Two chapters in one day? Ca-razy.

"…So you're going with Adena?"

"Yes."

"…To the dance?"

"Yes."

"And you're telling me this because…"

"Well, you're my friend, and…I just thought you should know."

"Well," Tanis stood up from the picnic table and began to walk, "thanks for the…consideration."

"So, you're cool with this?" Cameron followed her.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I don't know…I just wanted to make sure…"

"Cam," she tossed him a half-smile, "I'm good."

"You sure?"

"Promise. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a feeling Adena is panicking about her outfit right about now, and my fashion sense is required," she smiled once more. Cameron nodded and watched her walk away.

"I can't believe this!" Rick cried dramatically, "It's the end of the world! How could this happen! I mean, I knew it was bound to happen, but that doesn't make it any easier! My life is over!"

"Rick," Squib said loudly and the smaller boy stopped his pacing, "what the hell are you talking about?"

"Cody!"

"What about Cody?"

Rick flung himself on the ground. There was an audible thump as his head connected with the floor, "She's not single anymore!"

"…….WHAT?"

"Well, I mean," Rick struggled to sit up, rubbing his head, "she asked Nate to the dance, so that must mean they're dating now, and-,"

"Wait, she asked Nate? To the dance?"

"Yes," Rick heaved a dramatic sigh, "I knew it was bound to happen. I've been preparing myself since school began, but that still doesn't make it any easier…"

"Are you sure they're going together?"

"It was obvious, really…I mean, it's been obvious since he came here. Everyone's noticed it…"

"Nate? She asked Nate?"

"I guess there was always some small part of me that was hoping she'd come around. We have chemistry! We have common interests! …I'm not sure what they are, but…they're there! What am I going to do, Squib?" Rick sat up once again, having taken to rolling around on the floor in agony, and looked around.

"…Squib?"

"You asked Nate?" Squib flung open Cody's bedroom door, barging in.

"Squib? What are you-,"

"How could you ask Nate?"

"Squib! Calm down!" She shouted at him. When he had halted his angry pacing and turned to face her, she continued, "Now, what's wrong?"

"You…asked Nate…to the dance…"

Cody sighed, "Look, Squib…"

"No, Cody! The guy is bad news! You don't know anything about him!"

"No," Cody told him harshly, "I know lots about Nate! You don't know anything about him!"

"I know he doesn't care about you! And that's enough-,"

"That's not true," Cody spat callously.

"Cody," Squib sighed, sitting on her bed, "how could you do this?"

"Do what?" Cody sat beside him, "I don't understand…"

"You…asked Nate to the dance."

"Yeah…"

"It's just…" he sighed again, standing up, "never mind. This was…I'm being a jerk. This was stupid."

"Squib…"

"No, I'm sorry Cody. Just…forget about it. I'll see you at the dance," he walked out of her bedroom, head hung dejectedly.

"So," Adena called from her closet, "you sure you're okay with this?"

"Adena," Tanis rolled her eyes, "I am fine. Now, if you don't hurry up and get dressed, we're going to be late for the dance." Tanis checked her reflection once more. A short, red dress, hair straightened, flats…it would do. It wasn't as though she had anyone to impress, anyways…

"Okay, okay, found my shoes," Adena hopped out of the closet, putting on her last heel, and spun around, "how do I look?" Tanis took in the knee-length, strapless, blue dress.

"Great," she told her honestly, "but tie your hair back. Like, a bun, or something."

"Okay," Adena nodded quickly and rushed to fix her hair. "So," she said after a moment, "you gonna be okay? I mean, I'll try not to ditch you, but…"

"…You have a date," Tanis finished, almost to herself, "I'll be fine. I hear Squib is going stag, so he can always keep me company if I need it."

"Why didn't you just ask someone to the dance?"

"Well, there wasn't really anyone worth asking…"

"I know what you mean," Adena chuckled, finished with her hair and inserting her earrings, "like, three quarters of the male population at this school are total losers…"

"Mmm hmm…"

"Hey, did you hear? Cody totally asked Nate!"

"Are you serious?" Tanis asked, glad for the change in subject.

"Yep! I can't believe it! They are so cute!"

"Okay, last year you were insisting that Cody and Squib were 'so cute'," Tanis reminded her.

"Whatever," Adena shrugged, "you ready?" Tanis nodded and the two walked out of the room, arm in arm.

"Cody Myers," she whipped her head up at the sound of Nate's voice, curls bouncing, "you clean up very nicely."

She grinned, making her way down from where she had been waiting on the porch, "Thanks. You're not so bad, yourself. I must say, I was expecting something a little bolder. Maybe a T-shit with a bowtie and vest printed on?"

Nate smiled and shrugged, "My tux T was in the wash. This was the best I could come up with," he gestured to his dress shirt and pants.

"Well," Cody smirked, "it'll have to do."

"So…" Squib said, almost conversationally.

"Cody looks nice," Tanis offered.

"Does she?" Squib asked. "I hadn't noticed…" he glanced at Cody yet again. The redhead had settled on a rather long, simple, yellow dress and flats. Classic Cody, Squib reflected.

"Yeah, she does…"

"So…" Squib repeated.

Tanis sighed, "Okay, this is stupid. Dance with me."

"What?"

"Calm down! I don't have cooties, Furlong. There is no way I'm standing by this punch bowl all night. Dance with me," she commanded.

"Uh…Sure, whatever," Squib agreed, still in slight shock. Tanis grabbed his hand and dragged him out onto the dance floor.

"So, Cam," Adena said, her arms around his neck, "you having a good time?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Are you?"

"Of course," she smiled brightly.

"Good," he grinned. Suddenly, his gaze shifted to something over her shoulder. "Is that Squib dancing with…Tanis?"

Adena turned her head, took in the odd sight, and returned her gaze to Cameron, "Looks like."

"Huh…I wonder what they're doing…"

"She was probably tired of standing there all alone, knowing Tanis. Probably roped poor Squib into a dance against his will. At least it's a slow song; he can't do too much damage."

"Yeah…Yeah, you're right."

"…This song sucks."

Cody began to laugh, "Well, what do you expect? This is a school dance…"

"Very true," Nate smiled down at her, "don't know what I was thinking…"

"So, aside from the music, it's not too bad…right?"

He chuckled, "Right."

"Good." After a pause, she spoke again, "Nate…I'm really glad…I mean, thanks for…I'm happy we…"

"Yeah," he nodded, "me too." She let out a nervous breath and rested her head lightly on his shoulder.

Nova-Janna: It was so tempting, so tempting, so VERY tempting to put him in the tux T. There were several moment when I almost when back and wrote it in. But I just couldn't, not on his date with Cody. Hopefully the mention was enough…?

If you listen to this song, it doesn't really fit at all. But, it's about dancing. And it's one of those songs that's so one-hit-wonder-crappy that you can't help but love it.