• Paul and Kero walk down the hall to their next class. Paul fights with a book trying to shove it in his back pack. “Man Kero English class is getting bad.” “Why’s that” he finally finds the spot where it slides into. “We had a test over that Poe guy, heh I don’t think I passed it.” “Edger Allen Poe?” Paul looks up surprised that Kero knew his name. “Amazing sounds like you were actually listening in class.” “Yah didn’t he make peanut butter.” Paul hangs his head. “Just when I thought you might have a little brain.” “Oh wait Poe, wasn’t he like gothic?” “Not really.” “Well he killed himself right?” “I can’t really remember why?” “Because I read one of his poems for a test and felt like killing myself.” “Too bad you didn’t keep reading you’d have done the world a favor.” Kero shoves him a little. “You’re a pain you know it?” “Yah but enough it’s Thursday, tomorrow is Friday what’s the plan?” Kogie jumps up on Kero’s back. “Dude I just got an allowance lets go blow some high scores off the games at the arcade.” Kero pries him loose and gets him off. “Man back away have you smelled yourself lately. Kogie waves some money in the air. “Come on my treat.” Kero opens one of the class doors and turns back to the guys. “I’ll see you later Paul.” Kogie smiles at him. “Take a bath sometime.” Kero goes to his seat and Paul and Kogie continue. “Man what’s wrong with him?” “Have you forgotten?” Kogie tries to think for a moment. “You spilled your beer on his report.” “Oh yah about that, look I need to borrow your paper I happen to have lost mine.”
    Paul opens the door to a class but stops as someone calls his name. “Paul wait up!” he turns around and notices Kira running down the hall at him. “Hay Kira what’s the rush?” “Oh umm… nothing just felt like running to class.” in the class they go to the last row. “So not to be nosey or anything but, you got a date for the dance yet?” “Oh yah the dance is coming up soon isn’t it; no I don’t plan to go.” “Well why not?” “Its self explanatory that really goes without a date.” the bell rings. “Well that doesn’t mean you can’t still go, besides you can still ask someone to go with you.” “Oh are you asking me to go with you?” Kira gets frantic. “Hush no that’s not… no I didn’t… I didn’t mean it like that.” Kira sets down in one of the seats. “Kira don’t sweat it I know it was just a suggestion, besides I’m still not going.” the teacher stands behind Paul. “Well that’s good and all but do you wish to take a seat with the rest of the class or do you want to teach today?” Paul smiles then set down behind Kira.
    The guys set at the table working at their homework. Kero is the first to break the silence, along with Kogie’s pencil tapping as he starts to fall asleep. “Well your probably wondering who I’ll be taking to the dance.” Paul nudges Kogie waking him up. “Not really.” “Well I’m holding out only to get the best.” “Kero news flash I don’t care.” “Ok then who are you taking?” “I’m not going.” “Oh yes you are we’ll make you.” Kogie’s head bobbles as he says this. “Oh what are you going to do hold a gun to my head?” Paul stops and thinks about what he just said and to whom he just said it to. Kogie slowly gets up. “I’ll go get my 9mm, oh wait out of bullets.” Kero closes his book and puts it away. “That’s ok we both know your secret so you don’t have to hold out on us any more.” “Kero don’t start any bull right now.” “You can’t dance.” Paul ignores him till he continues to bug him and he jumps Kero and wrestles him to the ground, there Paul gets on top of him and sets down. “Say daddy and I’ll let you up.” “No get off your killing me.” Paul pushes off his back and gets up. “Fine I didn’t want you to call me that anyways.” Kero gets up and brushes off. “Ok so you don’t have a date, its not like you can’t get one, every girl in the school wants a piece of you.” “You mean that literally don’t you?” “Well surely there’s one girl you feel comfortable around.” “I can’t think of one right now.” Kogie has nodded off and drools on his paper. “My sister.” “What about her?” “You don’t sneak off when she talks with you.” “Uh Kero I’ve also known her since the fourth grade.” “Then take her.” “I very much doubt that she’ll go along with that.” “If it’ll get you to come than she might decide to.” “No, besides no doubt she already has someone to go with.” Kogie slides off into the floor.
