Title: Dance with Me
Author: shy-hinata
Rating: G
Summary: Fudomine sure knows how to throw a party, and even the Hyotei regulars have to admit that

Disclaimer: I don't own PoT

Author's note: I'm trying out a different style of writing in this chapter to see how I like it. Sorry if it seems awkward. If everyone feels it reads really badly, I might re-write it.

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Ann walks towards Fudomine's entranceway alone; her friends have long since abandoned her, eager to meet up with their own dates. As agreed, she arrives at 8pm, and it takes a moment for her to spot Atobe. She expected him to show up just shy of fashionably late, chauffeured in a fancy car that was sure to attract more than a few onlookers. However, this is not the case; he is standing, almost non-descript by the gate, waiting patiently for her. Only the aura of confidence that he carries with him wherever he goes makes him stand out from all the other students equally dressed up to the nines. Ann can feel a smile creeping up on her lips as she walks over to join him.

"Good evening, Atobe-kun," she says as she stops about an arms length away from him. "You're looking quite nice tonight."

Atobe reaches out and takes her hand, kissing it lightly, and Ann giggles despite herself. He flashes her a smile that she classifies as confident, but with a hint of nervousness; Ann wonders if she should read anything into it, or if she's imagining things.

"I was about to say the same about you, Ann-chan." Atobe offers her his arm with practiced grace. It's like he's trained all his life to act the part of the gentleman. "And while I thought that dress was the best one of the bunch, it hardly does you justice."

Feeling a little flutter in her stomach, Ann thanks him before taking the arm he's offering. "Ever the flatterer, Atobe-kun." She grins at him as he pretends to look offended at her rebuff. With that, the rather unlikely pair makes their way inside, walking leisurely and chatting about the weather.

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A pair of students arriving late arch their eyebrows, and give each other puzzled looks as four more students step up to Fudomine's entranceway. These four don't look familiar in any way, and they consider asking them if they've got the wrong school. However, they look like they're dressed for a dance, and upon closer inspection are holding the right tickets. The pair dismisses it as a case of not recognizing schoolmates when they're all dressed up, and rush inside so they don't miss the party.

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The party is in full swing by the time Gakuto, Oshitari, Shishido and Ootori arrive, and even though Gakuto recalls the crack he made about public school brats, he has to admit that these brats know how to throw a party. The gym is decorated, and they've even hired people to do the lighting and sound. The atmosphere is boisterous, and everyone is having a good time.

It is surprisingly difficult for them to find Atobe and Ann among all the other (in Gakuto's opinion, surprisingly well dressed) students; even Ootori cranes his neck to try and find his illustrious captain.

"God, you'd think he'd be the center of attention somewhere. I thought 'ore-sama' would be trying to impress as many people as he could with his so-called prowess." Gakuto sniffs before crossing his arms and pouting. Shishido is about to make a comment about how the red-head should stop acting like the girl his dress would imply that he is, but his doubles partner's gentle hand on his shoulder stops him. He guesses that the silver-haired boy wants to avoid any trouble on another school's territory, and Shishido can't argue with that logic.

"Hmm…somehow I don't think that'll be the case this time, Gakuto." Oshitari taps his bottom lip thoughtfully. He hasn't mentioned it to anyone, but he suspects that something is different this time. He had once made an offhand remark to Atobe about it, and was only half-serious at the time, but it was his captain's reaction that confirmed his suspicions; somewhere along the way, Ann had actually managed to charm Atobe for real.

"Actually," Oshitari's voice is low as he considers things. He wonders if it might be best for them to not to interfere tonight. After all, none of them had really counted on either Ann or Atobe developing any real feelings throughout this entire gambit. "I was thinking that…"

But anything Oshitari might have said is stopped by the discovery of Atobe's location. It's actually the dash specialist who spots their captain, before letting out a whoop of success.

"There he is!"

Shishido points to a cluster of people close to the periphery of the gym. Atobe and Ann, though they have to admit they don't quite recognize her all dressed up like that, are dancing together just to the outside of that cluster, looking like they're engaged in a very absorbing conversation, and oblivious to the people around them.

