React and Interact

Pair: Jimmy and Sarah (romance)

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It was Peach Creek Middle School's first dance of the school year, and the very first school dance of many of the younger student's lives. While some sat along the edges of gym, either waiting for an invitation to dance or simply avoiding other students altogether, others were tearing up the dance floor- and not always in the most coordinated of fashions. Others still were tearing up the snack table with little regard for the nice clothing they and their fellow students were wearing.

Sarah and Jimmy, the last two children of the cul-de-sac to reach 7th grade, were among those wallflowers that night. Sarah, dolled up in a lacey, pink and white dress, appeared to be awaiting something impatiently and Jimmy, dressed in an equally frilly shirt and pair of pants, constantly cast nervous glances at his childhood friend. "Come on, Jimmy, where is he?" Sarah demanded finally, turning her infamous glare on the boy.

"Don't fret, Sarah, I'm sure he'll be here soon." Jimmy assured her nervously, patting her hand.

Sighing, the red-headed girl leaned back against her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "He'd better."

The 'he' to which they were referring was Sarah's secret admirer. Shortly after the dance was announced, a boy had begun leaving notes and small gifts in her locker. Finally, just a few days before the dance, a note had been left asking that Sarah meet her admirer at said event. He would be there with a pink carnation, so said the note. However, thus far, there was a disappointing lack of boys with pink carnations. In fact, there was a disappointing lack of anybody Sarah saw that she'd like to dance with.

Finally, Jimmy broke the silence as he stood from his chair. "I'll get us some punch, Sarah. Maybe he'll come by the time I get back." He told her, and then walked off with a disturbingly suspicious giggle that Sarah forced herself to ignore.

Another two minutes of waiting found Sarah with her head lolling back, glaring holes into the ceiling. It was then that someone to her left cleared their throat. She looked up hopefully and saw- Jimmy. He didn't have any punch, but he was clutching a pink carnation in his right hand. "May I have this dance, Miss?" He asked, holding the carnation out to his long-time friend.

There was a momentary battle in Sarah's mind as she chose between being angry over the deception or flattered by the offer. Jimmy, knowing the girl so well, could see it all playing out behind her eyes and hoped for flattery to win out, his smile frozen on his face.

It was a near thing, but finally, Sarah smiled and accepted the carnation. "Aw, Jimmy… of course."

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Words: 461

Author's Note: That was surprisingly difficult… anyway, I know this may have inconsistencies with "May I Have This Ed?" but I haven't actually seen that episode, so… just go with it?

Also, I haven't been able to find anything definitive on Sarah and/or Jimmy's age. I know sometimes they appear to be in school with the other kids and sometimes they are not… so I've just decided that they're roughly three years younger than the other kids (and four years younger than Ed and Lee).