    Kira lies across her bed writing in a book. “He still isn’t being convinced to go, says he has to have a date to go. Guess he doesn’t realize it’s ok if you go without a date.” Kira looks around her room which consists of the natural girl’s room. Cute stuffed animals on the desk, pictures of friends and other animals on the walls, pink sheets with little bears on them. “I think he’d have fun if she went, and I’d feel better knowing he hasn’t been left out. I just wish I could get him to ask me to go with him, but every time I start to ask I feel like I’m going to mess up. Maybe one of these days I’ll ask him but I just know he’ll be taken.” She lays her head in the sheets and shakes it, then gets back to writing. “Oh almost for got an old friend of mine is moving back up here in a week, we plan on getting together sometime and catch up.” Kira rolls over and looks up at the ceiling. Kero’s voice comes from down the hall. “Hay why are we doing this anyways?” Kira shakes her head. “Kero.” Paul’s voice comes next. “Just trust me it’ll be funny.” Kira jump and falls off the bed. “What was that?” “Just my sister, hay is quiet in there Kira.” “Shut up Kero.” “Come on lets just get him in there.” “Ok fine.” Kira gets up and looks out the door and sees Kero and Paul carrying Kogie through Kero’s bedroom door. Paul looks up and smiles at her as he notices her. She shuts the door and leans against the door hugging her.
    Kogie had left after being placed in Kogie’s room where they faced all the figurines in his direction. Paul sets on the end of Kero’s bed as they play the x-box, Kero sets on the floor at the end of the bed. “Did you take me seriously back there?” “About what?” “About not caring who you were taking.” “Oh that no I just forgot.” “Well are you going to tell me?” “Umm.” “You forgot her name didn’t you?” “No no I just… oh its right there.” “Yah you forgot her name.” “No just give me- Oh it’s Mera.” “Mera, as in government economics Mera, the one you split with last year for thinking about the future.” “No that was-” Kero’s face slowly changes to a look of someone who just realized his mistake. “Oh.” “Yah oh, your going to call her back aren’t you?” before Paul finishes Kero has the phone and starts dialing. “But you’re coming this year right.” “What makes you think I changed my mind?” “Oh come on man go, hi is Mera around?” “Kero no date.” “I’m tired of hearing you say that, you don’t need one.” “It just doesn’t look right.” “You’ve never given a s**t about anyone’s opinion.” “Well for this I do.” “You should come you’ll like it, Hay Mera how are you, look it seems I’ve ran into a little problem.” Paul leans back against the wall. “Let’s see how you get out of this one.”
    Paul sets in one of the tables in the school courtyard with Kero, who talks about a recent fight he had, to draw in a good date for the dance. (Maybe Kero’s right maybe I should go, even without a date, there are some who go without one. Yah but they just go to pick up the one’s left behind.) Paul shifts to move away from the latest girl who has set down to listen to Kero’s story. (Then if I went I’d look pitiful or like an idiot, especially if Kero and Kogie have a date.) Three girls come up behind Paul and he tries to act like he doesn’t notice them. One calls his name and he turns slightly. “Yah, you girls need Kero or something?” “Well we heard from someone that you didn’t have a date for the dance and we started to argue over whom would get to ask you.” the second cuts in. “then we decide-” “we’d all go with you.” Paul gets an uncomfortable look on his face. “Here excuse me?” “Well we figure since you are one of the most popular guys in the school why not set the trend for bringing three dates to the dances.” slowly Paul slides off the bench. “Oh that’s a… great idea, tell you what let me go over her and think about it for a second.” “Your not going to run off again is you?” “No no that was… a good idea I just need a moment.” as he walks away he grabs Kero’s shirt and pulls his away. They stop a little bit away from the crowd. “Kero you set me up didn’t you?” “So you met them didn’t you?” Paul smiles sarcastically. “Yah gee thanks.” “So you chose one of them.” “No now get them off my back.” “Oh come on just one you don’t even have to dance with her, I made sure they can’t dance ether.” “They all three want to go as my date, together.” “Dang you’re a pimp now.” “Get them off my back now and stop doing this, I’m not going.” Paul looks back to the table where the girls wait as the bell rings. “Look just leaves me alone about it ok.” he leaves and Kero looks over the group. “Well guess I’ll need Kogie’s help on this.”
