First off, I apologize for the absence from this fic everyone! Life was very busy with my work and get togethers with friends and family. Plus, I also got sick with a HORRIBLE Flu that got me down and out for almost 2 weeks, so thank you for your patience! Secondly, I would like to give a quick shout out to user 'draco70' for their incredibly kind and helpful feedback! I wanted to send you a PM to thank you, but was not able to. So I wanted to thank you here for the review you left with some great constructive criticism. I really do appreciate it! :) Anyway, this chapter picks up where the previous chapter left off. Hope you all enjoy it!

(Hunter's POV)

Okay… this isn't so bad!

After Willow and I walked into the gym and met up with everyone, I actually started to feel kind of 'okay' right now with everything.

Honestly, I really wasn't even caring too much about the dance since I was too focused on trying to use it as just a way to ask Willow out. Not that it even mattered since I never even asked her anyway, but… you know, whatever!

Now that I'm here and even though there's a giant fear-feasting monster underneath our feet night now, I could see why witches my age think this is fun.

Dressing up, hanging out… This was a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be. Especially once Viney and Skara came over after seeing some of their other friends, it actually was pretty fun with the whole group together.

For the first time in days, I was actually able to talk to Willow without looking like a complete idiot.

Weirdly… I think having everyone else hanging around and talking just made everything a little 'easier' and just took the 'pressure off' everything.

Willow and I kept talking until Skara came in and put a hand on both our shoulders as she started, "Hey! We all look so good! We should totally get a Flyer Derby Team picture right now. Who's in?" Skara looked back at Gus and Viney. Viney grinned as she gave a thumbs up and said, "I'm in!" "Yeah, sure. Why not?" Gus added with a smirk and shrug.

Everyone just pulled me and Willow along, both of us just looking at each other and shrugging before letting out a laugh as they dragged us to this photo area set up in the opposite corner of the gymnasium.

"Alright, Captains front and center!" Viney called out as all of them laughed immediately pushed Willow and I toward the center of the backdrop area before crowding around us as Gus took over, looking at the camera, "Okay guys, 'Entrails' on three. One… Two… Three…" "ENTRAILS!" All of shouted as we crowded each other in more right before the camera took the shot.

I had no idea what was going on as all of us just started laughing right after the picture was taken.

There wasn't even anything to laugh at, but… it just felt good right now. It's only been 2 months since everything was back to normal-ish again (you, know just as 'normal' as it can get), but… it was like I still didn't fully get it.

Just getting the fact that I'm finally living how 'I' wanted to live now.

Studying what I want, doing what I want, and hanging out with whoever I want like a normal teenager.

So then… why do I feel like something is 'off' right now?

Right then I looked down and I felt my face heat up and my ears feeling like they were going to incinerate off my head when I realized what was happening.

Ahhh… dammit.

When everyone got Willow and I in the middle of the picture to get us all in the shot, I guess I didn't realize exactly how 'close' we actually were.

Well, until now at least I didn't realize it.

During the picture, Willow got an arm around my shoulders and completely on instinct without even thinking I guess I pulled her in closer to my side by hers.

Which was fine during the picture!

But now… it was a bit more than us being 'side by side', considering we were pretty much holding onto each other in a hug that almost seemed to be going on way longer than it should have. My face and ears still felt so hot that they were going to burn off my skull as we kept looking at each other.

Her face was a little red too as she just kept staring at me. But… neither of us moved.

We weren't moving, talking, or… anything?!

Ugh, c'mon Hunter! I know this isn't how you wanted any of this to happen, but… AGH, just do something already, you spineless moron!

I still felt like I had no idea what was happening until she smiled a little at me, her face still a little red but hardly even looked anything close to my face feeling like it was melting off right now.

C'mon! Do it! You have a chance. Ask her to dance or something. ANYTHING! Just… UGH! SAY SOMETHING!

Then, and I don't know why, but… I panicked!

I immediately let go and took a step back on reflex, having no idea what I was even doing anymore.

Right then (and like a total idiot) I let out an almost painfully awkward laugh and smiled just as awkwardly and idiotically without me even needing to look at myself as I started, gesturing behind me with my thumb, "I'm... just gonna go get some apple blood from the punch bowl, okay?"

As I turned on my heels and strutted off, everything in me was pretty much screaming as I just let my legs carry me to the punch bowl.

