Bobby entered the already crowded apartment wearing a red sweater and dark jeans. He was greeted with the smiles of his co-workers and the sound of Michael McDonald's voice coming from Ponch's turntable. Ponch was standing by the door and chatting with a pretty blonde whom Bobby didn't know, Getraer, Webster, and Harlan were talking to Kathy, and Grossie was sitting on the couch, quite excited about something, telling Jenny all about it.

"The mock-ups looked so cool! I wish I could show them to you," Bobby overheard him say.

"I can't imagine people actually using those in day-to-day life," Jenny said.

"They said the same thing about radios and TVs, right?"

"I guess you're right," she smiled. She looked up and waved, "Hey, Bobby!"

"Hey," he smiled, and sat down next to her.

"We were just talking about computer watches," she said. "Grossie says they're the way of the future."

"Grossie's been watching too much TV," Bobby chuckled.

Grossie laughed with him. "It is kind of like Star Trek," he said. "Speaking of Star Trek, the new Star Wars is coming out in a few months… I'm so stoked. What can I say? I just like imagining the future. Can you imagine CHP officers on flying motorcycles?"

"With lasers?" Webster added, coming over to chat with Grossie about the upcoming film.

Yes! Bobby thought. This is my chance.

"How's your week been?"

"Oh good… the usual…" she answered. "How about you?"

"Chasing down speedsters and patrolling the highways. The usual," he smiled. Smooth, he thought. "Jenny, I've been wanting to talk to you."

"Oh, yeah? About what?" she said, smiling cutely, her irresistible dimples emerging.

So much for smooth, thought Bobby. Now it's awkward. But she's so cute. Look at her in that bright blue dress, that red hair…

"Ummm… Earth to Bobby!" she waved at him and laughed.

C'mon, man! Don't be shy! Not now! he thought.

"I really wish we could—could—," but alas, the door opened and Jenny was distracted at Bruce's entrance.

Of course, Bobby thought.

Bruce was flashing a smile like he was on the cover of a Tiger Beat magazine. He wore his purple checkered shirt and jeans, swaggered in, saying, "Sorry I'm late, Ponch," handed him a little anniversary present, nodded at everybody, and walked straight towards Jenny and Bobby.

"Hi, Bruce!" she said.

"Hey, Jenny! You look great!"

"Won't you sit down with us?"

Bruce sat down on Jenny's other side.

"I was taking a nap," he said, "and then, when I woke up, I remembered Ponch was throwing a party tonight! You know I wouldn't miss one of Ponch's parties for the world."

"He always throws such nice get-togethers," she said.

Yeah, Bobby thought. Nice get-togethers, we're surrounded! How am I ever going to get any alone time with Jenny? This was supposed to be the perfect opportunity…

"Let's get up and dance, Jenny, I love this song!" said Bruce, hearing "Steal Away" coming from the turntable.

And so they danced, while Bobby sat and awkwardly waited for the song to end. When it was over, Bruce and Jenny walked over by the window, no doubt admiring the gorgeous stars in the sky. Bobby would not accept defeat. The night was not over, after all.

Bobby walked over to them. Bruce gave him a mean smile which silently said, "What are you doing? Back off," but Bobby persevered.

"What a gorgeous night sky," he said.

"Oh, isn't it?" she replied. "Ponch's apartment is perfect. He's lucky."

"He sure is," said Bruce, commanding Jenny's eye contact.

Oh, no, little bro, I won't let you steal her away that easy… Bobby thought.

"Jenny, do you wanna dance?" said Bobby, hearing Dionne Warwick sing "Déjà Vu."

Jenny felt silly, but she took Bobby's hand and danced with him through the whole song. Maybe it was just the thrill of dancing with Jenny clouding his mind, but Bobby wasn't the greatest dancer. He looked ridiculous as he danced to the slow groove, bobbing his head back and forth and trying out some really tacky moves. But Jenny found it endearing, and she laughed the whole time. At first he felt stupid, but hearing her laugh, he continued clownishly. That can't be said for Bruce, who simply swayed with her to the groove, which was very nice, but not wildly fun.

The song was over, and Bobby, exhausted, plopped down on the couch. Jenny sat by him.

"Wow!" she said. "You are some dancer!"

"I never knew he had it in him," Bruce admitted.

"Emotion" by Samantha Sang came on next. It was a sentimental ballad. Jenny was eager to dance again to this romantic song… and so, when Webster asked if he could have this dance, she felt it was kismet.

His big brown eyes, his sweet smile… he looked as cute as a teddy bear… they danced tenderly and lovingly… too lovingly, the Nelsons felt… clinging to each other as if they were afraid to ever have to let go… and when the song ended, they kissed lightly.

Witnessing this, there was no doubt that Jenny and Webster were more than just friends. The Nelsons sat dumbfounded, their jaws hanging wide open. Jenny and Webster?

Jenny sat back down with Bruce and Bobby.

"Sorry," she said, her smile brighter than ever. "That's our song. Whenever I hear it I just go into a trance."

"You and Webster are a pair?" asked Bobby.

"Why, yes," she answered shyly.

"How long have you and Webster been dating?" asked Bruce.

"Benjy and I? Oh… a few months now, actually. It's funny, how he asked me out on our first date. He always came into the computer room when he was done his shift, and…"

Benjy? thought Bobby. I feel like such an idiot. I know next to nothing about this girl. I should've gotten to know her better…

He looked up and noticed Kathy was looking at him and smiling. Now there was a girl he did know quite a bit about, and he wouldn't mind learning more. She approached him.

"Will you give me the honor of dancing with one of the greatest dancers I've ever seen?" she asked sweetly.

"Why, of course, mademoiselle," he said, taking her hand.

They danced the night away, and as they made fools of themselves, Bobby forgot all about his infatuation with that cherry-haired beauty. Because infatuation, after all, is only a fever mistaken for love. No matter how hot it is, the flame will flicker away sometime, while the flame of love will continue to burn for eternity.

Afterword

I would like to credit my Dad for the basic plot of this story. :-)

Thanks Ponchygirl for creating and inviting me to take part in the CHiPs Monthly Story Challenge Contest. :-) This month's challenge was to write a story about a date, but not with Ponch or Jon. My challenge word was "hot;" I had to use it four times.

Jenny is an actual character from the show. She's in the episode "Day of the Robot" for one scene; you can see her on the cover. For some reason, I remembered her and thought, 'hey, what if…''

The working title for this story was "Da Doo Ron Ron" because that song came on randomly as I was writing the exposition.