Chapter 8:

Everything that happens in Kimiko's life can never be idealized. It was just like living in Cinderella's world, except, Kimiko didn't have her happy ending yet. Cinderella had so many hardships, as a poor girl, but in the end, she came out on top. As for Kimiko, her life had not improved lately. However, all her hopes were not futile yet. So what if Chase doesn't dance? There are better things to do. Kimiko and Chase could go see a movie or go eat out, even though it might be conventional. The thought sounded favorable anyways.

Two days after the incident, Kimiko walked to her locker, thinking about ways to talk to Chase. She decided to make things better for her. On homecoming night, she and Chase could do something else. He would probably approve of it too, that's if he didn't actually want to go to the dance.

When Kimiko sat down at her desk in geography, she opened a notebook and started writing down her ideas. Kimiko wrote down wrestling, and then crossed it out. Watching a live action wrestling match was boring for her. The guys were all overly muscular and thought they were too good for girls. Plus, it would be worse since she would have no company besides Chase. Only Chase would be absorbed in watching the match. If Kimiko's girlfriends were there, they can at least gossip.

At the same moment, Kimiko heard a combination of shouts, screams, and cheers. She and several others immediately scurried to the hall to witness the event. Following the sounds, she reached the crowd and spotted Katara.

"Oh mi gosh! What did I missed?" Kimiko asked.

"You are gonna be so hyped! My Jet and your Chase had been nominated for homecoming king!" Katara squealed.

"My Chase?" Kimiko smiled. She enjoyed how someone, especially one of her good friends would pair her with the hottie Chase Young instead of the migraine named Raimundo Pedrosa.

"Of course! But your Raimundo, or should I say, Rai, will always be your best!" Kimiko's bubble burst. She didn't expect Katara to bring up anything about Raimundo during a wonderful moment.

"I see, it's just like you and your Zuno!" Kimiko said, belittling her friend.

Katara scowled. "Whatever, but you know what else? His female-dog of a sister is one of the queens!"

"You mean that Azula chick?"

"Yes! And guess who the other one is?" Katara asked in agony. "You probably would know."

"Who?" Katara pointed into the crowd to where a girl with long blond hair was standing.

"Ugh, Dyris Skankyheart. How typical." Kimiko groaned.

"But what if they steal our men?" asked Katara in distraught.

"Chase should know what yuck is. Besides, I heard Dyris isn't interested in him."

"Kim! What if Jet asks one of them out to homecoming?"

Kimiko thought for a second. "I have an idea! Why don't you go up to Jet, and ask him about homecoming, and then he will probably ask you out!" As encouraging Kimiko tried to sound, this tactic failed when she tried it on Chase already. Nonetheless, it could work for Katara if Jet was dance-happy.

"That could work. Thanks Kim." Said Katara sounding please.

The bell rang

"Better go now. Good luck." Kimiko said.

"Yeah, bye." replied Katara as they walked to geography together. Even though Kimiko would probably not have a date, at least she can be happy for her friend, right?

"What's wrong with Keiko today?" whispered Kimiko to Katara after geography. "She barely said anything today, not even a hello."

"Kimiko!" Katara glared back as she whispered with aggression to Kimiko. "You shouldn't talk about this when Keiko is right there."

"Yeah, but really? Do you think she will noticed if she looks like that?" asked Kimiko, glancing at Keiko. Keiko appeared to be in her own world, not noticing that class has ended. She was still staring into the whiteboard Mr. Gyasto just erased.

Kimiko sauntered towards Keiko. Katara followed. "Keiko?" Katara said waving her hand in front of Keiko's face.

Keiko bobbed her head several times. "Wha- What? Is class over already?" She asked in a quick matter. "Oh, then see ya guys." Keiko stood up as she sloppily gather her belongings and ran out the door.

"Where is she going?" asked Katara. "Doesn't she always walk with us?"

"Yeah! I mean, when we walked to school this morning, she spaced out like three times when I was ranting!" Kimiko added. "She's obviously thinking of something major."

