Jessica called Andie about ten times the next day, wanting to discuss their outfits and preparations.

"Jess, how do you expect me to be ready on time if you keep calling me?" Andie asked with a laugh.

"I know, but I need your advice!"

"You asked for my advice on your shoes, your earrings and makeup!" Andie said, rolling her eyes in amusement. "What now?"

"My dress."

"What? Jess, you chose your dress, the one you bought at the mall!"

"Oh, I know..." Jessica said. "But now I'm not sure."

"Jess, that dress you bought looks amazing on you, why wouldn't you wear it?"

"What if Ben sees it and he hates it?"

"Why would he?"

"I don't know, he could hate purple!"

"You'd know if he did by now, wouldn't you?" Andie pointed out. "You guys have been together three weeks, surely something like that would have come up..."

"I guess..."

"Look, just relax. If anyone should be nervous, it's me."

"What? Why? You're going with Bane!"

"Exactly my point," Andie replied. "Unlike you, I am not going out with Bane."

"Oh, come on, you said yes because part of you wanted to." Jessica said.

It was getting a little tiresome to have everyone sound like they knew her so much better than she did.

"Look, I don't know what I want," she said, a little annoyed as she ran a hand through her hair. "Anyway, Hannah's calling. I'll see you tonight."

"Okay. Bye, Andie."

"Bye, Jessica."

She hung up and rubbed the back of her neck, only then realizing that Jessica had said almost the same thing that Ardente had the night before.

After helping Hannah with a book report her mother had insisted she do sooner rather than later, Andie got up to her room, finished her own homework so she could have peace on Sunday, and proceeded to getting ready. She was just sliding on her necklace when there was a quiet knock on her door.

"Who is it?" Andie asked.

"It's me, Hannah!" her sister's little voice answered.

"Come in, Hannah," she smiled.

The door opened to reveal her little sister.

"Wow...!" Hannah gasped when she saw Andie. "You look amazing!"

"Thanks, Hannah," Andie smiled.

"I wish I could come..." Hannah sighed haplessly.

"You'll go to your own homecoming, and prom, and all the other dances. Just not yet."

Andie glanced at the clock. It was almost seven o'clock. Had she taken that long to get ready? Lauren called Hannah, so she left the room.

"She's right, you know," came Ardente's voice as she appeared. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks," Andie said, more out of principle than because she actually believed that.

Keeping her phone within reach in case someone came up, Andie and Ardente used the time to try and bond a little more. Andie had indeed come to realize they spoke more of their powers than themselves. Well, aside from Andie's conundrum with Bane.

"So you fell in love at first sight..." Andie said.

Ardente was telling her about when she'd met Balon. She had been walking by a river when she'd slipped and would have fallen in the water if a firm hand hadn't caught her. She'd looked up and seen Balon. They'd talked, courted, and fallen in love.

"Yes." she said fondly.

Andie sighed. It sounded so much easier. Why couldn't it have been like that for Bane and her?

"The heart has its reasons that reason cannot know." Ardente said, as though reading her mind.

Andie sighed, thinking Pascal hadn't even known the half of it.

Soon, Andie was ready, and waited in her room for the doorbell. When it came, and though she had expected it, she jumped.

"Relax, Andie, it's just Bane." Ardente reminded her. "He won't hurt you."

"It's me hurting him I'm worried about..." Andie sighed.

Andie got to her feet and slid quietly onto the landing.

"Hello, Mr. Galestone," Bane's voice said from below.

"Oh, you must be Bane," Hank said. "Come in, I'll go call Andie."

"Thank you, sir."

"Andie!" her father's voice called from down the stairs. "Your date's here!"

"Dad!" Andie retorted, flushing furiously as she hurried down the stairs.

Hank chuckled and went to get Lauren. Andie, her cheeks still red with embarrassment, she turned to Bane.

"Hey, Bane..."

"Hey, Andie. You look... great."

Andie had a suspicion he had meant to say something stronger.

"Thanks," she said. "You too."

He did, wearing a black shirt and gray blazer and trousers. He had combed his hair too, so his bright blue eyes stood out more without his fringe in his face.

"Oh, Andie, you look wonderful," Lauren said.

"Thanks, Mom," Andie answered, surprised but pleased.

