Title: Day 5: Monkey Wrench
Author: shy-hinata
Rating: G
Summary: Ann finds that, sometimes, talking with your friends can really throw your plans for a loop
Warnings: Written from Ann's POV
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT

Author's notes: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but things just wouldn't have had the same effect if I made it longer. Thanks to SEEDSummoner, mI.ShOE, emii-chan, MissSilver, All4thebasilisk, merissala, and ringo-chan for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it!

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"Oh my god, Ann! Have you heard the news!"

Sighing, I look over my shoulder at Sachiko as she runs down the hallway to catch up to me. With the excited expression on her face, I can't bear to tell her that there was probably no one left in Fudomine who didn't hear. It was the only thing people were discussing these days.

"Ann, the student committee's decided that they're going to close the festival off with an American style dance party next week!"

Sometimes I wonder if poor Sachiko is just always the last person to hear gossip. We've all known about this dance party for weeks now. I've actually been looking forward to it. There's nothing quite like letting loose to good music.

"But they've just decided that you have to go with a date! They won't let you in otherwise! Something about that being the way all the American movies do it."

I stop in my tracks. This is definitely news that I hadn't heard. No way...just plain…no way.

"Are you sure, Sachiko? Maybe someone's spreading weird rumours."

The way she's shaking her head vehemently doesn't exactly inspire confidence in me.

"It's posted on the official event board! They want to make it prom style! Isn't it exciting?"

Maybe for you, Sachiko since this gives you a great excuse to go out with your boyfriend. But not all of us are, or want to be, in a relationship right now. But of course I don't say that to her. Instead, I nod a bit, trying to exhibit even a fraction of her enthusiasm. I excuse myself and head straight for the message board.

Damn. Sachiko was right. No matter how many times I blink and let my eyes refocus, the words stay the same. "American Prom-Style Dance Party! Next week! Come and celebrate the end of the school festival! Party-goers are required to come with a date." I don't know what's worse. The weird English randomly dotting the sign, or the fact that a date is now required for the party.

The thought actually hadn't crossed my mind to find a date. Five of us girls were going to meet at my place, and go all together. We'd already talked about it. And now the student council has the gall to make me change my plans! Okay...so that's being really unfair. I can already think of which student council member probably suggested it. Miyako really needs to stop watching all those sappy American romances. Prom style? Honestly.

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I wish everyone would just stop talking about this damn prom style dance party. If I have to answer the question "Ann, who are you going to the dance with?" one more time, I think I'll shoot someone. Maybe I should just boycott the event….but…but we hardly ever have dances. This'll probably be the only one this year, or even in two years for us. If I don't go now, who knows if I'll be able to go to one before I graduate!

Tennis practice is even worse. It's all the girls want to talk about, and the captain doesn't even care that we're not practicing hard despite the tournament in just over 2 weeks. And what! We're cancelling practice the day of the dance! I honestly don't think 'getting ready' is a good enough reason to cancel practice. Don't you just show up to a dance, then get your groove on? Geez. I seriously doubt that aniki is having such problems with the boy's team.

Hmm…now there's an idea. Maybe I can just rope one of the guys into going with me. It's not like it has to be a real date or anything. We just need to show up together after all. He doesn't even need to stay if he finds it boring, though I'd rather not waste their time like that. If only one of them actually liked dancing, it would all be fine.

Oh! That's right! Kamio-kun loves music and dancing, doesn't he? I'll go talk to him after practice is over and see if he'll come with me. While I'm still kinda mad that the student council went and did this, at least I have a game plan now. Nothing's gonna keep Tachibana Ann from the year's biggest party!