"Or someone." Katara said with a grin. "It's not like she looks upset or anything, right?"

"And she suddenly had to leave us to go see him right now, right?" Kimiko asked. "We so have to make her spill later."

"Done."

Usually when Kimiko saw Katara playing with her hair, she usually was running her fingers through them. However, she was ready to tear her hair out by its roots. Meanwhile Keiko just sat at the lunch table, deaf to Katara, as well as nibbling on her nuggets in the lunchroom.

"Zuno much?" Kimiko asked Katara.

"Actually I just found out his name was Zuko, and yes!" Katara said, still jerking her long hair. Keiko just nodded. "And Keiko, look alive!"

Keiko winced.

"Someone's as mad as a rhino who's food been stolen. I reckon you're not alone though." said Clay sitting down. Sokka followed with an annoyed face.

"Where's Suki?" Kimiko questioned.

"She's with her friends today. You know what though? That Tylee won't stop following me. She thinks we should go to each other to homecoming!"

"You mean Azula's best dumb-chick friend?" Kimiko asked. Keiko looked up.

"Don't remind me." Katara muttered.

"Apparently. She thinks we were meant for each other because I picked up her notebook and gave it to her when she dropped in the hallway." Sokka murmured adamantly.

"Aw aren't you a gentlemen? See what rewards you get?" Kimiko asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Shut up. Wasn't Rai like that when you dropped your magnet?" Sokka reminded "did you ask him to homecoming yet?"

Kimiko's jaw dropped. "Really? Heck no. Besides, I have someone a million time better in my mind."

"You're probably not going to be good enough for him though." Sokka joked.

Kimiko stuck out her tongue. The five sitting at the table just nibbled on their lunch the rest to the period.

As Kimiko got changed after P.E., she knew that Chase would be forced to go to homecoming by the student body. Since he was on court, it would be hard for him to make excuses not to go. Would she be his date though? Or would he end up with someone like Azula? Or even worse…. Dyris? Kimiko would rather see him not go than to go with one of the queen bees.

Even Ashley seemed to be insane for Chase. Her open conversations in the locker room all started with "At homecoming Chase and I will…" or , "When I dance with Chase…..".

"Geez, those chicks… But she's not actually going with Chase Right?" Katara wondered.

"Not yet, at least…" Katara added trying to cheer up Kimiko.

Kimiko rolled her eyes and sighed. She already made an attempt to hint Chase. If she tried again, would it be too obvious? The last thing she wanted him to think was that she was desperate.

"Okay, you guys all have plans for dates, but what about dresses?" Toph implied.

"That's right! We need them. We're definitely going to the mall, right now, after school!" Katara demanded.

"Don't be late Kim." Keiko teased sarcastically. Kimiko did not need this right now. Then it hit her. She was happy that Keiko seemed fine…

"Kimiko! That one suits you really well." Katara said. Kimiko was wearing a crimson spaghetti-strapped that went a little bit past her knees.

"Yeah Kim, Chase will totally be turned on." Keiko added while adjusting the studded hem on Kimiko's dress.

Kimiko smiled. "What about you Keiko? Were you thinking about someone you wanted to go with?"

"Yeah, you seemed kind of out of it all day." Katara said as she zipped up the cerulean-blue halter dress she tried on.

Keiko's smiled turned into a deep sigh. "As long as you guys don't tell anyone, okay?"

The other two girls became excited. "So you do have someone you like. Awesome" Katara exclaimed.

"Yeah, but it's not possible to be with him." Keiko said.

"Why would you think that? Besides, it probably is impossible for Kimiko to be with Chase, but we made it happen right?" Katara said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kimiko growled, shooting Katara an evil glare.

"Plus, you're always the one encouraging them to go for the one they admire, right?" Toph pointed out as she stepped out of the dressing room. Toph wore an ankle-length, grass-green strapless dress.

The three suddenly forgot what they were discussing. "Wow Toph, you look gorgeous!" Katara said.

