The doorbell rang, and Zoey thought she felt her heart stop. She reached up to smooth her hair down, and Dana slapped her hand away.

"Don't touch your hair!" she said. "You'll mess it up!" Zoey took a deep breath and hurried to open the door before Rob rang again. She swung the door open, and he was there, on her front porch. He grinned when he saw her, and Zoey's breath caught in her throat.

"Hey," he said. His hair fell into his eyes. It looked like he'd actually taken the time to brush it thoroughly today.

"Hi," said Zoey, who was pleased that her voice wasn't shaking.

"You ready?" asked Rob. Zoey nodded.

"Bye," she called into her house to her parents and Dana. She shut the door behind her and followed after Rob. He had a light green shirt on, and dark washed jeans. The jeans fit him perfectly.  Zoey couldn't help but smile. This boy was perfect. He dressed well, he was absolutely gorgeous, and he was fun to be with. When they reached his car, he opened the passenger seat door for her.

'He's a gentleman, too,' Zoey thought and almost squealed. "Thanks," she said as he closed the door.

"So," he said once he got in on the driver's side, "you ready?"

"Yeah," said Zoey. "What are we seeing?"

"Well, that was a real stumper for a while," said Rob as he backed out of Zoey's driveway. "I mean, I know I don't really want to catch a sappy chick flick, personally. And I'm not too good with horror movies, you know? They really get to me in weird ways. So I wasn't big on getting nightmares for a week. But then, I wasn't sure if you were an action movie kind of girl. So I decided that we'd decide once we got to the theater." He gave her an enormous grin. "I hope that doesn't bug you."

"It doesn't," reassured Zoey immediately. "That sounds great."

"I'm not too good with things that are planned in advance," said Rob. "I'm better at winging things."

"I don't really know if I'd be better at winging it or planning," said Zoey. "I've never thought about it." Rob laughed.

"I have too much free time," he said. "It comes from not doing school work."

"I bet," said Zoey. "God, I really hope you aren't one of those Guitar Hero crazies who plays until he can do every song on expert mode..." Rob laughed again.

"Thankfully, I'm not," he said. "Not that I haven't played it, because I have, but I'm not addicted like some people. My friend Ed is like, crazy addicted. I haven't seen him outside school for ages. I stopped going to his place to hang out because he just sits there and plays Guitar Hero. He got that Rock Band game and asked me if I wanted to sing. I said no. Not much with the singing, you know. I'm better at dancing."

"I'd like to see you dance," said Zoey, giggling.

"I'll dance for Mrs. Luce," said Rob, winking at her. Zoey laughed.

"I'd love to see that," she said.

"I'd do one of those... y'know... pop, lock and drop it or something," said Rob, laughing.

"I can tell you listen to rap music," said Zoey. They stopped at a red light, and he stared at her, wide-eyed.

"Please Lord," he said solemnly, "don't tell me you listen to rap music exclusively."

"I don't," said Zoey fervently. Rob sighed and pressed his foot on the accelerator.

"Thank God," he said, raising his eyes from the road to the roof of the car. "I don't know what I would've done if you did. Really. Rap music is okay to dance to and it's okay once in a while, but I can't deal with it all the time. It's so... pointless. Except Kanye. He's pretty good."

"West?" asked Zoey.

"The one and only," said Rob, grinning.

"And the bass can give you a serious headache sometimes," Zoey added.

"God, I know," said Rob. "I skipped my sophomore dance because I didn't feel like being deaf for the day after."

"I skipped mine, too," said Zoey.

"Why?" asked Rob.

"Well, my friend Dana didn't want to go..." said Zoey hesitantly, abridging the story. 'He doesn't want to know all that dumb drama.'

"There's more to that story, isn't there?" asked Rob, winking again. Zoey laughed.

"Yeah," she said.

"Well, you don't have to tell me, but I'd like to point out that you're leaving me exceedingly curious." Zoey laughed again and sighed.

"Okay, okay. You've worn me down." Rob chuckled. "My friend Dana liked my other friend Mark, and Mark asked me. Just as friends, but Dana was really hurt. So I told Mark that I wasn't going at all. And the three of us stayed home and watched movies together. It was really fun, but I kind of wish I had gone with Mark. I mean, we weren't going to date at all, but Dana was really upset and I felt bad."

