It was early Monday morning at school. Lessons had not yet started. Gabriela was at the Irish school. She had gone to a before school meeting about joining the dance club. Because she could not make it to the dance club sessions at the Italian school due to timetable clash, she wanted to sign up at the Italian school. She was at the dance club instructors office. They were going to practice dancing mostly to the songs that was going to play at the home coming dance. The club was suddenly in demand because of this dance approaching. Gabriela could see that there had been so much interest in attending this dance club at the Italian school and Irish school. She wanted to be prepared like everyone. She also loved dancing and the instructors who worked at the dance club close to the home coming dance were professionals.

Gabriela had explained the situation of not being able to attend the dance club at the Italian school and instead wanting to attend the club at the Irish school.

The head of dance department listened and nodded. She then said to Gabriela "Of course we can offer you a place... But due to high demand we can only give priority to students who study at the Irish school. I can place your name in the waiting list if you wish."

Gabriela said "Really? There has to be a way. There is no way I can get in if I go on the waiting list. The demand is growing for all the time slots of the dance clubs."

The head of dance department said "There is only one way..."

Gabriela asked "What is it?"

The head of dance department said "You need to sign up as a pair with a male student from the Irish school. Then since they get priority you are in. We still have spaces available for mixed couple pairs in the time slots you need."

Gabriela gasped "What?"

The head of dance department said "I am sorry. This is the only way. I have another meeting next. Come see my secretary and sign up if you find a partner."

Gabriela said thank you and left the office. She was so frustrated. She did not want to find a male partner. She walked away from the building. As she was thinking about what to do, she saw a group of boys walking towards the boys lockers rooms. It was the baseball team. They seemed to be coming back from their early morning baseball practice and going to the locker rooms. She saw Christian who was also in his baseball uniform was walking with them. Then it hit her. Her only hope was him.

Gabriela walked towards the group of boys. They could not see her. She walked behind them and then called "Christian."

Christian stopped walking and turned. He looked surprised to see her. He separated himself from the group and walked towards her slowly "Gabriela..."

Gabriela closed the distance between them and stood in front of him "I have a favour to ask."

Christian asked "A favour? From me?"

Gabriela nodded "Yes. A favour. I need your help. I am going to ask you this favour. I would appreciate it if you say yes."

Christian said "I will see what I can do."

Gabriela took a deep breath "I need to join the dance club of the Irish school because due to timetable clashes I can't join the Italian school dance club. I went to see the head of the dance department. She said the only way for me to sign up is if I sign up ... as a pair with a boy from the Irish school. That's why I need you. Will you sign up with me?"

Christian was thrown off. This was the last thing he thought she might be asking him. Was she actually asking him if he wanted to sign up as a dance pair with her at the dance club? Did he want to? He wanted to say "Hell yes." But he said "Sure, I would consider it..." Could this day get any better? Nah. Nothing could top this.

Gabriela said "What do you mean you will consider it? I need you to do this favour for me. Please."

Christian said "Ok. Fine. I will. Because you asked nicely." He played it like it was a favour he was doing for her. No. She was doing a huge favour for him. It seemed unreal.

Gabriela said "You will. Then prove it. You can't back down. You need to come with me now to see the secretary of the club to sign up. Let's go."

Had he heard wrong? Gabriela wanted him to prove it? Gabriela wanted him to not back down so to make sure they had to sign up immediately. Was she real? She actually was worried that he might change his mind about spending hours with her weekly at the dance club. He had to now go and prove it so this could happen... This day had just gotten better. What in the world?

Gabriela said "Let's go then... Places may get filled up quick. And there is no way I am letting you back down now that you have said yes. I like dancing and they have very professional instructors because it's close to the home coming dance."

Christian said "Alright. Alright. I am coming." He was more than happy to hurry to make sure the places did not get filled up. He couldn't possibly let this chance slip away. Could he? But Gabriela thought he was helping her to get this chance. This was the most perfect opportunity. His Gabriela was rushing him to go with her to sign up as a dance pair at the dance club. He never thought he would see the day.

Christian walked towards their destination which was the dance building with Gabriela. He couldn't believe it. It was hilarious how she was worried he would back down.

Christian signed up with Gabriela and they got their induction pack that had the information booklet and membership cards in them.

As they walked out of the building, Gabriela said "Thank you Christian."

