if you don't know what this is about, go back to chapter one...do no pass go, do not collect $200.

author's notes at the end, except for this–I've jumped ahead a little...this is the end of their sophomore year because it would've taken forever to get through everything and I don't think any of us have that kind of time or patience.


"Explain to me again how I wound up being John's date for this thing tonight," Abby mumbled, studying her reflection carefully, trying to determine if her hair looked presentable or not.

"First of all," Susan began, squeezing in next to Abby to check her makeup in the full length mirror. "It's not a 'thing.' It's a dance. The Spring Fling, to be precise. And you're his date because I got a better offer."

"So I get your sloppy seconds."

"Hardly. More like the other way around had someone else not asked me to go with them. This way, I won't be intruding on you love birds."

"Love birds my ass. He's stuck with me by default. It was all well and good when the three of us decided to go as a group, but he couldn't very well back out of taking just me once your 'better offer' came along, now could he?"

"Why would he want to back out of taking you to a dance?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe so he could have a real date?"

"I hate to break it to you, Abs, but I think you are his real date."

"Wow." Abby shrugged and gave Susan a half smile. "Sucks for him."

"You lost me."

"It sucks that I have to wind up being his real date when, if we had known that someone was going to ask you, he could have found someone that he really wants to go with as opposed to one of his friends."

Susan sighed. "But I thought you'd finally decided that you actually 'like him' like him."

"I do, but that doesn't mean he likes me in the same way. So, while it's all well and good for me that I get to be his date, he's the one who's stuck with being a nice guy for the night."

Susan truly wanted to bang her head against the wall. Trying to work with these two was like trying to pull teeth. It was great that they'd finally admitted that they liked each other, but the hard part was getting them to admit it to one another. And the most she could do was try to push them each in the right direction. They'd each sworn her to secrecy about their feelings, and she couldn't very well tell them what was really going on, even if it was for the greater good. She couldn't betray either of her friends' trust like that. It had just been pure dumb luck that Mark Greene, a highly adorable senior, had asked her to go with him to the dance, forcing Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb to go together, almost like a real date. Even though the four of them were going in a group.

"You know, you could tell John that you like him. In some cultures, honesty is actually effective."

Abby gave Susan's reflection a look, then snorted. "Yeah, I'm so sure."

"What's the worse that could happen?!"

"Do you really have to ask that? He could laugh at me, he could tell the whole school about it and then they could all laugh together..."

"Oh, come on. You've known John for almost a full school year now. Does he really seem like the kind of guy who would ever do something like that?"

Abby at least had the good grace to look sheepish. "No. But it's just that...he's so out of my league, you know? He's blue blood, I'm blue collar."

Susan rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of mud. You sound like a country song or something."

"Sounding like a country song doesn't stop it from being true."

"Abby, have you ever once, ONCE, stopped to think that there's a small possibility that he could like you, too? I mean, hasn't it ever just crossed your mind, even for a second?" She paused, realizing she may have inadvertently said too much, and scrambled to find a way to cover her blunder. "Because I don't see any reason why he wouldn't like you."

Abby let out an enormous sigh. "Can we just let this go for the night? Please? I just want to go to this thing–"

"It's a dance!"

"Fine. This DANCE and enjoy myself without being too self-conscious around John. That's not asking so much, is it?"

Susan closed her eyes and shook her head. "Whatever. The subject has been dropped for the evening. We will continue to discuss this at a later date and time, all right?"

Abruptly changing the subject, Abby said, "So, this Mark guy...you said he's a senior, right?"

Susan couldn't help it–she grinned. "Uh huh."

"How'd you manage that one?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. We've known each other vaguely for years, but I've never directly spoken to him, you know? Then the other day he comes up to me and starts talking about how this is his last dance ever and that he had to swallow his pride and finally ask me out. As if I'd say no. Then he starts going on about how he's wanted to ask me out for a while but was always afraid I'd say no. It was really very sweet."

Abby smiled at her friend. "Definitely. I'm happy for you."

What Susan didn't mention was the other reason Mark had finally decided to ask her out–he'd always thought that she and John were something of an item until Abby had shown up and then it became fairly obvious that John was enamored with someone else. She wanted to tell this to Abby, but she felt that it would somehow be a breech of trust between herself and John. Stupid morals.

A few minutes later, they heard the doorbell ring, and then Susan's mother yelled to let them know that their dates had arrived.

The two grabbed their bags and gave themselves one last look in the mirror. Susan smiled anxiously at Abby. "Wow. I'm actually kind of nervous about this. Can you believe that I, of all people, am nervous about something?"

Abby gave her friend's hand a little squeeze. "There's nothing to be worried about. Remember, he's the one who asked you–he wants to be with you. Just relax and have a good time."

Susan delicately patted her painstakingly-curled hair to make sure it was in place and smoothed down her long, pale yellow dress. "Do I look all right?"

"You look beautiful," Abby confirmed. "What about me?" She grabbed the top of her floor-length off-white dress and gave it a little tug. "I don't look ridiculous going strapless, do I? I mean, like nothing but the sheer will of God is holding this dress up?"

