The next day...

"Hello?" Cancer picked up the phone.

"Uh, hi, this is Virgo. When should I pick you up?"

"When does it start?"

"Six."

"Whenever you like. I'm open."

"Sure. See you at five forty-five, then."

"See you then."

Cancer put the phone down. Going to the dance with Virgo felt strange, for a number of reasons. They were just friends, for one thing, and there was nothing wrong with that. She had always imagined she'd be excited the first time she went to a dance with someone, but today, it just felt like a normal thing to do. Barely different from book club.

It could be a lot worse, she decided. She genuinely liked Virgo, as a friend. And going with him was sure to be fun, even and perhaps especially because they were nothing more than that. I really don't want any drama.

The phone rang again. "Hello?"

"Hi Cancer!"

"Hi Pisces," smiled Cancer. "What's up?"

"Are you walking to the dance with Taurus and me?"

Taurus and I, thought Cancer, but she didn't correct him. "Sorry, Pisces... Virgo's picking me up."

"Oh." A breif pause. "Okay. See you there."

"Wait! Don't hang up. Is Charlie coming?"

"You have to ask?" She could almost hear Pisces's smile coming through the line.

"Ooh, good. See you there, Pisces!"

"See you!" Click.

---

Capricorn was wandering around his room. He was going to enjoy the peace and quiet tonight. Aries, Gemini, and Libra were all going to the dance. The perfect opportunity to get some rest when he had the mansion all to himself.

Libra opened his door. "Capricorn?"

"Yes?"

"Are you coming to the dance?"

"Oh god, no. Didn't you hear me say I thought dances were stupid?"

"Well, you're coming anyways." Libra walked into his room and sat on his bed. "Everyone is going."

"Exactly."

"Capricorn!"

"What?"

"I'm forcing you to come," announced Libra.

Capricorn snorted. "No you're not. I don't even have a mask."

"I know you don't. That's why I bought you one." She tossed him a package. "You can come willingly, or I can force you to come."

Capricorn sighed. At this point, it was hopeless. "Okay, fine. But only for one reason."

"Oh?"

"Because I spent sixteen hundred hours putting streamers up all over the room with Aries, and she told me about her plan. This, I can't miss."

Libra glanced at him. "What is Aries going to do?"

"My lips are sealed."

"Oh boy," sighed Libra, leaving the room. It was going to be an interesting night.

---

The doorbell rang. Aries didn't get up, accustomed to having Libra usually answer the door. Then, she remembered that Leo was picking her up to go to the dance. Groaning, she heaved herself off the couch, and opened the door.

Gemini, Leo, Saggy, and Aquarius began to seranade her. Aries facepalmed. "Really, Leo? Really?"

"You haven't even see the worst of it yet," giggled Saggy. Leo put on his mask.

"This is a new low," muttered Aries. "A lion? Really?"

"It's fabulous."

"Fabulously ugly."

"C'mon, let's go," said Leo. "You have your mask, right?"

"Yeah. I don't want these others," Aries gestured at Gemini, Saggy, and Aquarius, "To see it yet. I'll go get it." Aries walked back into the house.

Leo flapped his arms at Gemini Saggy and Aquarius. "Shoo."

"I live here, you know," frowned Gemini.

"And I don't," said Aquarius.  "Your point is?"

"C'mon." Saggy linked her arms through those of Gemini and Aquarius. "Let's walk together." They started off towards the school.

---

The doorbell rang, and Cancer ran downstairs. "Hi Virgo!"

"Hello Cancer," smiled Virgo. "Nice mask." Cancer's mask didn't have any special design, it just covered the eyes and had silver streaks on it. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah." Cancer and Virgo walked out of the house. "It's kind of funny," remarked Cancer, "That we call this 'picking me up' when you don't even know how to drive."

"I could actually pick you up," offered Virgo, "Except I'd probably drop you."

"I'll pass, then," laughed Cancer.

Cancer's house was fairly close to the high school, so they arrived after only a few minutes. They were some of the last to arrive, and everyone was already there. Virgo put on his mask. It was similar to Cancer's except with a different color scheme.

"Wow, you can barely recognize anyone," commented Cancer.

"Ooh, can you recognize me?" a short boy in a fish mask walked up to the pair.

"Pisces," laughed Cancer, "I thought you said you were going to bring Charlie, not be Charlie."

"I did bring him! Look!" Pisces pointed to his mask. Upon closer inspection, a fish bowl was wired to the top, with Charlie swimming in it.

"That's smart," said Cancer, intrigued. "How did you do it?"

"Lots of duct tape," he grinned. Cancer snorted.

