Two weeks had passed since Tommy and Julie had broken up. Jack had made it a point to go to Tommy's house whether than have Tommy come over to his, just to give both Tommy and Julie some time apart to cool down. There was still hope that they could be friends again, but for now the former couple had decided to go in separate directions. On that day, Jack and Tommy were at the mall, shopping for tuxedos for the coming Senior Dinner Dance.

Tommy stood to the side, watching Jack get fitted for his suit. "So, you're taking Rose, right?"

"Of course. Who else would I be taking, Julie?" Jack chuckled, knowing good and well that was who he would be going with if Rose hadn't come into his life.

"Just curious," Tommy shrugged. Looking outside the store's glass window that looked out at the mall.

"Is she still giving Rose a hard time?"

"No. The two are civil to each other now," Jack replied, keeping his arms up out of the way. "They don't talk to each other unless spoken to and even then they keep it calm and Julie has stopped glaring at Rose whenever she's around."

"Which must be a relief, huh?"

"Yeah. I love Rose. I don't want Julie to run her off. Julie has finally realized that."

Tommy just nodded and continued to watch the people walk by. "I still have no clue on who I'm taking. It's been two weeks. You would think that I'd have a date by now."

"If it makes you feel any better, Julie doesn't have a date yet either," Jack chuckled. "Hey, maybe it's for the best. This way you get to have your pick of girls to dance with."

Tommy had to agree. He had always been a flirt and it had taken a lot of effort to stop when he was dating Julie, but now he could flirt with whoever he pleased, no having to worry about an insanely jealous girlfriend. No need to worry about hurting anyone's feelings. "Maybe I can flirt myself up a date," Tommy winked at his friend, who was just finishing up.

"Maybe."

"Hey, there's Rose and Helga with that one girl...Annabelle!" Tommy pointed to the three girls, heading for the formal dress shop that he and Jack were in.

"There's Jack!" Helga pointed, elbowing Rose. "He looks handsome, no?"

"And you've been spotted, boy'o," Tommy teased as the girls headed into the store, surrounding a blushing Jack.

"Yes he does. As long as you remember that he has a girl," Rose smiled, feeling the butterflies in her stomach flutter around at the sight of her boyfriend all dressed up. Helga was right. He was indeed handsome.

"You're Annabelle, right?" Tommy eyed the quiet blond, standing behind Helga. She blushed and nodded.

"Tommy, you know Annabelle Watson from school," Rose introduced. "Annabelle, this is Tommy Ryan. He's one of Jack's best friends and he's from Ireland."

"Hello," Annabelle smiled feeling shy.

"It is a pleasure to see you out of school, lassie. Are you attending the dance as well?" Tommy asked, thinking that Annabelle was one of the prettiest girl's he's seen in a long while. He remembered flirting with her a few weeks ago, right before the break-up with Julie, but now he was taking a even better look at her.

"I'm not planning too. I don't have a date and I'm sure my brother is taking someone," she shyly smiled. "Plus I'm not a senior. I'm a junior."

"No problem. Just have a senior ask you and you can sit with the rest of us,yeah?" Tommy grinned.

"Why don't you ask her, Tommy?" Jack asked, stepping down from the stool he was standing on, finished at last. "You were just saying how you didn't have a date."

"Jack," Rose hissed, elbowing him. She leaned over and whispered. "She may not be ready for that."

"If she's not, she can say no," Jack whispered back. "Besides, Tom's a gentleman. He won't do anything she doesn't want him to and he'll treat her like a lady."

Rose just wasn't sure about the idea of Tommy taking Annabelle to the Senior Dinner Dance, but she wasn't going to discourage it. After all, it was Annabelle's decision. Her right to say yes or no.

"Jackie boy, you're right," Tommy smiled at his friend, before turning a even more gentle smile to the pretty girl that had come in with his friends. "So...Anna...if you like...would you like to go to the Senior Dinner Dance with me? It's just a formal dance...with dinner."

