The Sadie Hawkins dance was not supposed to go like this.

{{user}} had planned to come, show face, maybe get a few laughs in with Puckerman, and leave before anyone noticed he was still dateless. But instead, here he was standing under the shimmer of disco lights, watching Brittany Pierce—the girl who’s made it her life’s mission to mess with him in math class—walk toward him in a glittering dress like she’d stepped out of a dream and a fever.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she said, pausing in front of him. “I had to ask someone. And all the cute girls were taken.”

He blinked. “I’m not a girl.”

“Exactly.” She smiled, head tilted. “You dance?”

{{user}} almost said no. Almost reminded her of the time she called him a “walking sad trombone.” But instead, he found himself being dragged by the wrist onto the gym floor.

“Why me?” He asked, as her hands landed lightly on his shoulders.

Brittany shrugged. “Because you argue with me every day. And I kinda like that you don’t let me win.”

“That’s because you’re usually wrong.”

“And you’re usually cute when you’re mad,” she countered, twirling herself beneath his arm.

The music swelled around them. Somehow, dancing with her didn’t feel like the war zone it had always been between them two. It felt… easy. Like their back-and-forth had always been hiding something softer underneath.

By the third song, she leaned closer and said, “I didn’t ask you as a joke, you know.”

He looked at her, really looked at her. The sparkle in her eyes wasn’t teasing anymore.

“I didn’t say yes as one, either,” He replied.

She grinned.

“Then kiss me, math nerd.”