"Is it safe?" asked Virgo. "For the fish, I mean."

"Charlie is a tough cookie," reassured Pisces. "He survived in a test tube of acid."

Cancer glanced around the room. "Where's Taurus?"

"Where do you think?"

"Ah. Let's go talk to her at the snack bar then."

In a different part of the party, Capricorn leaned against the wall, taking full advantage of his mask, a simple grey one with goat horns. Libra's was a silvery white with angel wings coming out the top. "I hate parties."

Libra sighed. She'd been hoping that Capricorn might socialize a bit. He was always so closed, and she could never read him. Glancing around the room, she spotted three figures coming in. One had a double-faced mask that looked like two people, one had a pure red mask with a hand held fan blowing tissue paper to look like flames, and the other was a printout of Aquarius's face, with a paper speech bubble coming out of it saying 'guess who'. Gemini, Saggy, and Aquarius, Libra decided, and then glanced at Capricorn again. If anyone can get someone to socialize, she thought, smiling, it's Gemini. Actually, it gets a little annoying sometimes... "Hey guys!" she waved. "How's it going?"

"Hiya Libra!" waved the two-faced figure, his voice confirming his identity. "That is you, right?"

"It is," nodded Libra. "How are you guys enjoying the party?"

"We just got here," shrugged the fire-faced figure, also clearly Saggy. "It's okay, I guess."

"I see two people not having enough fun," observed Gemini, pushing Saggy and Capricorn together. "Dance."

Saggy and Capricorn litterally shoved each other away as hard as they could, causing them to both fall on their faces. Libra facepalmed. Should have known this would happen with Gemini involved...

Capricorn stood up, embarassed, and offered his hand to Saggy. "Need any help?"

Saggy slapped his hand away and stood up on her own. "Honestly, Gemini."

"Party-poopers." Aquarius stuck his tongue out, and then dropped on one knee. "Gemini, may I have this dance?"

"Oh, Aqua!" squealed Gemini in a high-pitched voice. The pair began to slow-dance despite the fact that they were an obstacle to the various people trying to fast-dance all over the room.

Saggy pulled out her camera and began to film them. "This is going to make some excellent blackmail material."

Libra laughed, and even Capricorn smiled a little, almost imperceptably.

By the snack bar, Cancer, Virgo, and Pisces were chatting with Taurus, whose mask was bull-shapped, except that the horns were made of caramel. Understandably, they were also growing shorter as the night went on. "That's actually pretty genius, Taurus," commented Virgo.

Taurus stuck her thumbs up. "Thanks dude."

Pisces was highly invested in the snack bowl containing chex mix, and let out a shriek as something plopped into the punch bowl. "Charlie! Nooooo!"

Cancer quickly scooped Charlie out of the punch bowl and put him back in Pisces's mask. "He's fine, Pisces."

"My precious baby!" Pisces hugged Cancer. "You've saved him!"

"Pisces!" exclaimed Cancer. "You've still got a fish in your hat! Aren't you worried about him falling out again?"

Pisces grabbed a roll of scotch tape off the table, and quickly sealed the top, making sure to leave a few air holes. "There."

Cancer shook her head. "You never cease to amaze me."

"I'm going to take that as a complement."

The DJ changed the song, and Cancer began tapping her foot to the beat. "Ooh, I really like this song."

"Would you like to dance?" offered Virgo.

"Oh, sure." Cancer and Virgo slipped away from the snack table, and began dance in the center of the room, narrowly avoiding a pair of slow dancers who weren't really watching where they were going.

After dancing for a bit, Cancer said "This is fun. I wasn't really expecting that, but I'm enjoying myself."

"Me too," agreed Virgo. "This has been a lot of fun so far." The next song came on, and they continued to dance.

By the snack table, Pisces watched Cancer and Virgo. "They look like they're having fun, don't they?"

"Hm?" asked Taurus through a mouthful of chips.

"Never mind," said Pisces.

Taurus glanced briefly at Pisces, and then at her chips. "Hey, want a chip?" It wasn't the real question, and they both knew it.

Pisces hesitated, before accepting. "Thanks, Taurus."

Elsewhere on the dance floor, Aries and Leo danced to the music. Leo wore his lion mask, and Aries wore a mask similar to Capricorn's, except a bit more well designed and heavier. "I can't dance," said Leo.

"You can't dance," agreed Aries.

Leo pretended to be hurt. "Hey! I have feelings too, you know."

"You said it first," scoffed Aries.

"Because I'm fabulous."

"Fabulous people can dance."

"I am fabulous people," announced Leo.

Gemini and Aquarius waltzed by. "Hey Leo!" yelled Gemini. "Are you alright? You look like you're having a seizure!"

