FRIDAY, 1 WEEK UNTIL THE PRE-SPRING BREAK DANCE

Todd got off the school bus that morning, and entered the school. It was just last night he finally realized, he had a full-on crush on Jenny. After a series of...well, coincidences...he thought the chances of Jenny liking him back were rising higher and higher. He thought the chances at this point were at about 90%.

But Todd was very much nervous about it. The night before, he had thought of way to let Jenny know about this. But now, he realized, it was incredibly nerve-wracking to execute. Still, he knew it had to be done - for his own good, and whether or not Maurecia sees or hears about this.

On Fridays however, Biology wasn't until right after lunch, so Todd had some time to prepare. Still, he felt the need to tell someone about this. Thankfully, even if he didn't really hang out with them much, he was still good friends with all the kids that went to Wayside with him in the past. But, he didn't know if anytime knew what he was feeling at the moment.

Right before lunch, Todd was in Human Geography, when:

"Class, I'd like to introduce us all to a new student happily joining our class...late, I suppose, but better late than never I always say!" said the Human Geography teacher Mr. McReinstro.

Todd was kind of surprised. For the second time now, a student had joined one of his classes late. It wasn't Jenny again, was it?

"And might I add, he's also new to school. He just joined today!"

Todd at least knew now that it wasn't Jenny, thank goodness.

"I'd like to introduce you all to...Mac!"

Mac was a boy with large hands and large feet. He was pretty tall for a boy his age, measuring 6 ft. 3 in. He wore a green polo street, had a small beard starting to grow on his chin, had dark, long blonde hair, and wore a pair of blue sneakers. But this young boy harbored an embarrassing secret.

Mac wasn't even his original name...not at first. From the day he was born up until 5th grade, he was originally known as Nancy. He felt the name was too embarrassing because he thought it was girl's name, and a result became shy, turning himself into a social outcast. Then one day in 5th grade, he learned the name of his only female friend at the time, who kept anonymous until then: Mac, who was embarrassed of her original name as well, because she thought it was a boy's name. So the two decided to trade names by spinning around a hundred times until they fell over, and from that day forward they we're known as the other's original name. It was after that that Nancy was able to finally open up to the social world and made more friends than just Nancy.

Mac had just transferred to John West Primary School as his original (private) school, which he attended from 8th grade up until now, was getting too expensive for his parents to afford, so they decided it was time to send him to a public school again. One of the courses he picked for 10th grade was Human Geography, because he was greatly interested in world matters.

Todd swore he had heard or seen Mac before, but he couldn't put his finger on it. And if he did ever see him in the past, it certainly wasn't at Wayside, he thought.

"Now Mac, please kindly take your seat. I see an empty desk to the right of Todd you can sit in."

Mac took his seat next to Todd, and the lesson began. After about 40 minutes of lecturing, Mr. McReinstro handed out the day's assignment.

Everyone took to working on their assignment. About 15 minutes before the class ended (and before lunch), Todd had finished his assignment, and so did Mac. Todd decided to introduce himself to Mac.

"Hey Mac, my name is Todd. Nice to meet you."

"Hey dude. Nice to meet you too. I just transferred here from Hiram Private Academy. Was getting too expensive for my parents to afford. How is this school, in your opinion?" asked Mac.

"Really nice, actually. It's been so refreshing to be able to stay in school until the end of the day," said Todd.

"Wait, what?" asked Mac.

"Well, I went to this really weird elementary school called Wayside School a few years ago. It was 30 stories high. My 5th grade teacher Mrs. Jewls would always send me home early everyday on the kindergarten bus for rather trivial reasons." said Todd.

"Wait, what school allows teachers to send kids home early on a bus designed for 5-year-olds without the principal's consent?" questioned Mac.

"You know...I don't know. Maybe the principal there knew about it..." said a rather confused Todd.

"Hey, some girl with a ponytail told me about this upcoming dance that's happening next Friday. She asked me if I was going and if I was taking anyone. I told her I was new her so I didn't really know anyone here." said Mac. Todd knew the girl he was talking about. She was sitting in the very back corner of the room, still doing her assignment, right now.

"Oh yeah I know what girl you're talking about." said Todd.

"Yeah, she said her name was Maurecia. Err, uh...don't tell her this but..." Mac leaned into Todd's ear so Maurecia wouldn't hear from the back of the room. "...she was planning on asking this dude named Todd to the dance. I'm assuming you're this dude she's talking about."

To say Todd wasn't surprised in the slightest about this would be an understatement. He literally didn't have any real reaction, because he knew she was going to ask him to the dance at some point, considering her crush on him. The hard part was originally going to be trying to tell her he wasn't interested in going...but now it was trying to tell her he was planning on asking someone else...

"Uh, yeah...I really don't want to break her heart but I don't really want to take her...originally it was because I wasn't interested in going to that dance...I mean I'm a pretty bad dancer, in my opinion. But now, that reason has been replaced with another." said Todd.

"Oh really. What is the new reason for not wanting to go with her?" asked Mac.

"Well...I developed this crush on this girl...she wears a motorcycle suit, has beautiful blonde hair, and has an amazing smile that lights up the world." said Todd.

"Sounds pretty nice to crush on someone like that. What's her name?" questioned Mac.

"Her name is...Jenny."

"Oh, I think I know who you're talking about, based off your description of here!" said Mac. "I saw her walking through the halls this morning when I went to my first class. I have to admit, she is pretty darn good-looking. But I wouldn't go as far as to say I have a crush on her myself."

"Yeah and the problem is...I want to ask HER to the dance...it's pretty embarrassing considering I originally never even wanted to go to this dance in the first place." said Todd.

