Standard Disclaimer: check the prologue

A/N: Gee, I wonder if anybody is still reading this. If you are, I'm sorry this was a hard one to get back to for some reason.

Dance-Boogie Wonderland-Dance

Warren pulled at the bow-tie again as he sat next to me in my family's limo, biting my lip I tried not to giggle. He was so out of his element it was amusing. James had tied his hair back and put him in one of Daddy's old tuxes before we left.

"Stop tugging, you'll mess it up." Warren growled at me when I slapped his hand away for the fifth time.

"How'd I get roped into this?"

"Because you're my friend and wouldn't wish there to be any huge disappointment in my life?" He glared at me again in the dark of the limo.

"Glare and growl all you want flame-butt, you are not getting out of this." I smiled in return. "And don't even think about pulling a disappearing act on me my friend, I've got blackmail. Remember that time Sophie dolled you up for her tea party?"

"Yeah?" His look became apprehensive.

"There's a tape."
"WHAT?" Warren moved with a quickness I would have never attributed with him that I soon found myself pinned against the seat. It was scary and kinda hot (no pun intended) at the same time. I felt the sudden jerk of the limo stopping abruptly and I heard the slam of a car door before Warren was suddenly pulled off me by Stewart. My driver became a giant stone man holding my fire-friend by the scruff of his neck.

Struggling with the delicate skirt of my gown and trying to ignore the biting cold of February, I managed to get out of the backseat and onto the pavement. "Stewart! Calm down, I'm okay! He didn't hurt me!" I placed my hands on my driver's stone back trying to get him to put Warren back on solid ground unharmed.

Stewart gave me a scandalous look before letting Warren drop. "Mistress, are you certain you are well?"

"Positive, just a little misunderstanding, right Warren?" I offered my hand for Warren to take. He gave me a cute little pout as he rubbed his throat where his collar near choked him and growled. Big mistake, Stewart immediately intervened on my behalf.

"Oy! That's enough, both of you. Stewart, would you please help him up and dust him off. Warren, get a grip, do you honestly think I would resort to blackmail when a guilt trip works so much better? So can we go now, please?" Whew, dodged that bullet…

Reluctantly they both got back into the limo and somehow we managed to get to the Mayor's Super Ball, I say somehow because I don't totally remember the rest of the trip. It wasn't until Stewart stopped the car and opened the door for me did I recognize exactly where we were.

"Mistress?"

"Thank you Stewart. I think we only be staying a few hours tops, so if you want to wait somewhere or return home, you're welcome to do so. We still need to get to Super Prep so I can help crown the king and queen." Stewart nodded politely to my instructions before glaring evilly at Warren, "Stewart, thank you, but I will be fine."

Linking arms with Warren, he and I made our way through the double doors along the red carpet leading to the ballroom. With each unsteady step, my icy fingers gripped the sleeve of his waistcoat tighter; Warren didn't seem to notice.

"Okay?"

Audibly gulping the lump in my throat, I nodded. "Yeah, let's do this." The public face that my parents had trained me with was in place as I smiled and greeted the super heroes and super citizens of Maxville. Many I knew, others were media familiar; although next to me, Warren garnered looks of surprise and disdain…I'm so sorry Warren.

"Oshi! There you are m'girl." Aaron's voice drew my attention and on his arm was his lovely wife Erin. "I'm glad you finally decided to join us. Young Mr. Peace, pleasure seeing you again." Aaron held out his hand for Warren to take. They shook hands and seemed to test one another's mettle until Erin, bless her, stepped in and steered Aaron towards punch 'for the youngsters'.

"Well that was incredibly awkward." I muttered as Warren and I continued to make our rounds around the ball, there were so many hands to shake and people to greet who knew my parents. Warren's smirk didn't help my nerves as more and more super citizens came up to us, I had to deal with them while he got to stay in the background…that jerk.

A few hours later, Stewart paged my cell phone alerting me that we had to leave for my school dance…and we were having so much fun. With a gracious smile I excused myself from the current political conversation and searched for Warren. He was currently listening to Aaron and Erin talk to some other high up super or whatever, Warren looked bored. Oh, I should probably rescue him…oh damn, he's seen me. That's my cue.

"Aaron, hi…as much fun as whatever it is you're talking about probably is, Warren and I have to go to my school dance. It's required. So I will see you at work next week okay?" I gave him a million watt smile all the while steering Warren towards the exit.

"Oh man, that was bad." Warren muttered tightening his hold on my hand as we collected my coat from Coat Check (although with Warren at my side, I kinda didn't need it).

"Please. It wasn't as bad as the schmoozing I had to do." I retorted as he helped me into my coat. "It's a lot of 'Josephina, your parents this' and 'Josephina, your parents that'. I swear it's horrible. As if I didn't already know what my parents did or who they were." I clutched to Warren tighter in the blow of the February air, before he slipped from my grasped and tucked me closer to his body heating up slightly.

"You've never told me about your parents Oshi." He commented lightly, I gave him a light smile. There was a reason why, I just couldn't tell him.

"Heh, what's there to tell Warren? They were a super judge and a super social worker, not much to tell. C'mon, we've got to make an appearance at my school dance; I am not wasting this dress." So I evaded the true issue, but if you were me, you would too. Warren is the best friend I could possibly ask for, not even Nani treats me the same since I lost them and I can't lose the comfortable relationship I share with Warren. I can't lose him.

The drive to the Marriott Hotel was short and Warren and I spoke of mundane things. And Sophie, as if we could ever forget about Sophie. As soon as we drove up to the entryway of the hotel, I had unexplained uncontrollable butterflies fluttering about in my belly. Warren had to nudge me to get me out of the limo.

"Oshi? You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just…give me a moment." He smirked at me and pulled me forcefully out of the backseat.

"The hardest part is getting through the front door," The warmth of Warren's hand at the small of my back spread throughout my body giving me a boost of confidence I desperately needed. "C'mon, you dragged me here."

I gave him a wry smile, "Yeah and that means you're dancing with me."

Soooo yeah I'm horrible I know. And I'm sorry. Please review if you've read. I have to know if there's anybody still reading or if I should just take it down.