As the last notes rang out, Jess stepped up to the mike. Her dark bangs swept in front of her eyes as she smiled out at the crowd, fist raised.

"And what a good night for a damn good party, eh guys?" She chuckled as they cheered. "Right. I'd like to thank the student council, for organizing this. They may be a bunch of tightwads, but they know how to put together a good party. Good job, guys."

The spotlight briefly fixated on the student council's administrative table. Angel blinked in the sudden light. Kyle gazed back at his hero, face flushed with joy. Tiffany twirled her gum in annoyance.

"Yeah, yeah, everyone loves politics. Any who. We're going to be taking a break, take a piss, catch our breath, and eat some cake. You guys better have saved us some, or someone's getting messed up. I mean it. The student council's got a playlist lined up so you can keep dancing."

Jess hopped off stage without another word, the others following after a wave.

The crowd chattered happily for a moment, stuck in the in-between phase of a dance where one must calm down, and actually make conversation with those around them. Finally, sound came from the speakers once more.

"Here is the dance-trax play list we have prepared for the occasion," Albert's snide voice rang out. "These trax were carefully selected from surveys concerning which genres were most popular with the student body. You're welcome."

There was a pause. Then, bursting from the speakers at full steam:

"Duh club, yo! I be-uh rais'en mah arms in duh air at duh club! Everyone get's down at duh club, we got us wallets full of swag and dough, and ya know… and ya know." The electronic beat continued on for a few seconds, the emotionless ticking pounding on. "Sugar lips, mmmmhmmm, all I want is sugar, sweet-sweet-sugar, hey baby, oh baby, we at duh club, and mah hands are in duh air, so yeah… dat's what it's all about, so now we can get funky… Hands in duh air, yo. Hand in duh-"

The noise came to screeching halt. "TK?" Albert's voice rang out over the speaker. "What are you… hold on, calm down! You can't, wait, no, NOOOO-"

A series of thuds, then silence. Then TK's rough voice. "Here you go, dudes. Go forth and be righteous."

Carefully crafted notes began to play. Soon, a rough, tender voice began. "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold… when she gets there she knows, if the stores are closed, with a word she can get what she came for. And she's buying a stairway to heaven."

Harry wove his way through the reenergized crowd, just in time to see GirlDeMo's singer hoist herself off the stage. Julie took a breath as she reached the ground, shoulders slumping. She had barely gotten in one exhalation when she was set upon.

"Julie!" came the cry. A wave of chittering freshman appeared from all sides. She yelped as the groupies mobbed her, yammering out questions, complements, and high-pitched noises.

"Why, th-thank you," she stuttered. "I didn't really- Oh, Harry!"

Harry swept through the underclassmen with a snort, catching Julie by her elbow and hoisting her out of the fray.

"Just what are you doing" he muttered. "No spinning kicks to take them out?"

"Some people know about restraint," she retorted. "And I love my fans, silly!"

"Ha."

Julie blinked. They had traveled far from the stage, and were now stranded amongst the dancers. "Where are we going?"

Harry blanched. He examined the ground. He appraised the ceiling. He tapped his foot.

"Well, you see," Harry finally spoke. "I would love to have a dance. That is, if you're okay with it, of course."

For half a moment, Julie froze.

"Well, you can try," she suddenly laughed. "But you'll never be able to keep up! I'm an expert dancer, you know. A professional dancer, er, I mean, an exquisite dancer. I'm better then you."

"Oh yeah?" Harry retorted happily as they moved together. "Since when? Seems to me you have the balance of a 3-legged koala doing gymnastics!"

They hopped left, stepped forward then spun left as TK's classic rock beat through them. "A koala, really?" Julie giggled. "That the best you can do? I expect better from you, Mr. high-and-mighty battle commander. If you're not careful, I'll let everyone else know your secret!"

Step, switch, step, spin! "What secret?" Harry grunted disdainfully. "What conspiracy theory is it this time? Am I an alien?"

Julie clung to Harry's side tighter, skipping to keep up. "Nope. I'll let it everyone know that underneath; you're really just a big, goofy softie."

She smiled at him. "But I bet everyone already knows that."

Harry blinked at her, lost for words. "…What? Hey, no way, I'm a dangerous fighter! I mean, when I see an enemy, I see red, and I, uh… and stuff."

A new song began. " And can you feel the love tonight. It is where we are. It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer; that we got this far."

The pair stared at each other awkwardly for a moment, before shrugging it off.

Julie leaned in close. "Face it, you're a softie."

Harry glared back at her, his face shadowed in the dim light. "Oh yeah? Well, you've got a secret too, brat."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! Everyone thinks you're an airhead. But I've got you figured out!

"You're actually intelligent. Julie, you're smart enough to do what you can, to make people happy. You make us all smile. I know you're special."

Harry smiled at her confidently. For several more minutes, they danced in silence, feet moving in time.

Julie didn't respond. Several times, he saw her mouth open, and then shut; he couldn't make out her expression.

Before the song ended, she spoke. "Oh, uh, look at the time!" she rushed, gesturing in the general direction of a wall. "I need to go. I mean, we might be going back on soon, I need to go get ready!" And without another word she broke off, and rushed away.

Harry slowed to a halt, dismay creeping over him as he watched her go. His forehead creased. "She's… ugh, she's so ridiculous!"

He paced forward. He kicked his shoes together. He looked up.

"Aw, bugger," Harry cursed, and ran after her.