Christian wanted to say ""No.... I should say... Thank you Gabriela..." He said "It's nothing really. Don't worry about it." They then said goodbye to each other.

Gabriela had no idea how much joy she had given to Christian. It was rare to get such opportunity. He never would have guessed she would volunteer for it.

*****

Dean had spent part of his lunch time in the library studying. Now he made his way to the cafeteria and got his food. He carried the tray to the table where his best friend Sean was sitting. To his surprise he saw that Connor was there too sitting next to Dean's sister Dina and Sean's sister Sorcha was sitting there too. He was surprised to see Connor there. Maybe he had made truce with Sean thanks to Christian's interference. It was rare to see the two girls also sitting with them. They normally were occupied with other people at lunch times.

Dean put his tray down on the table and sat down next to Sean around that round table. He asked the people at the table "What's the occasion that everyone is here at lunch? You normally go with your own groups at lunch."

Sean said "Yes. That's normally what happens. But we had to gather to hold some crisis talks. You missed it but we can fill you in."

Dean said "What crisis?"

Sean responded "Well, you know how our parents have received invitations and consent forms for the home coming dance?"

Dean said "I know it was supposed to come this weekend. I wasn't home all weekend. I was staying with friends this weekend that went by and did not go home."

Sean sighed "Well. You have missed alot. Our parents are going to gladly consent to us attending the dance however since it is a dance that's shared with the Italian school, they want us to show a powerful and united front. They also want us to show off that we have strong bonds and family values and you can read the rest. They want no room for any weakness. Now you know... We have to have dates and dance partners but not just with anyone. It has to be worthy of our bloodlines and families. So now you probably would be told about this when you go home. All of us have to have dates by the time the home coming dance arrives or our parents will choose someone they see as worthy. Now this crisis talk is what I initiated. We are allies. All our families are. We concluded that we decide some dates or dancing partners for those of us who are single amongst ourselves. I don't know about you but I do not like that idiot my parents want to pair up with my sister from another Irish school. The guy is a total idiot. He trips up over his own feet I swear but his family are alright in my parents' eyes. ...." He looked at Dina "You tell him Dina..."

Dina smiled at Dean "I want to date Connor..."

Dean was looking with his mouth open at his sister Dina "What?"

Dina shrugged "Our parents over the weekend said that I can't go with you to the dance and should forget about it. You and I have to have proper partners. I asked Connor to date me and we will make it permanent until you know both of us may mutually break up. If both of us say no, then our parents won't care..."

Dean turned to Connor "Let's get this straight. You have agreed to pretend to be my sister's boyfriend?"

Connor said "This is the best option Dean. We don't have a choice. Our families know each other. You trust me. I trust you. Like Sean said, if we refuse then our parents would try to start a power display with pairing us up with people we have never met. As long as Dina is ok with it, I have no objections and would do anything to go along with it. I am very thankful. Besides me and Dina get along. We can date. No problem. Dina has my back and I have hers..."

Dean could not believe Connor could go along with such arrangement.

Sean said "Do you have a problem with Connor dating your sister?"

Dean said "No. It's actually the opposite. I thought Connor might have a problem... Connor is very respectful to the ladies... But my sister is not nice to guys..."

Dina said "I am nice to Connor." She then turned to Connor "I promise I will be nice."

Sean said "That's sorted then. So Dean you will see Connor showing up at your house to ask your parents for permission to date your sister tonight."

Dean asked "What?"

Sean said "Well. It shows respect. Your parents would love that for sure but it's good to ask. It's a power display. Remember. To the Italians. A MacKenna and an O'Brien united.... Now we need to get to your case."

Dean said "My case?"

Sean said "Dean. You have to date my sister, Sorcha..."

Dean asked "What?"

Sean said "I can't accept any other guy to pretend to date her. No chance.... And if you just say you want to just take her to dance my parents may look for another guy who will be her date and not a one day dance partner... It can be the case about your sister too. That's why it has to be dates. Not anything else. Ciara's case with me is different. We are dance partners and our parents expect us to start dating by the end of the school year at least... Basically our parents want assurance that all of us will take long term partners to this dance event that we can show to the Italians saying to them in a way that we are going to be each other's future partners... powerful partners... Your date is Sorcha.... You will date until both of you break up mutually and then go with someone else."

Dean said "This is madness Sean...."

