The day of the dance had arrived. It was being held on a Saturday evening, with darkness falling around them and stars peeking through the cloudy sky.

Blue had dressed up, although he didn't know why. Maybe he still hoped he and Cricket could have a great time together. Or maybe he didn't want to be completely out-shone by his sister.

Luna was wearing a flowy caterpillar green dress with a white sash. Her hair was done up in a loose french braid. Swordtail wore a suit, with a little green pendant on the collar that matched Luna.

So Blue was a little out-done. But he didn't mind. He had worn the button up shirt that Cricket said she liked, with grey dress pants. Simple, but sharp, as Swordtail had said.

They walked to the gym, decorated with streamers, lights, and cafeteria tables loaded with snacks. Luna and Swordtail met up with some of their friends and walked off together, leaving Blue to fend for himself. He saw Sundew and Willow standing at one end of the room, their conversation inaudible over the music playing. Willow was wearing a green dress that didn't quite touch the floor, with ivy patterns overlapping on the smooth folds. Sundew was wearing a dress of the same dark green as her date's, but it stopped just below her knees and had gold laced in shiny swirls throughout the fabric and down her arms. One had a concerned smile and the other a foreboding scowl.

"Hi." Blue said, interrupting their conversation. "Is Cricket here yet?"

"No. But he is." Sundew said "he" as if the word were a cactus in her mouth.

Blue followed her venomous gaze to where Bombardier was standing near the entrance. He was dressed as well as Swordtail, clean clothes, brushed hair, and sleazy grin. Blue found himself painfully comparing his own appearance to Bombardier's, and he came up short. Cricket deserves better than me, and certainly better than Bombardier.

"Did we ever come up with a rescue plan?" Blue asked rather desperately. "Anything?"

"Well, you guys shot down all my ideas." Sundew said.

"Yeah, because they included identity theft, kidnapping, and blackmail." Blue answered, although he felt he would be up for any plan right then.

But then Cricket walked into the room, and Blue's breathe caught in his throat. She was beautiful. She had worn a dress, and Blue guessed that Bombardier had insisted, it was like flowing gold all the way down her body and it shimmered with reflected light every time she moved. Her hair was pinned up in a bun, with a few unclipped curls framing her face.

Now Blue felt out-shone.

Bombardier was next to her in a heartbeat, linking his arm with her's. Cricket looked dismayed at his appearance and didn't look at him as he practically dragged her away.

Sundew tapped him on the shoulder. "Earth to Blue, pay attention and follow me." He tailed Sundew as she and Willow casually wandered toward the food table, avoiding dancing couples as they took the floor, close to where Cricket was standing with Bombardier. Close enough to hear what they were saying.

"I don't like dancing." Cricket said flatly.

"Only because you've never danced with me." Bombardier weedled.

"And I intend to keep it that way." Her eyes drifted towards the food table and Blue ducked his head before he was noticed. He focused all of his attention on a strawberry until Cricket looked away again, not recognizing them.

"I said, dance with me." Bombardier said through clenched teeth. Before she could answer Bombardier pulled her into the swaying group of dancers, out of view from the food table.

"That moss brain." Sundew muttered. "I'm going to send a signal, you two meet us in the hallway where the bathrooms are." Blue and Willow hurried to obey, walking as inconspicuously as possible. Blue stopped at the doorway to the gym and watched Sundew as she positioned herself so Bombardier's back was to her and Cricket could see her over his shoulder. Sundew made some vague hand movements that Cricket seemed to understand, because she said something to Bombardier and started towards the exit, not looking at Sundew. Blue continued to the bathroom as ordered, where he met Willow and was quickly joined by Cricket, who nearly tripped on her dress running to give Blue a hug.

"Oh, Blue! I can't stand him!" Blue hugged her back, dazzled at the sudden embrace. Sundew rounded the corner with a dark look on her face.

"We need to make a plan now." She said. "I'm not going to stand by and watch anymore of this nonsense."

"And I can't stand participating in any more of this nonsense." Agreed Cricket, Blue's arm around her shoulders.

"Why don't we report Bombardier?" Asked Willow. "If he's such a big problem, that would be the best action."

"Teachers wouldn't understand." Sundew said darkly. "And besides, it's personal. I want to break his ribs myself."

This made Willow look even more concerned.

Sundew snapped her fingers and a look of delight flashed on her face. "I got it! Now, we don't have much time, but listen to this, and pay attention. Don't forget your cues...."

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Blue was only vaguely aware of his cues by the time they needed to go. He watched as Cricket walked back to Bombardier and Sundew and Willow joined hands and started dancing. He took up his position leaning against the wall near the exit.