"You're hot, babe. There's no denying it."

Susan's mother yelled for them again, and realizing they could stall no longer, they made their way down to the living room.

The Spring Fling was half over, and John still couldn't get over how amazing Abby looked. He'd barely been able to tear his eyes away from her all night, though, fortunately, she seemed to think he was just being friendly.

They'd all but been abandoned by Susan and Mark, who had hit it off very well, and had only sat out one dance so far. John and Abby, on the other hand, had only danced once or twice, each claiming no talent on the dance floor, but each feeling nervous and self-conscious about being on a "date" with each other, so they settled for sitting off to the side at one of the tables that had been set up for people who wanted to take a breather between dances.

"So..." John began, casting about for a topic. "What are your plans for the summer?"

Abby shrugged. "Not much. Trying to get a job. Hopefully, something very flexible so I can help take care of Eric if I have to."

"Have you applied anywhere yet?"

"Yeah, a few places. I've been leaning toward reception work. Something relatively easy and non-demanding. I mean, yeah, I'd be inside all day, but at least I'd get out at five and have the rest of the evening to play with. And, if the place I end up likes me, they might keep me on as part time during the school year and then have me again next summer. Having a constant income, no matter how meager, would be awesome."

"Any big plans for your income?" What the hell kind of question was that, he wondered. Is making conversation with this girl really that hard?

"I'm going to try to save up for a car. Did you know that they don't buy themselves? And that money doesn't grow on trees?"

"Yeah, I heard that rumor."

"It came as a crippling blow to me. Until my mom told me that a few weeks ago, I thought little magic elves came out at night and put money in our pockets and food in the cabinets. Go figure."

John just chuckled–Abby's dry wit was one of the things her enjoyed most about her.

"So, how about you? Any hot plans for the summer?"

"Actually, yes. I thought about getting a job, just for the experience, you know? But I don't want to take a job away from someone who needs it, which my family, amazingly enough, agreed with. They had the idea for us to go on this tour of historic Europe for the summer, which I'll admit sounds cool because I've never been to Europe, but I wanted to actually do something useful this summer. So, I decided to do volunteer work."

Abby blinked in amazement. "You passed up Europe for volunteer work?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing! It's just that...most people wouldn't do something like that. You know, put the needs of others ahead of themselves." This guy just amazes me more with each passing second. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to even know this guy.

"I don't know. I guess I figured that a trip to Europe is something that I'll save for and do at some point after college. Or on my honeymoon. It seems like a honeymoon kind of thing."

Simultaneously, and without either one knowing it, both John and Abby's minds flickered to the two of them on their honeymoon in Europe, wandering around someplace romantic, probably in Paris.

Abby shook herself out of her thoughts. Where did that come from? "Yeah, it does sound more like a honeymoon than a family trip." Quickly, she changed the subject. "So, have you decided where you're going to volunteer?"

"Yep. Habitat for Humanity," he answered, smiling proudly.

She looked at him in awe. "Wow. You're going to build homes for people?"

He nodded. "It's going to be a lot of manual labor, which I suck at, but I really want to do it. I love the idea of building homes for people who need them. And it's a great way to get work experience without taking away from other people."

Abby was very nearly stunned speechless before she blurted out, "You're amazing."

John's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "What?"

"Well, you are. Passing up making money or foreign travel to help other people. No one does that. And I think it's amazing."

He felt his face start to heat up, so he looked down at the tabletop and mumbled, "Thanks."

They remained in an awkward silence for a minutes until the DJ announced that it was the last song, and that the night was almost over.

John gathered up his courage and stood up, holding his hand out to Abby. "What do you say? Shall we go cut a rug?"

Abby took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled upright. "Well, I don't know about cutting any rugs, but I could probably weave a web." John just looked at her. "Sorry. I got nothin'."

He grinned. "Let's just dance."

He pulled her out onto the dance floor and into his arms, resting his head on top of hers while she rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The song was slow, but neither of them even noticed what the tune was. All they were aware of were their bodies pressed close together, the feeling of being in each other's arms.

It felt right.


Author's Notes: I know–I suck at life. Sorry to make you wait so long for this. It's somewhat mushy, though, so you have to give me that. I left out some of their trademark sarcasm and wit because it didn't really fit here. This chapter was more about how awkward it can be when you're a teenager and with someone you like–it's been a while, so I hope I got it right...ish. Also, some people have been asking about Maggie and her role in all of this. All I can say is that it'll come. I have some plans, and hopefully I can make them pan out. Don't know when the next chapter will come out because I'm in the middle of moving (thus cutting off my 'net for a brief period), I'm working, I'm doing Busch Gardens once a week (because I'm cool like that), and I supposedly have this big birthday thing coming up at the end of June (3 of us with birthdays 3 days in a row, all born the same year), so I need to work more so I can make some spending money, plus I have to get my car fixed, pay bills, loans, blah blah blah...and now that you know my life story, the moral is that I don't know when the next chapter will be out. Probably July, but sooner, if my muse strikes. So, review if you wish...it would be awesome. I'm hoping to hit 100 reviews. Alex, the states aren't the same without you!!