one no."

"Are you going?" Hoagie asked.

"I can't. Don't you remember? Seniors only." She looked down at her paper on the desk.

"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that you're a junior. That's a bummer." He turned back to his own little project, carving out a few details into the tabletop.

"It's no fair," she said, "All of my friends are seniors. I don't like anyone in my grade. They're just – so immature, tying to be mature – you know what I mean?" She looked at him. "You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" No answer. "Are you even listing to me!"

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" he said looking up at her.

"Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr.!" she shouted.

"Just kidding!" he said, holding his arms up defensively.

"Hmph, see if I ever talk to you again." She folded her arms.

"Then who am I supposed to pick on?" Hoagie said, smiling.

"How about your little brother?" she continued

"I don't see him that much."

"Why not?"

"He's busy with things."

"What could he be so busy with?"

"You have no idea."

"Try me."

"I thought you weren't talking to me anymore."

"I'm not!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Then who are you gonna talk to this class?"

"Um," she said looking around, "no one."

"Come on, you know you have to talk to someone or it will drive you crazy."

The look on her face told him that he was right and she didn't like the fact that he was. In the year and a half that they had known each other, he knew more about her than even she knew (and vice versa).

"Hoagie, Melody, are you guys working on your project?" the teacher asked walking up to them.

"Yes sir," they both answered.

"I hope you're close to finishing, the project's due at the end of the hour tomorrow," he said.

"We just have a few details on the last leg before it's attached," Melody answered, "and then all we have to do is stain and sealer."

"Good." The teacher smiled and then moved on to another pair.

"That was close," Melody sighed.

"Yeah, we should probably get to work," Hoagie agreed.

They finished the last leg and attached it before the bell rang. "Great, now we have all of next hour to paint and seal," Melody said.

"So basically, it won't be done on time," Hoagie said, raising an eyebrow.

Melody sighed. "We'll figure something out. See ya tomorrow HG!"

"Bye!" Hoagie walked out of class and towards his locker. That tomboyish girl could be so annoying sometimes, but she was one of his best friends. Then he caught up with Nigel and Wallabee as they walked to their last class, Math.

"Anything?" Wallabee asked.

"Nothing!" Nigel complained.

"Abby and I told you," Kuki said.

It was after school and the three where hanging around in the auditorium, waiting for Abby's dress rehearsal to be over.

But one of them had to leave. "Oh man!" Wallabee shouted, looking at his watch, "I gotta get to practice!"

"We'll see you later then Wally," Kuki said, giving him a small peck on the cheek.

He blushed slightly, smiled, and then jogged out of the auditorium down the halls to the gym.

Nigel turned back to last year's yearbook sitting in his lap. "What about her?" he asked Kuki.

"No, not her," Kuki answered, "She doesn't have the best reputation with guys."

"Ugh!" Nigel shouted, "We must have been through the entire class by now!"

"What are you guys talking about?" Abby asked as she walked up to them.

"What else?" Kuki answered.

"I told you, just let him find his own girlfriend. And maybe he doesn't want one, did you ever think of that?"

"No I guess not," Nigel said, dropping his head, "I was just trying to help out a friend."

"Hey, it's the thought that counts," Abby said. Then she looked around the nearly empty auditorium. "We should leave," she said.

The other two nodded, stood up, and started to walk out of the school.

"Didn't you ask him if he had any female friends?" Kuki asked as they walked, "You know, someone he already gets along with."

"Yeah and he said just you two," Nigel said, sighing. Then he stopped walking.

"What?" Abby asked.

"There was another girl that he knew too!" he said.

"Who?" the girls asked.

"Oh, what was her name?" Nigel said, scratching his head.

"Hey Abby!" shouted a redheaded girl as she ran to catch up with them. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and then continued. "You left your bag in the Green Room." She held up a small bag.

"Oh thank you, Melody! I completely forgot about it!"

"No problem!" the girl said, "See you next practice!"

"'Kay!" Abby shouted after her as she left.

"That's it!" Nigel shouted.

"What is?" Abby asked, turning back to him.

"Melody! That's Hoagie's friend!"

"Isn't she that shy girl in our choir class?" Kuki asked.

"Yeah," Abby answered, "She's actually a good singer but has horrible stage-fright. Her mother made her do the play to sort of force her out of her shyness, but it wasn't helping, that is, until I started coaching her."

"Perfect!" Nigel shouted.

"So Mr. Perfect, what do we do now?" Abby asked.

"I – don't know. I didn't plan that far ahead."

Abby slapped her hand over her eyes and moaned as Kuki almost fell over, anime style.

"Hey Hoagie!" Hoagie heard someone shout. He turned to see Nigel run towards him. "I have a question," Nigel said.

"Yeah?"

Before Nigel spoke again, he looked around suspiciously and lowered his voice. "How's your brother and his friends doing?"