Aries snorted, while Leo stuck his tongue out. "Some people have no taste in fabulous."

"I'm dancing with one of them," said Aries.

The song ended, and Aries headed over the snack table. "Hey, don't you want to dance some more?" called Leo.

"I'm hungry," grunted Aries. "Besides," she explained, dropping her voice to a whisper, "I'd like to get the good stuff from the snacks before it becomes... heh... inedible." Aries had revealed a few of the necessary details of her plan to Leo on the walk to the school.

Leo nodded wisely. "Understood." He went to follow Aries over to the snack table but was hijacked by the congo line Gemini and Aquarius had just started.

"Hi Aries," nodded Pisces, as Aries helped herself to some of the punch.

"Heya Pisces," grunted Aries. "Whatcha doin' bumming around the snack table?"

"Eating?" asked Pisces.

"You should go dance with someone," suggested Aries. "You look depressed, man."

Pisces sighed. "I don't want to dance with anyone." Taurus silently passed him another handful of chips.

"This is really good punch," announced Aries. "Tastes a bit... off, I'm not sure why."

"I noticed that too," nodded Saggy, wandering over. "Sort of... fishy, if you know what I mean?" Pisces surreptitiously patted his mask and was satisfied with the state of things.

At that moment, Gemini Aquarius and Leo charged past. "Woohoo!" yelled Leo, and he grabbed Aries, forcing her into the congo line. Saggy quickly caught her punch before it spilled, and watched, amused, and Aries in turn grabbed ahold of Cancer and Virgo dancing, and forced them into the line.

Taurus pushed Pisces from behind. "C'mon. We're joing the congo line."

"I don't want to join the congo line," protested Pisces, but then sighed, watching it. "Okay, fine. But only for a few minutes." He latched onto Cancer's shoulders when the line made its next round, and Saggy grabbed on behind Taurus.

Libra was dancing casually on the edges of the room with some of her other friends, while Capricorm hung back, with a few other people in masks they didn't recognize. Among these were an elephant, someone all in black, and someone in a silver mask.

"This is a fun party so far," decided the elephant. "I thought it was going to be boring."

"It sucks," said black-mask.

"I'm going to have to agree with black-mask here," shrugged silver-mask. "It's kind of boring."

"Then join the congo line!" yelled Gemini as the twenty-some congo line marched past. Black-mask delivered a kick to the nearest participant of the congo line, who happened to be Virgo. Virgo let out a yelp, and shot a resentful look at black-mask, who had already lost interest in the congo line.

"That was rude," frowned Libra. "You should apologize."

Black-mask shrugged. "I don't remember who it was."

Silver-mask shot black mask a look. "You people are weird." They left to join the snack table.

"Ditto." Black-mask also moved over to the snack area.

"Why is Cancer doing the congo line backwards?" asked Capricorn, staring at the congo line.

Libra watched until she spotted her as well. "I don't know. Maybe she got spun around when Virgo got kicked. Look at how awkward that looks." Cancer was trying to spin herself back, but Pisces kept making funny faces and she got distracted laughing.  Finally, Cancer managed to spin herself back into the right position.

Aries checked her watch, which was no simple feat given the present circumstances, and maneuvered herself out of the line. She slipped out of the cafetiria, which did not go unnoticed by Libra and Capricorn, who both decided that moving themselves to the very edge of the dance floor might be the wiser choice.

Leo, meanwhile, had about the same thought as Aries, and scanned the congo line for her. He was surprised, and a little nervous at discovering that she was already gone.

"Scuse' me," he apologized, as he tried to worm his way out from between Aquarius and Gemini. "I, uh, gotta go..."

"Leo you're leaving us?" Gemini made a pouty face.

"Uh, yeah." Leo tried to worm out of the line, but Gemini and Aquarius squeezed him in. Aquarius began chanting "One of us, one of us..." and Gemini took up the chant as well.

"One of us, one of us..." Gemini and Aquarius spun the congo line in a circle around Leo, effectively trapping him in the center.

Leo facepalmed. "Guys, this is really not the time..." He looked up at the ceiling, and it was too late. Twenty-six gallons of slime dropped from the ceiling onto the very center of the dance floor.

Chaos erupted almost instantniously. Most of the congo line and other dancers screamed and made for the edges of the room, to avoid the slime, which was still coming down. "You idiots!" yelled Leo. "See, this is why I had to get out of here!"

"Now you're slimy like us," cackled Gemini, dumping slime on Leo, not the least bit discombobulated that he was now covered in a thick layer of green slime.

