A very nervous William asks Clara Evans to their first High-School dance ;)

February 2nd, 1962; 1:32 PM:

"C'mon, Liam, don't be such a wimp," Henry snickered, bumping a fist into the boy's arm playfully. "The dance is in less than a week!"

William rolled his eyes, forcing a slight smile as he tried to play off as being unaffected by the reminder. Oh, but he was full of lots of anxious butterflies that were swirling around his stomach, making him feel nauseated. For crying out loud, it was just a little date, it wasn't like he hadn't asked out girls before...

Although, he'd never had the nerve to ask this girl out.

"Gotta do it soon, big man, or someone else is gonna catch her," his friend continued as they approached the physics classroom.

"I know, I know," William hissed back. "Now shut up, she's already in there."

He certainly didn't want her to overhear before he could get a chance to say something to her first.

The two walked into the classroom where their long-nosed teacher was busy scribbling some equations onto the chalkboard, assignments and lab equipment for the day scattered over the front table. Most of their peers were already seated and working on a starter... had they missed the bell?

Mr. Jones turned from the board, eying the two behind square glasses. "Late again, Afton? Emily? Take your seats please," he spoke, mildly irritated.

"Sorry, sir," William apologized, adjusting the grip on his notebooks as he and Henry started toward their desks. His eyes passed over his classmates working quietly until his gaze finally landed on the girl just a seat over from his own. Today she wore an olive-green turtleneck, hair done up with a matching ribbon and light makeup complimenting her bright eyes...

The boy caught himself staring and proceeded quickly to his chair, grateful that she hadn't looked up to see the probably stupid expression on his face. Henry was already seated beside him; journal open, sporting a very smug smile.

William started pulling necessary items from his backpack, ignoring his friend who was looking intently at him, face cupped in his hands. He finally looked his way and regretted it instantly as Henry raised his eyebrows and winked.

"Stop," he whispered, shoving the boy's grinning face away as Mr. Jones finally began the lesson, pointing to various equations and diagrams on the chalkboard. He started his notes, not making much sense of them as his mind continuously wandered to the memorized script he'd rehearsed several times that morning while their teacher released them for partner assignments.

He cleared his throat, finger tapping his pencil anxiously as he snuck another glance at the girl across the aisle, and he must have been staring again as Henry peered his head around at him and bumped his shoulder playfully.

"See something you like, chum?" He spoke coyly, that persistent grin on his face once again.

William turned, about to snap at him to leave it for the second time that day when Henry started waving his arm in the girl's direction obnoxiously.

Clara's blonde head turned away from her partner, attention caught, and William mentally cursed the boy beside him.

"Hey, Clara!" Henry spoke with a happy smile, and she gave a polite wave back.

"Will just wanted to say-" Henry continued, and mind quickly putting together what it was he was planning to say, William clapped a hand over the boy's mouth and looked in the girl's direction with a forced smile.

"I just wanted to say that, uh- I was really impressed with your performance and that it was definitely the best dance this school has seen," he hurried out, trying to relax his expression. "Makes total sense that your team is going to district this weekend!"

Clara's mouth lifted into a genuine smile and William tried to ignore the melting sensation coming over him at that moment.

"Oh- thank you. We're glad all of our rehearsal is paying off," she spoke smoothly. "I just hope the same goes for our Band festival in a few weeks. My section is struggling with our pieces."

William nodded, maybe a little harder than he should have, but couldn't help the thoughts racing through his head. "Oh, yeah- but you're doing a great job with your solos. Even if the other flutes don't do well, those adjudicators will be blown away," he continued with a smile and a wink.

Clara's face dawned that oh-so-beautiful smile again, this time with a light pink in her cheeks that made William want to melt in his seat, and from the warmth he could feel in his neck, he probably would any second now.

She opened her mouth to speak again, but the sound of Mr. Jones' voice from the front of the class stopped whatever it was she was about to say.