"You shouldn't let your friends control your life," said Rob knowledgably.

"I know," said Zoey. "But I really felt bad. And that stuff doesn't happen much. And who's a friend if they won't do another friend a favor?"

"True," said Rob. He pulled into the movie theater parking lot. "Here we are! What's all playing?"

"Not much," said Zoey honestly. "That new horror movie just opened last weekend. What do you think?"

"Sounds good," he said, grinning. "You do mean the one where the house eats people, right?"

"Yeah," said Zoey. "I heard it was horrible. Not scary at all."

"Let's see it," said Rob. "We can laugh if it isn't scary. It'll be fun! And hopefully I will not get nightmares."

"Sounds good," repeated Zoey.

The movie, it turned out, what horrifying. The house was a mansion, a beautiful Victorian mansion, with a ballroom. And the ballroom was cursed. The dancers couldn't stop dancing, the singers couldn't stop singing, and the musicians couldn't stop playing. It was surprisingly scary when the main character, a girl in a beautiful gown, managed to stop her dancing feet long enough to see the curse itself. Zoey felt silly - she had seen horror movies before. She liked horror movies. But there was something about this movie that made her cringe into Rob's shoulder.

"Wow," said Rob in a shaky voice. "I didn't expect that to be so scary. So much for no nightmares."

"Sorry. I didn't expect it either," said Zoey. "Hope I don't get nightmares." She giggled, but she couldn't help but worry.

"Come on, let's go get coffee or something and talk about stuff. That way you'll think of other things when you go to sleep tonight." Rob pointed to the small coffee shop across the street. "Is coffee okay? Do you want to go somewhere nicer?"

"No, this is fine," said Zoey, smiling. They walked into the coffee shop and took a two-person table by a window.

"So," said Rob, "let's talk about non-scary things."

"Let's," said Zoey. "Like what?"

"I have no idea," said Rob, laughing. "Want me to go get coffee now?"

"Yeah, sure," said Zoey. She told him what she wanted and sat back, letting out a deep breath. She had no idea what to talk about. Luckily, the line was long enough to give her a moment to think. Should she ask him questions about him? Or should they talk about school, or that movie? She didn't want to do anything weird or wrong, but she didn't particularly want to talk about teachers and classes and homework. She decided to ask him a question when he got back.

"Okay," said Rob, "got 'em." He handed Zoey her coffee and a cherry danish and sat down, shimmying his coat off his shoulders. "Sorry we're just sort of, chilling at the coffee shop, y'know? I'm low and cash and stuff, and I thought maybe this hip, trendy setting would make you like me." He winked. Zoey laughed.

"Well, it's working," she said. "Your charm is absolutely impossible to resist when teamed with hot, caffinated joy and pastries from Denmark."

"Are danishes actually from Denmark?" asked Rob.

"I'm not sure," said Zoey. "Someone should check."

"Too bad I don't have one of those super-nifty phones that has the internet," said Rob sarcastically. "I only asked for one for Christmas and my birthday..."

"When's your birthday?" asked Zoey, curious. This question wasn't the one she'd had planned, and she felt that their conversation was truly genuine right now. She didn't want to mess that up.

"November twenty-fifth," said Rob. "When's yours?"

"February ninth," said Zoey. "I'm seventeen now!"

"Oh, I just missed it then," said Rob. "Damn. I should get you something."

"No, no," said Zoey, blushing. "You'll just have to wait for next year, okay?" He smiled.

"Okay," he said. "That's fair. I'll have to get you something for Valentine's Day, though, since it's tomorrow."

"It is?" asked Zoey, grabbing her phone and looking at the date. February 13. "Wow, it is." She looked up at him. "But why would you get me something?"

"Aren't guys supposed to get their girlfriends presents on Valentine's Day?" asked Rob, a nervous smile playing on his face.

"Girlfriend?" asked Zoey, a huge smile creeping onto her face.