Leo looked down at himself. He was completely covered in slime. Screw it, he thought. "That does it," he grinned. Leo scooped up a handful of slime and threw it at Gemini. Gemini kicked the ground, spraying Leo. Aquarius grabbed two armfuls of slime and dumped them both. Gemini and Leo exchanged a glance, and then simultaniously tackled Aquarius.

"ARIES!" screeched Saggy upon the culprit's triumphant return to the cafetiria. She sprinted across the room, scooped up some slime in her mask, and threw it at Aries.

Aries ducked beneath it. "Is that the best you can do?" she taunted. Then Sagittarius shot her with the water guns she'd had hidden.  Of course.

Virgo picked his way around the fighting Aries and Saggy to Libra and Capricorn, both completely un-slimed. "I suppose you two are very pleased with yourselves right about now."

"Very," smiled Capricorn. "Are you enjoying the dance?" He and Libra burst into a fit of giggles, which, for Capricorn at least, was a very rare sight.

"Shouldn't you be going over to Cancer?" pointed Libra. "It looks like she's fallen."

Virgo glanced over at where Libra was pointing. "Nah. She looks fine, and Pisces is going over. He'll take care of her."

Pisces avoided the various fights, brushing some slime off of himself. He leaned over to offer his hand to Cancer. "Are you alright?"

Cancer was laughing. "That was fun! I was kind of confused when I didn't know what was going on, but now it's just funny!" She steadied herself on her feet and took in the scene. Aries and Saggy fighting, only a few feet from the... whatever they were doing between Gemini Leo and Aquarius. Taurus trying to salvage the chex mix. Libra and Capricorn, completely unaffected, laughing at a dripping Virgo. Only one thing was missing, but she couldn't think of it, and it certainly wasn't going to ruin her mood. "I love you people."

Pisces put his hand over his heart. "Aw, thanks."

Cancer listened. "Listen. The speakers are still working. They're playing one of my favorite songs."

"Do..." Pisces looked at his feet, and then back up at Cancer. "Do you want to dance?"

"Sure," smiled Cancer.

They were the first, and at first it was just the two of them. Laughing, and swinging awkwardly to the song in a way that even the most forgiving would never have labeled as dancing. The floor was really slippery, and they both fell over more than a few times, but were there to help each other up. They started holding each other's arms to keep steady.

They were the first, but they weren't the last. Aquarius got sick of Gemini and Leo beating him up, and convinced them to dance instead, dubbing the event a slime ball. Aries and Saggy got up from wrestling on the floor, and danced as well. Libra dragged Taurus Virgo and Capricorn away from the wall, and they joined the others on the floor.

As the song got faster, they moved a little more together, Cancer was able to respond to the way everyone else on the dance floor was moving, and do it the same way. Cancer and Pisces split off into partners, and as the song ascended it got to the part where everyone twirled. Pisces lost his balance completely and fell over backwards, and Cancer fell over too because she was so dizzy. The speakers were blaring, and the rest of the room was noisy from people yelling and dancing, but it was easy enough to hear each other, sitting next to each other on the floor covered in green slime.

"Cool dance," said Pisces.

"Yeah," said Cancer.

"I had fun."

"Me too."

There was a silence, before Pisces hesitently looked up at Cancer. "Cancer?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can."

"Well, I don't know what you'll say."

"Well, we'll never know if you don't ask me."

"Cancer... will you go out with me?"

Cancer's head jerked up without her meaning it to, and she stared straight into his eyes. "Wh- what?"

"Will you go out with me?" he repeated.

She looked at his face for a moment, smiling, but only slightly, and then it covered her whole face. "Of course I will."

Pisces's face turned bright red and he looked down. "Oh. Okay. Cool. I mean, great."

Cancer laughed, and grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Yeah."

He looked up again. "Wanna dance? Again, I mean?"

"Alright," smiled Cancer. She helped Pisces to his feet, and they started dancing again. And then they were both just laughing and dancing as the music got louder, and the song built up and came to an end, and they stopped laughing and stood there for a moment. Then, Pisces caught Cancer's eye, and they were laughing again.

"Jeez, just kiss already," muttered Saggy, watching the pair.

Libra elbowed her ribs. "Hush! They're having a moment."

"I feel terrible," frowned Virgo. "I had no idea they liked each other."

"I don't think they knew either." Amusement twitched on Libra's lips.

Pisces glanced up. "Wait, were you guys watching us the whole time?"

"Um... no," said Saggy. "In fact, what happened?"

"Let's leave them be," whispered Gemini loudly.

"Congrats, guys!" called Virgo, as he and the others moved away from the pair, who had begun to dance to the next song.

