Riverdale High's Annual Fall Semi Formal was sort of a huge deal for everyone. It was the first major event of the year, it sparked the new school year. Got students excited for what was to come. 

This was the first year Courtney found herself genuinely nervous for the dance. She looked herself over in her full length mirror. She had her short brown hair down around her shoulders for once. It was curled in a very 1920's style. Making her cheekbones stand out even more. The freckles on the bridge of her nose stood out more than normal. She was wearing a knee length light pink dress, with silver strappy heels and a matching hand bag. She had a small silver clip in her hair, pinning some of the curls back from her face.

She actually felt beautiful. Truly, beautiful. 

And she was going to the Formal with Trent. Which made her all the happier.

Oh wait, because of her big mouth, Gwen was going too

Courtney sighed and walked away from her mirror, and shook her head. 

"You can do this Court," she whispered to herself. Nodding as she walked downstairs where her parents waited for her. Upon seeing her, her Mother gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes tearing up

"Oh sweetheart," she gushed "You look so beautiful!" 

"Like daddy's little princess," her father added, a proud smile on his face. Courtney beamed at her parents and smiled huge. 

"Oh, if only your sister could see you all dressed up," her Mother murmured, causing Courtney to lose her smile a little. But she shrugged it off when she heard a car honk outside

"Well, that's my ride. Love you guys!" she called as she walked out the door, wanting nothing more than to get out of her house. 

Trent's car was pulled up right up front, and he waved to her as she walked down her steps. He got out of the car and leaned against the hood "Wow, you look gorgeous," he said. Courtney swallowed back a girly scream as he acknowledged her. 

"Aw, thank you!" she gushed and got into his car slowly. Trent got in right after and closed his door, putting his seatbelt on he looked over at her

"So where does Gwen live again?" he asked. Courtney opened her hand bag and pulled out her phone and looked up the text Gwen had sent her earlier

"Squires Apartments, number 52," she said. Trent whistled under his breath

"That's the expensive part of town," he noted, pulling out of her driveway and driving down the road.  

Courtney watched him as he stared intently on the road, his hands gripping his steering wheel. And felt herself slip into a relaxed state. 

Trent was all she ever needed to get away from it all. 

Trent felt pretty damn good as he walked through the doors to the gym. Gwen hanging on one arm, and Courtney hanging on the other. Gwen was looking gorgeous in a short black dress with long lace sleeves. Her hair pinned back by a black headband. She wore knee high lace up boots with fishnet stockings. 

"It's definitely no met ball, but it'll do," Courtney said, giving Trent a smile. 

The gym was decorated with different ribbons and a disco light hung from the ceiling. Students danced all around them to Selena Gomez's 'Love You Like A Love Song'

"So when do you need to let coach Clayton know about football?" Courtney asked, Trent sighed a little 

"this weekend," he said. Gwen groaned and let go of Trent's arm to stand in front of them

"Can we take a break from the whole extra curricular thing and just enjoy this dance?" she pleaded. Courtney raised a brow and Gwen started backing up "I'm gonna go get some punch, see you in a little bit,"

As she turned, Gwen shot Courtney a look that clearly said 'make your move, you got this' 

Courtney blew out a long nervous breath, and she slowly looked up at Trent

"It's about following your heart, right?" she asked, casually leading him out to the dance floor, she stopped to fix his tie before slowly wrapping her arms around his neck "What does your heart say?" 

"I don't know. I have 7:30am music lessons with Mrs. Grundy, football at after  school and work with my dad on weekends. It's going to be insane," he said, casually placing his hands on her waist. The two began to slowly sway to the music

"Well, if I know Trent Andrews as well as I think I do, I know you can handle anything," Courtney smiled up at him, he returned it. 

Courtney and Trent slowly twirled, and Courtney caught a glimpse of Cody and Gwen by the punch bowl, as soon as she looked at them they both gave her a thumbs up.

"So.. Now that I'm a River Vixen and you're the possible captain of the football team.." Courtney began, her voice cracking a little "I've had this vision of us being a power couple. Or, even just a couple,"

"Courtney..." Trent said, slowly pulling away a little. Courtney's face fell and she dropped her arms from his neck. Taking a step back

"Wow," she breathed "Is it really that hard to imagine?" 

