"Yes! I love this one!" I think Emma's the one speaking right now. I know she does, actually. I stand on the other side of her door, and I know Abigail's in there, too. I don't know what they're talking about, but whatever it is, I think they're having a ball. How ironic that it's also right before a school dance. I raise my hand to knock on the door, but hear David's open instead. I didn't even knock.

"Hey." David's surprised at my appearance.

"Oh, hey."

"The door's not going to knock on it's own, you know that, right?" David asks.

"I do."

"Just nervous?" David leans against the wall.

"I've never really been girly." I say. "And sometimes, especially when doing feminine things, Abigail and Emma can be a bit-"

"Extra?"

"Yeah, exactly that." I point lightly.

"It's okay, just knock."

"You know it's harder than that."

"Why?" He presses further into the wall.

"You know why." I speak in a voice that's practically a grumble.

"18 years old and you still don't like to ask for help." He says, smirking a little bit.

"Oh, quiet you!" I say, smacking his arm a little bit.

"What do you need help with? Maybe I can help you."

"I've never really been good with hair or makeup. My uh... my mom would always help me." I say.

"Offer you my help, but, I failed art and can't draw."

"You'd think that an over 150 year old would be able to draw."

"And you'd think that with your instinct that you'd be willing to know how to do makeup." I raise my eyebrows a little bit in surprise. "Hey, you started it." David adds, putting his hands up in mock surrender.

"Whatever." I say. "I should knock on the door," I turn to face the door once again.

"You should." David nods. "Are you actually going to, Maple Leaf?"

"Yes."

"Want me to knock for you?" He offers.

"No, I'll be fine, thank you, very much." I say, crossing my arms.

"Can't knock with your arms crossed." He says, reach across me, and knocking on the door. He then speeds away int his room, which wasn't even really necessary, considering he's just two doors down.

"Hello?" Emma says, opening the door. "I was wondering when you'd come." She says, leaning against her doorway. Somehow, she was wearing one of the silk robes that I thought only brides-to-be wore.

"I need help, with my hair, and my makeup, and everything else." I say, sighing.

"It's okay, come on in." Emma opens her door wider so I can step in. Her desk has already been turned into a vanity, and her dressed laid on the bed. Various things of makeup were scattered randomly on the desk as well.

"Canada! Aren't you excited?" Abigail is glowing with excitement.

"Yeah, I am."

"First dance, how are you feeling?" Emma nudges me with her shoulder.

"Good."

"That's great. I'm really looking forward to this." She says.

"So, where's your makeup?" Abigail searches me up and down.

"I don't have any..."

"Really, I could've sworn that we'd gotten you some when we had first moved in together."

"I don't really wear makeup that often." I say.

"Well, we'll have to get you some, at some point." Abigail turns back to where all of the makeups.

"Now, come on, let's do something with that hair and makeup of yours."

Finally, we had finished. I can't even tell how many times I had t hold back a sneeze because of whatever dust was put on the brushes. Abigail now has us standing out in the woods, posing for photos, and all that kind of stuff.

"Oh! Just one more!" Abigail repeats for the third time. "Okay, all done."

"Okay, David and Emma, you'll be going to school with Abigail, Canada, you'll be going with me." Matthias explains.

"Okay." We all mutter, and walk with the respective parental figures.

"Such a shame that I can't go and warn Gayle about what he's getting himself into." David says.

"Oh! David, be nice. Your sister is a wonderful person!" Abigail smacks him in the arm.

"Hey, I was just going to warn Gayle that if he breaks Canada's heart, I'll break every bone in his body." I can't see his face, but I know he's smirking.

"Come on, now. Let's go." Matthias urges, opening the passenger side door for me to get into.

"Thanks." I say.

"No matter what, I'll still open doors for beautiful young women." He replies, getting in on his side, alluding to his history of being a footman before he was bitten. "You excited for your first dance?"

"Yeah, I haven't been to one since-" I pause for a moment, checking to make sure there isn't a lump on my throat, "-Since the family dances in elementary school."

"Wow." He reacts in a quieter voice. "Long time, eh, old lady?"

"Didn't know I was getting a ride from David."

Matthias just chuckles. "Still, though, don't be nervous."

"I'll try."

"I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." I say, now noticing the change of scenery from woods to dirt road.

"Since I can't say this to you out there, remember to not be the center of attention, there's a stash of blood in your purse, as well as Emma's purse, and David's pocket, so, just in case. Watch Emma and David, you never know when someone could loose control, and remember to control yourself."

"I will."

"Always wanted to say those reminders." A small grin spreads across Matthias' faces. "This the place?" He asks, pulling into the Save the Planet Base.

"Yep."

"One more thing, and, you might want to close the door for this."

"Okay..." I say slowly, sliding myself back into the car.