    Kogie stand with a group of girls but acts cautious. “Normally I would not stoop this low but I must infiltrate the undead gathering and how better to do that than go with another undead. I will regret this tomorrow but I must know what their plans will be to destroy the world.” the girls around him break into a chat. “Oh Kogie it’s so cute when you talk like that.” “I don’t know what it is he says but it turns me on.” Kogie listens closely to this one’s remark. “Turns you on, it is like you are a robot, but still I would much rather take my chances with an electronic appliance than turning my back on an undead only to have them feast on my body after words.” “Here that Nance he wants you to feast on his body after the dance.” “Well if he plays his cards right maybe I will.” as they walk away Kogie stands, hands on hips as if he is very proud of himself. Kero catches up to him and notices the girls walking away waving at Kogie. “What just happened?” “I needed a… token to get into the secret convention where the undead gather so I had to choose the most logical for the job, thank god its over I fear I wouldn’t have survived the encounter had they not left.” “Yah yah what ever, have you found anyway to get Paul to show at the dance?” “Oh yes one was very good but it will be hard.” “Well let’s hear it.” “There is a secret government facility somewhere around here, we need to sneak in and secure the UFO inside, and once that is done I can use the mind control device to make him go.” Kogie smiles proud of the plan, Kero frowns and looks away. “And the think I actually thought he might have a plan.”
    Paul lays in his bed and looks up at the ceiling, “well just like always another dance has come around and I have succeeded in surviving Kero and Kogie’s constant badgering and now here I set in my room looking for something to do.” slowly he pulls himself up and looks out the window and notices the sun has set a while ago. “Well its not too late maybe Dusty will be still at work, maybe I could harass him for a while.” as he goes to get his jacket on the hook near his door, his cell rings. “Hmm why would someone call right now…” as he reaches for the phone he stops himself. “Wait a minute, Kero dame it I thought he would have given up by now.” he leaves the phone ringing and walks out the door, the phone continues to ring and Paul comes back in. “alright mom I’m getting my phone.” “All I’m saying is what if I happen to need something while your out.” he slips the ringing cell into his pocket and walks out.
    Kira flips the phone shut and looks to the girls around her. “I can’t get any answer.” one of the other girls joins them. “Maybe he doesn’t have his cell on him.” Kira looks down to the phone. “Wait a minute; Paul knows this is Kero’s cell.” “So he won’t answer it?” one of the other girls pulls out a cell. “Here call him on mine.”
    As Paul sets down in his car the cell rings. “Kero forget it not this- wait a minute how did Jessica get this number?” he flips it open and answers. “Yah?” “Paul you there?” “Kira what are you calling from Jessica’s cell for? I thought you had a cell.” “Well I do but I left it at home to charge.” “Well… what’s the problem something happen to ya?” “Oh no I’m fine it just…” “Well what are it then Kira?” “Well Kero’s been stood up.” “Yah so, he gets stood up a lot.” “Yah I know but he’s taking this one hard, we can’t get him out of the bathroom.” Paul rolls his eyes. “Gees that’s… well odd.” “I thought maybe you could come by and help us out a little; I promise you won’t have to stay.” “Well I’m already out… I guess I can just because I have to see this.” “Ok see you then.” Paul hangs up and Kira leans back against the wall. “He’s coming.”
    As Paul enters the gym he’s bombarded with offers from almost all the girls. Eventually he makes his way past them and finds Kira at the back of the gym. “Only were her thirty seconds and already I hating it.” “It’ll get better.” “Yah maybe, well Kero had any change?” “Don’t know he’s still in there.” “And Kogie did he go in?” “Yah I think he’s in there too.” Paul turns and leaves going to the back restrooms.
