Hope's 1st School Dance

"I'm helping to host a dance on Friday," said Lizzie, hurrying to catch up to her best friend, Hope Miller.

"Cool. Don't you have to pay to get in?"

"Most people do, but you don't. I get to let in one friend for free, and that's you. You are SO going to a dance for once," Lizzie said.

"I'm going to a dance." It wasn't a question; it wasn't even a statement. It was proof of Hope's disbelief. She NEVER went to stuff. Hope was the nerdy girl who wore GAP jeans and her mom's old college-day era shirts to her junior high school. She was very plain and wore glasses because she hated wearing her contacts.

"Yeah. What, am I not allowed to? You're my best friend, and I want you to go," Lizzie said, and Hope knew that there was no way for her to get out of it. She had no plans that weekend.

"Thanks, Lizzie."

"Don't thank me; thank the Dance Organizing Team."

/*/*/*/*/*

Hope grabbed the phone on the first ring and answered. "Hello?"

"Hope, you're coming tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, Lizzie."

"Awesome. Can you wear something semi-pretty? Not a dress, but not those plaid things you wear to school, either," Lizzie said. Hope frowned slightly. She thought her shirts were cute. What was wrong with her plaid shirts?

"How come?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because. It's a special thing, so it's a special dress code too. Wear your contacts and a nice shirt. You can wear jeans if you want," Lizzie said, sounding very bossy to Hope. That was why she was glad she didn't go to 'special things' often.

"Fine. I'll find something suitable to your qualifications," Hope sighed, making a mental list of everything Lizzie had mentioned.

"No! Not the dreaded big words!"

Hope rolled her eyes and said good-bye before hanging up. She pushed up her glasses and reached into her purse to take out the list of "special people who are definitely going to be there" that Lizzie had made for her. She read the names:

Hope Miller- female- age 14

Alex Porter- male- age 13 1/2

Desiree Stromhart- female- age 13

Evan Goldstein- male- age 14

Ben Knight- male- age 13 1/2

Lauri Nealson- female- age 14

Aaron Sharpe- male- age 13

Hope's eyes widened when she realized that the guy she liked was going.

No matter how much she tried, Hope couldn't convince herself to give her feelings for him up. Every time he disappointed her, he ended up surprising her somehow by acting more thoughtful and caring than she had previously thought possible. Other than Lizzie, he was Hope's best friend.

/*/*/*/*/*

"Mom, for the school dance... I need something kinda nice," Hope said. Immediately, her mom went to her closet.

"Lizzie's orders?"

"Her highness commands it," Hope replied, watching her mom sift through the bins of clothes. Mrs. Miller chuckled at Hope's dry sense of humor.

"She's trying to set you up. Ah, see. I was right," she said, picking up a top and making a face at it.

"I don't need a guy. I'm fine the way I am. I don't know why Lizzie thinks I'm incomplete by myself," Hope muttered, crossing her arms. Mrs. Miller shrugged. Hope knelt down beside her mother and helped look through the shirts.

"What about this one?" she asked. Mrs. Miller inspected it. It was made of navy blue material with lighter blue sparkles shimmering all over it.

"It's pretty. Try it on."

Hope obeyed her mother and slipped it on. It fit nicely, but wasn't skin-tight. The sleeves ended at her elbows and it tapered down to show off her waist.

"Take off your glasses, hon," Mrs. Miller suggested, and she smiled when Hope did. "You look lovely."

"Do you think it'll work for Queen Lizzie?" Hope asked, putting her glasses back on and studying herself.

"You bet."

/*/*/*/*/*

Hope's mom dropped her off in front of the school at 6:30 P.M. on Friday evening, right on time. She walked nervously to the doors and went in, feeling awkward. She'd never been to an 8th grade dance before and was quite unprepared.

"Hope! You look... great. What are you doing here?" came a pleasantly surprised voice. Hope turned and saw her other best friend Alex Porter smiling at her.

"Lizzie forced me to come," she said, waving her hand in an uncaring fashion. Alex laughed a little.

