6x10

"I don't know about this."

Piper stepped out of her closet, her lips pursed uncertainly. Julia was sprawled out on top of her bed and looked up from her phone as Piper reappeared. Sitting up, she asked, "What do you not know?"

Piper smoothed her pants in her mirror, which was adorned with photos of family and friends along the sides. After deeming all of her own dresses unfit for prom and determining that her sister's dresses were too big for her given that Julia was four inches taller than her, Piper had decided to pair her black dress pants with a button-up blouse and blazer instead.

"Can I go to prom in this?" she asked uncertainly.

"Uh, duh, you look hot," was her sister's response, and Piper's cheeks flushed.

"Shut up," she grumbled, turning toward her dresser to put on her make-up.

"What? It's a compliment, Pipes," Julia said with a roll of the eyes. She settled back on Piper's bed, resuming her texting.

Piper ignored her as she carefully applied her eyeliner and mascara. Once her make-up was finished, she asked her sister, "Hair up or down?"

"Down."

"Should I do something special with it?"

Julia glanced up at her contemplatively then climbed off the bed. "Here." Her sister quickly pulled the top layer of Piper's hair into a bun on top of her head then stood back, proud of her work, simple as it may be. "I think you're prom ready."

Piper gave a small smile in the mirror. "Thanks."

Julia responded by pulling the ends of Piper's hair over her shoulders and smoothing down the arms of her jacket then gave a nod of approval. "I'll be downstairs when you're ready to go."

Once her sister was gone, Piper turned to check her appearance one last time. She did like her outfit, especially the bowtie that Julia had managed to find in the clutter of James' old room, and she liked the idea of not wearing a dress because she knew all of the other girls would be. Even still, the thought of dressing too differently from everyone else made her nervous, which was so irrationally ridiculous, but she couldn't help it. What if everyone judged her for wearing a suit instead of a dress?

Okay, Piper, it's prom. No worrying tonight, she told herself. As she turned to head downstairs, her eyes caught the pictures lining her mirror, and she paused, staring at one of her and Amy that was taken a few weeks after losing Regionals last year. Despite everything they'd been going through when that picture was taken (losing Regionals and Amy's heartbreak over LaTroy), they both looked so young and happy and closer than ever.

Longing surged through Piper's heart, and she turned away, moving downstairs and calling out to Julia that she was ready.

Realistically, it wasn't that big of a deal that Amy had never told her about her feelings for Henry. But when Summer suggested Piper join Henry's promposal dance and revealed that it was for Amy, she may as well have slapped her in the face, Piper was so shocked.

In hindsight, she supposed Amy planning an entire prom just for Henry should have been a big indicator that there was something going on there, but Piper had just thought she was being a good friend.

Why had she had to be the last person to find out about them? Even Finn had known before her – only because he'd been pulled into the promposal before her, but still.

And just when she'd thought that day had sent enough curveballs her way, Amy had revealed she was already going to prom with Ty. Who was Ty?

Amy had been working a lot harder this season to improve her dancing and become a featured dancer (an effort that Piper knew was, at its core, an attempt to get her overbearing mother off her back), so they hadn't had as much time to talk recently. Piper just hadn't realized that their lack of communication had gotten this bad.

But tonight was not the night to focus on that. It was prom, and not just any prom, but the prom that Amy had planned practically all by herself. She wasn't going to dance, and she most definitely wasn't going to pay attention to any boys (Finn), but she was going to have a nice time with her friends.

(Or she would try anyway. If she was an hour in and completely miserable, she had full intentions of texting her mom or Julia with an excuse to leave.)

As Julia was dropping her off in front of the studio, Piper noticed Finn and Ozzy walking up the sidewalk, and her breath momentarily caught. She hated to admit it, but Finn actually looked, well, kind of cute.

He cleaned up nicely. Who knew?

"Hey, who's that guy?" Julia asked, her gaze fixated on Finn.

Piper slid down in her seat and snapped, "That's Finn." She gave her sister a look that begged her not to say anything else about him.

"Aww, Pipes, he's cute!" Julia exclaimed, "Look at his converse with his suit! Now that's a look I can get behind." Her face was lit in glee, and Piper knew that her sister was enjoying this way too much.

