I'd read the update I did for the last chapter since I changed the ending before reading this

Four months later

~Mark

It was nearing December, and Jack and I haven't done a single gig. We practiced everyday after school at his house, and every time I offered to set one up, he would quickly change the subject. While at school, I got Amy's phone number and talked to her when I could, feeling to scared to ask her out even though I've known her for months now. Jack seemed to be running into the same problem with Signe. So I decided to take a chance. It was a couple days before winter break, and there was a dance coming up soon. "Why don't we preform at the dance?" I finally asked Jack at lunch. "I don't think I can." Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Why?" I pressed. "Yeah, we won't tell anyone else!" Wade chimed in. "We promise." Bob added. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes before he looked at me again, his eyes filled with pain. "I...I used to be in a band before I moved here. It was called Raised To The Ground. We've done gigs before, but our last one was at my school, a couple of days before I was supposed to be moving. They hated-no, despised our music, throwing food, trays and even silverware at us, forcing us offstage. But they didn't stop there. They completely demolished my drum set and snapped my drumsticks in half, and all of our amps were smashed to bits. That's why I have this, got hit with a fork trying to protect my friends." His fingers grazed against the light scar on his eyebrow. "I snapped, punching a kid and sending him to the hospital, which got me expelled and I had to move that day. And now I'm here." Jack finished, eyes filled with unshed tears that he was fighting to hold back. So that's why his drumsticks have duct tape, I thought as I hugged him, his chin digging into my shoulder blade. "Jack, are you okay?" Signe knelt down by him. "Fine." Jack cleared his throat, practically shoving me away from him as he wiped away his remaining tears with the sleeve of his blue hoodie. "Oh. Well...see you later then." She smiled sympathetically before walking off. Jack banged his head on the table with a groan. "I'm an idiot." He mumbled. "Somebody have a crush?" Matt prompted. "Jack likes Signe." I explained. "And Mark likes Amy." Jack announced despite the death glare I was flashing him. "Invite them to the dance, do a gig, and dedicate a song to them!" Bob planned. "You can't avoid playing gigs if you wanna be in a band." I gently reminded him. "I....I guess you're right." Jack sighed reluctantly. "I'll do it." "Great!" I clapped my hands together, already formulating a plan of how to ask Amy to the dance.

~Jack

As soon as I agreed, I regretted it since I was still terrified. What if the gig went wrong? What if Signe rejected me? All kinds of bad scenarios ran through my head, only making me panic more. Ryan seemed to notice as he reassuringly patted my shoulder, dumping his tray. What would I even do to ask her out?, I wondered as I put away my tray, heading to my next classing the hallway, I ran into Signe, who seemed even more nervous than me. She twirled the ends of her hair around her finger, her gaze darting everywhere as she kept a hand hidden behind her back.

"Jack-"
"Signe-"

I blushed as I paused, waiting for her to continue. "Will...." She trailed off, revealing what she had hidden behind her back. It was a pair of black drumsticks with neon green swirls, her initials carved on the end of one and mine carved on the end of the other. "Will you go to the dance with me?" She said in a rush, handing me the gift. "S-sure!" I stammered. Her smile brightened as she kissed my cheek, quickly walking away. I stared at the drumsticks in my hand in shock, still unable to fully comprehend what happened. One minute I was trying to plan a way to ask her, and instead she asked me. I clutched the drumsticks tighter as I hurried to my next class, eager to tell Mark the news.

~Mark

As soon as Jack texted me that Signe had asked him to go to the dance, I had a perfect idea. I knew she loved graphic designing, and everyday after school she stayed for graphic designing club, which consisted of only a few people, including Robin, a friend of Jack's. I figured if I told him I knew Jack, he'd hopefully be able to help. It felt like an eternity until the bell rang, releasing me from my last class. I texted my mom, letting her know that I was staying after school. I was glad that she didn't press the matter, but said that she'd pick me up once I was ready. I was also lucky I had planned this for a while, so I had the box of chocolate for her in my backpack, along with the bouquet of flowers I made sure to keep safe. I took a deep breath before entering the computer lab where the club was held. No one was there yet but Robin, who was booting up his computer. "Hey, um, I'm a friend of Jack's. Can you do me a favor?" I asked. "Sure!" He logged into his computer as I told him my idea. He seemed thrilled as he did as I wanted. After several minutes, I could hear footsteps coming down the hall. "Is it done?" I whispered. "Almost....done!" Robin ushered me further into the room out of view as he pretended to look busy. "Hey Robin!" Amy greeted him, sitting down at the computer beside him. He clicked play on the animation he helped me make. It showed me walking up to her, bowing while handing her a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate, the words "will you go to the dance with me?" hovering over our heads. I appeared out of the shadows when it started, copying it as she watched me in shock. "Will you go to the dance with me?" I handed her the gifts. She eyed the gifts, setting them down on the desk. "No." She shook her head. I felt my heart break as I paused the looping animation, starting to walk out of the room. "I was kidding Mark!" She tackled me in a hug, surprising me as I tumbled to the hard tile floor. I heard Robin try but fail to hold back a snort of amusement as I laughed despite the pain in my head and arm. She said yes, and that's all that mattered.