Magic [Alex Russo]

18 - School Dance

Matt, Jack and Alex got to school the week before the school dance.

The school was buzzing about the upcoming dance.

Many girls have asked Matt and Jack to the dance, but Matt rejected all the girls. Jack, on the other hand, was taking a girl named Olivia Hartman. 

"I can't believe my dad won't let me go to the dance," Alex said.

"Well, your dad thought that you deserved it," Matt said.

"Why did your dad ground you?" Jack wondered.

"Oh, um, it's for reasons I can't go into," she said. 

"Oh, okay," Jack said, not pressing the matter.

"Are you taking anyone, Matt?" Alex asked.

"No," Matt shook his head. "I had someone in mind, but..."

"But?" Alex raised her eyebrows as they got to Matt's locker.

"But she has a date," Matt lied.

He had originally planned to ask Alex, but she had the intention to go with the Riley, but now she's grounded. 

"Oh, no," Alex said. "What about that girl, Vanessa? She doesn't have a date."

"Yes, ask her out to the dance," Jack agreed. "She's there talking to Harper."

"Go ahead, ask her out," Alex said.

"I don't know," Matt hesitated.

"Fine, if you're not going to ask her yourself, I will ask her for you," Alex said. 

"What?" Matt said. "No! Alex! No!"

Jack watched Matt freak out as Alex walked over to Vanessa to ask her to the dance for Matt.

"No," Matt said, hitting his head against his locker door, which was now closed.

Jack tried to refrain himself from laughing at his best friend.

"Dude, you're overreacting," Jack said.

"So what if I am?" Matt said. "I would've asked Vanessa to the dance myself. If Alex could just stop..."

"Matt, why won't you talk to her?" Jack asked.

"What do you mean talk to her?" Matt asked. "I do talk to her."

"No, I mean talk to her," Jack said, "like dating and all that."

"You know why?" Matt said.

"You and I both know she'll never reciprocate your feelings," Jack said as Matt leaned against his locker.

"I know," Matt said.

Jack leaned against the locker next to Matt.

"Maybe going out with Vanessa is a step in the right direction," Jack said.

"Maybe," he agreed.

Alex walked back over to Matt and Jack.

"Your welcome," Alex said, proudly.

"She wants to go to the dance with me?" Matt asked.

"She does," Alex confirmed. "Text her later tonight.

"No, no, no, don't text her," Jack said.

"Why not?" Alex asked.

"I didn't finish," Jack said, "call her."

"Better," Alex said. "Call her."

"I'm going to class."

***

After Jack left Matt's house later that day, Matt looked down at his phone. He had Vanessa's phone number on his phone, waiting to be called.

He took a deep breath before pressing the dial button.  He held up the phone up to his ear and waited for Vanessa to pick up the phone. He tapped his foot anxiously on the floor, wondering if Vanessa will pick up.

Vanessa finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Vanessa," Matt said, "it's Matt."

"Oh, hey, Matt," Vanessa said.

"So, um, Alex asked you to the dance for me," Matt said.

"Oh, yeah," Vanessa said. "She did."

"I would've asked you myself, but Alex..." Matt didn't finish his sentence.

"It seems like your friends are the ones talking to you for me," Vanessa noticed.

"I would talk to you myself, but my friends are impatient," Matt nervously laughed. "They refuse to led me do things in my own pace, which is annoying. So, um, what - what time do you want me to pick you up this Friday?"

"6:30," she said.

"Alright, great," Matt said. "See you then."

"Yeah, see you soon."

***

The dance rolled around and Matt got ready for the dance. Harrison helped Matt put on his tie.

"How did you learn how to put on a tie?" Harrison asked.

"My mother," he said. "She taught me. It came in handy when I married your mother and all those events I went with her for her work."

Matt smiled weakly.

"I wish Mom was here," Matt said, sadly.

"Me too," Harrison said. "But she left us, remember?"

Matt took a deep breath.

"Alright," Harrison said. "Go have fun in the dance."

Matt nodded.

Matt picked up Vanessa from her house and they headed to the dance together. 

"You were great at the basketball game," Vanessa said as they got to the school gym. 

Matt smiled. 

"Everyone was right about you," Vanessa smiled.

"See?" Matt said. 

Music was blasting and everyone was dancing.

Matt and Vanessa joined the dance floor and danced. Matt wasn't a great dancer, but Vanessa didn't seem to care. 

Jack greeted them in the middle of the dance and he, his date and Matt and Vanessa began a conversation as they ate some snacks and danced. 

The dance ended and Matt's face was red from all the dancing and sweat. He took Vanessa home at midnight and headed home.

Harrison was waiting for Matt when he got home.

"How was the dance?" Harrison said.

"Good," Matt smiled. "It was really good."

"That's good," Harrison smiled. "Alright. It's almost one. Go to bed. Wait, actually, shower then bed. You're all sweaty."

"At least I'm as sweat as I am after basketball practice," Matt said.

"Yeah, but go shower and get to bed."

Matt nodded.