It was now about ten minutes after seven, and Charlie Brown, along with his gorgeous red-haired date, had arrived at the dance. After collecting their entry passes at the gym entrance, they proceeded onward.

Inside the gym, where the dance was being held, numerous Valentine-themed decorations had been hung about the area. These included heart-shaped balloons, pink and red streamers, and the food table was loaded with sweet treats, such as cupcakes and cookies. Of course, there were other types of snacks as well. Quiet music was currently being played, and it was both Franklin and his date, Marcie, who were up on the stage managing things there.

It was still pretty early in the evening, so not everyone who had planned on participating had shown up yet, and not too many people were busy dancing. As Charlie Brown and Heather went in, they began searching to see if any of their main crew had shown up. After a moment, they found Linus and Janice over near the snack table, and they approached them.

"Hi, you two," Linus greeted them.

"Hi, Linus. Hi, Janice," Heather greeted back. She then gave Linus a once over. "Well, I'll be. Your suit is styled just like Charlie Brown's, except it's a different color. Did you notice?"

"Hey, she's right!" Janice acknowledged.

Indeed they were. Linus' suit was exactly like Charlie Browns, except his was in the color maroon, and he was wearing a midnight blue tie. Although Linus' was doomed to be with that eye patch for a while still, he really did also look nice tonight.

Heather then examined Janice's outfit. She was wearing a pink dress with short puffed sleeves that came down just a little bit below knee level. She was wearing frilly white socks and also had on her feet Mary Jane shoes the color of her dress. A matching pink bow headband was atop her head. And finally, she was, for the first time, wearing the cross pendant that she had gotten for Christmas (which Linus absolutely loved).

"You look very pretty, Janice. I see you've finally decided to wear that lovely necklace," Heather said to her.

Janice nodded and looked at Linus. "Uh-huh. I did that just for you, Linus."

Linus smiled fondly at her, his cheeks going red.

A few seconds later though, before the scene would start to get awkward, Charlie Brown cleared his throat. "So, are Schroeder and Mary here yet?"

"Not yet," Linus replied. "They'll be here very soon though."

"Janette is still feeling a little under the weather though, so she unfortunately won't be coming," Janice added.

"Oh, that's too bad. I hope it's not anything serious," Heather said, sounding a bit concerned. "She's been out for a few days now."

"She's beginning to recover," Janice assured her. "She'll be back in school tomorrow I think."

"Oh. Well, that's good to hear," Heather said, relieved.

For the next few minutes, the group hung around and chatted while enjoying some tasty treats. At one point, Charlie Brown was watching Patty Swanson and Pig-Pen as they were having a ball together on the dance floor.

They were in stark contrast to each other appearance-wise. We had a stunning-looking Patty in her shiny emerald green dress and ponytailed hair, and Pig-Pen, although he was wearing a brown suit, looked as dusty and disheveled as he usually did. But Patty clearly didn't care, and she and him were clearly enjoying themselves, despite Violet, who had now arrived with Shermy, shooting them disgusted looks.

After another moment, Schroeder and Mary had arrived, and had met up with the group. Schroeder didn't dress up too heavily as he decided to just wear the suit he wore the night of that talent show. Mary however, was wearing a platinum-colored dress with short ruffled sleeves, and matching low-heeled shoes. Her hair, which was usually worn long and straight, had been twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. It was also adorned with a large white flower pin. Finally, she was sporting new white flower earrings.

"So Schroeder, how does it feel being here tonight?" Linus asked his maestro friend.

Schroeder shrugged. "It's fine. It's a nice change of pace."

"And how about you, bestie?" Heather asked Mary. "You look like you really wanted to be at your best tonight. And if I didn't know better..." Heather squinted as she examined Mary's face. "It looks like you're even wearing makeup for the first time!"

"Well, you know," Mary responded, feeling slightly flustered. "I'm just one of those people who likes to dress up for the occasion." he then looked over Heather's appearance. "As you yourself clearly did for this one."

"Hehe, touche, I guess," Heather said.

Just then, Franklin's voice rang throughout the gym via the intercom.

"And now, for everyone who likes to dance, grab a partner! Because we are about to play an old classic: the ol' Foxtrot!"