"Remember that when I fell for Abigail, she was a human, and didn't know I was a vampire." When Matthias says this, it's my turn to smile a bit. It doesn't make my face grow warm, it's just sweet. Abigail and Matthias are always so formal, rarely ever do you see Matthias' soft side.

"Thanks." I say, this time really getting out of the car. I get out, and see Gayle and the group waiting.

"Ohmigosh! Canada!" Leah rushes over. "You look beautiful."

"Oh, thank you. So do you."

"We're just taking pictures." Bernice says, waving her phone.

"Canada's mom wanted me to do the same." Matthias mirrors her actions. I join the group, right at the end, right next to Gayle.

"Gayle! Don't be a coward! Put your arm around the girl!" Just about everyone but Gayle and I laugh at Bernice's comment, and he slowly slides his hand around my upper back.

"Hey." He greets through his smile, mouth practically unmoving.

"Hi." I respond, doing the same thing. "You look really nice."

"Thank you, my mom's made me go out and get a new suit." Gayle shifts his footing to change angles. "I got you something inside the base, once we finish taking pictures, I'll give it to you." This time, he says it in a much lower voice.

"You didn't have to get my anything."

"It's a thank you for coming to the dance with me. -I mean us." He quickly covers up his tracks.

What's that supposed to mean? Is he friendzoning me? Does he really want to go to this dance with me as his date? What is going on?

"Wearing my bracelet." I say, breaking the silence.

"Me too."

"Okay! We got all of the pictures we wanted." With Maggie's signal, we all break the formation.

"We better get going, it'll be all black, soon." Bernice puts her eyes to the sky.

"Then, I'll leave you, kids. Dance ends at 9:30, right?" Matthias asks.

"Yep."

"See you then, kiddo," He gives me a one armed hug from the side. "Love you." He adds, reminding me that there's a crowd of humans.

"Love you, too."

"I'll go get you that gift." Gayle books it inside of the old school house. He comes back out with a box covered in brown parchment. "Here," He opens the box to reveal a beautiful corsage. It's dark red roses, with a little ladybug on as an accessory to one of the blue ribbon.

"Gayle, it's beautiful."

"I hear that I'm supposed to be the one who puts it on." Gayle says, sliding it on to my wrist.

"Thank you." I marvel at it's colors for a little bit.

"I saw yours." Gayle takes in a breath, pulling up the cuff of his suit jacket to reveal the turquoise beads.

"Love it."

"Knew you would."

"Okay, kids, hop on in." Bernice pulls down on the door in the bed of the pickup truck, where blankets have already been laid down.

"Here's the most funnest part of the night." Hunter says.

"What makes it funnest is your use of not-real phrases." Jordan rolls their eyes.

"Since the truck only has two seats, the rest of us ride in the bed." Leah's the first one to hop in, even while she's talking. I stare at it for a minute, pondering my best way up.

"Come on, I'll help you up," Gayle offers his hands down to me. I take, and he pulls me right up. "Wow, you're light."

I try to laugh it off, and hopefully the conversation will change soon. Losing a lot of weight is one of the first stages of our transformation.

"Wow." I'm awestruck at the clear night sky.

"I know right." Gayle beams.

"You could never see this many stars in New York."

"Gotta love pollution." Jordan interjects. The truck starts moving, and I find myself holding on for dear life.

"You're gonna be fine, I promise." Looking into Gayle's eyes, I believe I will.

"Thanks."

"Here, hold onto my arm, that way if you go down, I go down." He says, offering out his arm. I take it, and find my stomach flutter. Then it drops at the realization that it's fluttering. Gayle pulls out his phone, and hols it above our heads, screen facing towards us. "Now, we can see whatever stars are in the sky."

"Wow."

"So, there Mercury, there's Scorpio, ooh! There is Ursa Minor! The big dipper." Gayle rambles on.

"Shooting star! Make a wish!" Leah says. We all silently make our pleas to the falling ball of burning gas, I wish I could know what is going on...

Hunter, Leah, and Jordan all stand on he dance for, dancing to the hearts desire Really, it's just the gym with decorations on it, but tonight, it is our own little piece of Hollywood Magic. I just lean up against the wall of the refreshments table.

"What do you think?" Gayle asks, walking up to me.

"I think those three bring a whole new meaning to, 'Dance like nobody's watching'." I respond.

Gayle let's out a sort of chuckle. "What do you think of your first homecoming?"

"I think it's wonderful." What I meant to say was cool... "Woah, would you look at that, it's already 9:15."

"No way." Gayle says, checking his phone and confirming the time. "Time really flew by."

"Tell me about it."

"And you've hardly been out on the dance floor."

"I don't like attention." I snark back.

"You're getting attention if you're the only one who hasn't touched the dance floor, come on." Gayle says, dragging me by the arm out to the dance floor. "Let loose, for once." He starts bopping to the rhythm.

"Fine." I say, doing the same, and swinging my arms a little bit.

"See, isn't this fun?"

