hey guys, so this chapter features a little time jump of a month because i want it to be closer to the action of this story. it's also mainly a filler, with just a fluffy moment between two characters, homecoming dresses, and guys talking about their feelings. i hope you guys like it.

A month after school started and all the kids were settling in. Tiffany had become a part of their group, hanging out with them often. Kelsey and Carter both got the leads in the fall show and their music project was going great. However, they still were oblivious about their feelings for each other. Cassie and Thomas were both on a winning streak with their karts. Swim season was coming to a close and the team had their final meet today. Kelsey, Cassie, and Tiffany were seated in the first row of bleachers, ready to cheer on their friends. The Sharks were up against one of the toughest teams in the league but they weren't going down without a fight.

By the end of the meet, it was neck and neck. It was the last race and it was up to Nina to win it for the team. It kept going back and forth between her and Cali, the best swimmer from the other team. One second Nina was in front and the other second it was Cali.

"Come on Nina, you can do it!" Nina's friends shouted from the sidelines. In the last second of the race, Nina pulled ahead and won the race. The Sharks and the crowd cheered, having won the championships. The girls raced over to their friends and shared a huge group hug. After celebrating by the pool and getting their metals, the group split so the four team members could go change before meeting up again to get some pizza.

Nina, the last one finished, left the girls changing room and was walking around the pool to meet her friends. Suddenly, she was pulled around and saw Cali, looking extremely mad.

"That championship should have been mine," Cali stated, not pleased with the outcome of their face.

"Look, I won fair and square. Deal with it," Nina retorted, this girl annoying her. Cali glared at the girl and then, in a fit of rage, shoved her into the pool before storming off. Nina let out a little shriek as she plummeted into the water. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but Nina had her swim bag and her backpack with her and they were weighing her down, making it harder for her to swim to the top.

Nina heard another splash and felt strong arms wrap around her. The mystery person helped her swim to the surface and when Nina looked over, she saw Nathan. He got out first and then pulled her out.

"You alright?" he asked, taking her bags off her and setting them down.

"Peachy," she replied, trying to shake some of the water off of her. She looked up at Nathan, who was holding out a towel which she gladly took.

"I saw what happened. Cali sure is a pain."

"A pain doesn't even begin to cover it," Nina said before looking over at Nathan, who was shaking his hair to rid the excess water. He looked so hot. She could see his abs threw his soaked shirt and his eyes just looked so dreamy, especially when he pulled her out of the water. He was her prince, saving her. It's too bad he hates me Nina thought.

"This will be easier if we just cast a spell," Nathan says before casting a quick spell, making Nina and Nathan both look like their dip in the pool never happened. The two began to walk toward the parking lot to meet their friends.

"Thanks Nathan, for jumping in to help," Nina says, looking at the ground.

"No prob, what are friends for."

The next day, Cassie, Nina, and Kelsey stumbled into Nina's house, discouraged and slightly mad.

"You've got to be kidding me. This is our fourth dress shopping trip and we've still found nothing!" Nina exclaimed, slouching in her seat. Kelsey and Cassie sat next to her, both equally discouraged. Their moms, along with Andi, walked in. The four of them were having a girls day, as they called it.

"What's wrong with you three?" Emma asked.

"Everything! Homecoming is in four days and we still don't have dresses," Kelsey answered.

"Or dates," Cassie added and both girls nodded in agreement.

"Well, the date part I can't help, but I think I can help with the dresses," Maddie said, a grin forming on her face.

"I like that look," Kelsey said, standing up with the girls.

"That look usually means good things," Nina added.

"Go up to Nina's bedroom and I think you'll find the answer to your dress problem," Maddie said and the girls race up the stairs. The moms sit down where the girls previously sat. They waited a second before they heard the squeals of the girls upstairs.

"I think they liked the dresses," Mia said as the girls run back in, each holding their own dress. They hug Maddie all while saying the words "Thank You" one hundred times.

"So, you like the dresses?" Emma asks.

"Yes, they're perfect," Cassie say.

"We're going to look amazing at the dance!"

Meanwhile, the three boys were hanging out at the Seven.

"Homecomings coming up," Carter brought up.

"Yeah, the girls are dress shopping now I think," Nathan said.

"Seriously, again? Isn't that their fifteenth trip?" Thomas questioned.

"Yeah but they claim they haven't found the right dress yet," Carter said, taking a sip of his soda.

"I don't even know if I wanna go. It's not fun if you don't have a date," Nathan said.

"We could man up and ask them," Thomas suggested. The three guys knew of each others crushes on the girls, but each guy was positive that their was no way the girls would like them back. They were friends and relationships could ruin that.

"I doubt Nina would say yes if I asked her," Nathan said, eating a fry.

"No, she wouldn't. You should of seen the way she looked at you last night. It was like you were some prince or something," Carter said.

"Yeah, well you should ask Kelsey out. She writes songs about you all the time," Nathan said, even the thought of his sister dating disgusted him.

"No she doesn't."

"Yes she does. Every time we practice, her eyes look only at you," Thomas rebutted.

"Well, then why don't you ask Cassie out. You guys totally like each other," Carter said.

"Look, we can all admit we like someone. Maybe one of us will get the guts to actually ask them out."

I hope you liked that. Next time, we'll see if the guys can man up and ask the girls out. Also, Tiffany needs some help from the others. Thanks for reading!