"Calm down, Jules. He's my age," Piper said, only half teasing her.

Julia rolled her eyes as she unlocked the car. She turned to Piper expectantly, and Piper raised her eyebrows at her. "What?"

"Are you going to walk in with him or not?"

"Are you kidding? I can't walk in with him!"

"Why not?"

"Because! That would totally give him the wrong idea."

"You have got to chill. You're just walking into prom. You're not marrying him," Julia retorted, "Would you rather walk in by yourself?"

Piper paused at that, her shoulders deflating. She didn't think anyone would care if she walked in by herself, but she didn't know that for sure. Would it come off as pathetic? Poor Piper's showing up by herself because she couldn't find a date?

Fine, maybe she'd take walking in with Finn over walking in alone.

Grumbling, she pushed the door open and climbed out of the car. Almost too cheerfully, Julia called after her, "Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Piper rolled her eyes and closed the door on her. The list of things Julia wouldn't do at prom didn't leave much off the table.

Ozzy and Finn were climbing the steps to the building, so Piper called after them to catch their attention. They stopped and waited for her, and she caught up with them as fast as her high heels would carry her. The thought that her outfit would look stupid crossed her mind as she approached them, but she tried to push that thought aside. She shouldn't be worrying about what anyone, especially Finn, thought of her outfit. She had to own it. Wasn't that the key to confidence? Convincing yourself and then everyone else?

"Hey Piper," Ozzy said as she approached. "Cool suit."

She thanked him as Finn told her earnestly, "You look nice."

She reluctantly turned her gaze from Ozzy to Finn. Something about the way he was looking at her sent nervous chills up her arms, and she cleared her throat, muttering, "Thanks," in a constrained voice and moving on past them up the steps. She wiped her hands nervously on her pants as Finn sped up to hold the door open for her and Ozzy with a goofy grin.

Piper's lips formed a tight line, and she kept her gaze down as she stepped inside. Behind her, Ozzy said overdramatically, "Why, thank you, sir."

"It's my pleasure."

Clenching and unclenching her fists, Piper took a deep breath as she glanced around the lobby. It still looked the same as it always did, but music from upstairs wafted down to them. Dread surged through her at the thought being stuck at prom all night, so she reminded herself that she was doing this for Amy and because Emily, Riley, her mother, and both of her older sisters seemed to believe that she "needed" to have this experience tonight.

"It's not like you'll have a prom with your online classmates," her sister Lauren had pointed out when Piper had called her to complain about how everyone was pushing this on her. "Just go have fun with your friends. You'll never have a chance like this again."

It'll be fun, Piper reiterated to herself as they climbed the stairs. Please be fun...

It was surreal to see Studio One decorated for an event like prom. Streamers hung from the ceiling, and there was even a balloon arch where the photographer was setting up for the night. It was amazing how much a few decorations could completely change the atmosphere of their rehearsal studio.

Music was already playing over the speakers, and Piper could start to feel her dread slowly dissipating now that she was actually there. Maybe prom wouldn't be as bad as she had feared?

"Hey, it's almost like we came as dates!"

And just like that, the disdain was back. She looked at Finn in horror and adamantly shook her head. "No," she told him quickly lest he get the wrong idea. "No, it's not."

She spotted Amy standing alone in the middle of the room and hurried over to her best friend. Why did Finn have to be so interested in her? What had Piper done to deserve that kind of attention? It was kind of flattering, she supposed, but just the thought that Finn, or any guy for that matter, liked her was enough to fill her with the kind of nervous energy that resulted in her room being reorganized three times in one week.

It seemed like too much pressure, and what would happen when he realized how much of an anxious mess she was? The more he got to know her, the sooner he'd be running in the opposite direction wondering what he'd ever been thinking in the first place.

"Hey," Piper called, her voice an octave higher than normal as she approached Amy. Regardless of whatever was happening to their friendship right now, talking to her would at least take her mind off of Finn.

Drawing her attention away from admiring the decorations, Amy's face lit up as she turned to her. "What do you think?" she asked, gesturing around them.

