Chapter 12: DANCES AND DATES

That evening, all the students of Briarwood High arrive in their costumes at their school. They were excited about this dance. Vida, on the other hand, was pretty nervous. It was the first dance she organized. She and Chip enters the gym arm 'n arm. Chip was dressed as the magician Merlin and Vida dressed up as a fairy. Chip looked around how beautiful the gym was decorated. There were lights hanging everywhere and ofcourse a disco ball was hanging in the centre.

"Wow. V, you did an awesome job. The gym looks amazing."

"I can't believe the store wasn't ready with my costume. I had an awesome Xena, Warrior Princess costume and now I look like…" Vida looked disgusted to herself. "Tinkerbell."

"Well, it was the only costume in the store. So either it was Tinkerbell, or my superman costume. But hey, you do look great. And you wear your favorite color Pink." Chip joked.

Vida shot him a look. "Don't even go there."

Chip quickly looked around to avoid confrontations with Vida. "Hey, where's Madison?"

Vida was looking around as well and saw that he sister was indeed missing. "I don't know. She should be here by now with Ben. I don't see Nick in here either."

Chip smiled when he saw a familiar face. "Look who just arrived." Vida turned to same direction and saw Nick entering the gym with LeeLee. Nick wore a knight costume and LeeLee an old dress that has been worn from the Middle Ages. Vida and Chip walked over to them. "Hey, guys. Nick, that costume definitely suits you."

"Thanks."

"Hey. What about me? I am so going to win this costume competition"

"Well, LeeLee, your costume is…" Vida didn't know what to say about the tight and old dress LeeLee is wearing and on her head she carries a crown. "Who are you anyway?"

"Isn't it obvious? Oh, wait, that's right. You're always skipping History, no wonder the lack of your knowledge about the middle ages."

Vida was offended and wanted to punch LeeLee in her face for the comment she just make, but Chip held her back. "So, what are you?"

"Hello. Queen Mary of England."

"Why would you dress like her?"

"Because she's elegant, she has style, she has power and loved by everyone."

"Uhm…not exactly, said Chip.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, technically…Queen Mary was a Tiran."

"What a perfect match, don't you think so?" Vida joked. It made Nick and Chip laughing.

LeeLee felt offended when they laughed at her. "I go get something to drink." She left to the table with punch. Vida moved closer to Nick and punched him on the arm.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"I can't believe from all the girls at our school, you asked LeeLee."

"I didn't. She asked me."

"And you said yes? Why didn't you take my sister instead?"

"She's going with Ben. I thought that's what you wanted. To bring Madison and Ben back together."

"Technically, it's not Ben Madison suppose to…" But before Chip could tell Nick the truth, Vida stepped on his foot to keep his mouth shut. Chip held his screaming of pain inside.

"What?" Nick asked confused.

"Nothing." Vida answered quickly.

Nick looked at them like they're hiding something from him. "You guys are acting strange lately. You sure you're alright?"

Chip and Vida looked at each other and quickly shake their head yes. "Oh, yeah. Everything goes perfect."

Then Chip's attention got caught by the entrance of a familiar face. "Oh, wow. Look at your sister."

Nick turned around and saw Madison entering the gym, wearing her beautiful blue dress. His mouth felt open when he saw her. The dress was perfect for her. "Whoa, Maddie sure has a big chance of winning. Look at her. She looks gorgeous."

"Yeah, she does." Nick responded when he kept staring at Madison.

"Yo, sis! Over here!" Vida waved and Madison smiled when she saw her friends. She walks towards their direction.

"Hey guys."

"Whoa sis…I mean Queen Guinevere. Your outfit rock."

"Thanks sis. Your outfit is also…cute. I actually thought you were going as Xena."

"Well, technically…" Chip wanted to tell the whole story, but Vida cut him off.

"Can we forget that part, please? At least I have a costume. Not really my taste, but it's better to have something than nothing."

Madison smiled. "Whoa, look at you, Chip. That costume totally fits you."

"I am Merlin, at your service my queen." Chip took Madison's hand and kissed it.

"Well, the pleasure is all mine." Then she turns to Nick who was looking at her the whole time. She smiles at him. "Hey Nick."

"Hey Maddie. You look…wow."

Madison blushed when she saw Nick smiling. "Thanks."

Vida felt the love between her sister and her leader and thought her and Chip's presence was disturbing their moment. "Oh well, I think Chip and I should check out on Toby for a moment. Come on Chip."

"Why?" Vida pinched Chip's arm and got Vida's clue. "Ouch! That's why."

Chip and Vida left to the DJ table, leaving Nick and Madison behind. They didn't know what to say and there felt silence between them. Nick decided to be the first to break the ice. "Great party, huh."

"Yeah, Vida sure organized very well. I'm impressed. I like your costume."

"Thanks. It's sure different then wearing my jacket."

Madison smiles at him. "But it does look good on you. It's not everyday I get to see Nick Russell in his knight costume. So, which knight you suppose to be?"

"Sir Lancelot." Madison was quiet for a moment when she heard that. She knows the story about Arthur and the betrayal of his wife Guinevere and his best knight Lancelot. It made her blush. "So, how's everything going lately?"

"Fine. Everything goes fine. How about you?"