    Inside the restroom there’s no sign of Kero or Kogie. “hmm so Kero you going to fess up and come out here and face me?” about that time the lights go out and the sound of the stall doors opening come from next to Paul. Slight scuffling sounds educe, then the light flick back on and Paul stands next to the switch. Kero lays on the ground laid over Kogie and another guy. “Ok you can get up now Kero.” he raises up and the other two get up after him. “You know at least go along with it next time you know there’s something going on.” “I’ll consider it, now can we get out of here the school’s bathroom isn’t exactly the best place to have a chat in.” they meet back outside in the gym with Kira. “Well it was well played out but organized terribly.” “Oh bite me.” they all take a seat at one of the tables. “So how did you know?” “Too many signs, Kero broken up over a girl.” “Hay I was once.” “Don’t brag about crying over a girl, besides it was only because you let her borrow your Xbox and forgot she still had it and wouldn’t give it back.” “Just shut up and give a better reason.” Paul looks around then points to one of the girls hanging around with other girls. “Your date is here, I was told she stood you up.” “Ok ok fine, but hay you’re here why not stays?” Paul leans back and starts faking like he has a heart attack. “Oh I think I’m dying I better get to the hospital before I die.” Kero kicks his chair and it almost falls over, but Paul catches himself. Kogie stands up holding a set of keys. “What about now?” Paul looks at them oddly then searches his pockets, when he finds nothing he starts to get up then the chair tips over. He hit’s the floor and looks up at Kogie. “Alright hand ‘em over.” “Sorry these are our bargaining chips.” Kero high fives Kogie. “Alright Koj for once you come in handy.” Kira snatches the keys from Kogie and hands them to Paul. “Forcing him to stay won’t make him enjoy it.” Kero and Kogie slouch back in their seats. “Party pooper.” Paul pockets the keys then leans back in the chair. “Fine I’ll stay, since you two are being such a cry baby about it. Besides maybe now you’ll stay off my back.” about that time the music changes and Kero’s date rushes over. “Oh Kero come on this is our song.” Kero grips the table as she pulls on his arm. “No I don’t like to go out there and dance.” Kogie hits Kero’s fingers and he slips off the table, she drags him off into the crowd. “Amazing the undead seems to have formed into a large crowd to easily shred their victims into thousands of pieces… Poor Kero.” Kogie’s date runs over and pulls him off unsuspectingly, he tries to pull away but her grip is too strong. “No the undead have fooled me and sent this android out to lure me into the formation, is this end of my days?!” Paul waves at him as he is pulled in. “have fun your two, I know I am.” Paul looks over in time to notice seven girls running at him; he quickly steps out and bows to Kira. “Please excuse me my dear but it seems a heard of wild buffalo are coming this way and I seems the only way to defend myself is to convince them I’m taken.” Kira giggles at his play, till he holds out a hand to her. “It seems a few guys are headed in this direction looking at you, perhaps we could both benefit from a dance.” he puts his hand up to hide his mouth. “Just follow me till we can make it away from them.” Kira nods and takes his hand, as she does she suddenly feels weak in her legs and falls slightly as she rises up. Paul’s hand reaches out and grabs her waist as she starts to fall. “Maybe you need to be carried.” Kira feels her face as it reddens and she tries to cover it. “No… I just- just lost my balance for a sec… nothing special.” the group of girls and guys coming at them stops and disperses as they walk towards the door.
    Outside they walk to the tables they hang out at, Paul lies up across it. “Yah know sometimes I wish I had a place I could set out and look up at the night sky like this sometimes.” “You like looking at the stars or something?” “oh no, its just when I stare out at the blackness of the night I can live in a world where its just me… no one else to worry about interrupting it.” Paul shakes his head and sits up. “He you probably think I’m crazy now eh?” she waves her hands defensively. “No I can see your point, sometimes its good to find a place like that.” Paul get up off the table and walks around the table. “So you got a place like that?” Kira looks around the yard trying to find a place she could answer with, Paul smacks his head with a hand. “Dame I did it again, sorry sometimes I forget girls have some things they don’t talk about with guys.” Paul sets down on the other side of the table and looks away. “So you here with someone?” “Like another guy…” “Yah I was kinda wondering if I was pulling you away from having your time with him.” Kira’s face turns red, and she considers herself lucky he is turned away from her. “No I just felt like coming alone.” Kira sits down opposite him and he turns to face her. “So how many dances have you been to?” “Just a few.” “No numbers?” “Just three or four.” “Counting this one?” “No.” Paul lies across the table again. “I’m guessing their fun for you then?” “Their ok.” “Hay you two!” the voice comes from directly behind them and Paul just leans his head back where Kira turns around. A flash stuns them both, Paul rolls over and falls off the table. “What the-” a freshman with a camera comes over to them and helps Paul up. “Sorry didn’t mean to startle you; I was just getting pictures for the school paper.” Paul rubs his head and sets down. “Wait this is going to be in the school paper?” “Yah might go on the front page, not every day you catch Paul alone with a girl.” Paul looks over to Kira and sees her face is covered by her hair, but he still sees the red covering her face. “Your Jacob right? Look I don’t want to sound like I want to hide this but perhaps Five Dollars could get rid of that.” “I don’t know it sounds like you are.” “How’s ten sound.” “Deal.” “I’ll give you your money on Monday.” “I’ll trust you to do that.” He waves then turns and leaves. “Yah this doesn’t look very promising, what say we head on back inside?” Kira just nods and gets up. “Yah that might be a good idea.”