"It looks amazing! You did a really good job planning all of this."

"Thanks." Amy beamed with pride as she glanced over to the photobooth and added, "I had some help."

Following her gaze, Piper recognized the boy that had been present during the unfortunate promposal. That must have been Ty.

"Ty's been a great help," Amy continued saying.

"What do you like about him?" Piper asked. She didn't ask with ill intentions. She just wanted to understand what Amy really saw in him because all Piper saw when she looked at Ty was a stranger with a flashing sign over his head that screamed, "Amy Stealer." (Who he was stealing Amy from was to be seen, but she somehow felt it in her bones that it was true.)

"He's fun to joke around with," Amy answered, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes the way it usually did when she was crazy about a boy. "Besides, he asked me when I thought Henry wasn't going to, so..."

The dots in Piper's mind suddenly connected, and her eyebrows shot up. "Wait, so if Henry had asked sooner, you would have said yes?" When Amy nodded, she couldn't help but ask, "When did something start happening between you two exactly?"

"I don't know. About a week ago maybe? When we were supposed to be working on our duet. We almost kissed, Piper."

"What? And you didn't tell me?" she exclaimed in disbelief, hitting Amy on the arm reproachfully.

"I know! I know. I wanted to! I really did! There just never seemed like a good time."

"Any time would have been a good time."

How could Amy keep something that huge from her? She had never done that before, not when it came to boys.

Amy started to apologize, but Piper's attention was suddenly caught on the couple walking through the doors. Henry had just arrived with Summer. Her heart seemed to plummet into her stomach just at the sight of them together, and she dreaded to think what Amy would feel when she saw them. "Ouch..."

Amy followed her gaze, and as predicted, her face fell. Piper glanced at her in concern and tried to gently reassure her. "I'm sure it's just as friends."

"Yeah. Friends..."

Amy glanced at Piper then looked away sadly to notice Ty approaching her. Her disposition immediately changing, she plastered a smile on her face as he said, "Hey, I brought you punch," and handed her a cup.

Piper simply watched as Amy thanked him. She knew her well enough to know that her smile was forced and that Henry coming with Summer had to be killing her inside. This whole prom was for Henry after all.

But she also couldn't help thinking that maybe Amy should have been a little more patient with Henry before writing him off when his promposal wasn't quick enough for her.

Ty introduced himself to Piper, and she reciprocated the gesture, quickly deciding she didn't want to third wheel her best friend's date for the entire night when Ty kept giving her heart-eyed gazes that Amy wasn't returning. Excusing herself, Piper stepped away from the two of them.

She moved to the side of the prom and observed her friends and teammates. Richelle and Jacquie were mid-argument over the blue dress that they had both shown up in. Henry and Summer were checking out the decorations and laughing about something. Finn was talking to Ozzy while gesturing in Richelle's direction. A few J-Troupers ran past her, yelling something about punch and how "This is all Presley's fault!"

Eldon was manning the DJ booth, and when Piper glanced in his direction, he immediately turned away from her, trying to hide the fact that he had obviously been watching her. She rolled her eyes. James must have sent him to spy on her. Typical.

"Piper, I'm glad you decided to come."

Emily and Michelle approached her, both of them gorgeous as ever in their dresses and with their hair done up. Emily gave her a soft smile, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"Yeah, it looks really cool in here," Piper said, giving a tense smile in response.

Michelle put a hand on her back as she enthused about her outfit. "You look so cute! I love the pantsuit. Very hip of you."

This made a genuine smile spread across Piper's face. She had been going for different but was afraid of it at the same time, and it was nice to feel validated by her studio head. "Thanks. That's what I was going for."

"Get out on the dance floor and have some fun tonight, okay?" Emily told her seriously then to Michelle, she said, "I have to go check on the J-Troupers. I don't trust them to do a sufficient job of keeping an eye on the snacks."

"The night just got started," Michelle told her, stepping away from Piper to follow after her.

"And we've got 30 teenage boys here tonight. Do you know what they eat like? Animals, Michelle. They eat like animals."