It was then Andie saw the camera in her mother's hands.

"Mom..."

"Come on, I didn't get to help you pick your dress, you owe me at least this."

Andie sighed loudly.

"Okay..."

"Come on, get a little closer!"

Andie glanced at Bane who shrugged and stepped closer. Lauren instantly starting snapping her camera. After about twenty clicks, Hank intervened (at last) and said:

"Alright, now, Lauren, I think that'll do."

"I'm sure Isabelle will want to take pictures too," Andie said.

"Well, then, let's not keep her waiting," Hank said. "Have fun, tonight."

"Thanks, Dad."

Andie kissed their cheeks and followed Bane out. Whether he thought it was protocol, because he was polite or because he wanted to make up for the last time they'd driven together, she didn't know, but he opened her door for her.

"Thanks," she said and climbed in.

"No problem," he replied and walked around to take his seat.

He started the car and off they went.

They drove in silence a few moments.

"So... you met my parents..."

"Yeah." he said. "They seem nice."

"Oh, yeah, they're okay. My mom has some slight control issues but she's not so bad. But I should warn you, they want to invite you to dinner."

Bane glanced at her in confusion.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Bad? No. Uncomfortable? Absolutely. Mom is a great lawyer but is a little rusty when it comes to table manners... she'll question people so much they get nervous and feel like they're on trial or something."

"I see..."

The gymnasium where the dance was to be held was already alight and filling. They could hear the music in the background. They stared ahead in silence a few moments.

"You know I said this was better than spending Saturday night alone?" Bane asked as they looked at the crowd pouring in.

"Yeah, what about it?" Andie asked.

"I think I'm starting to believe I was wrong." Bane said.

"Oh, no you don't," Andie retorted. "You got us into this, you're seeing it through. And come on, we fought a power hungry demon lord, not too long ago. I think that if we can do that, we can handle a dance, wouldn't you?"

It was funny for Andie to say that, because in a not too distant past, she would probably have felt the same as Bane. But she felt like a whole new person, now. She wondered if it was her powers or whether she was just... what was the phrase her father used? Growing out of her caterpillar shell to become a butterfly, that was it. Maybe she was.

"Come on." she said. "We can do this."

The inside wasn't as bad as the outside. People were grouped around, talking. There weren't quite enough people to dance yet, probably.

"Hey, Andie! Bane, over here!"

Looking up, they saw Jessica, Isabelle, Emily and their dates by the table, drinking soda. Jessica waved them over.

"Hey, guys!" She beamed, her arm around Ben's. "You look amazing!"

"Thanks, you look awesome too," Andie smiled, "just like I said you would."

She had finally chosen the dress she'd bought at the mall.

"Hey, I'm the one who says "I told you so", not you!" Jessica laughed.

"Like you wouldn't do the same if the situation was reversed," Bane grinned.

Jessica stuck her tongue out at him but her eyes were sparkling with laughter.

Andie smiled. She was glad Jessica seemed to accept Bane at last.

"Ooh, I love this song, come on, Ben!"

It was a popular rock band's song, Mr Brightside. Andie and the girls had danced to in their rooms countless times. Jessica commandeered Ben for a dance and dragged him away, making Andie and Bane laugh. Isabelle and Emily soon followed with their dates, leaving Andie and Bane alone.

"I wouldn't like to be in Ben's shoes." Bane commented.

"Oh, he doesn't seem too unhappy," Andie smiled.

And sure enough, he didn't seem to mind being led by Jessica. Andie didn't think that she would like a guy with a personality as strong as hers. And nor would her entourage, either, she thought with a smile. One Jessica was a handful enough.

"Shall we?" Bane asked Andie, holding out his hand.

Andie hesitated, but then again, if you went to a dance with a partner, it was precisely to have someone to dance with... so...

"Sure," she said.

And so they went and joined the other dancers. And despite her initial hesitations, Andie found it was actually fun.

For a while, they just enjoyed the music, and Andie began thinking they actually could make it work as friends. Until the slow dancing songs began. As the first one began, Andie paused, biting her lip.

"What's wrong?" Bane asked.

"It's a slow dance song." she said.

"So?"

"... Bane..."

"Hey, it's just a dance, what's the harm?"