"Well, I guess, I'd have to ask first," said Rob, frowning and babbling anxiously. "And I guess I probably shouldn't have said that, cause it's really just like, assuming and stuff, and assuming is a bad thing right? It usually leads to bad things, right? I really shouldn't assume so much, I do that a lot you know. But it doesn't have to be a bad thing! I could stop assuming! I definitely should've asked you first! So, uh,  yeah... do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Zoey gave Rob a serious, calculating look. "You know, you should've just stopped at 'aren't guys supposed to give their girlfriends presents on Valentine's Day'," said Zoey, a grin unable to keep itself off her face. "I would've said yes then." Rob's eyes a bugged out for a moment, but then he became quite pensive.

"Oh," he mumbled.  "Well, yeah. I get it, eloquence matters or something?"

"I'm kidding," said Zoey. "I'd love to." Rob looked up with relief in his eyes and let out a huge sigh.

"Praise to God," he said. "I would NOT have enjoyed telling Ed that story." Zoey laughed.

"I bet," she said.

"He would've found you and told you that you had the best sense of humor on the face of the earth," he said. "He loves burns like that. I can't wait til someone actually burns him."

"I'm sure someone will eventually," said Zoey, giggling. "I can't believe you actually thought I was going to say no."

"Well, you aren't on the asking side. It's a lot scarier then you'd think," said Rob. "You have to say it just right, and even if you don't you might not get a yes. And then it makes no sense because sometimes if you say it wrong you'll get a yes and if you say it right you get a no. The answers vary as much as the types, and it's just crazy! Some girls want something totally ridiculous, like some tall, dark Mr. Darcy, but the thing is, that doesn't exist anymore! I mean, they don't even sell those kinds of pants anymore, so how the heck am I supposed to get them? And then other girls want the digustingly emotional type of guy who like, cries about stuff that's stupid. I don't get that at all, I mean, who wants to be around somebody who cries? A dude who cries? If you ask me those guys just need to grow a pair. And then other girls are so confused about what they want they just don't date anybody, and what in the world am I supposed to do about that, huh? Girls make no sense whatsoever."

"Thanks," said Zoey sarcastically. "I appreciate the compliments." Rob smiled.

"Sorry," he said. "Luckily, you seem to be none of the above. You seem like you're the kind of girl who isn't insane."

"Thanks," said Zoey again, sarcasm still coloring her voice, but a smile was on her lips. Rob glanced out the window nervously, then looked Zoey right in the eyes.

"You know, I really like you," he said, in a voice that suggested that he wanted to sound casual. Zoey saw his hand twitch, and she realized he wasn't just saying it because of her sarcasm or humor. He truly meant it, and he had been afraid to say it out loud to her. She smiled, reached out and laid her hand on top of his.

"I really like you too," she said. She felt a bit silly, after all she'd only known him for a month or so, but it was the truth. She did really like him. "I didn't know you like Jane Austen, though."

"Shut up."

-

Zoey shut the door behind her and leaned against it, breathing deeply.

Rob. Rob Clancy. Her boyfriend. She couldn't contain her excitement. She flipped open her phone immediately and began texting Dana a long message, when she heard her father talking on the phone.

"No way! Zoey will be so excited! When are you coming back? Really? That soon! Wow! Zo just got home, I'll tell her now!" Zoey shut her phone, curious. What more could she be excited for now? "Zo! Come here! Great news!" Zoey hurried into the kitchen and saw her parents smiling at her. Her father held the house phone to his ear.

"What's up?" asked Zoey. "What am I gonna be surprised about?"

"You remember Mel down the street?" asked Dwayne.

"Yeah," said Zoey cautiously.

"Well, their family is moving back to Super City!" Zoey's jaw dropped.

"No way!" she said, her voice rising to a yell in her excitement. "Oh my God, Melanie's coming back?"

"You betcha, sweetie," said Dwayne, grinning.

"When?" asked Zoey. "Where are they gonna live?"

"They're actually moving in next week," said Helen.

"Where?" asked Zoey again.

"Same house," said Dwayne. "No one ever bought it, remember? Well, now they're moving back into it!"

"Why?" asked Zoey. "I mean, why are they moving back?"

"Frank's job," said Helen. "You know how it moves him around a lot."

"Yeah," said Zoey.

"Well, he quit," said Dwayne with a laugh. "He and Josie are moving home with Melanie and Austin, and they're moving back into the same house they left."

"Wow," said Zoey. "Today really can't get any better! I have to go call Dana!" Zoey bounded out of the room, hearing her father tell Melanie's father, Frank, just how excited she had been.

