Thanks to Peter finally having the courage to ask Liz to be his homecoming date, Angela and Ned were conflicted. They always went together as just the three of them, but now it's just Ned and Angela.

You see, Ned actually had no issue with this. He had planned on finally telling Angela how he felt at homecoming, but it didn't help that she was complaining about the two being alone at the dance. "So what are we gonna do now that Peter has a date? We always go as a trio! The trio was finally making a comeback."

"We could be each other's dates?" Ned proposed. He wasn't sure how he had the guts to even say his not so brilliant idea, but he did it anyway. "You know, as friends."

Angela was relieved about hearing "as friends." She refused to admit to herself that there was something going on between her and her best friend. Ned had finally stopped believing that there was something between Peter and Angela due to the fact that he's going with Liz and Angela was the one who encouraged it in the first place. "Yeah, we could."

"I don't see how it would be any different than before." He shrugged. "We always went to dances together."

It was true, but there was one thing Ned failed to mention. "Yeah, but with Peter tagging along. My mom would always drive us there and pick us up after then head to the diner."

"The diner where that girl Peter used to have a crush on works at?" Ned raised an eyebrow.

Angela thought about it for a second. "Yeah, that one! I forget the name though."

"Sadie's?"

"I thought it was Terry's?" She looked at him weirdly.

"Who goes to a diner named Terry's?" Ned chuckled.

"True." She said. "So I guess you'll come to my house before the dance?"

"Obviously." He replied. "I gotta see my favorite Esposito."

"And that would be Jackson." Angela giggled.

"Yup!" Ned smiled. She could only laugh at him because Jackson actually couldn't stand Ned. But he was only a little kid, so that could change quickly.

"I just can't wait for Friday now."

•••

Friday

"Oh my god it's Friday." Angela said to herself mid existential crisis. At first she was fine about it just being her and Ned, but now it's really sinking in.

"Angie, honey. Relax!" Her mom reassured her. "My ship is finally sailing!"

"Huh?" She looked at her puzzled.

"Isn't that what the kids say these days?" Angela's mom questioned.

Angela only shook her head in disappointment. "Mom, who let you get onto that part of the internet?"

"Ned was telling me all about his ships! Did you know he writes fanfiction-"

"Can you just help me get ready?" Angela interrupts. She was already on edge, and she just really wanted to get this over with.

"Fine, fine." Her mom sighed. "Momma needs to tweeze these brows."

"Ugh." Angela grunted.

About 30 minutes later, the doorbell rang. Angela was perfectly dressed up thanks to her mother, and it was now time for her to walk downstairs and relive the iconic She's All That moment with Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer playing.

"That must be Ned!" Angela's mom squealed as she ran down the stairs. She opened the door, revealing a very well-dressed Ned, not forgetting his mandatory fedora. "Hi! Angela is upstairs. I'll call for her. ANGIE-"

"I'm coming!" Angela yelled from upstairs. She then took a deep breath and gave herself a pep talk. "Just pretend the song from She's All That is playing. But don't fall down the stairs."

After her mini speech to herself, Angela finally went down the stairs, totally pretending she was doing it in slow motion. Ned stood at the front door with a corsage in hand and his jaw dropped. He was definitely falling for her harder than ever before.

"Woah." Ned whispered.

She walked up to him with a smile on her face, and her mom looked at the two in awe. "Hi."

"Hi." He said.

Angela's mom gushed. "I'll go get the car keys."

Ned almost forgot about the small box with the corsage. He was just too mesmerized by his best friend. "I, uh, got you this."

Angela looked at the corsage for a moment. It had white roses and it had a silver ribbon so it could be wrapped around her wrist. "Thanks. I love it."

He smiled at her then carefully helped her with the corsage. Once putting it on, Angela's mom came back with her car keys ready to take the two love birds to the homecoming dance. "You two ready?"

"Ready."

•••

After one long and excruciating car ride full of embarrassing moments thanks to Angela's mom, they finally arrived at the school.

"Now remember." Her mom began. "Have fun. But not too much fun-"

"Mom!" Angela whined. "You're embarrassing me."

"I'm just kidding!" She laughed it off. "I'll be here to pick you both up when the dance is over."

"Okay. Love you." Angela said as her and Ned got out of the car.

Her mom drove off, and Angela and Ned were arm in arm, ready to make a not so dramatic entrance. For now it was awkward, as the two definitely weren't used to this.

"So this is fun." Ned broke the silence as they walked towards the entrance.

"Totally normal." She said awkwardly.

"Two best friends walking arm and arm into the school dance." He spoke.

"Uh huh." Angela forced a smile, which quickly faded. "Oh god, our teammates are looking right at us."

"Don't worry, we got this." Ned reassured her. "Let's do this thing."

"More like: let's do this shit."

•••

Haha gotcha there ;)

The end of act one is near