I didn't really have much to do, so I researched some stuff about that amulet. When it came about time to get ready for the dance, I skyped Danny on my laptop."Hey. You ready yet?" I saw Tucker struggling with his bow tie in the background.
"Tie straight, shirt tucked in, unbreakable ghost fishing line tucked neatly away just in case," He collapsed the fishing rod into his jacket. "What's taking so long with that dragon research, Sam?" I just had to find that website again...
"Alright, Jeez! Here, I'm sending you the link." The boys stared at their screen for a bit.
"That's it!" I heard a click. "Medieval ghostly legend held that the cursed amulet of Aragon could transform any wearer into dragon form under states of extreme emotional distress or anger. That's the amulet I gave to Paulina! It must have accidentally fallen into my backpack! Wait..I'm going on a date with a dragon?" Danny looked worried. I smiled.
"Like I said, looks are decieving. I'm sure you boys will have a wonderful evening." I cut the transmission. Too bad it was only the necklace that was evil. I was hoping Paulina was a ghost in disguise.
I started playing some music. I was about to blast it louder when I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door halfway and peered out to see.. "Tucker? What are you doing here? Where's Valerie?"
"She kinda canceled on me. Do you think we could go together? You know, as...friends?" I was trying really hard to suppress my grin. I...didn't want to go. The dance was a stupid social gathering that was an excuse for a date. I didn't...ah! Who was I kidding?
"Uh...I don't know...This is so last-minute...and I do have...plans, and-"
"Well, I understand if you don't wanna go..."
"Okay! But only because you got stood up! I'll go change into that dumb dress I wasn't gonna wear!" I slammed the door and raced up the stairs as quickly as I could. I don't think I've ever gotten changed that fast before. I actually really liked this dress. It was really goth for my parents...no flowers, no bright colours. I also got my hair done up nice.I was almost too excited to notice that Tucker was acting more like Danny than himself... I rushed back down the stairs as quickly as I could without tripping and opened the door.
Tucker was turned around, as if talking to somebody. He heard the door open and turned around. A wide grin grew on his face. "Come on, or we're gonna be late!" I grabbed Tucker's hand and dragged him down the steps of my porch. He yelped, but I didn't slow down in the least bit. When we got there, the music had already started. Mr. Lancer was walking around with his copy of 'How to Sound Hip for the Unhip.' I turned around to see Danny and Paulina over by the punch bowl. Danny looked at me for a split second, as if making a quick decision. I turned back to the party.
I was looking forward to finding Danny in the crowd at school. He always brought interesting stories about his interesting mornings. And his mock impression of his sister Jazz was hilarious. Sadly, there were no Jazz-related stories. Just about his father ghost fishing. "So, as soon as he leaves to go to the bathroom, the line starts pulling like crazy!" Danny pretends he's pulling on a fishing rod. "And this giant dragon-ghost comes out. It didn't say much, just that it wanted to go somewhere. I hit it a few times and it turned into a medieval woman-ghost. She whined about her 'horrid mummy' not letting her go to a ball. If that dragon was her idea of a costume, I'm on horrid mummy's side." Even though it wasn't really a funny story, it still made my day a little better. Even if if it was about a stupid dance. I smiled. The bell rang. I started walking to first period, then remembered.
"Good luck on your biology test!" I turned and yelled after Danny. He made an over-exaggerated grimace and I giggled. Tucker hadn't stopped by to chat. I saw him over by the door asking out every girl that passed by. Had to hand it to him, he didn't give up easy. The dance was such a big deal to everyone. My parents had bought me a...Stupid! A stupid dress that I would never wear because I hate dances. In dresses.
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At lunch, I headed outside to meet the boys at our usual table with my salad. Danny was about to take a bite of his sandwich when he noticed me. "Hey." I sat down beside him.
"So how'd the test go?"
"Ah-I... bombed. I got another D. D for Danny." I had always had decent grades without really trying. I didn't actually know all that much, but I was really good at multiple choice. I felt sorta bad for him. I guess I could help him study sometime. Danny took a rather sad bite of his sandwich. I noticed the missing member.
"Where's Tuck?" Danny motioned toward the doors with his head. Underneath the banner that read 'The Big Dance' was Tucker, asking every girl who walked by. Eventually, he moped over to the opposite side of Danny. He sat down and put his head in his hands, frowning.
"Strike three, Tuck?"
"Try strike three-thousand." Danny took another bite.
"I don't know what the big deal is about going to some stupid dance. I don't need to be asked to some dance to know I'm special. I-" The guys were both staring at something, practically drooling.
"What?" They didn't even look away and spoke in unison.
"Paulina..." Paulina put her hands on her hips and looked around snobbishly, probably seeing how many boys were staring like Tuck and Danny were. Chaos erupted as she walked by. Boys walking into each other, crashing bikes into trees. They didn't perceive anything except Paulina. They didn't care.
"Paulina..." I looked at them both. They were zombies. Seriously, dudes?
"Oh please, Paulina? Girls like her are a dime a dozen." Immediately, Danny and Tucker started digging frantically in their pockets for change.
"How much change you got?" Tucker and Danny were both counting their coins. I'm going to think it again. Seriously, dudes?
"Ah HA HA. Very funny. Just remember, you can't judge a book by its cover." I remember doing that at my parent's library when I was younger. I started reading Lord of the Rings because of the awesome artwork on the front and found it way too slow (and heavy and thick) for my ten-year old tastes. I'll have to pick that one back up someday. The movies were too mainstream for my tastes, but not many people read the book anymore.
"Well, there's only one way to find out. Go on, Danny. Go to that library and check out that book." Tucker pointed encouragingly to the tree where Paulina sat down with her lunchbox.
"A-i-I can't! I get weak-kneed when I try to talk to cute girls!" He slouched against the table. Oh really?
"Oh. And you have absolutely no problems talking to me." Danny stuttered and tried to come up with an excuse.
"Ah...Eh..."
"Skip it!" I grabbed him under the armpits and lifted him off of the bench. "Go give your weak knees some exercise." That kid really could make use of some heavy endurance training. I lightly pushed him toward Paulina.