"Oooh, I love this one!" Mary said excitedly. She then turned to Schroeder, softly clearing her throat. "Well... do you...?"

"Sure, let's do it," Schroeder replied.

And so the two of them made their way to the dance floor, followed closely by Linus and Janice. Heather looked at Charlie Brown expectantly.

Charlie Brown looked back at Heather. It took him a few seconds though, and a small frown appearing on Heather's face before realization dawned on him. He mentally smacked himself.

"Oh, right! I'm such a blockhead!" he said. "Heather, would you... would you like to dance?"

Heather's smile returned about two seconds later, and she took his hand. "I was worried you wouldn't ask."

And so the two of them also walked up to where everyone else was about to foxtrot. Charlie Brown was now a bit fidgety as he thought, I'm about to dance with Heather. I'm about to dance with the (once) little red-haired girl! I don't believe it!

Everyone and their partners waited, and after a few seconds, the music began to play.

Slow, slow, quick quick.

Move across the floor.

Slow slow, quick quick.

Shoulders back. Stomach in. Take a deep breath, now let's begin.

Again, slow, slow, quick quick.

It's really lots of fun.

Just follow the footprints on the floor, and you move as one.

In total, the song lasted for about three minutes, and at the end, when the music got insanely fast, not everyone was able to keep up, and a number of people even fell over. No one got hurt though, fortunately.

Unfortunately for Janice, she was one of the people who fell over.

"Good grief, not again!" she exclaimed after landing on her bottom.

"Janice, are you alright?" Linus asked before helping her up.

"I think so," Janice said before blushing in embarrassment.

She then frantically looked around to see if anyone was staring. Fortunately though, there wasn't. And she even saw the couple of others who had also taken a spill, and she instantly felt better.

Heather smiled at Janice when she saw the embarrassment leave her face. "That's right. Just laugh it off, Janice. You weren't the only one who fell."

"Right," Janice agreed before giving off a quick laugh.

"Whew." Charlie Brown fanned himself with his hand. "Well, after that, I think I need to rest for a couple of minutes to catch my breath."

"Good idea," Heather agreed.

And so the two of them were about to go and sit down for a moment, but as they started to walk, Marcie's voice was being heard over the intercom.

"And now for our next special track, a certain something that was a bit hit during certain elementary school dances," she said.

The jukebox then began to play a certain all-too-familiar tune. Once Heather heard what had begun to play, she immediately grabbed Charlie Brown's hand and was dragging him back towards the dance floor, much to his shock and surprise.

"Whoa, Heather! What the heck?!"

"Listen! Do you remember this music?" she asked him.

Charlie Brown shook off his surprise and listened. He instantly did recognize this as that song that he danced to (and then slipped and fell), during the third grade winter dance.

"It's time for you to get redemption for what happened during our third grade dance!" Heather told him with a determined expression on her face.

"What?" Charlie Brown said, baffled by this sudden change in demeanor from Heather.

"You heard me. Go for it! Just like on that night, do what you were about to do!" Heather asserted.

Before Charlie Brown had a chance to reply, he was silenced by the voices of a couple others.

"Do it, Charlie Brown!" Linus yelled.

"Show everyone what you had there!" Schroeder added.

Even Mary and Janice spoke words of encouragement to him.

Charlie Brown shrugged. "Oh, alright!"

He then took a few seconds to try to remember the dance steps he had created for that winter dance competition. Once he remembered, he began to perform them.

Like before, the dance started off slow. But it soon picked up both speed and energy. He heard the sounds of his crew cheering him on, and even a few others stopped their own dancing to watch him. But no one was cheering for Charlie Brown as intensely as Heather. She really wanted him to get some sort of redemption from what had happened that other night.

"Go, Charlie Brown, go! You got the beat! You got the moves! You got the rhythm. You've got the groove!" she chanted.

Charlie Brown found himself feeling very motivated and uplifted by the redhead's support. And like that other night, he was as determined as possible to finish the routine as best as he could. And fortunately for him, he did not slip. No shoes went flying. And no water sprinklers were set off. Nothing happens except for Charlie Brown successfully completing his routine.

