chapter two. todays their fifth practice!

Today was our fifth practice at Mimi's. The dance was actually looking pretty good…except for Roger's occasional trip once in a while. But besides that, it was building up well. We have about seven more practices left before Mimi's party, and today we were going to shop for dresses and suits.

"Everyone ready to go?" Mimi asked the group.

"Yup." The teens replied.

"Hold on." Maureen held up a finger. She looked at her reflection from the car window and touched up her hair. "Sorry…dance hair."

"Wow Maureen." I laughed.

"What? I can't just go walking out to go shopping with my hair like THIS." She pointed to her messed up curls.

"They look fine Maureen." Collins stared.

That girl can be such a drama queen sometimes.

I turned and looked at Mark…he rolled his eyes. "Lets just go already."

"Amen." Roger began to huddle in the car.

"We're walking Rog." Said Mimi.

"What? Are you kidding me, the store is like a billion miles away!"

"More like three blocks Roger." Angel said dryly. "And it will be fun!" Angel said excitingly as she hooked her arm around Collins.

Roger began walking, "Once again….always…fun."

"Aww don't be mad Woger, we can walk together!" Mimi took hold of Roger's hand.

"I guess so." Roger responded.

Maureen ran up from behind me and hooked her arm around mine. "We can walk together too Joanne!" She smiled.

"Of course." I said as we walked together. Surprisingly Maureen has become my closest friend here...besides Mimi. She made me feel fun.

Mark and Benny were walking behind us talking.

"I guess we're the only ones without girls." Mark shrugged. He held out his arm.

Benny stared at him, "Don't…even…think about it." Quickly, he stepped away from Mark.

Mark looked down, "Sorry…I just feel so lonely now that Maureen and I broke up."

"Ya…I know what you mean." Benny replied. "My break up with Allison hasn't exactly been a happy ending."

"Really, why's that?" I heard Mark ask Benny.

"I don't know. I told her that I am over her, which I am, but she just won't leave me alone now. I think she is convinced that I haven't gotten over her yet. But I don't want to get back with her, I want to move on…find someone new."

Wow…I could feel Benny's eyes glaring through my back. He certainly has been getting very touchy during dance practices.

"Like…Joanne?" Mark must have noticed that Benny was staring.

"Who…what?" Benny stuttered. "Well, I guess she's nice…and pretty...and funny. I don't know, do you think it would ever work out?" Benny asked.

"I don't know. Does she know?"

I certainly do now. Gees for two lonely guys, they sure can talk loud.

"No…not yet, I mean. I think I should get to know her more before I do anything stupid." Benny said to Mark.

"Ya…good idea. I've made that mistake PLENTY of times."

"I'm sure."

"So Joanne, what's up?" Maureen asked me excitingly.

"I don't know…nothing much?" I said. I was so concentrated on eves dropping on Benny and Mark that I forgot Maureen was holding on to me.

"That's…cool." She replied awkwardly. She continued to look fixedly at my face. "Thinking of something?"

I regained concentration, "Huh…wah?"

"You seem…distracted." Maureen questioned.

"…What would I be thinking about?"

"I don't know…. maybe…Benny!' She jumped up a little.

"Benny? No…why would I think about him?"

"Come on Joanne. I see you guys have "moments" on the dance floor." She laughed.

"No no no. WE do NOT have moments Maureen." I shook my head.

"Aww why not? You two would make a pretty hot couple." She shook my arm and raised her eyebrow.

"No Maureen…we would not. I DON'T like him, I told you."

"Fine." Maureen pouted.

All of us suddenly stopped to a halt.

"We're here guys!" Mimi pointed to a small building.

We stopped at the store with tons of dresses. I wondered how we would ever pick one with all the choices. When I looked at Mimi her eyes were lit with excitement. We walked into the store.

"Which one to pick…hmm." Mimi said to herself and ran towards a dress. "OH, this one looks nice. What do you think Rog?"

"Um…I don't know. It looks fine I guess." Roger shrugged.

Haha. What a typical guy.

Mimi continued to roam around the store, stopping at almost every dress she saw.

"Mimi, we can't look at EVERY single dress." Collins said.

"Oh, but they are all so pretty!" Angel shrieked.

"I know!." Said Maureen. "We all have to agree on ONE though. Which one do you like Joanne?" The drama queen turned to me.

"I don't know. I kind of like this one." I held out a dress that I have been eyeing the entire time. I thought it was nice.

"Oh…Joanne. That dress is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!" Mimi said in amazement. "I love it."

"Ya, that's a great choice Joanne." Angel said.

The dress was a dark red. The color would get you lost in the deep darkness of it. It had a V shaped top with a beautiful shining jewel design in front, shaping the top into a magnificent design. It WAS absolutely gorgeous.

"Thanks." I said.

"This will definitely be the dress for the court." Mimi assured. "All you girls will look GREAT in them."

"Gees Joanne, I didn't know you had such an "eye" for dresses." Maureen hit me on my shoulder.

"And this dress will match perfectly with mine." Mimi held out the dress again. "Its perfect. Thank you Joanne." She ran up and gave me a tight hug.

"You're welcome."

"What does your dress look like Mimi?" Angel asked.

"It's a secret. You can't see it until the night of the partaayy." Mimi stuck out her tongue.

"Darn." Angel snapped.

Quickly, Mimi ran towards the boys. "So…know that we found the girls dresses, lets find the boys!"

"Dresses?" Mark asked confused.

"No Mark…tuxes." Roger said dully.

"What? She said that phrase weird ok?"

Gees…Mark can be such a dork sometimes.

"Wow Mark…wow." Collins patted him on the shoulder. "It's ok."

"Seriously, can you get ANY more retarded." Maureen snickered. She looked at him waiting for a response.

"Shut up." Mark blurted.

Mimi quickly spitted them apart, "Anyways let's just find your suits shall we?" She dragged the boys along and went searching for suits, while the rest of us stayed behind.

"You really did pick a nice dress Joanne." Maureen said to me.

I smiled, "Thanks."

"Very nicely done." Angel smiled.

Our conversation seemed to be dimming, and our eyes roamed around the room.

"Well…I'm gonna go see what the guys are up to." Angel walked away from us, leaving Maureen and I sitting on the floor in the corner.

"SO…" Maureen trailed.

"So…" I trailed.

"I can't wait to see what we look like in our dresses." Maureen continued.

"Ya…I hope I look good." I joked.

Maureen laughed. Maureen really has a nice smile. She should learn how to use it more often.

"You'll look amazing Joanne, don't worry."

"I hope." I grinned.

"Hmm…even someone like BENNY might even notice you." Maureen laughed.

"Ugh, Maureen.Stop." I playfully punched her on the side.

After a few minuets footsteps came closer to our way and the rest of the group returned.

"Hey guys." Mimi said. "We found our suits!" Mimi lifted up the black and deep red tuxes.

"And look at that…they match." Benny said sarcastically.

"Well of course they match Benny they HAVE to." Mimi replied.

"Well now that we have our stuff can we go now?" Roger whined.

"Yes sweaty." Mimi gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Thank goodness." Collins praised.

Maureen and I glanced at each other and got up from our spots. Mimi went up to the cashier and payed the man with the money her and her parents had been saving.

When she was finished the rest of us started walking down the sidewalk towards Mimi's house again. Everyone hand in hand or arm in arm walking down the street, besides Benny and Mark of course. Maureen once again ran up besides me and hooked her arm around mine. We walked back to Mimi's house happily and in content. No more teasing about Benny and no arguments about Mark, just nice…pleasant…silence.