Friday. The last day of the week. The day before the dance when all attending students ran to get the most fashionable clothes of that year and pick out a record to bring from their parents' collection. The day the whole school was looking forward to.

Except Angus as this was the day he'd be taking a hell bound math test.

His class was at the end of the day, giving him something to dread the whole morning. Every footstep he took to that classroom felt like a walk to his execution. Lunch was his last meal and now it was his turn on Judgement Day. Miss Jackson stood there at the door greeting the students, preparing them for the worst day of their life. Angus couldn't help the silly grin. At least she looks hot while she does it...

The rubber end of the pencil tapped endlessly on his notebook. The numbers and letters blurred on the page and he couldn't concentrate. Every word Hannah had said to him vanished into the air above him. Rain pouring outside only made it worse. Reminded him of the other threat to his Saturday night. His heart flopped inside his chest; he almost thought he was going into cardiac arrest and had to be excused from school when a paper was set in front of him.

Wishful thinking.

"It's time for the test, Mr. Young," Miss Jackson said above him. "Go ahead and put your notebook away, show me what you know." Her eyes narrowed as a smirk played on her lips. Those gorgeous red lips with pure white teeth behind them, skin soft as a cloud. 'I'll show you what I know.' His thoughts seemed to beg to be announced. A smirk found his face in return but by the time a playful comeback was inspired she was off handing papers to the other kids. Angus flipped his test over and dropped his expression. There were way more questions on this thing than he was counting on. He flipped to the next page and the next and the next and the problems were never ending. There had to be some kind of school code that you couldn't waste this much paper, and cut down that many trees.

"Oh, fuck me..."

"Alright class, notes away, pencils out, no talking, and let the test begin."

Angus was almost sure he had entirely consumed his pencil. Behind him he heard papers flipping in sync, pencils scratching down answers he couldn't seem to fathom. Miss Jackson sat at the front of the room engaged in a gossip magazine, her eyes skimming back and forth on the pages once in a while making a facial reaction. The boy had to pinch himself so as not to get distracted by the woman on the cover.

The minutes ticked by without mercy as he slowly flipped each page. He couldn't have been more than halfway through. Most answers were skipped for later tending to, and others were complete and utter guesses. Sweat filled his palms faster than he could dry them and his pencil slipped from his fingers multiple times.

Breathe. He just had to breathe. Which should have been easier but his tie was suffocating him. "You're gonna let a few numbers be the death of you, Ang?" a voice asked. He looked around the classroom and saw no one addressing him. At least, not visibly. The voice was in his head.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

"Don't tell me you forgot everything I taught you. I didn't come to your house eight days a week for nothing."

Angus had to laugh. "Eight days is a bit of an overstatement. Besides. I believe you came for an entertainment of more than a few textbooks and papers..."

"Wh-what makes you think that? I came for completely professional reasons, and I won't let you fail this test because of a few nerves." The boy sighed.

"Listen, Hannah. I appreciate the help. But I just can't seem to focus, and-and whenever I see the paper I think how lucky Mal is to be sixteen-and-" he sighed. "I think how pressured I am to pass so I can see you..."

"Who's pressuring you, Angus?"

"I am." Miss Jackson looked up from her magazine to check on her students. Her gaze met Angus' and he looked down at his paper. The equations were hard to look at so he closed his eyes. "I want to see you again, and I..." He sighed and put his hands to his face. "I can't do it."

"Angus, look at me." Angus lifted his face. "Okay, bad order. Look at yourself. This is not the man I know and-tutored for a week. Now listen. Don't stress yourself out. Do this for yourself. Don't think about the dance, don't think about the pressure, just do this for you. You're smart, Ang. I know you know all this. Just remember what I taught you and put pencil to paper. You don't have to prove anything to anyone, just prove it to yourself. Okay?"

Angus sighed. "Okay. I'll try. Did you say I was...a man?" he smirked.

"That's not the point, Bumblebee!" He laughed at her childhood teasing name for him. When she didn't talk for the longest time, he picked up his pencil and got to work. One by one the questions were answered and the pages were filled out. He certainly wasn't the first one done, but he wasn't last either. Miss Jackson took his test from him and took out a red pen with her other hand. Slowly Angus walked back to his desk and put his head down to wait till the end of class.

The bell rang. Kids stood up to leave but not before Miss Jackson handed out her paper judgement. Some kids fist pumped, others face planted in despair of their parent's wrath.  Angus received his last, and cringed when he saw no grade at the top of his test. Only the written words: Angus, come to my desk after class.

Normally Angus would get rather excited that his favorite teacher was calling him up to her private desk, especially after all the kids were gone. But today was not his day of reward. As the last kids left, the boy stooped to pick up his schoolbag and followed her directions. Miss Jackson looked up from her paperwork. An inexplicable face was adorned on her. The boy was too nervous to try his natural charm on her, and he figured it was best to keep his mouth shut and let her talk.