Aries tugged Leo's sleeve. "Leo?"

"Yeah?" Leo glanced behind him at her. "What's up?"

"We're going as just friends, right?"

"Um, yeah, I think?"

"Okay," nodded Aries. "I just think it should stay that way."

"Oh," blinked Leo. "Oh. Sure. Okay."

"I'm glad you don't mind," yawned Aries. "Let's throw some slime at Saggy."

Leo blinked again. "Yeah. Okay."

"Hear that folks!" yelled a voice. Everyone turned over to look at where the DJ was. The DJ was gone, having run when the slime began to fall. In his place, was Aquarius, having stolen his sunglasses and other essential DJ equipment. "Ya hear that? That's the sound of anticipation, my friends! ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?????"

"YEAH BOY!" screamed Gemini.

Aquarius turned the speakers to max volume and began blasting rock and roll music out. So loud, that no one could hear it as several people tripped over themselves when they danced. Outside the school, you could still hear it, but there was only one person around out there, and they didn't really mind.

---

Much later in the night, Pisces leaned on Cancer's doorway. "We're back."

Cancer let out a deep breath. "Finally. That was a lot of fun, but I'm really just exhausted."

"It's been a long night," agreed Pisces. "Well, see you tomorrow?"

"See you then," smiled Cancer. There would be tomorrow, and there would be the day after that, and there would be forever to do anything. But right now she needed to sleep. "G'night, Pisces."

"G'night."

Pisces continued towards his house, but Gemini's mansion was right on the way, and when he ran into Aries Gemini Leo Libra Capricorn and Aquarius walking home, they invited him into their sleepover, and he spent the night at their place. After a long time, the day was over.

Bonus Scenes: The aftermath.

Capricorn: *truges downstairs* *sees Aries, Gemini, Leo, Aquarius, and Pisces sleeping on the floor*

Libra: Gemini had another sleepover.

Capricorn: Ah. *Goes to make breakfast*

Pisces: *yawns, and sits up* *panics* CHARLIE!

Aries: Don't worry, dude, Taurus brought him to her house when you your mask down to dance. I imagine you were a little... heh... distracted.

Pisces: THANK YOU TAURI-RI *grabs jacket* I have to go rescue Charlie!

Capricorn: *reading the newspaper* Have a nice walk.

Gemini: *whispers* Capricorn has the uber app

Pisces: *sings* Oh Cappy...

Capricorn: *pulls newspaper up to his face*

Libra: Cap, let's go. It'll take five minutes.

Leo: Besides, Aqua and I need to go home too.

Gemini: Yay, car trip!

Capricorn: *sighs*

*Five minutes later*

Pisces: This is my house! Wait.

Aquarius: What house?

Leo: What's all this ash doing here?

Pisces: Oh crap Crap CRAP

Libra: What's going on?

Pisces: MY HOUSE IS BURNED DOWN

All: ...

Pisces: *runs into the ruins* AHHH

Gemini: Is he...what...

Aries: Dang, that's rough.

Pisces: *runs back out* It's okay! My volumes of fish care survived!

All: ...

Pisces: Oh, can I move in with you guys?

All: ...

Aries: Dude, your house just burned down, and all you care about are your freaking fish care books?

Pisces: Yeah?

Leo: I respect that.

Gemini: Well, okee. Pisces, you are welcome to move in with us!

Pisces: Yay!

===============

Taurus: *calls Cancer*

Cancer: Hello?

Taurus: Is Pisces over your place?

Cancer: No, why?

Taurus: He left Charlie at the party, and I can't reach him. I think he left his phone at home.

Cancer: No, sorry, he's not here. Maybe his phone's out of battery.

Taurus: Yeah, that's probably it.

===============

Saggy: *walks out of her apartment* *goes to her job*

Scorpio: Triple fudge ice cream cone.

Saggy: Wow, you look exhausted. Did you stay up late at the dance last night?

Scorpio: Pfft, no. Dances are stupid so I left early.

Saggy: It was a lot of fun. First annual slime ball.

Scorpio: I had better things to do. *Leaves*

Saggy: Alright, then.

Virgo: Hello, Saggy. Vanilla twist.

Saggy: Heya Virgo. Have fun last night?

Virgo: Mostly yes, except for the slime.

Saggy: *laughs* That's Aries for you.

Virgo: She's a handful.

Saggy: That's what's fun about her.

Virgo: Did Scorpio steal your nametag?

Saggy: *looks down* Aw, nuts.

I'm curious... can anyone guess what the final shipping will be at this point?  (Hint:  Cancer and Pisces will be together.  Shocking, I know.)  Also, thanks a lot for reading! :)