"... hurting you..." Andie said quietly.

Bane took a step towards her and said:

"What if I don't care? Andie, I asked you to go with me, didn't I? I'm fine."

Andie was about to refuse anyway, thinking this was going a little too far, but instead of the "I'm sorry, I can't" that had formed in her head, the words that came out were:

"... Okay, then."

They awkwardly got into position (well, let's say it felt awkward to Andie). They looked at each other as they moved. He spun her around slowly. And as the song progressed, Andie didn't notice their bodies slowly moving closer to one another. She wasn't uncomfortable anymore. She wouldn't exactly say she was where she'd always wanted or anything like that, but... it felt right.

After a while, Andie was so caught up in the moment she didn't realize she was pressed up right against Bane, with her head on his shoulder as they moved around. When the song ended it was like an electric shock.

"Oh... I'm sorry... I... I don't know what came over me..."

"It's alright."

"... Why do you do this?" she asked. "I mean... you know I... I'm not as sure as you..."

"I do know that." Bane replied. "But I've told you. I'm happy just being around you."

Andie had to admit she was running out of arguments. And she didn't want the issue to actually get them into a argument...

"... Okay..."

It was getting late, so they agreed to call it a night. Bane drove her home. They tried to make conversation, but they both knew there was a slight discomfort in the air.

"I hope that tonight hasn't damaged our friendship..." Bane said finally.

"No, of course not," Andie said at once. "You're not the problem, it's me..."

"Why do you always think that?" Bane asked.

"... Because I know how you feel... and... I can't seem to figure out how to respond..."

Bane stopped the car.

"Did I ever say I wanted more than what we already have?"

"No, but I know you do. You're just too nice to ask for it because you know I'm not there... I... I'm not saying I don't want to... I'm just..."

"Andie, it's okay. You don't have to explain yourself. I understand. I know you more than you do me, I walk into your life and drop this huge bomb on you and your best friends, I make you lie, keep secrets from people you love... It's a lot to deal with."

"... You're too kind to me," Andie sighed.

"You're too hard on yourself," he replied.

Andie glanced at the window. Of course. It was on. She climbed out, and was only half surprised when Bane got out as well. She watched him cross the small space between them.

"You don't need to walk me to my door," she smiled.

"I know," he said.

So they walked silently up the small drive to her front door.

"... Listen... I promise, I'm trying..." she said.

"I know." he said again.

Desperate to finish the evening on a positive note, she said:

"... Thanks for tonight. It was fun. I'm glad we did it"

She wasn't lying, she had enjoyed it. She would just have appreciated it being a bit more helpful in helping her making sense of things.

"Yes, it was. And you're welcome."

Andie then leaned forwards and pressed her lips lightly to Bane's cheek. Only this time, she knew she was doing it. She stepped away and said:

"Good night."

He smiled and said:

"Good night."

She turned around, strongly tempted to look round as she heard the car drive away.

Andie managed to deflect questions until the next morning (or later, given it was technically morning, now), and went up to her room. She pulled her dress off and hung it over her chair, kicked of her shoes and changed before letting herself fall into bed with a tired sigh.

"Did it help?"

Andie, her mind getting a little hazy with tiredness, looked up at Ardente.

"What?"

"The dance. You said you were hoping it would help you figure out what you feel for Bane."

Andie tried to will her brain into action.

"... I'm not sure... I was sort of hoping it would just hit me... I mean it was fun... but I still don't have my answer."

"What are you going to do about it?" Ardente asked.

"I wish I knew..."

She stared silently at the ceiling, the music of the dance still echoing in her ears.

"Did you enjoy being with him?"

"Yes." Andie said.

"Did it feel uncomfortable?"

"... A little at first. But then... it didn't. It felt.. right."

"If you were given the choice, would you do it again?"

Andie hesitated. But the answer soon came.

"Yes. Yes, I think I would."

"Then, it was worth it." Ardente said simply.

As she let sleep taker her under, Andie told herself that Ardente was right.

***********************************

Was this Bandie moment the cutest or what? What did you think? Please vote and comment if you liked it!

What is your favorite slow dance song? Let me know and I might change it once in a while :-)

Will Andie and Bane sort things out? Will Zorak succeed in his dreadful plans? Let's find out in the next chapter!