Hoagie sighed. The reason Nigel would ask him that was because, even though he was now a teenager, his brother was still, The Tommy, informant to the new KND. Hoagie was so proud of him. "They're doing fine," he answered, "but couldn't that have waited until last hour?" Nigel always asked him that during last hour.

But before Nigel could answer his question, Kuki walked up to the both of them. "Hi guys!"

"Hi Kuki!" they both said.

"Are either of you guys going to the dance tomorrow," she said without her usual perkiness. It was like this statement had been practiced several times.

"Yes, I am," Nigel said in the same tone as Kuki, "What about you Hoagie?"

Hoagie frowned at his friends, not knowing what they were playing at, but decided to play along. "I don't know. I don't have anyone to go with this time. You guys are going with dates and I would feel like a fifth wheel if I came too."

"I'm sure it will be fun," Kuki said in the same drone.

"It's too bad that the dance is seniors only," Nigel droned on.

"Wait!" Kuki said with much flare, pointing her pointer finger up like she had just thought of something, "I heard that juniors could go, but only if their date was a senior!"

"Oh, that's great!" Nigel joined.

The bell rang. Hoagie, who was still frowning at his friends, started to walk towards his next class. "Um, I'll see you guys later," he said slowly.

"Think it worked?" Kuki asked.

"Don't know," Nigel said, "I think so. It was a good idea anyway."

"You know, it's a good thing we have lunch now, or we'd be really late," Kuki said.

"Yep, lets get going and tell Abby and Wallabee what happened."

A few classes later, Hoagie was in shop again.

"Let's stain this thing," Melody said, rubbing her hands together, goggles already on.

Hoagie stayed quiet while he put on his own. His friends may have been acting weird, but they did bring up a good point. "Hey Melody, wouldn't it be cool if you could go to the dance and see all of your friends?" he started.

"Yeah that would be cool," she answered as she started to pull out the stain. "You gonna help or what?"

"Yeah."

They finished staining the table in less than five minutes, and then came the hardest part. Waiting for it to dry.

"What did you mean?" Melody asked quietly.

"What?" Hoagie said, looking up at her.

"By your question earlier, what did you mean?" she repeated.

"Oh yeah," Hoagie said, "Well, I – um – heard that juniors could go to the dance, but only if they had a date that was a senior."

"Really?" she said hopefully, "You would do that for me?"

"Sure," he smiled, "What are friends for?"

"Oh, thank you so much!" Then she suddenly hugged him.

Hoagie shook his head in surprise of the abruptness of the hug. A warm, tingly feeling ran through him. "You're welcome," was all that he could say.

"Eh-hem," said the teacher.

"Oh sorry sir," both teens said, blushing deeply, Melody immediately retracting her arms.

"Get back to work, and don't let it happen again," he said sternly, but there was slightly amusement showing on his face.

"Yes sir," they both said, looking down at the ground, determined not to look at him or each other.

The teacher gave them a stern look before he turned to hide his grin and walked away.

"Um, do you think this table needs a second coat now?" Hoagie asked.

"Probably," Melody said, looking at the table, but not at him.

They re-stained the table and again waited for it to dry in an awkward silence and then added a third. After that was done, they carefully applied the chemical sealant that would give it a nice finish and make it waterproof.

Minutes before the bell was going to ring, the teacher walked around the class, critiquing all the work. "Very good," he said as he approached Hoagie and Melody, "I love the extra care and detail that was put into this piece. You two did a great job."

"Thank you sir," they both said.

He smiled and continued. The bell rang. "Class dismissed!" he said, "Have a great weekend!"

"So the dance," Hoagie said as they walked out of class.

"Oh yeah, the dance," Melody said, "I guess we're both going after all." She smiled. "Pick me up at seven 'kay?"

"Okay."

"Well, see you tomorrow!" she shouted as she ran down the hallway.

"What was that about?" Nigel asked, walking up behind his friend.

"I guess I'm going to the dance after all," Hoagie said distantly.

Nigel grinned. His plan was working!

So he was going to another dance. Hoagie wasn't quite the wallflower that Nigel used to be but he had never had a date to a dance before. He usually just went with a group of friends.

'But I'm still going with friends,' he thought to himself as he sat in his car (new silver Firebird by the way; building stuff pays good, plus his parents helped him out here and there) in front of Melody's house, 'This isn't like a real date. She's one of my best friends.' Still feeling slightly strange about the whole situation, he got out of his car, walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

A middle-aged woman with long red hair answered the door. Hoagie figured it was Melody's mother. "Oh, you must be Hoagie, Melody's date." She indicated for him to come in.

He did and was about to say that they weren't really going on a date but stopped as she continued.

"Melody will be out in a little, oh and here she is!"

Walking out of one of the doorways from down the hall, blushing and staring at the ground, was one of the most beautiful things that Hoagie had ever seen!