I especially almost internally wanted to rip myself in half out of flustered frustration as I heard her say behind me, sounding very confused and slightly 'caught off guard' (not that I blame her at this point), "Ohhhhh-kay?"

Just?!... UGH! SERIOUSLY HUNTER?! What are you doing right now?! WHAT EVEN WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE?!

Even though on the outside, I was still walking over to the punch bowl like normal… 'Inside' was a different story as I kept practically self-scolding and getting progressively more angry and frustrated with myself being an absolutely pathetic failure.

All I knew now was that I was weirdly relieved right now that Principal Bump had 'all attending students with a Palisman to please make them go dormant and put them out of sight for the duration of the event'. Otherwise I know Flapjack would also be showing absolutely NO mercy after what I backed out of doing again.

To top it off I really wasn't even thirsty and only made up the punch bowl excuse since it was the first thing I could see, but since I came all the way over here after whatever idiot display I just put on over there in front of Willow and the rest of our friends… I decided to just grab a cup and start pouring myself some apple blood anyway.

Agh, dammit Hunt…

I couldn't even have time to finish my thought or even pour anything in the cup as I felt a hand on my shoulder that made me turn around and quirk up an eyebrow almost instantly out of instinct.

At this point I was thinking it was either Willow, Gus, or maybe even Luz after that. But, then I got even more confused when I saw 'who' exactly was there… considering it was probably the last person I expected.

Amity.

I gave her a confused look as I tilted my head until my eyes went wide as she grabbed my arm by the elbow and just said directly, "How about we dance?"

Dance? What?

I was about to question it until she just decided that she wasn't going to wait for me to respond as she just started pulling me along and making me stutter out a confused and taken aback, "HEY!"

But, it didn't stop Amity as she didn't even acknowledge me while she just kept dragging me out to the floor by my arm in front of the stage where there were already other people dancing. And before I could even form any other words, we stopped so abruptly that I had to regain my footing as Amity immediately took my left hand in her right and put her left hand on my right shoulder before pretty much leading us to the music going.

I still had no idea what was happening right now, but I didn't want to make more of a total idiot of myself than I already have tonight… I just mirrored what she did and tried to hook my free arm around her back between her shoulder blades as we kept moving, mostly copying what some other people were doing around us.

Honestly, and as pathetically sad as it sounds, this was the first time I danced with anyone… ever!

Not because I didn't want to or anything! But between the Emperor's Coven and 'everything after that' until now, the 'opportunity' never came up for me to ever dance and much less dance with other people!

And not that I cared since it wasn't high on my list.

But, I was even willing to try it just to ask Willow to dance with me since… well, I wouldn't mind doing this with her, you know?

But, Amity?... I still had no idea what was going on or what she was even doing?

And based on the confused looks on Luz, Gus, and Willow's faces as I looked over Amity's shoulder at them, they all kept looking at me and Amity with quirked up eyebrows and tilted heads.

They just looked like they had no idea what was going on either.

I was so wrapped up in my own confusion as I kept looking at them until I just heard Amity say, "Sorry, but this was the only way I could think of to try and talk to you about this without anyone else getting involved here."

I looked down at her slightly as we kept dancing. She was just looking up at me, seeming fairly even and matter of fact.

Then, having no idea what else to say… and also avoiding the obvious Titan-sized Griffin in the room, I scoffed out a slight laugh as I said, "Talk? Ha! What's there to talk about? There's nothing to talk about!"

But, even before I finished whatever I just said, Amity quirked up an eyebrow at me and only confirmed what I unfortunately suspected.

Yeah, she's not buying any of that.

And it was confirmed even more but I was surprised to see her expression stay surprisingly even as she let out a sigh, "Look, I know we really don't 'hang out' or even 'talk; to each other that much, but… I want to talk about whatever is going on with you and Willow."

I mean, she's not wrong as far as her and I are concerned honestly.

Don't get me wrong! Amity and I have nothing against each other anymore and we've always decently gotten along since our time in the Human Realm, but… Amity is right.

We're not really 'close' or anything. Honestly and like Amity just said, we hardly ever talk one on one with each other and the only time we're hanging out is if Luz, Gus, and Willow are around.

I would've kept wringing my brain in confusion over the situation of Amity wanting to 'privately talk to me' period if it wasn't for my brain also simultaneously latching itself onto what else she brought up that made my face go red again.

