characters: poultry_man_, TheJingler, SherlockGrian, SallyTheChicken DarklockGrian, NetheredOne and --Scarlette--

"POULTRY MAN!"

I jumped, startled by my sister's sudden outburst. Sally was glaring at me, obviously annoyed. "You're going to be late for the dance!" she cried.

Shoot.

"Crap, crap, crap," I said, yanking myself out of bed and racing for the front door. Before I could head out, though, I was stopped by Sally grabbing onto my sleeve. I glared at her. "What?!"

"Don't tell me you're going like...." She gestured to me, apparently dissatisfied with my appearance. She was way too judgy for a ten-year-old. "Like that. At least brush your hair."

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair, "combing" it. "Happy?"

Sally nodded, giving me a hug and telling me to wait here while she went and grabbed something. She came back with a small bouquet of poppies, tulips, and daisies and handed it to me. "It's your first dance with a date, and you would have looked like an idiot if you showed up empty-handed," she said before I could say anything. "Since you definitely would have gone to the dance without anything to give this date of yours, I made this with my kids."

In case you don't know Sally, by "kids" she was referring to her three best friends Muffy, Coder, and Potato. I have no clue why she calls herself their mom.

"Thanks Sal," I said, grinning stupidly and inhaling the bouquet's flowery scent. "I actually mean it."

Sally rolled her eyes and began shoving me out the door. "If you and your date don't kiss, I will demand a refund!"

I was positive my face was now redder than Evil X's helmet. "Don't play with knives while I'm gone, Sal."

"Dangit," she muttered, and I choked back a laugh, even though I knew my sister was being completely serious. She wants to be an assassin when she's older. Actually, I'm pretty sure she already is, which scares me, but she also used to be a chicken, so I'm done questioning anything.

The walk to the high school was fifteen minutes, but it felt like only fifteen seconds before I was standing at the front doors, hearing muffled music from the gym. I gripped my sweaty fingers around the bouquet and steeled myself to go inside and face the crowd. I pushed one of the doors open-

"Oh, hey Poultry!" I heard Darklock/ette walk up behind me. "Ooh, are the flowers for the Jingler?"

I laughed awkwardly. "Um, yeah."

Darklock chuckled, flipping her dark purple hair out of her face. "Aw, you two are an adorable couple, though it is kinda weird to see the most popular guy in the class feeling awkward on a date." What does she mean by that?! "Well, don't blow it!"

I nervously smiled and held the door open for her, following afterward. She walked over to her "light" side, Sherlock, who was standing off to the side of the large crowd, awkwardly twiddling with his purple scarf. He did not look any more relaxed as Darklock came toward him. Poor guy.

"Hey Poultry."

I spun around and accidentally hit Jingler in the face with the flowers.

"Oh, Belly-Bob!" I felt my face heat up. "Sorry, sorry-"

Jingler laughed. Their laughter's clear and rings like a bell, and I absolutely love it. "Who are those for?" they asked, pointing at the bouquet I had slapped them with unintentionally.

"Uh, for you....?" I laughed awkwardly. "I mean we're dating so.... my sister thought it would be a good idea."

Jingler smiled bashfully. "O-oh...."

"Y-yeah....." I held the bouquet out to them. "So, uh, here."

Jingler took the bouquet without a word. Their face was most likely redder than mine.

"So, um...." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and looked around. I caught the eye of the DJ, who winked at me. I was thoroughly confused until a significantly slow song began to play.

"How about we get a few ships on the dance floor, eh?" Nethered, who was undoubtedly the person running this dance in the first place, said into the microphone, and I swear they looked straight at me.

"I think they're talking about you two," Scarlette, probably Darklock's date to the dance, whispered in my ear. "Go on, lovebirds."

I glared at her. "You and Darklockette first."

Scarlette shrugged. "Suit yourself," she said, grabbing Darklock's arm and pulling her onto the dance floor, where they began to dance, to the delight of the crowd.

I watched them for a little bit before glancing over at the Jingler, who glanced back. I began to nudge them toward the nearly empty space reserved for the brave enough couples. "It can't hurt us, can it?" I asked, smiling.

Jingler giggled. "No, I guess not.

Hand in hand.

Sloppy footwork.

Inexperienced revolving in one spot.

And so we had our first dance.