But she didn't talk. Her hand was reached out across the desk, expectant for the test in his possession. A red pen lay in her other hand and Angus felt his heart drop. With catatonic actions, he held the test out to her and flinched when it was yanked away. With one swift movement, the cap was off the pen and marking up the paper. However, instead of slashing the numbers, she drew the pen toward the top of the page by her words. Angus watched carefully. With a smile, she circled the A in Angus' name.

"Well done, Mr. Young. You got just enough correct to earn an A. I'm quite astonished myself." Angus took the paper and stared at it, a growing smile forming. This was his ticket, and he earned it. And just like that, it stopped raining. "You better get home, Mr. Young. I'm sure your mother will be proud to see what you've accomplished."

"Thank you, Miss Jackson, I will!" Angus ran out of the room and down the hall. He was just about to turn the corner when he remembered Hannah must have been waiting for him forever. He changed his course and found her by the drinking fountain. She stood there glancing around for him; the one person who knew his fate for Saturday. Slipping the test into his pocket, he assumed a downcast look and trotted up to her.

"Angus! Hey, uh, any word? On...Saturday?" Hannah grew more nervous every second he didn't answer. With big eyes, he looked at her and said,

"We'll pick you up at eight." Instantly her arms were around his neck, causing him to stumble backwards into the lockers.

"You did it!" He laughed as he returned the hug. Kids around them watched the pair, confused faces amongst snickering. But neither one really noticed. "You son of a gun, I knew you had it in ya'! I'm so proud of you!"

Angus laughed and rubbed her back. "All thanks to you, ya' know." His smile turned upside down as he saw someone across the floor looking at him. Two eyes peeked out from underneath golden hair, both of which belonged to Susan Lockhart. She watched the pair from afar, their arms all wrapped around each other. Angus swallowed back his feelings. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead and ran down his neck. He hoped Hannah didn't feel it. Susan pursed her lips then continued on her way down the hall.

"I still can't believe you got an A. In algebra no less, bloody hell." Angus chuckled at Malcolm who paced the room as Angus sat in front of a mirror putting on his bowtie. Well, attempting to anyway. "Sure you didn't cheat?"

"Mum thought the same thing. Nope, jus' me an' my smartass self." Malcolm cleared his throat. "Oh, of course with Hannah's help too." The older boy smiled.

"And just your luck, it stopped raining too. Man, yesterday was your lucky day. Hope today won't be the opposite." Angus sighed as he released his bowtie to start over.

"Of course it won't be. If anything, today is gonna be Lucky Day Part Two. Show up, cut the rug, and make all the ladies swoon." Malcolm choked on his water he picked up.

"You can't dance to save your damn life, Ang. A dead man raised to life would be better than you."

"Well, he's got something to dance about. An' you know what?" Angus pulled his tie into a crooked knot. "I do too."

"Careful, Ang, you're gonna choke."

"Ah, fuck it!" Angus pulled the tie off and threw it on the dresser. "Damn piece of shit." Malcolm set his glass down and leaned over in front of Angus with the bowtie in his hands.

"Hold still, then."

"You think you can do better?"

"I know I can, hold still." Angus sighed and waited as his brother wrapped the satin around his shirt collar.

"Why don't you gotta wear a bowtie?"

"'Cause I'm just a chaperone. A nice shirt will do for me. Jesus, Ang, what'd you do? The material is all thready."

"Ain't my fault." Malcolm scoffed and continued his method of tying. Angus frowned when he remembered Malcolm's sudden willingness to help him out the other day. He didn't hesitate to tell their mother all that he had done, just so he could go to the dance. Instead of convincing her to ground him so he may then keep Hannah all to himself. So, Malcolm must really not have a thing for her. But, why would a brother help another brother without anything in return? "Hey Mal? Gotta question."

"No Angus, it's not cool to piss in the punch bowl when no one is lookin'."

"No!" Angus reached up to smack him. "Why-why'd you tell Mum I asked Hannah? Why did you help me?" Malcolm shrugged and gave one last pull on the tie, sitting down on a chair in front of him.

"I knew, you wanted to go with her, an'-you know, it's not every day you get to go to a dance with your best friend. Besides, I know Hannah won't be around forever, and..." He drew in a shaky breath. "I figured you two should spend time together." Angus scoffed.

"Won't be around forever? You make it sound so bad, she ain't gonna die tomorrow or nothin'." Malcolm closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face.

"I don't wanna get into this right now. There, your tie is fixed." Angus glanced down at his neck. He would never admit it, but it was much better than he'd seen anyone do, even his father.

"Ah, should have just gotten a clip on." Malcolm frowned at his words.

"That's the best you're gonna get, Ang. Be thankful."

"I am. Thanks." The doorbell rang, making both boys jump out of their skin. "Is that her?" Angus stood up and walked to the window, pulling the curtain back.

