Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy guys.

-

-

-

Don't Forget About Me

Chapter Thirteen: Dance

-
-
-

"Come on Henry." Cassie said stubbornly as she attempted to remove him from the chair he'd been sitting in all night. "I wanna dance with you." She said, bringing out the puppy dog eyes.

Cassie one, Henry nil.

"God, why did you have to do that?" Henry moaned as he interlaced their fingers and kissed the top of her hand.

"Because it's irresistible and I know you'll give in to it." Cassie said happily as she pulled Henry from his chair and led him out onto the floor.

I smiled as I watched my brother and best friend dance up a wild storm. They'd both changed so much since that morning in the Library, when Cassie had uttered few syllables and simply drawn in her art book, and Henry, well, he'd been the jock we'd all grown to love and hate. But Cassie, she'd grounded him. She'd made him want something more.

Something we were all very grateful for.

Everything had calmed down after that Monday. At least, I liked to think it had. Not that any of my former friends spoke to me. I was shunned for eternity for even standing within breathing space of them. But I was okay with that. It really hadn't dented my social climb either. Because they were the forgotten ones. Not me.

All in all, it turned out as the best situation for all involved.

Okay, so maybe there was still a smidge of the teen queen in me… but why would you honestly want to throw it ALL away… especially when you can have the best of both worlds, and still come out on top? I sure as hell wasn't going to throw it away any time soon. I had a new appreciation for life… and for status and schoolwork and everything.

And I really had changed. I was a joyful person now. Not snarky or snappy or cruel. I was nice to everyone. Another plus on the side of social standing. When you weren't the hated one, those who had once hated you directed their hatred at others… such as my ex friends…

"Maddie, come on." Luke said from behind me, interrupting my thoughts about school domination.

"Huh?" I said, as I turned to look at Luke, as he ran his hand up and down my arm.

"We've gotta…" he said no so subtly, nodding his head towards the DJ.

"Oh, right." I said, winking back at him before turning to Belle and Dalby, who were snuggled up with one another on the other side of the table.

"You guys want anything… aside from a room?" I said cheerfully as Luke smirked at them.

Dalby coughed before taking his arm away from Belle.

"Hey," She said, "That was keeping me warm."

"Sorry" Dalby mumbled, as Luke made a whipping noise, and I laughed at them.

"I'm not the only whipped one here Lucas." Dalby said as I laughed even more.

"You're right." I said between breaths "You're all pretty whipped. Now, would you two lovebirds like anything or not? We're going to get refreshments."

"I think we'll be fine Maddie." Belle answered for the two of them before they became lost in one another again.

Maybe it was kind of weird, us being all paired off. And what was even weirder, was that Luke and I were the least couplely out of everyone. Sure… alone, and behind closed doors… it was a very different story… but in public, Luke had actually taught me to have fun, and to muck around. He even taught me to play Dungeons and Dragons… and I'm happy to report second time around, I whipped his butt at it.

Cassie and Henry, and Belle and Dalby, they were all doing the serious relationship thing. You know, the hours of phone calls at night, the finishing one another's sentences, and sharing those serious looks when they need to go and have a hushed conversation about something serious in their relationship.

Like I said, serious.

And Luke and I? Well, we were sneaking around behind their backs and plotting surprises at every turn. We were also mocking. Me, mocking! Never thought I'd see the day, but it had arrived.

I guess we've all really changed.

"Okay. Phase one complete." Luke said seriously, and I just had to laugh again.

"Yes Charlie, I'll be you're angel." I said seductively, sidling up next to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Uh, Maddie, we've got a plan." Luke said, trying to ignore my advances.

"But I'm alone in a dark space away from the vast population of the school with my partner in crime. Can't I just enjoy it for a moment?" I pleaded, pouting just a little.

"In a minute." Luke said hastily, as he chastely kissed my head "The final phase is about to begin."

Don't you just wanna take him home?

Together we ran up the stairs to where the DJ was situated, on the stage in the front of the hall. Luke tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and yelled "WHAT?" over the loud music that was playing.

"WE NEED TO MAKE A REQUEST." Luke screamed, as the DJ handed him a piece of paper and motioned for us to write it down.

Luke scribbled down what I'd told him to write and handed the paper back to the DJ, giving him a thumbs up before we quickly ran back down the stairs and into the hall.

We walked across the hall calmly, and found everyone waiting for us at the table.

"Where have you guys been?" Henry said, taking a sip of his drink, "We were about to send out a search party."

"Oh you know… we had things to do." I said, sharing a knowing smile with Luke who smiled back at me, as the music in the background faded.

"You guys are up to something." Belle said, sitting up and looking between Luke and I.

"Us?" I said innocently… "Never."

"And this next song goes out to Summer Bay's very own Breakfast Club…" The DJ said smoothly "Good times had by all, we should do it again some time. Love the Princess and the Brain."

I smiled widely as the first few bars played sweetly.

Grabbing Luke's hand and standing up, I turned to see confused looks on everyone's.

"This is OUR song guys… come on." I said, as Luke led me onto the dance floor.

Hey, hey, hey ,hey
Ohhh...

Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby

Luke pulled me into the middle of the dance floor then wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. I snuggled into him, my head leant on his chest, as the words and the music and the atmosphere consumed me, and all I could really hear was the beating of Luke's heart.

Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on

I peeked over to see Henry and Cassie swaying slowly with one another. Her eyes locked with his, her hands playing with his hair, his arms wrapped possessively around her waist. I saw him lean down and whisper something in her ear, which made her smile and blush, and nod a little before leaning her head on his shoulder. They fit, Cass and Henry did. Like Mum and Dad had.

That made them right.

Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

And Belle and Ric? Well, they were a little less… in love… than Henry and Cassie. Henry and Cassie had that whole 'star-crossed lovers' thing going on. They were big on fate and destiny. But Belle and Ric, they had the sizzling chemistry thing down. Even when they were dancing, they were baiting one another, with their eyes, with their lips. They were teasers, the both of them.

It made me more than glad that they'd found one another.

And that I hadn't pursued Dalby because of the bad boy thing.

Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down

Will you recognise me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down

And then, Luke and I. Well, I've covered that one. And for the first time in my life, I'm not expected to be a certain someone, or to do certain things.

Don't you try to pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security

For the first time, I'm allowed to be me, and know that I'm loved for it just the same.

Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby

That's the true value of friendship though, isn't it.

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

-

-

-

Finis

-

-

-

AN: And it's over. I want to thank both Nicole and Kate for proofing this story at various stages, you guys were both awesome hugs.

That chapter wasa little different. I enjoy writing Maddie (duh!) And I wanted this to be about her, and what she'd learnt, because I always thought she'd done the most changing and learning in this story. I hope you guys didn't mind that the final part was how she saw the world now.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, and took the story in their stride. It may have been a little wacky at the beginning, but you all gave it a chance and for that I am extremely grateful. I would rattle of a list of names, but there are so many of you. I just want you to know, I enjoy writing these stories, but I enjoy it even more that I can entertain you guys by writing them. Even those who simply read them.

I hope I didn't disappoint with the last chapter either. I added it after a very lovely review, and well, I found the song a perfect ending.

Thank you once more :)