A.N. I know is gone so far away from the fluffiness originally planned, but I wasn't sure where to go with it…enjoy!! This chapter is fir Kate Sutherland. Thanks to every one that has review so far. Keep it up!!!

Since then it became a tradition for Link to go to Corny's dressing room after practice, and the pair would talk about anything. When Link failed a test, Corny would scold him. When Corny messed up a dance move, Link would tell him no-one noticed. But there was one thing that caused Link to have more affection towards the bubbly show host than he ever had for his own parents, and that was his biggest challenge Amber.

"There's a new girl starting on Monday," Corny told a 14 year old Link, "She looks like your type," Link was at an awkward stage where he was just starting to notice girls, and Corny liked nothing better than to tease him for it. Link flashed him a look of mock annoyance.

"What's her name?" he tried to change the subject, "And how come she didn't have to audition on front of the council?"

"Amber Von Tussle," Corny pulled a face, "Her mom's the new station manager….apparently she'd been through five husbands in as many years, I've heard she's a real ball-buster "

"Sounds like you type!" Link snorted. Corny was infamous for his bad choice in women. He'd always go out with bossy, controlling women who had a bad history with men, but after each failed relationship he refused to learn.

"I'm telling you, Little Link, I'm done with those type of women! In fact, I'm done with women full sto…." Corny's voice trailed off as he spotted someone walking past the half open door. Link leaned forward to see who it was.

"Maybelle!! You've got the hots for Motormouth?!" The big, blonde woman hosted Negro day the last Thursday of every month, and had her own radio show. Link – along with most of the other council kids - loved her. It was just…Corny and Maybelle were so different! Maybelle had grown up in a bad neighbourhood and worked for years for her job and Corny…well Corny was a great man, but he could be a little shallow and materialistic.

"Oh employee, are you sure you want to go on?" Link could tell that Corny didn't want to discuss the matter further.

Ambers first rehearsal was on the following Monday. They were introducing a few more slow dances, and Link knew that couples were being assigned. For the past three years he had always been partnered by Shelley, who wasn't a bad dancer but everyone knew that he was the real talent of the pair. He walked into the studio and had to double take. Amber and Velma Von Tussle were standing in matching scarlet dresses and matching looks of disgust. As soon as the last council kid was seated, Mrs. Von Tussle began to read out a list of names. Once she reached Link, she looked up and smiled.

"Mr Larkin? You'll have the pleasure to be dancing with my daughter, Amber." Both of the Von Tussles look up and flashed identical, smug grins. Link looked at Amber. She was defiantly pretty, but he could tell that she knew it. She grabbed his wrist and led him into place. She was clumsy even as she walked, and when the music started she was even worse. Link could tell that she spent hours memorizing each move, but she had no sense of rhythm and the steps weren't flowing smoothly like they did with Shelley. But closer up he could she that she was prettier now that she was out of her mom's shadow. Her make-up was better applied than the other girls, and her dress was much lower cut than any others, and it showed how although she was only fifteen, she had a figure that the eldest girls on the show would be jealous of. He was now messing up as much as her, but although her mother was walking around all the other pairs, scrutinising their every step, she didn't utter a word in their direction. He glimpsed over her shoulder, and saw Corny was frowning at him. He quickly returned to the dancing, and made a note to put off thinking about Amber until after rehearsal.

H-A-I-R-S-P-R-A-Y

"Soooo, care to explain what was with you today?" Corny raised his eyebrows as Link entered his dressing room.

"Nothing!" Link's face flushed with embarrassment. "It...it was nothing. I just have things on my mind, that's all,"

"And I don't suppose any of these things would happen to be your new dance partner?" Link looked up sheepishly.

"Is it that obvious?" panic took over Link's face, "Do you think I should…do…anything?"

"Well if it could get your head back out of the clouds," Corny chuckled.

"How…how should I…I mean how do you…"

Corny saw Link blush.

"You've never asked a girl out before, have you?"

"Well…"

H-A-I-R-S-P-R-A-Y

Over the next 3 years, Corny told Link what to do and what not to do with Amber. He always reminded him to be a gentleman and not to pressure her into anything. Link always listened, but Amber really wasn't as polite. Whenever Link walked into a room, her hands would be all over him, as if he was her property. He tried talking to her about it, but she would only flashed a smile of fake sweetness, and remind him that her mother controlled his career. They pair were often the envy of other council members. The phrase "perfect couple" was often used, but despite what many thought, they had been having trouble in their relationship long before Tracy came along. The day of the pageant was the first time in his life he had felt truly happy. At first his dad had been upsetting him, but Corny fixed that. It was then Amber, but Tracy helped him escape that. The final thing that was upsetting him was his friends.

A.N. I know it wasn't my best and it wasn't really relevant, but I wanted to write about Amber! The next chapter will be up soon, and will be about Link's old friends.