"I'm alright. Perfect. Just fine." Nick looked into her eyes and knew he couldn't lie to her. He wasn't fine. Things are not going alright. Why? Because he suppose to take her to the dance, he suppose to stand next to her the whole night, he suppose to hold her hand at this moment. "To be honest, I'm not alright."

Madison looked at him concerned. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"

"There's something I should have told you a long time ago."

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure if you wanna know."

"Nick, you know you can tell me everything. Now what do you want to tell me?"

Nick was so lost in Madison's eyes and smile. He just had to tell her about his feelings. He held her hands and looked deep into her eyes. "Maddie…I…"

Before Nick could tell her about his feelings for her, his moment was disturbed by LeeLee and Ben. Nick quickly let go of Madison's hands. "Hey, there you are." Ben put his arms around Madison. He wore a king's costume. "Hey Nick."

"Ben. What a surprise." Nick answered sarcastically. He hated to see Ben's arm around the woman he loves.

"So, you wanna dance?"

"Well, actually, Nick wanted to tell me something."

"Oh, really?"

Nick felt the pressure on him as everyone looked at him, waiting for his respond. He didn't want everyone's attendance at this. He wanted to be with Madison alone. "I…I think you have a great chance of winning the competition. Definitely."

"Oh, thank you. Was that all you wanted to tell me?"

Nick hesitated for a moment. "Yeah….yeah, that's all."

"Great. Let's go dancing." Ben grabbed Madison's hand to go the dance floor. Nick could see the disappointment on Madison's face. He lied to her again.

"Aren't they cute together?" Nick shot LeeLee a look. "What? I'm sure Vida will be happy that her plan succeeds tonight."

"Whatever."

"Wipe that sad look of your face. Let's go dance."

"I'm not really in the mood to dance, LeeLee."

"Hello. This is a party. Come on." LeeLee pulled Nick with her on the dance floor. Meanwhile, Vida and Chip are looking at Nick and LeeLee, and Ben and Madison from beside.

"This is going to the wrong way. I think we should tell them the truth."

"No way."

"V, look at them. They are dancing with someone else right now. Not exactly according to your plan."

Vida pouted for a moment. Chip has a point. Her plan seems to fail if she doesn't do something about it. "Fine."

"Great, let's tell Nick the truth."

"No way. Why can't we tell Madison first about that kiss?"

"Because I say so."

"Forget it wizard boy. First we tell my sis the truth and then we tell Nick."

"Oh, this isn't getting us anywhere."

Vida rolled with her eyes and then her eyes are growing wider as she saw another familiar face entering the gym. "Is that…Xander?"

"What is he wearing?" Chip couldn't believe what Xander was actually wearing. He wore a green costume and a hat. Vida and Chip walked over to him. "Hey…Xander."

"Vida. Chip. Nice to see you here."

Vida had to laugh what Xander's wearing. "Xander, I'm not sure if you've noticed it, but…you kinda look like Peter Pan."

"That's because I am Peter Pan. The store mixed up my costume with another and this is what they have left. I suppose to go as Rambo."

"You do look like Rambo. Rambo of Neverland." Vida joked.

"Very funny."

"So, where's your hot date? Or are you lonely tonight. Hey, Chip, we should ask Toby to play that record. Especially for Xander." Vida laughed.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I went inside the wrong room."

"Clare?" Chip asked confused.

"Hey guys."

Vida stopped laughing when she saw Clare. She couldn't believe what she saw. "Your Xander's date?"

"Well, he asked me this afternoon and since I've never attended a real High school dance I thought, why not."

Vida didn't know what to say at that moment. For the first time in her life, she seems speechless.

"Well, I think these 2 lovebirds like to be alone now. Come on Clare. Let's dance."

"Oke. I'll see you guys later then." Xander took Clare's hand and walked with her to the dance floor.

Vida and Chip are watching Xander and Clare walking up to the dance floor. "Lovebirds? What the heck does that suppose to mean?"

"Uhm…V."

"Ugh! Typically Xander. Mr. 'I know everything' thinks that just because I have a date and he didn't, he can just say something like that."

"V…uhm, I…"

"I'm telling you, that guy will never change. He will always be the same big flirt and ego guy since day one."

"V!"

Vida turns to Chip. "What?"

"Xander had trouble with finding a date, because of a reason."

"Yeah, they were either taken, not good enough for Xander or they were too smart to go with Xander."

"V, I'm serious."

Vida looked at Chip with serious eyes and could see that he's hiding something from her. "What is it? Chip, what's going on?"

"Vida, there's something I need to tell you."

Chip had enough of all the secrets. He caused already enough damage to Nick and Madison. He didn't want to do the same thing with Vida and Xander, so he decided to tell the whole truth to Vida. From the beginning where he made the mistake, till when he found out when he made a mistake. Question is, how will Vida react on it?

End Chapter 12.

Hey everybody! Sorry for the late update! Been so busy lately, exams are coming my way, so busy, busy, busy! But I've read ur reviews and I'm glad you all like the previous chapter! One of the most romantic ones! As for the question who will Xander's date be...most of you could guess that already...it is indeed Clare! And some you could already guess as who Nick would dress!

Hope you all enjoyed this chappie! I will try to update soon again! BTW, this fanfic has been nominated again at Rangerboard, so go and vote! LOL.

Keep the reviews coming everybody! We are almost coming to an end!