"Jack and I will be there as well, Anna, if you want to go. In fact, we can all rent a limo and go together...," Rose spoke up, wanting to make things relaxed for her new friend.

"That's a good idea, Rose. I'll talk that over with Fabrizio as well," Helga nodded.

"Strength in numbers," Tommy chuckled, his smiling eyes never leaving the shy girl.

Annabelle's first instinct was to say no. She hadn't been alone with a boy that wasn't Derrick ever since the rape. Then she looked at Rose, who had gone through what she had been through and was now happily dating Jack, who never overstepped her boundaries. She had never seen anyone as loving and gentle with a girl as Jack was with Rose. Plus she had to move on from the rape some how. She couldn't always lean upon her brother for support and reassurance. There was going to be a time she was going to have to stand on her own two feet. Plus, Tommy has always been a gentleman from the few times he had talked with her. In fact, he was one of the few boys that she felt absolutely comfortable with. There was something warm and soothing about his voice and smile and his eyes...they were like a warm blanket on a cold day when they looked at her. Why not go with Tommy? He definitely was no Cal.

"Okay. Yes, I'd like to go with you."

Tommy happily smiled. He finally had a date and would not be attending the dance alone after all.

"We'll have to shop for a dress," Helga happily clapped. She looked at Rose excitedly. "She'll look good in blue won't she? It'll bring out her blue eyes."

Annabelle blushed and smiled, feeling content for the first time in forever. For the first time she had girl friends. Genuine girl friends to talk to and shop with and giggle about boys. She had never had that at White Star Academy and after she was sent away, she had been afraid that she never would. But now she did, and not only that, she had a date to the senior dinner dance with a interesting boy.

"Are you shopping now?" Jack asked, getting ready to step back into the dressing room to change out of his tuxedo.

"We were actually only window shopping, but it wouldn't hurt to shop while we're here," Rose turned to the sales person. "You wouldn't mind showing us to your formal gowns, would you?"

"Of course not, Miss," the salesperson smiled, leading the girls into a different part of the shop.

"We'll see you later, Jack and Tommy," Rose waved. She had thought about spending the rest of the day with Jack, but a day with the girls would be fun as well. Plus, she didn't want Jack to see the dress she was going to pick. She wanted him to be surprised.

Jack just smiled and waved before disappearing into the mens dressing room.

"She's a goddess amongst mortal men, Jack," Tommy watched the girls go.

"That she is," Jack sighed, thinking of Rose. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever sit eyes on and it was he she chose to be with. Not someone rich like Cal Hockley. Not someone with a interesting sexy accent like Tommy or Fabrizio, he loved them like brothers, but he had to admit the accent gave them an edge where courting girls were concerned. Rose chose him. He may not be rich, he may not have an accent, but she loved him anyway.

Tommy smiled. He was talking about Annabelle, but Rose was a right gorgeous girl as well. He was proud of his friend for landing her and he hoped that some of Jack's boyish charms and manners rubbed off on him. He certainly didn't want to make any mistakes where the shy blond girl was concerned.

…..

Julie was at the other end of the mall, in the food court, picking up lunch. She had decided some McDonalds would cure her hunger pains just fine before she went searching for a dress to a dance she'll be attending alone. She ordered her food and turned to go to her table when she bumped into a young man that she recognized from school. She didn't know his name, but knew that he was one of the White Star kids.

"Excuse me, your highness," She snorted, beginning to walk pass him.

"Pardon me? What is that supposed to mean?" He asked, confused. He hadn't seen this girl before and had no idea what he had done to be spoken to in such a rude manner.

Julie shrugged. "I'm just addressing you in a way that all you White Star kids probably wished us underlings addressed you."

"Why aren't you a ray of sunshine? Don't presume to know me. We've never met. You don't know how I would like to be addressed."

Julie just rolled her eyes and was about to walk away when he spoke again.

"Little Miss Sunshine," he snorted.

She turned around and glared. "Excuse you? What did you call me?"

"Little Miss. Sunshine."