The hard thing about the plan was that Blue held some of the most important parts, as well as Cricket.

Then Sundew made her first move. While dancing, she harshly bumped into Cricket dancing with Bombardier. Sundew feigned apology, and Cricket would suggest to Bombardier that they find something to eat. And there it was, Cricket leading a grumbling Bombardier to the food tables.

The rest of phase one was completely dependent on Cricket, and she worked flawlessly. She spilled a small cup of punch on her dress, and headed to the bathroom to wash it off.

Phase two, Willow came and joined Blue and pretended to ask him to dance. They timed it perfectly, so Cricket came back as they were talking.

"Oh, did you spill something on your dress? You poor dear." Willow said sympathetically. This was Blue's cue. Willow walked away, and Blue said,

"You look beautiful in that dress, who's your date?"

Cricket went along and said, "Thank you, my date is Bombardier." Cricket directed his gaze over to Bombardier, his back to them talking to someone else.

"Well, maybe you wouldn't mind me dancing with you?" Blue said casually, glancing back at Bombardier. He needed to come quick, because they didn't have much more flirty dialogue to go over.

And come over he did, looming over Blue with a disgusted expression. "Is he bothering you, Cricket?"

"Oh yes," she sighed dramatically. "Everybody wanting to dance with me, it's exhausting." Behind Bombardier she gave Blue a "I'm sorry" look, because the next part of the plan involved Blue getting in a fight.

Cricket stood back as Bombardier shoved Blue back. Blue stumbled, then shoved Bombardier back. This seemed to spark some malevolent glee inside of him, and he swung a hit aimed for Blue's stomach. Blue dodged. Bombardier swung again, and missed as he dodged again. But then Bombardier hit his mark, and Blue fell back, his temple throbbing.

"Hey! You kids!" A chaperone at last! He ran over to them and started scolding Bombardier and eventually sent him to the principal's office, while Cricket helped Blue up. He saw Sundew and Willow watching from the food table. He rubbed the back of his neck, signaling that Bombardier was gone for now. They all walked to the back of the gym, where they cheered their success. Cricket hugged Blue and Sundew smirked as he blushed, they recounted their victories and laughed about Blue's terrible flirting, and they tried reenacting the fight scene. It seemed everything had worked out, and Blue did have a fun time with Cricket after all.

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Cricket and Blue sat on the steps to the entrance to the school, enjoying the last moments before they needed to go home in the chilly dark night.

"I meant what I said before, I think you look really pretty in that dress." Blue said.

"Thank you, you look as well." Cricket smiled, and Blue remembered his first day at this school, and falling in love with that smile. "Can I ask you something?" Cricket asked.

"Anything." Blue answered. "What do you need?"

"Well, right before Bombardier asked me to the dance, when you were trying to ask me something, were you trying to ask me to the dance?" Cricket looked at him with a nervous expression.

Blue tried to remember that terrible day. "Yeah, I think so. But I was too slow." Blue felt shame and embarrassment crawl on him like ivy.

"Really?" Cricket seemed delighted. "That's so funny, because I was going to ask you!"

"Really?" Blue asked, shocked, and Cricket started laughing.

Sundew ran over to them, excitement flashing in her eyes. "Guys, Bombardier got expelled! Apparently he had enough warning on his record that the staged fight broke the camel's back!" She did a celebratory victory dance.

Blue and Cricket sighed in relief. Sundew saw a car pull up and she waved at them. "Got to go, see you Monday!" She ran off, meeting Willow at the car.

"Blue,"

"Cricket," they said at the same time.

"You first." Cricket said.

"I went first last time."

"But it didn't work, you need to go again." She grinned.

Blue sighed, trying to gather his words. Do it now. Tell her now. "I love you." He said quickly.

Cricket blinked at him. "Blue-"

"I have from the moment I met you, the way you smile, your fascination in everything..."

"Blue-"

"And it's okay if you don't like me back, I just thought you should know. If you only want to be friends, that's fine, just please don't stop being friends with me I don't think I could-"

"Blue!" Cricket put her hands on his shoulders and made him look at her. "I love you too." And then she kissed him, and all of Blue's worries and problems evaporated. When she leaned back again, they had the same delirious grin on their faces.

Blue saw a car pull up and Cricket stood up. "I need to go, see you Monday."

"See you Monday." Blue nodded. Cricket hugged him again, and he wished it could last forever. But Cricket pulled away and hurried to the car, leaving Blue alone on the steps.

Eventually Luna and Swordtail arrived and the three got in Swordtail's car, heading home. Luna turned and looked at Blue in the backseat. "What's got you smiling like that?"