"You're so pretty. That color fits you perfectly." Kimiko complimented.

"Toph, you are so going to find a date. Look how seductive you are!" Keiko added, awed by how beautiful Toph looked.

Toph giggled. "If only I can actually see it for myself, correct?"

All of the girls giggled.

After making their purchases, the girls ate at the food court. Afterwards, they went to various stores to examine jewelry, perfume, and other accessories to match their dresses and to help them get ready for homecoming night.

The girls continued up the escalator and down the walkway. Katara suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"What's up Kat?" Keiko asked with concern.

"Look in the arcade." Katara pointed.

"Yeah, that's Sokka." Toph asked.

"Your point?" Kimiko asked Katara.

"It was nothing. I was just surprised to see him here. That's all." Katara shrugged. Sokka noticed them.

"Yo guys! What's up? Come here!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Guess he caught us. We might as well see what he wants." Katara said as she quickly strolled to the arcade. The other girls followed.

"Yes, I did it!" Sokka exclaimed as he beat the high score for "Whack-a-Mole".

He gave a high five to his friend…..

"WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?" Kimiko dropped her shopping bags and pointed at Raimundo.

"Chill girl, I'm just hanging with my bud." Raimundo said, putting an arm around Sokka.

Kimiko rolled her eyes. "Sokka, choose better friends."

"What are you talking about? Raimundo is awesome. He probably can beat like any game here." Sokka implied.

Kimiko did not want to be insulted. She was the one who had the father who owned a gaming company. "So are you up for a challenge then Raimundo?"

"Sure girl, anything for you." Raimundo answered. He looked around the arcade, and spotted two Dance Dance Revolution platforms. "How about DDR? I never lost once."

Kimiko's eyes lit up. "Same here. I kick butt at it too."

"This is exciting." Keiko giggled to Toph.

"Let's do it." Raimundo confirmed as they walked to the DDR platforms.

"Kimiko is so going to win. She's the master at this game." Katara said.

"No way, Raimundo is the master at this. He played against me on the highest level and beat me everytime!" Sokka answered.

"You're not that hard to beat." Katara answered.

"No way, it's totally going to still be Raimundo. Wanna bet?" Sokka offered.

"You're on. Ten dollars if Kimiko wins." Katara waged.

"How about fifty?" Sokka said. "I know it will be Raimundo for sure."

"Then you wouldn't be afraid to say one-hundred dollars. My bet is all on Kimiko." Katara said with a devious smile.

"Deal." Sokka said. "Raimundo, you better win or else…"

"That's a given man." Raimundo said as he kicked of his shoes. Kimiko did the same.

"I'll win this for the both of us." Kimiko said to Katara.

"I know you will." Katara said, winking at Kimiko. Both Kimiko and Raimundo set their mats beyond the expert level. As the song began, both of them were dancing with the same amount of intensity. All the others, especially Katara and Sokka cheered endlessly.

Kimiko's legs ached by the time they got to the third song. But she didn't give up. She could tell Raimundo is starting to wear down too. The song however, continued to get faster. Being the DDR star at Tokyo, Kimiko continued to use her efforts to win the competition.

The last song ended, and the score was being added up. "Come on…" Sokka prayed. It was hard to tell who was going to win since both of them danced diligently.

"Yes!" Katara exclaimed. "Hand it over Sokka!"

Sokka grunted. "Thanks Raimundo."

Kimiko also cheered with her friends. "In your face Raimundo! You see that! I won!" Kimiko continued to jump up and down until she slipped on the mat in her socks. She fell over onto Raimundo.

An awkward silence followed.

"No again" Kimiko thought as she remembered the moment in Mr. Fung's class. However, she was distracted by Raimundo's features to remember to get off him. She held onto his flexed muscles and looked into his emerald green eyes, feeling like she was in another world…

"Kimiko?" Raimundo asked with a straight face.

"Ye…Yeah?" She answered with a blush.

"Will you be a doll and please get off of me?"

7