Finally, the dance dwindled to an end.  Stanford and I got into the car and drove off towards my apartment. 

After a few minutes, it started to rain, a little bit at first, but quickly grew to an all-out thunderstorm.  By the time we arrived, the rain was coming down in sheets. 

"I'll walk you to the door," Stanford said, being the dork he was.

I shook my head and smiled.  "You don't have to, not in this weather."

"It's the least I can do, after that little punch stunt you pulled."

"Hey, whoever said I did that?  She might have spilled it herself... on her head... all over her dress..."

"Whatever you say, Y/N."  Stanford hurriedly got out of the car, directly into the pouring rain.  I followed, dashing under the door to get out of the miserable storm.  We huddled under it, making the most of the little shelter it provided. 

"See you tomorrow at science fair, Y/N."  Stanford's warm brown eyes stared into my own.  Gah, he was so handsome in a suit, even if it was stained a bright red. 

"Actually, there's one more thing I want to do before you leave," I said.  Before I could have any second thoughts, I gently pressed my lips to his, letting the warm sensation fill my body.  Stanford froze for a full ten seconds, then melted into the kiss, returning it with soft lips.  He embraced me, putting one hand on my back and the other on my waist, like he never wanted to let go.  My blood rushed to my face, making it feel like it was on fire. I wanted to freeze time and let this moment last forever.

Reluctantly, I broke the kiss off.  "I have to go, Stanford.  See you tomorrow?"

"Y-yeah," he stuttered, his face a deep scarlet color. 

I entered my apartment building, smiling like an idiot and shaking my head slightly.  Stanford was such a classic dork.  But he was my dork, and that's what mattered.

***

"Pines twins and Y/N L/N to the office, Pines twins and Y/N LN to the office," the intercom crackled. 

Confused, I got up from my desk and walked out the door, both Stan twins right behind me.  Judging from their baffled expressions, they had no idea what was going on, either.  We made our way the principal's office, but Stanley was stopped by the secretary.  "Not you, him."

I frowned.  "Then why'd you call him up?"

The secretary sighed, obviously annoyed with me.  "He told me to call up Stan Pines and you, but he only told me which Stan after I had already called you up."

Stanley grunted and sat down in the chair outside the door.  "It doesn't matter, just get this over with."

I looked at Stanford, shrugged, and followed him into the office.  It only got weirder from there.  Both of our parents were sitting next to the dean's desk, leaving two chairs open for us.  We hesitantly sat down, still having no idea what was going on. 

Our principal, the very embodiment of the 60's, leaned over in his desk. "Now, Mr. Pines, Mr. L/N, I'd like to speak with you very frankly if I may."

My dad nodded while Stanford's father muttered, "Very frankly is the only way I speak."

"Why'd you arrange this meeting with us, anyways?" Mom asked.

"I'm saying your kids, Stanford and Y/N are GENIUSES! All their teachers are going bananas over their science fair experiments! Ya ever heard of West Coast Tech? Best college in the country. Their graduates turn science fiction into science FACT! The admissions team is visiting tomorrow to check out Stanford's and Y/N's experiments. Your children may be future millionaires."

My eyebrows shot up into my head. West Coast Tech?! Only the best of the best went there. If I could impress them with my project, my life would be set. Mr. Pines cracked a rare smile. "I'm impressed."

Stanford's mother looked torn. "But what about our little free spirit, Stanley?"

The dean rolled his eyes. "That clown? At this rate he'll be lucky to graduate high school. Look, there's a saltwater taffy store on the dock. And somebody's gotta get paid to scrape the barnacles off of it. Stanford's goin' places. But hey, look on the bright side: at least you'll have one son here in New Jersey forever."

That was harsh. I wasn't very close to Stanley, but it seemed like the principal had gone too far. I kept my mouth shut and stared at the floor. This all seemed surreal. 

The rest of the day blurred past, and I wasn't able to focus on anything.  The same thing kept on repeating in my head:  I could go to West Coast Tech with Stanford.

It was all coming together. We wouldn't have to worry about a long-distance relationship, and we could both go to the one school where being a nerd was acceptable. I couldn't wait to see where Stanford would invent, and for the first time, I let myself think about what I could do. I had managed to build a robotic hand in one month, imagine what I could do in four years of college.

But there was one part left out: Stanley. He would be stuck out here in New Jersey while is brother become a star. I felt bad for the guy, but what could I do? I could only hope he would take the news well.

I shook my head. Tomorrow was science fair. I had to be ready. I had to blow the judges socks off in order for this fantasy to become a reality.