I can’t believe it. It’s the night of the Halloween costume dance, and I don’t have anyone to go with me. Lucas and Bea are going together, Cheryl’s going stag, and I guess I’m forced to go stag, too.

“I’m going dressed as Servo,” Lucas said. We were sitting in Lucas’s room, deciding what to wear. As usual, him and Bea were holding hands.

“I’m going dressed as lady pirate,” Bea said.

“I’m going as Catwoman,” Cherryl said, “Meow.”

We all laughed. “I don’t know what I’m going as,” I said, “Maybe as Batman.”

‘You can clip this Catwoman’s claws any day,’ Cherryl thought.

“Nah, that’s been done to death,” I said, “Maybe the Joker.”

“That’s been done a lot too T.J.,” Lucas said, “

“I’ve got it,” I said, “But I think I’ll leave it for a surprise. I bet you won’t recognize me.”

“We’ll see about that,” Cheryl said. I stuck my tongue out at her. “Save me a dance, would you TJ?”

“Sure,” I said. ‘Now, why would she ask that?’ I thought, ‘Maybe...’ “Cheryl, would you like to go to the dance with me?”

Cheryl’s heart was beating so hard, she was sure that everyone could hear it. “S-sure,” she said, “I’d love to.”

“Well, I’ve got to go,” I said, “Mom said she would help with the costume once I’ve chosen it. Bye guys.”

“Bye, T.J.” I walked home.

“Cybersquad,” Samurai-1 said, “Gigatron has sent a virus into the school’s security system. You must stop it.”

“We’re on it, S-1,” Lucas said. They hit their main keys. “Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Spryte,” Bea called.

“Uplink: Tinkerer,” Cheryl called. They digitized and were sent into cyberspace. They found the virus monster pretty easily.”

“Tinkerer,” Servo said, “You and I will distract it. Spryte, you charge up your gun and blow it away.” That was turning out to be their usual maneuver.

“Right.” Tinkerer and Servo called their weapons and started grappling with the monster. Spryte called her blaster and started charging it.

All of a sudden, a bunch of weird things appeared, along with Gigatron. “These are my gigamites,” it said, “Have fun.” Gigatron disappeared.

“I’ll take the gigamites,” Servo said, “You two just work on defeating the monster, okay?”

“Right,” Spryte said, “Be careful, sweetie.”

“Always am,” Servo said, “Si-kyahh.” With that battle cry, he tore into the gigamites. He sent them packing, and when he turned towards the main fight, found that Spryte and Tinkerer did the same to the monster.

“Download.” All three went spiraling to their houses.

That night, the three met at the party. Lucas whistled appreciatively at both Cheryl and Bea.

“You flirt,” Bea said, “Anyone seen T.J.?”

“Nope,” Lucas said, “He’s your date, Cheryl. Do you know which one he is?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“I told you that you wouldn’t be able to recognize me.” They all spun around to see me dressed up like Lord Zedd from Power Rangers.

“Whoa,” Lucas said, “You look just like him. Well, if he had hair, you’d look just like him.”

“Thanks,” I said, “I got the idea from that online friend of yours, Jeremy Logsdon, with that fanfic where Zedd turned good and is now looking like a human.” I turned to Cheryl and whistled appreciatively. “You look great, girl.” She blushed. “Want to dance?”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Cheryl said. I led her out to the dance floor.

“I thought she was going to have a heart attack when he asked her,” Bea said, “She’s fallen for him, and I think that it may be vice versa.”

“It is,” Lucas said. He held out a hand to Bea. “Care to dance beautiful?”

“Sure handsome,” she said. She put her hand in his and he led her out to the dance floor.

A few hours later, the two couples are sitting down at the table, tired from dancing for so long. The lights started blinking wildly.

“That’s weird,” I said. I heard a chirping sound from Cheryl’s, Lucas’s, and Bea’s eatches.

“Man.”

“Come on, Bea,” Cheryl said, “Let’s go freshen up.” Her and Bea left in the direction of the girls bathroom.

“I’ve got to go take a leak myself,” Lucas said, “I’ll be back.”

“All right,” I said.

Near the bathroom, and out of the way, Lucas met up with the girls. He hit the communications button on his watch. “We read you, S-1,” he said.

“You can probably tell where Gigatron sent the virus monster,” Samurai-1 said, “Digitize and take it out. But be careful. Gigatron sent some gigamites, too.”

“Right,” Lucas said, “We’re on it. Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Spryte.”

“Uplink: Tinkerer.” They digitized and jumped a tube to the cyberspace ‘room’ the virus monster was in.

“Usual tactics,” Servo said, “I’ll take the gigamites, you two take care of the monster.”

“Right,” Tinkerer said. She looked over at Bea. “Mind if I use my glaive to destroy it this time?”

“Go ahead,” Spryte said.

Tinkerer charged the glaive quickly and took the monster out. They turn to find Servo getting his butt kicked. He was obviously outnumbered. They jumped into the fray, tearing the gigamites apart in just a few seconds. The gigamites didn’t stand a chance.

“We better get back,” Servo said, “Before T.J. notices we’re gone. Download.”

They went spiraling out of cyberspace and ended up in a desolate part of the party area. I was waiting anxiously at their table.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, bud,” I said, “I ran into someone on the way back, and they wouldn’t quit talking until a minute ago.”

“Same here,” Bea said, talking for her and Cheryl.

“It’s all right,’ I said, “Want to dance some more Cheryl?”

“Sure,” Cheryl said. She took my outstretched hand and, though she was worn out from the fighting in cyberspace, she let me lead her out to the floor.

“Whew,” Bea said, practically collapsing in her seat. “It’s been so long since Gigatron sent a virus, I forgot how much those battles take out of you.”

“I know what you mean,” Lucas said.

“Whoa.” Bea was staring at something across the room. Lucas followed her line of sight and saw Jackie.

“I can’t believe he’s here,” Lucas said, “He’s the last person I ever expected to be here.”

“Tell me about it,” Bea said. Jackie came over.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered, “Bea, would you care to dance?”

“Once dance wouldn’t hurt,” Bea said. He led her out to the dance floor.

Lucas sighed. A few minutes later, he could hear a loud slap. Bea came back over, obviously mad at someone. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe Jackie,” Bea said, “He could not keep his hands off me all the time we were dancing. That slap you heard was me slapping him.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Lucas said, “Cold shouldering me, I don’t mind. But this...”

“No, don’t,” Bea said, “I just won’t make the mistake of dancing with him again. I’ve learned enough from you to defend myself if I have to.

“All right,” Lucas said, “I won’t hurt him. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Bea said.

About an hour later, the dance started winding down. Bea and Lucas danced some more, while Cheryl and I danced most of the time away.

When they left, they walked home. Cheryl and I were holding hands. Bea and Lucas were too, like always.

“I can’t believe this night’s almost over,” I said. I had won best costume, so I was in a great mood. Cheryl’s house was the first to come up and Bea and Lucas waited for me down at the end of the driveway while I walked her to the door. I reached up and caressed her face. “Good night, Cheryl.”

“Good night,” she said. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I ducked in and gave her a deep kiss. She was surprised at first, but returned the kiss.

When we broke off and she went inside, I walked down to stand with Bea and Lucas, who were grinning at me. I was on cloud nine.

Bea’s house was the next up. She and Lucas were very reluctant to leave each other. Their kiss lingered for about ten minutes before she went in. Lucas and I went our separate ways. When I got home and into bed, I couldn’t fall asleep for a while. My body, hormones in particular, was in an uproar after kissing Cheryl. I was wondering if she felt the same way when I fell asleep.

Part II
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