Someone to you - Dustin Henderson

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Riley stood Steve at her side, looking at her dress in the mirror. Steve had picked it out for her, Riley never wore dresses and was terrible at picking them out, so Steve had told her not to worry, that he'd pick it out for her.

The dress was a baby blue colour with a thin purple ribbon tied around her waist to keep it in place, in Riley's opinion Steve did a very good job at picking it. It had been a month since El had closed the gate, and everything was starting to get better again.

Riley had made the choice to grow her hair out, and her now wavy hair was almost down to her shoulders, Steve had also brought a metal headband with a blue flower on the side, he'd insisted that it would go perfectly with the dress. Riley had no idea how Steve knew this but she trusted him.

"Are you sure it looks okay?" Riley asked fiddling with her skirt.

"Yes it looks fine." Steve smiled reassuringly, "Dustin's gonna go crazy."

"No, he's not." Riley denied, "He's gonna spend the whole time looking at Max and forget i'm even there."

"Well then that's his loss, you're one of the smartest and prettiest girls at that school, and if he can't see that then he's an idiot." Steve placed a hand on her shoulder.

Riley smiled shaking her head walking towards the front door, "Shut up."

Steve chuckled following after her, He had to drive Riley all the way to the dance and then go back and pick Dustin up at his house only to drive him to the exact same dance.

He'd asked why they couldn't pick Dustin up and take them both to the dance at the same time but Riley shot down that idea in seconds saying that it would just be awkward.

Steve pulled up outside the school gym sighing when Riley didn't move, he leaned over placing a hand on her shoulder to catch her attention, "Riley, everything's gonna be fine."

Riley nodded her head, "Yeah." She pushed open the door to the car closing the door behind her waving as Steve drove off to collect Dustin.

She walked through the handing her entry card to Mr Clarke, she quickly spotted Max sat at a table with Lucas, Mike and Will. She quickly walked over to them taking the seat inbetween Mike and Will.

"Riley, you look great!" Max exclaimed looking at the girl who's cheeks tinted a slight red causing Mike to laugh.

"Thanks." Riley muttered, "You look very lovely as well. As do you boys."

Will smiled something on other side of the room catching his attention, Riley turned to see Dustin walking through the door, his hair was neatly gelled upon his head exactly like Steve's which made Riley laugh.

"Holy shit. What happened to you?" Mike asked standing up with everyone else.

Dustin's smile fell slightly, "What do you mean, 'what happened'?"

"What?"

"Dude." Lucas spoke.

"Your hair." Max laughed glancing at Riley who stood next to her trying to keep in her giggles.

"Is there a bird nesting in there?" Lucas asked reaching out to touch it.

Dustin pushed his hand away, "No, What do you mean what's wrong with my hear, there's no bird nesting in here, asshole, okay? I worked hard."

"It looks lovely Dustin." Riley smiled.

"See Riley thinks it looks good."

"Yeah but that's because Riley thinks you look good in anything." Mike only got halfway through his sentence before Riley stood on his foot cutting him off.

The song ended and Time after Time started playing, Lucas took a deep breath before turning to Max, "Hey, um, it's nice, right? You want to, um... you want to, like... you know? Like, just you and me?"

"Are you trying to ask me to dance, stalker?" Max asked smiling.

"No, of course not. Unless you want to."

Max laughed, "So smooth. Come on." She grabbed Lucas's hand pulling him out onto the dance floor.

Riley watched after them trying to ignore Dustin who stood next to her looking after Max longingly.

"Hey, Zombie Boy." A girl came up to them looking at Will, "Do you want to dance?"

"Um... I don't..." Looking at Mike who nodded his head towards the girl, "I mean... I mean, yeah. Sure." The girl led him towards the dance floor.

Dustin took a deep breath turning to Riley and Mike, "Wish me luck, i'm going in."

Riley smile fell as she watched Dustin walk away from them, she turned away sitting back down leaning her head on the table.

Nancy who stood at the drink table watched as Dustin got shot down once again, she sighed as he stood their watching everyone else dance around him. She looked towards the table where Mike sat next to Riley, trying to make her feel better, he was failing.

Nancy walked towards them stopping next to Riley who still hadn't lifted her head off the table, "Hey, Mike. I'm gonna need to steal Riley for a sec."

Mike nodded his head confused watching as Nancy grabbed Riley's hand pulling her up from the table leading her towards two chairs a few tables down from where he was sitting.

"Alright, you like Dustin," Nancy held her hand up when Riley opened her mouth to deny it, "It's obvious, so why not just go ask him to dance."

"Because.."

"Because what?"

"He doesn't like me." Riley sighed leaning her head back on the table.

Nancy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Look, at this age all boys are idiots, they can't see whats right infront of their face. Dustin does like you, Riley. He just doesn't know it yet." 

Riley lifted her head to look at Nancy, "Really?"

"Yeah. And what have you got to loose. Either you sit with Mike all night and cry or you can go and ask Dustin to dance."

Riley thought for a second, "Okay, but what if he says no."

Nancy stood up pulling Riley with her, "Trust me, he won't." She quickly shoved Riley in Dustin's direction before the girl changed her mind.

Riley awkwardly cleared her throat, "Hey."

Dustin looked up quickly wiping a stray tear that had fallen down his cheek, "Hey."

Riley held her hand out towards him, "Wanna dance?"

"What?" Dustin asked looking up at the girl who smiled down at him.

"Come on." Riley reached out grabbing his hand pulling him to his feat and leading him towards the dance floor not noticing the light blush that spread across his cheeks.

Riley turned around smiling at him, placing her hands on his shoulder. He smiled, awkwardly placing his hand on he waist.

"I don't really know what to do now." 

"What?" Dustin asked unable to get the stupid smile to disappear off his face.

"I've never actually danced with anyone." Riley gave a shy smile.

"I haven't either." Dustin spoke, his eyes widening when Riley smiled moving forwards to lean her head on his shoulder as they continued dancing. He frowned at the strange bubbly feeling in his stomach. 

His first though was that he must be getting sick. What else could it be, Riley was his best friend. He must be getting sick, there was no other explanation.