"Mhm." said Mac.

"And that's not even the most nerve-wrecking part. I think she might like me back. Two days ago, I blushed in the cafeteria during lunch, and she saw that blush. I ran out of the cafeteria rather embarrassed. The next day - yesterday - she sat down next to me at my table and asked if she could try out my Nintendo Switch. When I got home that day, she sent a friend request on Facebook and started a video chat with me. And last night I had a dream where I was married to her!" said Todd.

"Wow, that must mean you've really fallen head over heels for her. And the chances of her liking you back sound pretty high." said Mac.

"I know, and it's really embarrassing! When I was in 5th grade, I thought she had a crush on ME when she started jumping over me with her motorcycle. Well, I found out that wasn't the case, and I made a fool of myself by intruding on her jump over the school principal." exclaimed Todd. "But the problem is, the girl you told me wants to ask me to the dance, Maurecia, has a crush on me, and if I ask Jenny to this dance, I'm afraid of what she'll think."

"Oh don't worry, I'm sure she'll understand. She seemed like a pretty chill gal to me. She'd probably understand if you wanted to ask another girl to the dance." said a reassuring Mac.

"I don't know about that, to be honest..." said a worried Todd.

Just then, the bell for lunch rang, and everyone went running out of the classroom, except for Todd and Mac.

"I'm feeling really nervous now, from all sides...I don't know how I'm going to ask Jenny out in a way that I don't feel nerve-wracked." said Todd.

"Oh don't worry, I can help you. I once asked a girl to this dance in 7th grade. It wasn't anything romantic, though." said Mac. "Do you want me to be with you when you ask her?"

"Yeah, that would actually help a lot. You know, I think you and me are going to make real good friends." said Todd.

"I'm more than inclined to agree." responded Mac.

In the cafeteria, Todd and Mac went in together, and they saw Jenny sitting at a table located next to a large window. Todd's nerves were trembling, but Mac was there to calm him.

"C'mon dude, I believe in you. Just go up to her, and say "Hey, would you like to come to the Pre-Spring Break Dance" with me next Friday?" I'm sure she'll say yes." reassured Mac.

"I know, but...I'm still nervous..." said Todd as his legs trembled.

"Don't worry dude, I'll be right behind you." Mac said.

And so Todd slowly approached the table Jenny was sitting at, his legs trembling with every footstep. Todd was at the opposite side of Jenny when he reached the table. The distance between him and Jenny at the moment was fairly decent, so Jenny didn't really notice Todd...yet. Todd took a deep breath, and began to speak.

"Hey, uh...Jenny..." he nervously asked.

"Oh hey Brother T!" exclaimed Jenny.

"She calls you Brother T...?" asked Mac with a whisper.

"Uh, yeah...she kinda has a southern accent..." whispered Todd. He turned his attention to Jenny. "So...uh...I came her to ask you...if...if...uh..."

"If what?" asked Jenny.

"C'mon dude, you can do this. I have faith in you." said Mac.

As Todd tried to get out what he needed to ask, many students in the cafeteria started to form a circle around Todd, Jenny, and Mac. Maurecia wasn't among that circle, but she was sitting on a table not to far away from the table everyone was circling around, so she could hear and see what was going on rather well.

"Would you...would you..." Todd got out. He almost felt like it was all he could get out at that point. His cheeks we're hot red at this point, and he was sweating...a lot.

"C'mon...get it out...please..." said Mac.

"Would...um...you..." Todd was still stammering, while Jenny sat at the table confused. He really didn't feel like he could get it out. But at last:

"...would you want to go the...Pre-Spring Dance...with...with...me?" he squeaked.

Everyone in the circle oohed, while at the other table, Maurecia's mouth feel agape. Jenny sat at the table with a blank stare, which worried both Todd and Maurecia. Mac stood there, pondering on what would happen next. Maurecia crossed her fingers, hoping Jenny wouldn't say yes. But, after 10 seconds sitting at the table looking at Todd, Jenny got up from her seat and shouted.

"YES! YES! Oh yes, Todd! I'm so glad you asked me, thank you!"

Everyone in the circle cheered, Mac most of all. "Way to go dude!" he told Todd.

But Maurecia was like the odd student out. She wasn't cheered. She just looked at the circle with an empty stare, trying to take in what she just witnessed. Did Todd really ask...someone OTHER than her to the dance? Slowly, she was starting to develop a sense of jealously. However, she knew she would feel bad if she ever did get jealous. Jenny was her good friend, for crying out loud! And friends support each other no matter what.

Todd could almost sigh a breath of relief at this point, but was still somewhat nervous. What was the dance going to be like? He wanted to make sure everything went perfect for him and Jenny.

As the cheering slowly died down, Jenny said something else that caused a bunch of eyes to flare wide open, including Mac's.

"In fact, I think you and me should have a special hangout this weekend to get more acquainted with each other before the dance!"

"...special...hangout?" asked Todd. His nerves were starting to flare up again. He didn't exactly know what Jenny meant by "special hangout".

"You and me, tomorrow evening, need to spend some time with each other on a date!"

Everyone cheered wildly, Mac especially...except for Todd and Maurecia. Maurecia's jealously only grew stronger at this point. She thought maybe Todd only wanted to ask Jenny to the dance as a friend, and nothing romantic would happen between the two. But at this point, it was becoming more and more apparent something romantic might flare up between the two.

Todd, on the other hand, didn't know what to think...he had been shocked many times before, especially with his newfound feelings towards Jenny, but this was undoubtedly the most shocked he had ever been his life. His brain felt like it was in error mode. He just stood still, no words, no reaction.

And then, he fainted.