Upon finishing, Charlie Brown gave a sigh of relief before proceeding to catch his breath. Seconds later, he was met with applause from both those in his friend group, as well as the onlookers who had stopped what they were doing to watch the show.

"That was great, Charlie Brown!" some random guy called out to him.

"Atta boy, Chuck! You really nailed it that time," Peppermint Patty said, nodding approvingly.

"Charlie Brown, you did it!" Heather exclaimed, rushing up to him.

"Yeah. I guess I did," Charlie Brown said modestly, though he had a very bright smile on his face.

Though that little show may have not earned Charlie Brown a trophy (since of course there was no contest being held), he was very satisfied nonetheless. This to him easily made up for the fiasco that had happened on the night of the third grade winter dance.

Among those who took to the dance floor, Patty Swanson and Pig-Pen were among those who were there for the longest before deciding they needed a break. Pig-Pen saw Charlie Brown with his crew, and he realized that he and Charlie Brown hadn't really talked at all much since Junior High had started. He decided he needed to change that.

"Hey, Patty, I'm gonna stop by and pay a visit to CB for a few minutes," he said to his date.

"Oh," Patty responded. She was then silent for a couple of seconds as she looked down at her feet. "Well... I'll come with you."

This caught Pig-Pen by surprise, and he was also a little skeptical as he raised a dusty eyebrow.

Knowing what Pig-Pen was thinking, she waved both of her hands dismissively. "I promise I won't be mean to anybody."

Pig-Pen studied her, not immediately saying anything. After a few seconds though, he have a short nod. "Alright."

And so the two of them began to approach Charlie Brown and his posse. As they got close, Linus was the one to notice that they were coming.

"Hey guys, look. Pig-Pen and Patty Swanson are coming over," he said to everybody.

The group all looked at the two of them as they arrived. Janice looked curiously at them, but the rest of the group appeared wary. And rightfully so. Not because of Pig-Pen, of course, but rather, because of Patty.

The scene was silent, and quickly getting awkward as no one could immediately think of a way to break the silence. Finally, Patty decided to speak.

"Um... hi, you guys," she said, sounding uncharacteristically shy.

"Hello, Patty. Pig-Pen," Heather said tentatively. Others gave either lukewarm greetings, or just simply nodded at them.

"Are you guys having fun tonight?" Patty then asked.

Those in Charlie Brown's group gave off nods and told them that they were in fact having a good time.

"How about you guys?" Mary asked them.

"Oh, we're having a blast!" Pig-Pen answered enthusiastically. "Ol' Franklin up there has really chosen for us some awesome music for us to rumble to."

"I agree," Patty said.

Pig-Pen then looked over at Schroeder. "So, Schroeder, forgive me for saying, but I'm honestly very surprised to see you here."

Schroeder shrugged. "That's what everyone's been saying, quite frankly."

"I'm serious, dude," Pig-Pen said. "I mean, this is like the very epitome of things that you normally would not be interested in. And the fact that you're hear with a date... well, that to me is a whole 'nother level of unexpected."

Pig-Pen then glanced over at Mary, who shifted uncomfortably as she looked down at her lap with her pale cheeks turning pink.

"You don't have a problem with that, do you?" Schroeder asked, sounding a little bit defensive now.

"Oh, no! Not at all!" Pig-Pen said in a hurry. "I'm sorry if I came off in a bad way just now."

Schroeder relaxed a little upon hearing that. "It's alright."

"You know, if I'm being honest, I think that even just a month ago, I could've said the same thing about Mary," Heather said, also looking at Mary.

Mary grew even more embarrassed and she pouted at Heather. "Hey! What's wrong with a little change of pace? I've been bored lately."

Several in the group shared a laugh. The subject then changed so as to not make Mary or Schroeder feel more uncomfortable.

"So, Patty," Heather then said, getting Patty's attention. "I know that you're here with Pig-Pen, but where's Violet? Is she here tonight?"

"Oh. Her," Patty said in a gruff-sounding tone, catching Heather and everyone else off guard. "I think so. I believe she's with Shermy. I don't really know."

"Actually, there she is right there!" Charlie Brown announced, pointing straight ahead.

