Chapter six: The Dance

I do not own Life with Derek…I promise.

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Over the next three weeks, the sets were all made, the actors had memorised their lines, and the costumes were ready. They were ready to start filming.

Charlie was exhilarated. She couldn't believe she had only been here 5 weeks and all of this had happened. She had lots of new friends and her grades were great. Things were finally looking up.

When she arrived at school, she noticed a group of girls standing around the announcements board.

"What's going on?" she asked Casey.

"It's the Sophomore Dance!" Casey said gleefully.

"Am I supposed to be excited?" Charlie said sarcastically, folding her arms.

"Well ya!" Casey said. "Dances are fun."

"No," Charlie said. "Dances are lame."

"Come on!" Casey said. "Dances may be lame in Argentina, but they're fun in Canada!"

"Dances are internationally lame. Sorry, Case. Plus, look." Charlie said as she pointed to the poster. "The dance is for 'sophomore students only. All other students who wish to come must be accompanying a sophomore student.' "

"Well…," Casey said. "I'm sure we can find you a date! Lots of sophomore guys will want to go with a junior girl!"

"Let it go, Casey," Charlie said. "I'm not going."

"Fine," Casey said. "But this isn't over, Charlie Martinez. I am going to convince you to go, one way or another!"

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"So," Charlie said as she approached Sam's locker at the end of the day. "Did you ask Casey to the dance yet?"

"Who says I'm gonna?" Sam retorted.

"I say," Charlie replied. "She's right over there with her friend Emily. Go!" She shoved Sam in Casey's direction.

"Hey," Sam said nervously.

"Hey," Casey replied, blushing.

"Um," Emily said. "I think I forgot my book in math class. Bye!" She walked away.

"Hey," Charlie called out to Emily. "Did he ask her yet?"

"What?" Emily said as she walked up to Charlie.

"Hi, I'm Charlie," Charlie said. "Did Sam ask Casey to the dance yet?"

"Oh, you're Charlie?" Emily said. "Uh, no, he didn't ask yet. I'm Emily, by the way."

"Nice to meet you," Charlie said. "Come on." Charlie grabs Emily by the arm and they hide behind a locker next to where Sam and Casey are standing.

"So…," Sam said. "That algebra test was hard, eh?"

"Algebra?" Charlie whispered to Emily, who rolls her eyes.

"Yeah," Casey replied. "Did you here that there's a dance next Friday?"

"Yeah," Sam said. "I was wondering…maybe…if maybe…you wanted to be my date?"

"Ha ha!" Charlie whispered triumphantly, and gives Emily a high five.

"Umm," Casey said. "Sure!"

"Cool," Sam said. "Bye, then."

"Bye," Casey said as Sam walked away.

"Victory!" Charlie cried out.

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That night, Derek logged on to his IM account, hoping Charlie was online. He wanted to ask her to the dance, but he never seemed to be able to get her alone. To his great pleasure, she was online.

TripleD: hey Charlie. How's it going?

ArgentinaChica76: hey Mr. Venturi. I'm good and u?

TripleD: Good, good.

ArgentinaChica76: I was hoping we could start filming after school on Wednesday. Does that work for u?

TripleD: yeah that's fine. Did u hear there's a dance next Friday?

ArgentinaChica76: yeah. Dances r way lame.

TripleD: u think so?

ArgentinaChica76: yeah. And plus even if I wanted to I can't.

TripleD: y not?

ArgentinaChica76: cuz the dance is for sophomores only. Unless ur a sophomore's date.

TripleD: well I happen to be a sophomore…

ArgentinaChica76: r u trying to imply that I should go with u, Mr. Venturi?

TripleD: perhaps…;)

ArgentinaChica76: what about all those girls who want to go with u?

TripleD: who says I want to go with any of them?

ArgentinaChica76: u want to go with me? Derek, it's just… I don't think of u in that way…

TripleD: woow…me neither…I mean we can go as friends…

ArgentinaChica76: oh…oops…its just…Casey said…

TripleD: what did Casey say?

ArgentinaChica76: well she said that u liked my as more than a friend…

TripleD: don't listen to her. She doesn't know what she's talking about.

ArgentinaChica76: oh…okay then…

TripleD: so u'll go with me?

ArgentinaChica76: sorry but I told u I don't do dances.

TripleD: and I don't make friends with girls. People try new things. How about this: if u don't have fun, I'll buy u a fudge sundae.

ArgentinaChica76: with peanuts and a cherry?

TripleD: sure.

ArgentinaChica76: a jumbo sized?

TripleD: yeah.

ArgentinaChica76: fine.