    Kero and Kogie Meet up with them just outside the doors. “Wow you two seem to be in a hurry.” A truck pulls up beside the curve and three other guys run out and jump in the back, Kogie follows them. “Look we’re ditching our dates and heading out for a few drinks.” inside is the sound of a few girls running towards them. “You come?” “Nah I’ll hang around.” Kero jumps in the back of the truck. “Oh and get Kira home for me, about eleven or so.” the truck peels out as six girls run out calling names. Paul turns to Kira. “Let’s get in before they turn to us.” Kira nods and opens the doors.
    Slowly the school gym starts to empty and Paul and Kira decide to leave. “I just realized Kero told me to get you home by eleven right.” “Yah he had planed to go out a little longer so he told mom and dad that was when the dance ends.” “Well its only nine forty six, why let him have all the fun and you end up going home early.” “What would we do till then?” Paul shrugs. “Well I hadn’t expected to end up here but I was headed over to the café where Dusty works, wanna go there?” “It won’t make our situation any worse?” “Na if anything Dusty might make a remark or two but that’s it.” “Let’s go then things are starting to die down here.”
    Paul enters the café and some of the workers call out to him. “Hay guys what’s up?” Kira comes in after him and they walk to a seat at the back of the café. Soon after setting down a female waitress comes up. “Well you two go to have anything?” “Actually I thought we could just chill her for a while you guys don’t mind do ya?” “Well you are a regular customer…” she starts to leave and turns back around, surprised. “Now I know where I’ve seen you before, your Kero’s little sister, hay Paul does Kero know what’s going on between you two?” Kira’s face brightens red again. “Kim there is nothing I promise.” “How can I believe you?” “Name it.” she turns around waving at them. “Ok so there’s nothing happening.” after she leaves Paul looks down under Kira’s over hanging hair. “You blush easy.” she rubs her arm and looks to the floor. “It’s just… well I don’t handle popularity as well as Kero does.” “Ah don’t worry about it anything you do everyone can forgive and forget.” “You think?” from the back someone yells out to Paul. “Paul gets your a** back here and talks to me.” Paul rolls his eyes. “Look I’ll be back in a sec he won’t shut up other wise.” “Who is it?” “You know dusty right?” “Dusty? Oh Dustin… yah I remember him.” Paul gets up and starts to leave. “Just don’t takeoff with out me.” Kira nod then smiles at him.
    In the back Paul walks up to Dustin, he turns around suddenly slinging dish water on Paul. “Ok tell me how long this has been going on.” Paul wipes the water off and looks at him. “Oh sorry I didn’t mean to splash you. Oh that’s ok its just water. Here, clean off with this towel. Gee thanks that might help.” Dusty looks at him oddly. “Are you talking to yourself again?” “How long has what been going on?” “You an Kira. Does Kero know?” “Dude that’s not how it is.” “Well it sure looks like it.” “Kero ditched her and left me to get her home.” “You sound like you don’t see the opportunity that has been set infront of you.” “Opportunity?” “Kira has denied almost every guys who offered to take her to the dance; if you end up leaving with her it’s already made an impression. Now if you take one step you might just end up going home with a girlfriend.” “Dusty are you trying to say I should hook up with Kira?” “Yes, and she’s the innocent type also who always end up having the kinky fetishes.” Paul steps closer to him an looks upset. “Dustin doesn’t say that again.” “Sorry over stepped it there.” Paul turns and leaves out the door without a word.