"C'mon!"

Before anyone can argue, Shishido and Gakuto start making a beeline for the two, leaving their doubles partners to scurry in their wake to catch up. Ootori gives Oshitari a look that seems to say "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?", and the older student wishes he could offer his kouhai some reassurance.

Shishido is the first to make a move. He slips smoothly next to Atobe and Ann, cutting in and whisking Atobe away for a 'dance'. Ann wonders for a moment why that person looks familiar, but a split second later, she feels a gentle tapping on her shoulder. Turning around, she immediately recognizes the bespectacled tennis player, but it takes her a moment to realize the red head in the dress flanking him is none other than the resident Hyotei acrobat in a dress. Suddenly, all the pieces slide into place; the one who cut in must have been Shishido, and the tall, silver-haired boy standing not far from his senpai could be none other that Ootori. Ann's eyes narrow a bit, and Oshitari knows she's immediately on the defensive, not that he can blame her considering the verbal war Fudomine and Hyotei had gotten into at the street courts.

"Ann-san." Oshitari bows politely, hoping to ease the tension a bit. "How nice to see you again."

"Ah. Thank you, Oshitari-san." Ann returns the bow with equal politeness, her guard still up.

"Your dress is quite elegant, Ann-san. You certainly selected something that I have no doubt Atobe would approve of." Oshitari figures that most girls like compliments on their attire. He takes a glance askance to where Shishido and Atobe are dancing, or rather, Atobe is trying to do his best to not to throttle Shishido in full view of the entire Fudomine student body. Just one song…I just need to keep her calm for one song…

"Oh! Thank you for your kind words, Oshitari-san, but I have to confess that Atobe-kun is in fact the one who selected it."

Ann flushes a little as she admits that fact to him. Oshitari is surprised, but manages to keep it in check, replying with just a nod. Yes, he no longer has any doubt that Atobe is a little more than smitten with this young woman, and now wishes they had never come. That desire is multiplied 100-fold when he hears his doubles partner speak.

"Wow! That's nuts! Atobe bought you that dress?! He sure pulled out all the stops for this bet!"

The first thing Oshitari notices is Ann's face going pale. The second is the glint in Gakuto's eye when the red head realizes what he's done, followed by a malicious grin. Damn. Oshitari sighs heavily before taking Ann's arm, and levelling very stern glare at Gakuto, promising that this will not be the last the acrobat hears about this incident.

"Ann-san, I think it would be a good idea if you and I had a little talk…"

And with that, Oshitari guides a speechless Ann off the dance floor and into the hallway so he can try his best to explain, but even he isn't sure what exactly to do.

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Atobe barely conceals his displeasure at Shishido when his teammate cuts in on his dance with Ann. Only his realization that most people can only see Shishido's back keeps him from shoving the dash specialist aside. Shishido glances over his shoulder and sees Oshitari talking with Ann, and decides that he'd better try and keep Atobe occupied.

"Well, can't say I expected that Tachibana chick to clean up as well as she did. She almost passes for a girl, don't you think?"

Atobe fights desperately to keep his cool despite how much he wants to punch Shishido's face in. He remains silent and impassive; as soon as the song is over, he'll reclaim his rightful partner and send Shishido over to Ootori.

"Geez, after making me dress in this get-up, you'd think 'ore-sama' would at least have the courtesy to answer a question." Shishido continues to press testily.

Atobe can almost feel his eye twitching with frustration, but he stays mostly collected; his irritation only evident in the tone of voice he is using. "I never asked you to come. In fact, I didn't even want you to cut in on me and Ann-chan."

"Bite me, Atobe." Shishido scowls before he realizes something. "Wait a sec. You actually LIKE HER?! Boy, you've slipped." He makes a face to make his opinion on the subject crystal clear.

"Who I associate with, is my business and my business alone." Atobe's voice is like ice, and only the fact that they are in a public space keeps the Hyotei captain from throttling the dash specialist. He realizes that at one point in time, he would have been offended because Shishido was trying to insult him. Now, he's offended because he sees Shishido's comment as an insult to Ann.