"How dare you," Julie again glared. She didn't know what it was about this kid, but he was just pushing all of her buttons today. "You don't know me..."

"And you don't know me. My name is Derrick. Derrick Watson," The boy grinned, knowing that he was pushing her buttons, but just couldn't help himself. He usually wasn't for making girls angry with him, but there was something fun about making this girl angry.

"Julie Dawson," She frowned, feeling off balance. One minute they're telling each other off and the next, they're exchanging names.

"Related to a Jack Dawson?"

"He's my cousin. You know him?"

"He was of some assistance to my sister a few times. Nice guy. Hard to believe that you're related," Derrick snorted.

"You're a real charmer aren't you?"

Derrick just smirked. "That's what people tell me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get my food."

Julie frowned and watched the handsome boy get in line to make an order. She couldn't believe how entitled the White Star kids are and Jack thinks that some of them are nice. She rolled her eyes and found an empty table and began to dig into her lunch. Five minutes later, she's taking a sip of coke when Derrick comes and sits across from her.

Julie meets his arrival with a glare. "Excuse you. Who said that you can sit here?"

"I didn't see anyone else sitting here," Derrick shrugged. "So I did."

"You didn't even ask."

"The chair doesn't have your name on it," Derrick smirked, knowing that he was pushing this girl's buttons, but he just couldn't help himself. He didn't know what it was, but he enjoyed making her mad.

"Making friends I see, Julie," Tommy came up, along with Jack, whose eyes lit up when he saw Derrick.

"Hey Derrick! Nice seeing you here," Jack grinned, sliding into the seat next to Julie while Tommy sat next to Jack, kind of wanting the barrier. "I see you've met my lovely cousin Julie. Don't worry. Her bark is worse than her bite."

"Don't encourage him!" Julie turned her glare onto her cousin. "Where's Rose? Shouldn't you be following her around as she shops or something?"

"Shopping for the Senior Dinner Dance. Something that you should be doing. Even Tommy's going...which reminds me. Tommy this is Derrick, Annabelle's big brother."

"You know my sister?" Derrick asked, eying Tommy suspiciously, not sure if he liked the way he blushed.

"Yes. I asked her to the dance," Tommy's blush deepened, not sure if this news was welcomed.

"Rebounding already Tommy?" Julie snorted, amused.

"Don't compliment yourself, Jules. You're not that hard to get over."

"You two used to date?" Derrick asked.

"We broke up. Irreconcilable differences," Julie shrugged, then quickly added. "We were just incompatible. Tommy is a good guy though. A real gentleman. He won't do anything that Annabelle won't want him to do."

"Just be careful with her. She's had a hard time," Derrick looked at Tommy, silently giving him a warning. Scare my sister in any way and I'll make you wish that you were never born.

"Anyway, Rose had the idea that all of us could chip in for a limo and go to the dance together. I think it's a great idea," Jack continued. "You know...why don't you and Julie go together? Both of you are single, right?"

"Jack!" Julie glared at her cousin. She hadn't been expecting this from Jack. He never seemed like the match making type. Rose was really bringing out a new side of him that she wasn't sure she liked.

"Hey, that's a good idea. I certainly don't have a date and Miss. Dawson here looks as if she'd be dazzling in a nice dress."

"She really is," Tommy chuckled.

"Come on Julie. It'd be fun," Jack encouraged. He had sensed a vibe between Derrick and his cousin and he was curious to see where it would lead, if anywhere. "What do you have to lose? Besides a night of being the fifth wheel? Take it from someone who was the fifth wheel, it's not as fun as it looks."

"You won't be happy until I say yes will you?" Julie glared. Maybe Jack was right. Maybe this won't be so bad. After all, they seem to be going together as a group anyway, so could it really be counted as a real date? "Alright. Fine. Count me in." She narrowed her eyes on Derrick. "But no hugging and definitely no kissing."

Derrick just laughed. "Not to worry little Miss. Sunshine. Your virtue is safe with me."

Julie just rolled her eyes and continued to eat her fries.