Trent shook his head, and opened his mouth to speak, but just then a louder, faster song started playing. Drowning him out. 

A few feet away, Heather stood with her minions, watching Trent and Courtney. Heather slowly crossed her arms, a cruel smirk coming to her lips

"Make sure those two come to my after party. Oh, and Gwen too," she said and a spark came to her eye "I'm in the mood for some chaos," 

"Gather around everyone," Heather Blossom said, standing in front of the group of students she invited back to her mansion for the after party. She wore her long black hair down around her shoulders, and wore a skin tight red dress. 

"We're gonna go old school with these games," she purred.

Courtney, Gwen and Trent were all sitting on a couch near the back. Courtney had made sure Gwen was sitting between her and Trent. She still felt sick from what had happened at the dance.

I told my feelings to him and he completely dissed them.

Courtney swallowed hard, and took a large sip of her drink. It burned going down, but she didn't mind. That way she could blame her tears on the drink, and not from her aching heart. 

"We're gonna play seven minutes in heaven," Heather said, walking forward and slowly setting the bottle onto the coffee table everyone was seated around. 

"I vote for the newly hot Trent to go first," Heather said. Gwen felt Trent stiffen next to her, and she shot Courtney a sad look. 

"I wonder who will be the lucky girl to spend some heaven with the football hunk," Heather leaned down and spun the bottle slowly. Courtney watched, her nerves growing as the bottle slowly spun in circles on the smooth wood of the table.

Before coming to a complete stop pointing right at Gwen. 

Gwen slipped out a gasp, and she sat up straight

"It's definitely pointing to the new girl," Heather laughed 

"No," Gwen shook her head, standing up quickly "I'm not doing this,"

Heather made a 'tisk' sound with her tongue, and shook her head "Oh dear Gwenny, if you don't I will," 

Courtney stiffened, and she stared at the floor. 

Gwen slowly shook her head, but followed Trent into the closet. Lindsey shut and locked it after them. 

"I know she just lost her brother and all... But I'm pretty sure Heather is the literal Anti Christ." Gwen mumbled, standing with her arms crossed in the tight space. Trent scratched the back of his head awkwardly

"So.. How's your first week going?" he asked. Gwen shrugged

"It's been less than a week.. But.. Yeah, it's not what I expected at all," she said. Trent nodded a little and fiddled with his guitar pick necklace, before checking his watch

"6 minutes and 20 seconds left. Go ahead, ask me a deep open question," he said. Gwen slowly looked up at him

"It looked like you and Courtney were having fun at the dance," she said. Trent swallowed hard

"Definitely. We've been friends forever," he said. Gwen tilted her head to the side

"Is that.., All it is? Just friends?" Gwen asked, Trent looked down and into her eyes

"Well not just friends, we're best friends. My turn," he said "Did you have a boyfriend in New York?" 

Gwen seemed surprised by the question, but she shook her head "No. My turn. Could you and Courtney ever possibly become... Something more?"

"Are you asking for Courtney, or yourself?" Trent asked

"Courtney. And you didn't answer my question,"

Trent stayed silent for a moment, before shaking his head slowly "I have never felt whatever it is I'm supposed to feel with Courtney," he said. 

"Have you ever felt it though?" Gwen whispered, slowly moving closer to him, their eyes still catching "With anyone?"

Trent blinked slowly, and Gwen felt his hand slowly reach up, pushing her bangs out of her face. "Yes. Have you?"

"Maybe once," Gwen whispered, her breath catching as his cold hands moved the hair out of her eyes. Without realizing it, or stopping it, Gwen felt herself slowly leaning in. And the next thing she knew her lips were on Trent's. Trent didn't hesitate, he reached around her and slowly pulled her closer to him. Gwen made a surprised sound in the back of her throat, but their lips never left each other's. 

Trent's timer on his watch went off, signaling the end of their seven minutes. The pair broke apart, their faces flushed and their lips slightly swollen. Gwen was breathless, before the realization of what she had just done slowly sank in. Gwen stumbled away from Trent, just as Lindsey swung the door open. Gwen quickly rushed out of the room, praying Courtney was still there so she could explain.

But she wasn't. The only thing left of her was the corsage Trent had bought her for the dance, sitting on the coffee table.