The group looked at Violet, who by this point was eyeing the group. Her eyes lingered the longest though on Patty and Pig-Pen. Seconds later though, she did something that caught everyone (except Patty and Pig-Pen) by complete surprise. She began to feign choking, and she began forcefully waving her hands, as if she was trying to fan something away from her.

"Ugh, that's disgusting! Get that filthy crap away from me!" she said, trying to sound melodramatic.

She then jogged away. Everyone in the group watched her go, wondering what the blazing heck that was supposed to be. The exception were Pig-Pen and Patty, the latter of which began seething with rage.

"Oooh, that girl!" she shouted, stomping her foot. She then gave a sigh, trying to calm herself. "Excuse me for a minute, guys. I need to use the bathroom." She then began walking away from the group and (supposedly) in the direction of the bathrooms.

Meanwhile, Pig-Pen awkwardly faced the group, as they looked back at him (and between each other) trying to figure out what to make of that moment.

"What... had just happened now?" Charlie Brown uttered out.

"It's crazy," Pig-Pen said, the stress evident in his voice. "A few days ago, Patty and Violet got into a huge fight while Violet was visiting Patty's house. She didn't outright say it, but I believe that the fight was over Patty being around me. As you can probably tell by now, Violet just hates seeing me and Patty hanging out together because of the way I am."

"And I take it that they're not interested yet in making up?" Schroeder asked.

"They won't even speak to each other right now," Pig-Pen said. "Outside of wacko incidents like this, it's as if the two have never even met each other before."

Both Mary and Heather were finding all of this to be very strange and peculiar. First, there was Patty Swanson actually seemingly trying to be nice to everyone in the group. And now she was learning that Patty and Violet recently had a spat that suddenly left them unwilling to even talk to each other. Neither Mary nor Heather understood why Pig-Pen was the way he was, but they have understood by now that Patty had accepted him despite that. Violet clearly didn't though, and it bothered Violet intensely that the girl who was supposed to be her bestie was associating herself with someone like Pig-Pen.

For the first time... possibly ever, the two girls began to have sympathy for Patty.

"Anyway, I'm gonna go check up on Patty and make sure she's alright," Pig-Pen said to everyone.

He then left, going in the direction of wherever Patty stormed off to.

The group was silent for a few seconds before Janice spoke up. "I don't really know who that girl is, but I feel kinda sorry for her," she said, sounding slightly sad.

"Frankly Janice, I do too, even though I don't really like her," Heather agreed. "I know Pig-Pen isn't the most... hygienic person around here, but he's actually a pretty nice guy."

"And it's clear that Patty really likes him," Linus added.

Mary remained silent as the rest of the group was in discussion about Patty and Pig-Pen. It had become clear to her now as well that Patty liked Pig-Pen, despite his situation. Perhaps even more than that. And she was getting the feeling that Pig-Pen might even have something for Patty as well. He clearly cared for her. And he always did his best to try and keep her smiling. So, it was a real shame that Violet was not willing to be accepting of the two of them being together. Mary hoped that everything would turn out okay for both Patty and Pig-Pen in the end. Deep down, she had a feeling that Patty and Pig-Pen together would somehow turn out to be very good for Patty as a person.

Over the next little while, the tension in the group settled down and everyone had gone back to enjoying the festivities. Once it was exactly eight o' clock, Franklin's voice rang once more over the intercom.

"Alright, everyone. You've been waiting," he said, setting the atmosphere with his tone of voice. "We have a special guest here for all of you, and he is guaranteed to give you all a show that you'll always remember. So, turn your attention to the gymnasium entrance!"

Everyone did as they were instructed and waited to see who would be showing up to the party. After a few seconds, the special guest arrived...

And I'm going to be ending the chapter here!

Just one more part and this arc is done. After this, the winter season will be just about over and, with the Sparkyville weather starting to warm back up, we will be starting on with some new exciting new stuff! Baseball season is drawing near, and Charlie Brown needs to finish getting ready for it. Some very serious Lucy business will be happening soon as well, and this part of her arc will for the most part wrap up her entire storyline.

Of course, our other characters will be experiencing some interesting life events as well, so you can look forward to that as well.

See you guys soon with the next chapter, which is an all-too-important one. Also, who is this special guest who is about to appear?

Next chapter: Chapter 36 - The Valentine's Dance Part 3