"No dilly-dallying now, I want all your labs turned in by the end of the period…" he spoke, eyes moving to the two tables with a raised eyebrow. Clara flashed one more smile at William before returning to her work.

"Smooth talk, big man," Henry spoke with a chuckle and coy grin. "And now, you just…"

"-Get back to our lab so we won't have extra homework tonight, great idea," William interrupted quickly. His friend opened his mouth to protest but was stopped at the sheet of unfinished equations that was shoved into his face.

-30 minutes later-

"I expect your assignments five before the hour," Mr. Jones spoke from his desk as a few groups started making their way to the front of the classroom with their projects. William tapped his pencil to his paper anxiously, eyes noting Clara as she left to turn in her work. The bell would ring in just a few minutes, if he didn't do it now, he might miss his chance.

"Here, you take this up," he muttered quietly, handing his portion to Henry. The boy eyed him, taking the stack of papers from his friend. "Are you gonna do it?" He asked in a hushed whisper.

"Not if you keep asking me," William spoke with grated teeth, trying to suppress the building anxiety that made his chest feel fit to burst. "Alright, alright!" Henry said with hands raised in surrender. "I'll just ah... dawdle up there, shall I?"

"Yes, please."

The boy retrieved their assignments and started to the front of the classroom, meanwhile Clara resumed her seat across from him.

Deep breath, you can do this, it will be okay if she says no, William tried to reassure himself.

Yeah. He didn't believe that for a second.

His panic increased as Clara began to pack her things, evidently ready to leave, narrowing his window of opportunity-

Screw it.

William stood from his seat, trying to seem relaxed as he put a hand in a pocket and approached Clara's desk. He leaned against the chair in front of it and she looked up with a questioning look on her face.

"Hello, again," she spoke with a light, but confused smile.

Oh, no. Everything was telling him to run. No, he told himself mentally, realizing the time between answering was growing too long,just answer, say something, say something-

"Hey," he replied lamely.

He hesitated again, forgetting the question he had rehearsed so many times before this moment and she raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I- uh-" he started in a cracked voice. He felt his ears redden in embarrassment and he cleared his throat. "Um- I was wondering- if you're not busy, or if- if you haven't already been asked- if you'd like to um," he spoke, cursing his nervousness. "If you'd... like to go to the dance with me," he finished lamely.

"Oh-" Clara said, a surprised expression on her face.

William couldn't decipher if she was happily surprised, or now awkwardly trying to find a way to tell him 'no'. He felt his anxiousness building, he shouldn't have tried to ask, she was way too good for him anyways and she knew that, and now he was making a prat of himself, this was a mistake-

"I'd love to!"

William's eyes popped open. "W-What?" He asked, mouth open in total disbelief. Clara giggled, the lovely sound bringing him back to his senses. "I said I'd love to!" She laughed. "That is what you were hoping for, right?" She continued with a playful smile.

"Uh- y-yeah!" William stuttered, trying to contain his sheer excitement and elation that was making him hopelessly giddy. "That's great! I'll pick you up at seven? That Friday night?"

Clara smiled. "Sounds good to me," she spoke as the bell rang. She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you around, Will," she said with a nonchalant wave, and like that, she was gone.

William stood in his place, a goofy, open grin on his face, face red as a tomato with an energy that made him want to go skipping down the hallway to his next class. He felt a tap on his shoulder and Henry spoke from behind him.

"So, how did it go...?" He prodded hesitantly. William let out a breathless chuckle, extending a hand out to grasp his friend's shoulder.

"I feel like I'm gonna pass out," he said, still grinning. Henry, concerned, held onto him for support with an apprehensive expression. "What... did she say?"

"She said yes."

"SHE DID?!" Henry exclaimed, receiving a glare from Mr. Jones. "YOU'VE GOT A DATE; YOU'VE GOT A DATE-"

"Yeah!" William laughed, finally picking up his backpack.

She said yes.