"M-Melody?" he tried.

"Don't you dare laugh," the creature spoke with Melody's voice.

He couldn't help it. Here was the tomboy he saw everyday in shop class wearing large shirts and baggy pants with her red hair pulled back in a low ponytail and those ridicules goggles. And now she was wearing a velvet black spaghetti-strap dress with silver sequence running vine-like down the side with silver flowers sprouting from it; her hair pulled back away from her face with her curls flowing down her back; makeup on her face. He tried his hardest not to let his laughs be heard. Not that he was being rude or anything but she just looked so…..different. In a good way.

"I don't know why you hate dresses so much," her mother said, luckily not hearing his muffled laughs, "You really do look beautiful."

"Yeah," Hoagie agreed, smiling.

Melody looked up from the floor, green eyes glittering through eye-makeup. "Thank you," she said as she smiled.

"I can't wait until they get here!" Kuki said happily.

"Why aren't they here yet?" Nigel asked impatiently.

"Calm down," Abby said, grabbing hold of his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

It was as if all the tension had flooded out of his body at once. He suddenly became so relaxed that he was surprised he didn't melt to the floor right there next to the tree.

"Pht, wrapped around her finger aren't you," Wallabee said disapprovingly.

"So?" Kuki said, grabbing his hand and leaning on his shoulder.

Wallabee melted as well. "Yeah, me too," he said.

They all laughed. 'Here we are again,' Nigel thought, 'Guys in suits, girls in dresses, waiting by this old tree for the rest of our group.'

"Hey, here they come!" Abby said. Everyone looked up to where she was pointing and sure enough could spot Hoagie leading someone through the crowd.

"Hey everyone!" Hoagie said as he reached them, "I would like you all to meet my friend Melody."

A beautiful girl smiled shyly at them.

"Are you sure this is the same girl that we met earlier?" Nigel whispered to Abby.

She nodded. "You look great Melody!" she said aloud.

The girl became even more embarrassed. "Thanks Abby," she said politely.

"Well," Hoagie continued, "You've already met Abby. This is Nigel, Kuki, and Wallabee." He pointed to each as he introduced them.

Each of them nodded or waved in response.

"We should probably go in," Abby said, indicating the flow of people through the open doors of the school.

"Yeah," Kuki agreed, watching the sun set, "It's starting to get a little cold out." She wrapped her bare arms around herself. She was wearing another dark green dress made out of some sort of shimmering material, strapless, the top with a silver crisscross pattern and the skirt flowing to the ground.

Wallabee wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she smiled up at him.

"I agree," Abby said, laughing a little as she found Nigel's coat suddenly wrapped around her shoulders. She was thankful, because her dress also had spaghetti-straps. It was a dark purple – almost black color – that went down a little past her knees.

"Let's go in then," Hoagie agreed happily.

This dance was not unlike the last one that they attended. The DJ played pretty much the same kind of music and the group of friends followed pretty much the same routine as last time too, except when Abby or Kuki dragged their dates out for one of the slow songs.

Hoagie was happy to see that Melody was having such a good time. She was so excited about seeing all of her friends that she forgot about her embarrassment quickly. From time to time she would disappear for a little to talk to a friend or two, but she would come back to dance with him and his friends during the fast songs.

Speaking of the same kinds of songs:

"Oh, we all have to dance to this one!" Kuki announced as the beginning ofNever Had a Dream Come Truestarted.

Nigel gave out a deep sigh and stood up. He was tired from all of the dancing, but he wouldn't miss this song for the world! "You coming too Hoagie?" he asked.

"Nah, you guys go ahead," Hoagie answered, "This is your song after all." He smiled.

Nigel shrugged his shoulders then turned to Melody. "You dancing?"

"No," she answered, smiling, "My feet are killing me!"

The two couples, who were now all standing, laughed. "Alright," Abby said. And with that they walked on to the dance floor as the song played.

"This is their song?" Melody asked, watching Hoagie's friends sway on the dance floor as she gently rubbed her aching feet.

"Yeah," Hoagie said, "Last dance, this was the song that Nigel finally told Abby about his feelings for her. He's liked her since he was ten you know."

Melody smiled. "How romantic," she said in a sarcastic floaty voice. She clasped both her hands together and leaned them against her cheek.

He raised an eyebrow at her, then started laughing. He leaned over and gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder as she laughed too. "Funny," he said sarcastically.

The song ended and the four returned back to the table. But not for long.

"Oh I love this song!" Melody said, "Come on guys, dance with me!"

The group all looked at each other, and then they all turned to Hoagie. "Come on guys," he said, "It's one of the faster songs and she can't dance alone."

They gave a collected sigh and the girls laughed. "I love this song too!" Abby said, "Come on, we can do it!"