"That figures. The only time you set foot at a dance is when your friend makes you? Yikes," he said jokingly. Hope gave him an annoyed look and rolled her eyes.

"I gotta go greet my other friends. See ya around?" he asked. Hope nodded and headed off in Lizzie's direction, unaware that Alex was still watching her. He half-smiled sadly and looked at the ground before going to say hi to his buddies.

Lizzie sneakily evaded Hope, forcing her to hang out with new people- and Alex. Hope knew what her friend was doing, but was powerless to stop her. She was having a good time, anyway. Alex was fun to be around, and Hope was close enough friends with him that she could push aside her feelings and enjoy herself.

"I love this Crazy Frog music. It has an awesome beat," Alex said. He squeezed his nose and started humming along, sounding exactly like the obnoxious voice from the dance music. Hope burst out laughing.

"You're such a goof," she giggled. Alex made a weird face.

"I know," he said, pretending to think about it. "I'm gonna go get some Hawaiian Punch."

"Get me some while you're at it," Hope said. Alex hunched over and made his teeth stick out.

"Your wish is my command, master," he rasped, mimicking Igor from Frankenstein.

"Just go, already!" Hope laughed. Alex hobbled off, then returned straight-backed with two cups of punch.

"Are you going to dance?" Alex asked. Hope shook her head vigorously.

"I can't dance at all. If you want to, go ahead," she said. She walked over to the row of chairs and sat down. She watched her peers dancing and having fun while she sat there, sipping her punch. Ten minutes passed by very quickly.

The DJ suddenly announced the couples' dance. "Now for the slower part of this awesome night. Guys, grab your girl. Girls, if the guys are too shy, do the same!"

Most of the boy/girlfriends were already dancing near each other, so they clasped each other's hands and swayed back and forth to the music. Hope still sat there, too scared and shy to dance. She had no boyfriend, either, so that didn't help.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up to see Alex standing there. He said nothing as he held out his hand.

"I need a partner who dances better than I do," he said, smiling slightly. Hope blushed and got up, not taking his hand.

"I'm afraid you'll have to prove that," she told him. He looked confused, then shrugged.

"I really am awful."

"So am I."

They went out to the dance floor. Hope finally gave in and took Alex's hands. Then he placed them on his shoulders, putting his own arms around her. The music changed to Faith Hill's Breathe.

Hope's eyes wandered all over the room. She was so close to Alex, she was sure that he could hear her heart beating fast. If she looked into his eyes, she was done for.

"Hope... there's something I've been kinda trying to, well, say," he began hesitantly. Hope bit her lip.

"I like you," he whispered. Hope's concentration on trying to avoid eye contact with Alex shattered. She gazed into his blue eyes and couldn't look away.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've liked you since I first met you."

"Wow," she breathed. Little did they know that Lizzie was watching all of this with a triumphant smile on her face.

"I like you, too."

"In that case... will you let me be your boyfriend?" he asked. Hope nodded, unable to speak. Alex smiled, then glanced around to make sure that no adults were looking. When he was certain that the coast was clear, he kissed Hope on the cheek.

"I'm so honored," he said quietly. There was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

"You'd better be!"

/*/*/*/*/*

Alex and Hope stayed behind after almost everyone else had gone, helping to clean up. Hope had arranged that with her mom beforehand. The lack of people with the ability to spy gave Alex a chance to say goodbye to Hope in private.

They were outside, under the tree by the junior high's brick wall.

" 'Bye, Hope. Don't forget me over the weekend," Alex said, holding her as close as he had while they'd been dancing. She chuckled and looked up into his eyes again.

"I'll try not to."

Alex leaned forward and kissed Hope on the corner of the mouth. Before he could pull away, she moved her head slightly so that their lips were touching. Her eyes closed, and she felt tingly all over. She loved it.

"Do you think Lizzie got you to come on purpose?" Alex asked after their kiss ended.

"I have no doubt whatsoever."