"We were supposed to pick her up," Malcolm answered behind him. Angus searched the driveway but saw no girl his age in a dress.

"Can't see shit. Better go downstairs just to be sure." He took off out of the room with Malcolm following right behind.

"Wait, your flowers!" A bouquet was placed in the younger boy's hands as they walked down the stairs to the front door. Angus fixed his hair and wiped his hands on his pants before opening the door. His hand held the flowers out not to Hannah, but a middle aged man in a work uniform.

"I'm flattered, kid, but I'm married." Malcolm coughed out a laugh earning a sharp elbow from his brother. Mrs. Young rushed from another room and greeted the men at the door. "Hello ma'am."

"Hello, thank you so much for coming so late on a Saturday, I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Oh, it's no trouble. Anything to put bread on the table, right?" Mrs. Young smiled and let the men into the house.

"Malcolm, Angus, they're going to repair the window and television set you both-destroyed," the woman stated in her best hostess voice. "You better be off soon so you won't disturb them. Aw, look how handsome you are Angus!"

"What about me, Mum?" Malcolm asked. Mrs. Young smiled at him.

"Of course you are. My, Angus, you could get any girl in the whole school lookin' like that!" Angus gave his brother a sly grin.

"It's the bowtie, Mal. You should get yourself one." Malcolm frowned.

"You're such a-"

"Okay boys, it's almost eight, why don't you two skedaddle on to school? Hah, school on a weekend. I'd never thought I'd see the day for you two."

Malcolm pushed his brother out the door out of the way of the workers. "Alright Mum. We'll be back around midnight."

"See you Mum!" The door closed and the boys headed into Malcolm's car. In truth it was his dad's car but the kids at school didn't need to know that. Malcolm fixed the mirrors as Angus buckled himself in the front seat. "You think Hannah likes pansies?"

"She likes you, doesn't she?" Angus glared at him. "You gonna sit in back with her?"

"Yeah, figured that was the polite thing to do."

"Alright, behave yourselves back there," Malcolm grinned. "I'm not a slow driver, I might reach my destination before you've reached yours."

Angus' eyes widened and his mouth opened at the statement. "Holy shit, Mal! You better not talk like that when Hannah's around, a fine lady like her don't need to hear your dirty mouth!" The car pulled out of the driveway and down the street. One by one the streetlights lit up the path, leading them to Hannah's house. Malcolm reached up to change the radio.

"Relax, Ang. I know you don't like her like that anyway." Angus kept his mouth shut. "Jesus, does Dad only listen to radio talk shows?"

"You need to change the station, Mal."

"I am."

"That's not the way Dad does it-"

"Dad never changes the station, he's always got shit like this playin'!" Angus reached up his hand to find the correct button himself. "Keep your hand off it, Ang!" Malcolm said swatting him away.

"I'm tryin' to help, you got your hand on the wheel!"

"Driver gets to pick the song."

"Doesn't matter if you can't do it right." Both boys started swatting at each other to keep the other off the radio. In the process Malcolm had lost some control of the wheel and the car started swerving down the road. "Just let me do it!"

"Back off!" Each turn the car made almost knocked over a mailbox or a trash can. Malcolm finally gained enough control to turn the corner of Hannah's street. The boys resumed the fight and the car sped up due to sudden pressure on the gas pedal as Malcolm reached over to pin Angus' arm to the side of the car.

"Shit!" they shouted as the car made a U-turn in the road and drifted to the curb. The vehicle abruptly stopped, right in front of Hannah's house. Both boys sat there catching their breath from the sudden heart attacks.

"Maybe not do that when Hannah's in the car," Malcolm finally choked out. He patted Angus' shoulder as he unbuckled the seatbelt. "Go get her, Ang."

The car door slammed shut as Angus walked as best he could on legs of jello to Hannah's door. Holding the bouquet with one hand he rang the bell with the other. Suddenly he was nervous. What if something happened to her or what if she changed her mind? What if she forgot? What if-

"Hi Angus!" Hannah said as she opened the door. Angus smiled until he saw what she was wearing. A purple, sleeveless 1940s dress draped her and a necklace of amethyst hung around her neck. A green hair bow sat in her very soft looking brown hair. Angus reached up to touch it, then he remembered not to act like a creep. He held the flowers out in front of him, the petals a bit squished from his grasp when the car came to a screeching halt.

"These are yours," he stuttered out. He mentally slapped himself at his word vomit.

"Thank you!" Hannah took them and gave them a light sniff. "They're beautiful."

'Not as beautiful as you,' he thought to himself. Finally he had a witty comeback and he wastes it in his mind where she couldn't hear him. He slapped himself two more times.

"You know, you didn't need to knock. I heard you guys coming a mile up the road," Hannah laughed. Angus laughed nervously in return. Fixing his bowtie, he held his arm out to the girl before him.

"Shall we, my lady?" Hannah smiled and linked her arm in his.

"Lead the way."