As her studio heads' banter faded away, Piper noticed Summer and Henry talking near her, so she decided it would be better to talk to them than continue standing off to the side by herself. As she approached them, she shot a glance in Amy's direction, but her best friend seemed to have pointedly turned her back to them.

It was a shame, really, that the drama was undoubtedly hanging over her friends tonight. She hoped it wouldn't ruin their night too much.

"Hey Pipes," Henry said with a grin when he noticed her approaching them. Summer looked over as well, and her face lit up with a bright smile.

"Hey guys," Piper greeted. She gestured toward Summer and said, "I love your dress, Summer. It's so cute."

"Thanks, Piper! You look cute too," Summer replied cheerfully. Of all the people Piper had seen tonight, Summer was by far the happiest to be there, just barely beating Finn.

"I'm glad you two decided to come together," Piper told them sincerely. She was afraid Henry might show up in a mopey mood or not even come at all, but he seemed to be in good spirits tonight.

"Yeah, Summer suggested we go together," Henry said, smiling at his date then adding, "But I only agreed if we could get shawarmas before. She's never had one. Can you believe that?"

Piper raised her eyebrows, pretending to be appalled. James would be horrified to learn that someone had never tried his favorite food, but frankly, Piper didn't think Summer was missing out on much.

"They were pretty good." Summer smiled and nudged Henry with her arm as she added, "But now you have to try avocado toast. It'll change your life."

"I don't like avocado though."

"You've never had avocado. You have to at least try it."

Henry pointed at Summer discreetly and looked to Piper, rolling his eyes and shaking his head in a joking manner as if to say, "Do you hear this girl?"

Piper simply laughed and agreed with Summer. "You have to at least try it."

"Fine, but then you have to try a bacon cheeseburger. Now that's a life-changing meal," Henry said to Summer.

"Ah ah- I'm a vegetarian," Summer said, wagging a finger at him as she spoke.

He pushed her hand aside, but there was a grin on his face as he said, "Okay, fine, I'll let that one slide then."

Somehow, Piper felt like more of a third wheel around Summer and Henry than she had Amy and Ty. Glancing around awkwardly, she noticed that Finn was now getting down on the dance floor with Ozzy and found herself suppressing a smile at his overenthusiastic Sprinkler.

"Who did you come with, Piper?" Summer asked, drawing her attention away from Finn and back to their conversation.

"Oh, no one. I'm flying solo tonight."

Her friends seemed to appreciate this, which once again sent a feeling of validation through her. "Own it, girl," Summer said with a respectful nod.

"You gonna put your name in for Prom Queen?" Henry asked her curiously.

"No way," Piper answered quickly. Popularity contests like Prom Queen and King were unnecessary frivolities as far as she was concerned. Even still, she asked, "Are you?"

Summer nodded as Henry popped his coat collar and said coolly, "Yeah, I think I'd be a great Prom Queen."

Piper laughed as he grinned at her, clearly proud of his joke. "No, but seriously, I'm running for Prom King, so vote for me," he added.

"Eh, I was thinking of voting for Noah," Piper joked. Honestly, she hadn't even realized that Prom King and Queen was something they were actually doing tonight, but it was too easy to tease Henry sometimes.

His smile faded, and he gave her an exasperated look. "Noah's got nothing on these moves," he said, doing a spin and tipping his hat in a move reminiscent of Michael Jackson.

"Well, when you put it that way..." Summer said, sharing an amused look with Piper.

"You've got my vote," Piper promised Henry, and he grinned.

"Thanks Pipes." He reached out to clasp her hand as if he was a real politician running for office. When he let go of her hand, he looked to the dance floor and said, "I feel like dancing. Come on."

"You want to come with us, Piper?" Summer asked as Henry started to lead the way into the crowd of dancers.

"No thanks. You have fun."

Summer nodded and followed after Henry, leaving Piper alone once more. She crossed her arms as she watched her friends from the side of the room. They all seemed to be having fun together, but there was no way Piper could join them. Prom was every awkward party dancer's worst nightmare, and as Piper maneuvered her way around the dancing crowd to find a seat by herself, she couldn't help thinking that this is why she hadn't wanted to go to prom in the first place.