Nigel and Wallabee each raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, just come on!" Kuki said, grabbing onto Wallabee's and Hoagie's wrists and started to drag them.

"Who can refuse to that?" Wallabee said with a smile.

The rest of them laughed as they followed and the song started. Melody started singing along with the words aloud, holding her hand up like a microphone. Abby and Kuki followed suit.

The three girls were holding their hands out like they had microphones and singing their hearts out on the choruses. Abby had actually taken a lower key and was harmonizing with the other two. It sounded beautiful! And was also attracting a crowd. The guys laughed at their dates, who were enjoying every moment of the attention.

The crowd clapped and cheered as the three girls took a bow. "That was great!" Nigel said, giving Abby a sideways hug.

"Yeah, it was beautiful!" Wallabee agreed, picking Kuki up and swinging her around a little.

"Wow! I didn't know you could sing like that Melody!" Hoagie said, a little stunned.

Melody blushed, smiled, and looked at the ground.

"Oh don't get all shy again," Hoagie said, laughing slightly and lightly punched her on the shoulder again. She laughed.

"Last song!" the DJ announced. And a slow song began to play.

Abby looked up at Nigel. "Come on," he said, "I'm tired."

She just continued to look up at him with her big brown eyes and a pleading look.

He folded with a sigh. "Oh, alright."

"Let me guess," Wallabee said, turning to Kuki, "You wanna dance too."

"Mmhm," Kuki said, smiling and nodding her head.

He sighed then smiled. "Why not," he agreed.

Hoagie smiled at his friends then started to head back to the table.

"Um, Hoagie?"

He stopped and turned back to the voice.

"Um," Melody started again, "Well, um, since it's the last song and all, um, will you, uh….."

He chuckled. "Sure, I'll dance with you."

"Really?"

"Really really," he said.

She laughed at the joke as he walked back over to the dance floor. Then she stopped. "Um, Hoagie?" she said again.

"Yeah?"

"I don't know how to slow dance," she said, embarrassed.

He laughed.

"Hey, don't laugh!" she said, but couldn't stop the smile from showing on her face, "I've never had anyone to slow dance with before."

"Don't worry, it's easy."

He copied his friends, only he and Melody were arms length apart, so they could see each other. They were friends after all. "And then all you do is just sway back and forth."

"I love this song," Melody said, looking up at him, then closing her eyes and singing along to the words.

"I'm kind of tired," Melody said after a little, opening her eyes.

"Do you want to sit down?" Hoagie asked, concern in his voice.

"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head, "It's just, could I, um, lean on you?"

Hoagie was a little surprised. "Um, yeah, if you want to."

She smiled her thanks and rested her head against his chest, leaning her weight onto him.

The warm, tingling feeling ran through Hoagie again. He looked down at her, his best female friend, trusting him to not let her fall. A soft smile found its way across his face as he closed his eyes and continued to sway.

The song slowly came to an end.

"Melody?" Hoagie said softly.

"Hm?" she answered distantly.

"The song's over."

"Oh," she said and stood up strait, kind of embarrassed, "Sorry."

"No problem."

There was a moments silence between the two before Melody broke it. "Hoagie, um, thanks for, well, everything," she said.

He laughed a little. "You're welcome."

Then, all of a sudden, she hugged him.

He stood there, shocked for a second, then smiled and hugged her back. Then he held her out at arms length, looking into her bright green eyes. "Let's go find the others now, 'kay?"

She smiled and nodded. "'Kay."

"So?" Nigel asked Hoagie as they were all walking out of the school.

"So, what?" Hoagie asked.

"You and Melody?" Nigel continued.

Hoagie smiled, catching on to his friend's meaning. "Are still good friends," he said, finishing Nigel's sentence.

"Aw, not girlfriend?"

Hoagie shook his head.

"Darn, almost succeeded," Nigel said.

"Were you trying to hook us up?" Hoagie asked.

"Only looking for a girlfriend for my best friend."

"Ha, funny," Hoagie said sarcastically.

"So I failed miserably, huh?" Nigel said smiling.

Hoagie looked up at the three girls walking in front of them, especially at one in particular. "I wouldn't say that," he said, "I wouldn't say that."

Melody felt someone looking at her and turned around to see Hoagie. "What are you staring at?" she asked in her usual attitude.

"An angel," Hoagie answered.

Melody blushed.

"At least," Hoagie continued, "until she turns back into the cocky tomboy that we all know and love."

"Hey!" she shouted, punching him on the shoulder.

"AHH! It's too late!" Hoagie yelled, "She's already attacking me!" Then he ran off a little ways.

"Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr.!" Melody shouted, taking chase.

The remaining group smiled as they watched the two. There was hope for them yet.

Credits

Melody Mine

KND Mr. Warburton, Cartoon Network

Never Had a Dream Come True S Club

I hope you guys enjoyed this story. Thank you for reading it. Please review! Bye now!