    Paul sets with Kira and they laugh about something they talk about. “Well I hate to say this but I think we need to get going, its past eleven.” “Oh no my mom’s going to kill me!” “Look just tells her you were with me and to call me up it there’s any problems.” “But that will leave Kero in a tight spot.” Paul leans in close. “Just between you and me, sometimes Kero needs to be punished.” Kira nods in agreement, then Paul gets up and Kira after him. “Come on we better go now.”
    As they pull up to Kira’s house she sees that Kero’s light is on in his room. “Guess Kero’s home.” “Yah so you won’t get in so much trouble.” as Kira gets out Paul gets out to. “Are you coming in to check up with Kero?” he shakes his head. “Common courtesy to at least walk a girl to the door, even when it’s not on dates.” at the mentioning of the word she flushes red again, Paul smiles and goes around the car. They get up to the door and Kira reaches for the handle and Paul grabs her hand. As she looks up at him he quickly pulls back. “Sorry I just… was wondering, you had fun tonight right?” “Yes it was better than the last few dances I went to.” “Well you know I enjoyed it too just… after the dance ended was better. We got to know each other better and we’re relatively about the same.” he laughs slightly. “Well I guess I’m saying I actually had fun being around you, and I thought maybe you know we could meet up again. Just us.” Kira blush gets heavier. “I… I guess that would be ok.” Paul’s hand touches her cheek and raises it up. “You look cute when you blush like that.” He leans down closer to her. “Would you mind if I…” her eyes start to close and she leans forward. She feels his breath getting closer and closer and she closes her eyes. “Kira… Kira… hay Kira!” she jumps away and looks over to Paul’s driver seat. “Hay you dozed off we’re almost to your house.”
    As they stop there Kira gets out and Paul does the same, Kira reddens and doesn’t look over as she asks “common courtesy?” “no nice gesture.” as they get to the door Kira looks over expecting to see him next to her but he stands leaning against the post. She reaches for the door and holds it then waits for his hand to touch hers. Looking back she sees him walking down the steps toward his car, and she turns the knob and goes on in.
    As Paul starts the car he looks back to the door and sees the last beam of light pass through as it shuts and he pulls off, down the road just a bit a song he was listening to goes off. “Yah missed your move back there Romeo.” Paul looks oddly at the CD player. “I didn’t think I had something like that on this CD.” he presses the next button and continues. “Uh hello are you trying to ignore me?” the car slows down a bit. “Ok… that is weird.” “You want to know weird, I’ll tell you weird, its you. Are you really that dense?” the car stops on the side of the road. “Alright who’s ******** with me?” a small figure stands on his dashboard. “Maybe it’s me, what’s it to ya.” Paul stares as the figure steps into the light and looks like a small woman with red hair. “Yah hi nice to meet yah names Megan, don’t call me Meg or you’ll get hurt.” “Wow I’m starting to go crazy, I’m talking to little people.” “Yah well I’m real so shut this thing off and listen to me.” Paul laughs slightly and puts the car in drive. “Yah sure.” Megan jumps down in is lap and looks up at him. “Park it now.” Paul’s face looks surprised as he slams it into Park. “Now look I’m here to help you with a little problem you have.” “Problem yah I’m seeing little people.” “Ok cut the little people crap, I’m here because you’ve got girl problems.” “Oh great now I’m being bugged by a higher force about getting a girlfriend.” “Actually you could call me a wish, a girl wished for help in getting you to see the light.” “Look I’m sure lots of girls have wished that but why’d this one get your help?” “Actually she didn’t your getting my help, she wished you would come out with your feelings.” “And how do you propose to do this?” “Just give me some time, look you heading home or not because I’m getting hungry.” “Gee I wonder how my mom’s going to take “yah I found her in my car, can we keep her?” “Say something like that again and it won’t end pretty, besides you’re the only one who can see me.” “Ok guess I can try and figure the rest out at home.”

    END