lol...hey everyone...looks like you hit that 20 mark, but don't worry ...no more posting chapters depending on reviews. You may cease the threats...lol. Loved it though...they were amusing. Just so ya know...I would have posted the next chapter anyway. Lol.

actually...I probably should have worked harder on this one but I just couldn't bare to make you guys wait...I mean...you did hit the 20 mark.

Thanks everyone for putting up with me...and enjoy the chapter.

From outside you can plainly hear the music play and the sound of people talking, but as soon as Tootie and I burst through the doors, the room falls into complete silent. We both instantly freeze as we're met by everyone's gazing eyes. Were they all staring at us?

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating...yes that was it. I was probably just being paranoid. I look over at Tootie, who has let go of my arm and is now standing beside me, but she also looks nervous.

I turn towards the crowd and lift up an eyebrow. "Uh...Hello?"

Almost immediately, everyone looks away and begins talking to their friends. Weird? I wonder what that was about.

"Wanna dance?" Tootie happily asks me, and I jump slightly at the sound of her voice and look over.

"What?" I ask, though I'm certain I heard what she said.

"Would ..you... like... to dance?" She repeats, this time a little slower.

I instantly freeze up, my insides twisting.

"Uh..well..." I suddenly feel very stupid again. "Well...it is a dance so...dancing would be good..."

Crud...I must sound so lame, but Tootie just grins and takes my hand, leading me out onto the floor.

Thank goodness, it's a fast song; nobody seems to care how stupid you look when you dance to those. Still, I don't think Tootie could look stupid even if she tried; her dancing seems really good compared to mine. She must have practiced that too.

I find myself smiling and laughing when Tootie mimics my simple dance move of shaking my butt and moving my arms about. Who knew she had such a good sense of humor. She starts laughing too, but it's not the same high-pitched laughter I'm used to, though I guess the music is drowning out some of the annoyance. Strangely enough, I find myself making a mental note of how her nose scrunches up and her eyes brighten...she looks cute when she laughs.

I shake me head, must be the lighting in here, I tell myself.

The music stops and we both slowly stop laughing. Was I actually having fun...with Tootie?

"Wow Tootie. I didn't know you could dance so good." I tell her and she blushes slightly.

"Well I've been taking dance lesson my whole life." she comments, then she looks at me strangely. "Remember? You went to one of my recitals a couple years ago."

I blink...recital. Oh yeah! That was the time I wished for a big brother...boy did that wish turn out wrong. I wonder how I could forget something like that. Of course Tootie knew how to dance.

"Sorry ...slipped my mind." I apologize...man do I feel stupid.

The music is starting up again...Oh no...It's a slow song. I look up and find Tootie smiling at me...she's stepping closer and every part of my brain is yelling 'RETREAT...RETREAT'

"Wait!" I say, putting my hands out in front of me and taking a step back. Tootie gives me a confused look.

" I'll..uh...get us some punch," I tell her hoping to make a classy exit.

She nods after a moment and I find myself jogging over towards the punch table. Whew, that was close. I look back at Tootie and feel somewhat guilty...what was so wrong about a slow dance? Okay...I'm really confused now.

I grab two cups of punch off the table and look down at Cosmo and Wanda.

"Something wrong sport?" Wanda asks me, but I'm sure she can answer the question better than I can.

"I dunno" I say, honestly confused. "I guess I thought..."

"Hey Timmy, where ya been pal?" I hear Chester ask as he walks up toward me. "Still talking to things that aren't there I see."

He smirks and I return the look half-heartedly.

"Hey Chester what's up?" I ask, noticing he's still wearing his normal school clothes.

"Nothing much ...I'm just stuck here until my house is finished being fumigated." He tells me. "Pops says the roaches are as big as sewer rats."

Yikes. I raise an eyebrow not wanting to convey any signs of disgust for Chester's living conditions; after all, he seemed fine with it, so why shouldn't I be.

"Gees...I thought I'd never find you two." I hear AJ say as he comes up from behind Chester tugging as his white suit uncomfortably. "This party is a total bore."

Bore? That's not exactly the word that fit in my mind.

"Actually..." I try to cut in.

"Tell me about." Chester agrees leaning back onto the punch table."I say we ditch this place and go to the arcade, it's probably deserted."

My eyes widen...the arcade...deserted...just my friends, nonstop mind numbing video games, and me.

"I'm in." AJ says.

"Me too." I instantly jump at the opportunity.

They both look over at me.

"Aren't you here with someone?" AJ asks.

I blink...duh...how did I forget so quickly. I must really have a tiny attention span.

"Yeah...sort of." I reply glancing back behind me to see Tootie standing in the middle of the dance floor, her hands held neatly in front of her as she waits for my return.

Her raven black hair is shining and her dress seems to sway in the nonexistent wind...I can almost swear that there's a light shining directly on her.

"Yeah I am here with someone," I confirm.

Chester looks back as well.

"Not bad" he comments with an approving nod towards Tootie.

Girls no longer seemed to give Chester the hives, but he had the bad habit of staring for too long and right now he's eying Tootie. It bothers me, though I'm not sure why.

"Who is she?" AJ asks with a curious expression. "I thought you said Vicky was making you take Tootie to the dance."

I blink...looking between the two...they didn't know.

"Uh...actually...that is Tootie."

They both look at one another for a moment before bursting out into laughter.