Eventually I stuttered out, even though I knew it was useless to deny it since I knew that she knew about my crush on Willow just as much as everyone else does, "But, what the?..."

Then Amity immediately cut me off as she made direct eye contact with me, "Look Hunter, just… hear me out, okay? Because whether you believe me or not, I understand what you're going through right now more than you think. You know, feeling afraid that the person you like might… fully reject you."

My eyes went wide and if it wasn't for Amity continuing to lead me, I probably would have just froze in place. My mouth felt like it was sealed shut as my eyes still felt like they were going to fall out of my head as everything she said kept 'setting in'.

Well… crap. Guess it really is that obvious, huh?

But, for whatever reason, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of defensiveness take over as I rolled my eyes and let out of a scoff as I directed indignantly, thinking out loud more than anything, "Yeah, says the one who's had a girlfriend all this time."

Well, until I realized I actually said what I was thinking out loud in full force when Amity grabbed my tie and pulled me down to bring me subtly nose to nose with her while we were dancing, catching my full attention as I looked at her wide eyed again.

At first she looked like she was going to chew into me a little as she directed, almost feeling like she was 'putting me back in my place' while also trying not to draw any attention, "Hey! I'm not trying to act like some kind of 'gloating jerk' or anything, okay? Because again, whether you believe it or not, things with Luz and I weren't always 'like this'."

Right then, Amity slowly let go of my tie and put her hand back on my shoulder, making me tilt my head at her in total confusion as she looked off in the corner of the room for a second while we kept dancing.

Eventually she closed her eyes and let out a sigh, looking she was trying to 'get it together' before continuing, "Last year… a little before Grom and this was before Luz and I actually started dating, I wanted to ask her if she wanted to go with me to Grom as dates. I was trying to ask her way before Grom was even happening, but… I was scared. When we first met, Luz and I didn't exactly start off on 'good terms' with each other. But we eventually 'made a truce' and became friends after everything. Then I started to realize I liked her more than just a friend and I really wanted to 'be more' than friends with her. So when we were a couple weeks away from Grom, I got it all planned out. I even wrote a note for her to make it even easier to ask. But, every time I tried to ask her, it was like I became physically incapable of doing it. I'd see her, walk over, and try to take the note out of my pocket… Nothing. My throat would tense up and my stomach would knot every time I would even think about it after the first couple times I tried asking. Then I just kept getting into my own head and eventually had these nightmares where I'd ask Luz to go to Grom with me and she'd just give me this glare and tear up my note right in front of me before throwing it at me and just walking away, making me feel terrified every time I woke up in these cold sweats. Then one day I decided I was just going to try to get over it and ask her at lunch, but… then it was announced that I was Grom Queen that morning. And… I couldn't. I actually went and hid in the bathroom and had a panic attack, because I knew the moment I fought Grom that everyone would see that my greatest fear was being rejected by Luz. All I could think of was that I would be painfully humiliated every day for the rest of my time at Hexside and even contemplated transfering for a second because of it. I didn't want to do it more than ever. I wanted nothing more than to get away from being Grom Royalty. It's a long story, but… Luz eventually took my place as Grom Queen. She was just being sweet and only trying to help but she eventually got in over her head so I had to swallow my pride and step in to help her and also to stop running from my problems just because I was scared. And… Luz ended up seeing my fear anyway right as I stepped in to do what I should've just done to begin with. Luckily she didn't realize Grom was showing her rejecting me, but… then something happened that I would've never expected before that moment. When she saw my fear, she immediately told me she would 'go to Grom with me instead'. Sure I realized then that she didn't notice my fear was being rejected by her, but I also realized at that moment that... I never had anything to be afraid of. Because I spent all that time psyching myself out that Luz wasn't going to feel the same way and would never want to even go near me again after I asked her to Grom and showed her how I really felt, but I wasn't thinking about the 'reality' of the situation at the time. Even if Luz ended up not feeling the same way about me, we were still friends and I knew what she was like as a person. And I should've known that no matter what she wouldn't do something harsh to me or anyone like that."

Even though physically both of us were still dancing, mentally… I was stunned as I took in all that.

It was quiet between us for a few seconds until I finally quirked up and eyebrow and questions, just getting right to the point, "Um, look, that's great and everything, Amity. But, and no offense… what does any of that have to do with me here?"