Sean said "Come over to our house to ask for permission from my parents to date my sister tonight. An O'Brien and a McNab dating. Who would object though? Its just part of formalities that you have to come to ask for permission. Our families are allies. They would immediately say yes... But man.... This crisis is serious. You have no idea how some high school dance event has become a power statement event for our families... Sorcha doesn't mind dating you..." He then turned to Sorcha "Do you Sorcha?"

Sorcha said "No. I do not mind at all. As Connor said we have known each other for years. It would be a piece of cake to pretend to be Dean's girlfriend. It would get my parents off my back to choose a guy... I would have some fun spicing up the power statement Dean though. I warn you in advance. I will play my part for as long as needed and will enjoy it..." She turned to Dina "Won't you enjoy pretending to date Connor?"

Dina nodded "I can't wait..."

Dean could not believe it but he said "I won't object as long as Sorcha is ok..."

Sorcha said "I am perfectly fine."

Dean needed to talk to Sorcha. After lunch he asked to speak to Sorcha outside in private. They sat down on a bench outside.

Dean said "Look Sorcha... I know you said you want to do this. Are you sure? Besides I thought you would have chosen Connor? You hang out more with him."

Sorcha said "Well. That's a distraction tactic you know... the thing with Connor..."

Dean asked "What do you mean?"

Sorcha sighed "You have no clue. Do you?"

Dean said "Clue about what?"

Sorcha said "I like you Dean. Not Connor. But I am best friends with your sister Dina. So I am finding it hard to break it to her that I like her brother. I just can't do it. Not yet. I don't know how it would affect our friendship. Connor is nice. But not my type. And I think you might want to know that your sister told me that she likes Connor. So I try to make friends with Connor like how she does and push him towards her..."

It was all a revelation to Dean. He was speechless. He was looking at Sorcha with surprise.

Sorcha said "Look. I know you don't like me like that. I know you don't like any other girls. Your relationships don't fool me. When you hang out with girls you don't even hold hands with them... In your eyes I can see that you are not really interested in them. It's like your heart is not in it. I have a feeling you are forced to date girls because your parents put pressure on you... Dina has told me they have kept pushing you for over a year. If you date me we can keep it up for as long as you like. Since our families are allies you don't even need to have an official promise gathering that your family traditionally does. It's sort of a mini engagement isn't it? My family does not do that and since we are equal in power, they won't make you promise anything. And we are allies. What promise is bigger than dating the daughter of a close ally? That's even a bigger vow. We can just be like normal couples. I know you don't feel the same. But I hope maybe one day you will like me just like how much I like you."

Dean was looking at Sorcha in a different light. He had no idea she felt that way. Dean said "But Sorcha. What if I never feel the same?"

Sorcha said "I like you alot Dean. I am willing to do anything. Whatever you decide to do when the time comes I will accept. But at least give us a chance to get to know each other. That is all I ask Dean in addition to one more thing..."

Dean said "What is that?"

Sorcha said "You will be faithful to me Dean. If we are dating me, you will not cheat on me. If you break up with me and then go to a girl, no problem. But I do not want to see you having relations with another girl while we are dating. You know what I mean. Don't you Dean? When you were dating other girls until now I could tell you felt nothing for them. You were smiling at them and with them but your eyes were not smiling. They were emotionless. So if I catch you with a girl talking or even holding hands or anything I will be able to tell if you are cheating or having a normal conversation. I do not share Dean. If you ignore this warning and I catch you cheating on me then that girl will feel my wrath Dean. I do like you so much, I could never hurt you but I will punish those who come between us. Do we have a deal Dean?"

Dean nodded. He was trying to figure Sorcha out. It was a shock to hear all this information.

Sorcha smiled "Wonderful. My man... And one more thing. If you are ever told to get married by your parents and still you haven't found a girl at that point, I will marry you gladly. I would know our marriage won't be like other couples if you don't like me back. I will do my duty as a wife, have children and will raise the children with you... But ... After I marry you, I will not tolerate any woman around you who I see you are cheating on me with them. Just like how I just warned you. The same rules apply after marriage...." She then looked at her watch and said "I need to go. Bye for now. See you at my house tonight when you come talk to my parents to ask them to date me. I know they will say yes. They like you."

Dean thought to himself "What just happened?"

*****

Authors note. This is the last of this marathon update. Next update is most likely next weekend. Keep the comments coming please. I appreciate feedback. Also check if you have not missed any updated in the past few chapters because I updated afew times a day at times in the last week