"Man, what plastic surgeon performed her overnight miracle?" Chester asks and I find myself instantly annoyed...maybe even offended by the comment.

"I dunno...but I bet he's exhausted" AJ responds between laughs.

"Okay guys, knock it off," I say glaring at them, my hands instinctively balling into fists.

"He?" Chester asks, ignoring me, and nudging AJ's side. "Don't you mean they?"

AJ laughs even more. "I bet they could afford to retire after that job."

I grit my teeth...Tootie wasn't that bad looking before.

"I mean it guys, that's not funny." I say, heat flaring in my belly, ready to erupt.

I'm not sure why I'm so mad but I am...and that's all my 12 yr. old mind can comprehend at the moment.

"Hey, maybe I should ask her for a dance," Chester says to AJ. "Ya know, before she gets all ugly again."

That's it! I drop the two cups of punch on the ground, grab Chester's shirt and pull him forward, his feet coming off the ground slightly.

"I mean it Chester," I yell shaking him slightly to make sure I had his attention. "You say one more thing about Tootie and I'll...I'll..."
At that moment, AJ pushes me back and I release Chester's shirt.

AJ then puts his hands out in front of him defensively. "Relax Man" he tells me looking worried and maybe even a little frightened.

I look over his shoulder and see Chester picking himself up... He looks up and instantly the shock leaves his face and he glares.

"What's your problem?" He asks ...very loudly I might add.

My problem? what kind of question was that?
"I told you both to knock it off." I say making sure to let AJ know I was mad at him as well.

"We were only kidding" AJ says, "You make jokes about Tootie all the time."

The anger leaves my face momentarily.

"Yeah..well...that's different cause..." I'm having trouble coming up with something to say so I get angry again. "You're both just ...just..jealous!"

'Jealous?'

"Gee Timmy, didn't know you liked her so much," Chester mocks me and for some reason I feel very defensive.

"Yeah well...I Don't," I yell back stumbling on my words at first. "I just...feel sorry for her that's all. You both know I can't stand being around her."

Okay that was probably the worst come back ever...it's not even true. Why did I say that?

"Whatever man," Chester says turning to leave ."When you're done being stupid let us know."

He starts to walk away and I continue to Glare... I'm not being stupid...am I? I look at AJ who seems conflicted... he sighs and turns towards me.

"He's kind of right Timmy"

My eyes widen...AJ was suppose to be my smart friend...how could he agree with Chester.

"There's no guarantee that Tootie's going to look this good tomorrow" he tells me. "But you know your friends are always going to be there." and with that said he turns and follows Chester out.

I fold my arms over my chest still angry...friends, yeah right... but then I realize something. The music has stopped.

I look behind me and find that once again I have everyone's attention.

'Oh great'

My eyes instantly spot Tootie who must have moved closer to me during the argument...I'm not sure how much of that she heard but she doesn't look happy...in fact I think I can make out the glint of tears in her eyes.

I feel kinda sick...she must have heard what I yelled...must have thought I really did just feel sorry for her...that I really couldn't stand being around her. I know this feeling...ugh...the magic of guilt.

"T..Tootie...I..."

I see a tear begin to run down her cheek and she turns and runs away, sobbing into her hands.

"Tootie WAIT!" I yell but I can't get my feet to move. "I ...I didn't..."

The words die in my throat as the music starts up again and everyone ignores me to continue socializing. The music doesn't seem to reach my ears though...and the room feels empty despite being occupied by tons of kids.

"You okay sport?" Wanda asks and I jump slightly forgetting that I wasn't alone.

I sigh...I had just managed to get into an argument with my two best friends and break Tootie's heart all at the same time.

"I'm an Idiot," I say looking towards the exit.

"Me too" Cosmo sighs and I blink back some of my self pity and look down.

"Maybe I should just go home." I suggest to myself.

Wanda tares her eyes away from Cosmo and looks up at me.

"What about Tootie?" She asks.

"I dunno what I was thinking...this is probably for the best" I say, "I'll apologize to Chester and AJ tomorrow and things will be back to normal."

Wanda frowns and I meet her gaze.

"What else can I do?" I ask not really expecting an answer.

"You have to go after her Timmy!" Cosmo yells in slight panic and I literally jump this time.

"I do?" I ask.

"You can't let her go," He tells me and for some reason I see tears in his eyes. Cosmo never cries...at least not in such a serious way as this.

"You okay Cosmo?" I ask and I'm sure this had to be the second time today I didn't get an answer.

"Maybe we should just go." Wanda says in a defeated tone. "Tootie's probably half way home by now and you can try explaining what happened to her tomorrow."

Explain what? I'm not even sure what happened...first I got nervous...then scared...then happy...then protective over Tootie...Then mad at my friends...and to make everything doubly confusing I pretended that I wasn't defending Tootie...Then I feel bad cause I hurt Tootie's feelings. Hold it! Do I like Tootie or not?AAARRRGGGGHH.!!!!

This is crazy...and I decide then and there that I HATE growing up.

I nod down at Wanda and turn to leave the dance feeling drained...this night has been everything and yet nothing like I expected.

YAH CHAPPY!

Things aren't going so smooth with Tiimmy and Tootie. I'll be getting back to Wanda and Cosmo in the next chapter...no P.O.V...just regular story telling.

This story will probably be long...especially if I write it out like I see it in my mind. Yep...that's gonna take some work.

Can't say for sure when the next chapter will be up...shouldn't be too long though. LATER!!