Chapter 3: Save the Last Dance

Homecoming was well on its way and Tina still couldn't find a date. She thought about asking Jimmy Jr., but she knew he wouldn't say yes. That is, if she flaunted a new boy in his face, but still. If she went to the dance she would want to go someone who genuinely wanted to go with her. Not someone who would really only go with her if there was a chance that another boy was lined up.

Tina walked into school and Zeke rushed over to her. "Hey Tina! I have a huge favor to ask you." He said to her.

"Sure, what is it?" she asked as they walked to her locker.

"I've been trying to make a little extra scratch and I've been trying to find a job at a restaurant and I was wondering if your dad was hiring. And if he is do you think you could talk to him?" He asked as he rested against the locker next to hers.

"Yeah, he's always looking for extra help," she said as she opened her locker, "I'll let him know after school. You can come along and talk to him if you want."

"Thanks, T-Bird. You're the best!" He said as he walked away. What was this? Was she disappointed that he didn't ask her to homecoming? She tried to shake it off as she put her bag in her locker and fumbled around for her books.

"Hi, Tina." She heard a familiar voice with a lisp say. She looked up and saw Jimmy Jr. standing next to her.

"Oh, hi Jimmy Jr." She said rather unenthusiastically.

"So, I've noticed you've been hanging around Zeke more," he started.

"Yeah, and?" She asked.

"Well, I just think it's weird because from what I remember you didn't like him."

"Well, people change up sometimes. You understand." She said bitterly.

"So, are you going to the homecoming dance?" He asked.

Her heart jumped, but she knew he was only asking because he noticed her and Zeke together. "I don't know yet," she said as she closed her locker, "I might have to work at the restaurant." The first bell for homeroom rang through the halls. "Well, I have to get to homeroom. I'll see you later."

"Yeah," he said awkwardly. She walked away from him and breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart was still racing. Last year, she would've said 'no' and hoped he'd ask her. She would've done anything to be in his presence. Although she secretly wished for his embrace, she knew it wouldn't happen and she accepted it.

Tina and Zeke met up after school and walked to the restaurant. She noticed Louise and Gene weren't home yet. Louise probably got detention and Gene was probably trying to put together another band. She was glad they weren't home, though. Although Gene and Zeke got along, she knew Louise would interrogate him and ultimately embarrass her.

They walked into the restaurant and saw her dad preparing food for Teddy and Mort, his best customers. "Hey dad," Tina said as the door jingled as it closed, "you remember Zeke."

Bob looked over at Zeke ecstatically, "Hey Zeke," he said as he put down a rag, "it's been a long time since I've seen you since Mr. Frond closed the home ec-sturant. Anyway, how've you been?"

"I've been great, Mr. B!" He said as he sat down at a stool.

"Dad, can Zeke have a part-time job here?" Tina asked without missing a beat.

Bob's face lit up. "That would be great! We could always use some extra help around here. The pay would be kind of low, but if you're alright with it we can get you started as soon as possible." Bob said as his words cascaded in an awkward array of words and phrases. No wonder Tina was so awkward.

"Fine with me, Mr. B. When can I start?" He asked.

"Well, you can start tomorrow if you want." He said sounding caught off guard by his enthusiasm.

"Sign me up!" Zeke said ecstatically.

"Great," Bob said, "you're hired!" He said as he shook his hand.

"Ooh, we'll have another burger man, al-right!" Linda said as she entered the restaurant from the kitchen. "Hi sweetie, I'm Linda, but don't call me Mrs. B it makes me feel old." She said as she shuddered.

"Ugh, Lin." Bob groaned.

The following day Tina tried to figure out whom she could possibly go to the dance with and she needed to figure it out soon, because it was only a few days away. Jamal was going with his girlfriend Marnie. Katie was going with another freshman that was on the football team named Mike. And Cara and Derek were going as friends. They sat a lunch with their group, which expanded ever so slightly. "So, Tina, are you excited for the dance?" Katie asked her as she sat down.

Tina shook her head and sighed. "I don't think so."

"Why not?" She asked.

"I don't have anyone to go with." She replied.

Cara looked around the cafeteria. "Did you ask Jimmy Jr.?" She asked.

Tina shook her head. "No, but he asked if I was going and I said I didn't know."

"Really? Because I heard he was going stag." She said as she opened a bag of chips. "Well, what about Zeke?"

Tina sighed. "No, I don't think he'd go. Plus he got a job at my dad's restaurant so we might be working anyways."

"What does your dad make," Derek asked, "whether you're working or not maybe we'll stop by afterwards."

"He makes burgers. Yeah, I'll let him know and hopefully he'll stay open." She said.

The night of the dance came and, you guessed it, Tina had to work. Bob agreed to stay open late much to her younger siblings' chagrin. Tina didn't mind it, though. Although she wanted to go to the dance, she didn't mind hanging out at the restaurant, especially if there were people other than her family working there. Not to mention her friends would be there to buy food and socialize.

Tina was in the back with Zeke washing dishes. The two of them remained silent as they washed dishes and Gene and Louise were playing "find the crème" in the front of the restaurant. She looked up at the clock and saw it was 9:45. The dance was ending in fifteen minutes. "You bummed you didn't go to the dance?" Zeke asked.

Tina shrugged. "I don't really mind. It would've been nice to have gone."

"J-Ju didn't ask you?" He asked somewhat quietly.

"He asked me if I was going and I said I didn't know and I walked away." Tina admitted.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask him," Zeke admitted, "I was gonna ask someone, but." He trailed off.

"Oh, who were you going to ask?" She asked as she dried dishes.

His face turned bright red. "It don't matter she wouldn't have said yes." He said as he continued putting dishes away.

"I'm sure she would've said yes." Tina said obliviously.

Zeke sighed and looked back at her. "I was gonna ask-" he was cut off by the sounds of the door jingling and people from the dance burst in still in their suits and dresses.

"Hi, you must be Mr. Belcher," Cara said, "I hope you have room for twenty." She said as students piled in to the restaurant.