"I don't know..." I feel my voice start to trail off.

"Wait, are you really not?"

"No, I am having fun. It's nice to hang around with you guys."

"Oh, thank goodness." Gayle sighs in relief.

"Alright, boys and girls-"

"And others!" Jordan shouts over the MC who had just stopped the peppy beat.

"And others," The MC echos. "It's just about for this dance to end, so we're about to slow this thing down." The lights suddenly turn a red color, and a slower song comes on.

"May I have this dance?" Gayle asks, offering his hand to me.

"Yeah," I say, taking it. He pulls me a little bit closer, and I feel my heart rate starting to spike. Then, Emma's words suddenly flash into my brain.

'How do you feel when you talk about him?'

I feel a sort of pride, and then a sort excitement about seeing him again.

I look up at his focused face which stared at a wall, trying to figure out the beat of the song so we can step in time.

'What about when you talk to him? Does it feel like the words are just bubbling out of your mouth?'

When I was talking to him about the dance, and called it wonderful, instead of cool. Any other time, I just want to talk to him, or listen to him talk.

Gayle notices that I'm looking up at him, and looks back at me, smiling a little bit as he does so, I smile back, feeling my cheeks turn pink again.

'Whenever he's near, do you feel yourself just opening up?'

Yes. All the time.

I look into his eyes. His beautiful brown orbs. They aren't like chocolate brown, they're a far more beautiful type of brown. They feel warm, and glowing.

'Do you get butterflies when he's around?'

Yes, earlier this evening, when I got that fluttery feeling in my stomach? Was that what butterflies felt like? Then what came after that? The fear that I was falling for someone?

His smile sort of grows a little. His eyes crinkle a little bit. I smile. He lifts his arm up so he can spin me, and I let him, I turn around a full 360 degrees. I smile when I'm once again in both of his arms.

"Hi." I whisper.

"Hi." He says back, in the same, sort of innocent tone.

'Do you educate yourself in his interests?'

I remember back to my second day here. I went into the study . I got a book about climate change, and read it in a day. I joined his charity, and learn new things every day, like the effects of deforestation, or that Texas has the most wind farms. He's taught me the effects of a climate that keeps changing, how it'll cause worse storms, hurricanes, and dramatic highs and lows of temperature.

I look at Gayle, eyes glowing. He keeps trying to push back a smile, and kind of holding his lips together, as if he's trying to prevent something from happening. As if he's trying not to say something he shouldn't.

'Do you ever just want to lean up with him, and kiss him?'

I focus my attention to his big, lips. His big, kissable lips. I want to lean up and kiss him. Know what the warmth that so many books talk about feels like this. I want to kiss Gayle West.

I look at the distance between us, I regret not wearing heels. I want to close off the distance. I want to feel the fireworks.

And I do. I lean up, coming closer and closer, and then-

The song ends. The lights come up. Gayle throws one of his hands up to block the one of the bright lights, breaking the connection with one of my hips. It instantly feels colder and lonelier, even though we both still have some contact with each other.

"That was fun." Gayle says.

"Yeah, a lot of fun." I say, nodding a little bit.

"Alright Guys, Gals, and Non-Binary Pals, that is it for the evening, remember to drive safe, and to drive home." The MC says. Everyone begins to stream out of the gym.

"I'll walk you to your car?" Gayle offers.

"Yeah, that sounds great." I nod. We walk out of the school building, and into the parking lot. By coincidence, Matthias and Bernice are right next to each other. "It's almost like our parents are becoming better friends than we are."

"Yeah, feels like it." Gayle says. We continue walking, and now we're only feet away from the cars, stepping into the cross walk. Gayle takes a step out, and I turn my head and see a car barreling through the parking lot, and coming straight at Gayle.

"Look out!" I holler, reaching for his wrist and pulling him back over to our side. Just as I do, the car comes speeding through right where Gayle was standing. He looks in awe at the sight, and then back at me.

"Canada, you saved my life." He says. The panic is still clear in his voice. "Thank you."

"It's no worries." I say, nodding a little bit. Neither of us continue across the cross walk, and I can almost feel Matthias, Emma, and David's eyes on me. "Thank you, for everything you've done for me."

"It's nothing, really."

I look up at him, and feel something pulling at my limbs. I almost want to hold myself, like I did in front of the deer with Gayle, but I don't want to. My hand goes up to Gayle's cheek, and his hand comes to my waist. I stand on my toes and angle my head up, and Gayle leans down a little.

My heart starts speeding up as my lips start forming a shape I'd thought I'd never. It starts to pound when I close my eyes, and somehow goes even harder when I realize the last thing I looked at was Gayle's lips forming the same shape as mine. I do one final lean up, and our lips are now connected.

I feel the warmth, the sparks, all of the feelings, and I love it.

We break away, and just sort of stare at each other. A smile forms on both of our lips, and we just stare into each other's eyes.

Cue the fireworks.