I was surprised when she made direct eye contact with me again and said, straight out and to the point, "Because you're doing the same thing with Willow right now."

I went wide eyed for the thousandth time as my throat swelled up from nerves at being 'called out'.

But, she took advantage of my silence as she kept going, letting out another sigh, "Look Hunter, I'm just saying. I get how you're feeling right now. But, take it from me. Because you're not doing yourself or Willow a favor by not being honest about what you're feeling right now. I know, it's scary to do something like this with someone you like, especially if they're one of your friends. But, as someone who's known Willow for as long as I have, she's too loyal and too good of a friend to do something harsh over something like that. Believe me… Willow's a better friend than I could still ever hope to be for anyone... especially her."

Right then, she let go of me and we stopped dancing before she said, "Well, that's all I wanted to say and you can do whatever you want with it, but just take it from me on the 'honesty thing'. Trust me."

She looked like she was going to walk away until I started, me now getting a bit braver out of my own morbid curiosity, "Wait, Amity."

She stopped and looked back at me, her quirking up an unsure eyebrow at me now. Eventually I decided to just swallow hard, straighten up, and ask straight out, "Why did you do all this? Or even help me?"

I know that's pretty direct, but that was how I felt right now.

This was the most Amity and I talked to each other since the mines leading to Eclipse Lake.

So… why this right now?

But, just as directly as I asked her, she answered back just as instant and direct, "Because let's just say you're not the only one who owes something to Willow. It's a long story, but… just don't make the same mistakes I did with taking her for granted."

Then she just gave me a slight smirk before she turned on her heels and walked back off toward the group, eventually returning to standing next to Luz who was laughing about something with Gus, Willow, Skara, and Viney.

But, I just looked back at Willow laughing and smiling, making me smile on reflex. Well, until Amity's words all flooded back into my head as I kept looking at Willow.

I kept looking at Willow until I finally grit my teeth and started to take a step forward and just do it until Bump called out over the P.A. network in the gym, "Attention students! It's time for everyone to take your seats and get ready for our selected Royalty to face off against Grom!"

Even though I was frustrated at being kept from doing this for one reason or another yet again, I made a promise to myself.

Before the night was over, I was going to do this. I'm finally going to be honest with Willow and tell her how I feel… no matter what.

Okay, I'm going to be honest here. Don't get me twisted, the writing and relationships in this show are some of my absolute favorites in a cartoon meant for younger audiences with the time they're given. They're so well developed and deep for a show like this and I think that is so important to show to kids and Pre-teens especially! But… there are ways certain relationship struggles were handled that I thought could've used a bit more progression shown. One was Lilith and Eda after the sisters made up. Like I just wished after Lilith apologized to Eda and took on half her curse that they would have shown a bit more awkwardness and tension between the two as they worked on their relationship as sisters again after years of feeling strained and especially after Eda found out that Lilith cursed her. Like… it just seemed like they were on good terms WAY too quickly as soon as the next episode. As someone who also was in a situation of feeling VERY betrayed by a siblings trust that took almost a full year after the 'incident' occurred for us to even be 'kinda sorta okay' again with each other. So, I just wished they would have at least dedicated one episode to fully show them acknowledge the awkwardness before the episode where their mother Gwen showed up for the final resolution. And to me, the same could almost be said after the episode "Understanding Willow" with Willow and Amity working on mending their friendship fences. I know Amity's parents were cruel with their threats if she didn't break things off with Willow, but it just seemed like there was still more that seemed like it was missing. Especially after how badly Amity treated Willow and allowed Boscha and company to also bully Willow and put her down… it just seemed like there wasn't as much noticeable awkwardness between the two in the episodes that followed showing the two interacting like I was hoping for. Because I could still see Amity still holding this VERY deep seeded guilt about how she treated Willow and would want to do anything to make it up to Willow for how things went down out of her own fear and insecurity as a kid. So, I thought it would be fitting for Amity to kind of 'level with' Hunter and act as a 'wing woman' here to help him get the courage to ask out or at least be honest about how he feels with Willow through telling him about her similar experience with Luz. Because let's just say Amity knows more than she's letting on. ;) But, anyway, next chapter we'll continue with the Grom Saga. Stay tuned! Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and constructive feedback is always very helpful and appreciated. ?

Stay Classy and Happy Holidays!

Dexter1995