And then Atobe sees the smirk on Shishido's face, and knows there must be trouble.

"Well, I think you might want to make it your business who your dear Ann-chan associates with."

Shishido points to Oshitari leaving with Atobe's date. Atobe takes one look at the expression on Ann's face, and knows that something's wrong. He forgets entirely about Shishido, and their conversation, and makes a move towards the exit.

"Hey Atobe," Gakuto is smirking in a way that Atobe definitely doesn't like. "Your cover's been blown."

If Atobe was moving quickly before, he's twice as fast now.

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Oshitari sighs as he looks at the somewhat blank and shocked look on Ann's face.

"So you see, Ann-san, that is how all this happened." He crosses his arms, feeling a bit bad for having to be the one to have to break the news to her. "For what it's worth, despite how this all started, I sincerely believe that Atobe's feelings for you are genuine."

Ann swallows, and nods, but can't seem to say anything. She's not exactly sure what to make of everything. Part of her is hurt that Atobe never told her about the bet, about the fact that he was just using her. Part of her figures that they're even now because she was really only using him to come to the dance. What makes her feel worse is the thought that, despite Oshitari's words, there is a distinct chance that Atobe doesn't even like her.

Why should I even care that he might not like me? Why does that thought hurt?

Ann ponders these questions and reaches a startling conclusion: she's actually fallen for Atobe. Quick on the heels of that revelation is the feeling of anger. All those things Atobe had done for her, both large and small, and the amusing conversations they had on the phone, may very well all been just an act to get her to fall for him.

Oshitari looks up for a moment and sees Atobe heading towards them. He pats Ann's hand gently before getting up to take his leave.

"The person I think you most need to talk to right now is on his way…but please try not to hold Gakuto's big mouth against him."

Oshitari heads towards Atobe, and Ann can see the two teammates talking quietly. She can't hear them, but doesn't really care at the moment. Sitting on the bench, shoulders hunched over, Ann wonders why she's never felt lonelier than at this moment.

A few seconds later, she hears and feels Atobe sit down next to her. She doesn't look at him; her eyes are fixed to the floor.

"Ann…"

Before he can continue, she holds her hand up to stop him.

"Please stop…"

Her voice is quiet, and Atobe wonders how it is that just those few words can make him feel a panic that he's never felt before. All of a sudden, the usually confident and self assured captain is at a loss for what to do. So, he does the only thing he can think of; he does what she asks. The two sit in an awkward, uncomfortable silence until Ann speaks again.

"Atobe-kun…I don't know if I'm ready to talk about this right now. I don't know how it was that events unfolded the way they did. All I know is that I'm feeling really hurt, and unsure of what to believe anymore."

Ann sniffles a bit, and Atobe knows in an instant that the girl sitting next to him is trying desperately not to cry. For some reason, this makes Atobe feel a pang in his chest, knowing that he's the reason for it. He looks up at her face and can see how shiny her eyes are, but Ann manages to hold every single tear back with sheer will power. Atobe decides he'd be duly impressed with such fortitude if he didn't wish that she'd just let him see that side of her, and let him try to help.

"I'm going home, Atobe-kun." Ann's voice is as expressionless as her face as she stands up. "Give your team my regards." That line is delivered with just enough bitterness that it makes Atobe consider some sort of punishment for them, but he knows that he is equally to blame. As he watches Ann's retreating back, different moments play back in his head. He had his chances to tell her, to admit what was going on, but his own pride had kept him from doing so; and now it seems that pride will cost him dearly.

Atobe sits there on that bench long after she has gone. He wonders why he didn't try to stop her; he wonders why he couldn't seem to open his mouth to say anything in his own defense; but most of all, he wonders why it hurts so much. In the end, his answer to all three questions is that it's because he's fallen for her.

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Message from the author: When I started writing this chapter, I really did think it was going to be the end of this story. However, there's no way I can leave my poor characters hanging like this. So, I think this means there is still one more chapter left in this saga. Well, at least they've stopped being in denial, right? Ha ha!