The moment Zoey got into her room she flopped down onto her bed and flipped her phone open, quickly dialing Dana's number.

"Hey, Zo," said Dana. "How'd it go?"

"Great," said Zoey. "He asked me, like, officially."

"Man, you two are so lame," said Dana, laughing. "You want to see and movie and go to dinner and he has to 'ask you officially' before you're really together."

"Ha ha," said Zoey, "you're hilarious. But oh my God, you'll never guess what my parents just told me!"

"Then tell me," said Dana.

"Melanie is moving back!" said Zoey happily. "You remember Mel! She lived three houses down from me! And now she's moving back, into the same house! Isn't this amazing? I'm so happy! Melanie's coming back! She was like my best friend when we were little! And I cried for like two weeks when she moved away, and now she's coming home! I'm SO excited! I can't wait to introduce her to Rob! And everyone! Sam, and all Mark's senior friends and stuff! This is gonna be SO cool! Are you okay? You're kinda quiet."

"I'm fine," said Dana. "Just um... yeah... well, with Rob and Mel, and everything... Sounds like you're gonna be kinda busy, huh?"

"Oh, God, I know! With school and now Rob and MEL! I'm so excited! We'll have to hang out with her like, all the time!"

"We?" asked Dana.

"Yeah, me and Rob. And you and Mark and I guess Sam, since he's dating her now. But it's gonna be so much fun!" Dana sighed on the other side.

"Yep," she said. "Sounds great. So, tell me more about the Rob Date. Details!"

The next Saturday, Zoey sat on her front porch, waiting. The moving truck was supposed to arrive at noon, and it was eleven fifty-two. Melanie was so close, so close. Zoey was ready to have her friend back. She held the teddy bear she and Melanie had won at an amusement park when they were ten, and vowed to give to each other every year. Melanie had had it the first year, then she gave it to Zoey the year after, and so on. Melanie had given it to Zoey just before she had moved away.

"I want you to have it," Melanie had said. "Besides, I still have your Backstreet Boys CD, and there's no way I'm giving it back." Zoey had had it for four years, and she decided it was definitely time to give it to Melanie for her turn. She hugged the bear, Edifice, closer. They had just learned the word from Melanie's mother, and they decided that it was the perfect name for their bear. Zoey laughed at the memory. Edifice was such a silly name for a stuffed animal, but she had never thought of a name better for him. Zoey tapped her shoes against the cement impatiently.

And suddenly, there it was. The giant truck pulled around the corner of the street, causing so much noise that Zoey couldn't hear properly. Super Movers - Our power is to make moving easier for you! was emblazoned on the side of the truck. Zoey didn't find their slogan very catchy, but she thought it was funny. She craned her neck to look around the truck. Melanie's family couldn't be far behind. The men got out of the truck and started levitating the furniature into the house, very carefully, and Zoey watched the corner. Melanie's family couldn't be far behind.

After twenty minutes, Zoey began to get very agitated. Where were they? She went inside, grabbing a bottle of Pepsi from the fridge. She went back outside, and looked to her right at the corner, staring. They really were taking forever, and Zoey was becoming very impatient.

"Zoey?"

Zoey turned, and there Melanie was. Her family was getting out of the car, and Zoey stood up, holding Edifice tightly.

"Mel?"

"Hi!" said Melanie, her face splitting into an enormous grin.

"AH! Mel!" squealed Zoey, letting Edifice fall to the ground and running over to embrace her friend.

"Zoey!"

"Melanie!"

"Oh my God, your hair is so long!"

"When did you get your nose pierced?"

"How are you?"

"Your hair looks so cute!"

"You still have Edifice?"

"When did you get so tall?"

The girls squealed and hugged and talked all day. Melanie's family was invited over for dinner that night, and Zoey could not have been happier. Melanie was back!

"So how was that whole singing thing going?" askled Zoey as she piled applesauce into her mouth.

"Oh, yeah," said Melanie, laughing. "You will never guess what happened in eighth grade!"

"What?" asked Zoey.

"I found out... that singing isn't my power! I'm just really good at it!"

"Oh my God, no way!" said Zoey, amazed. "What's your real power?"

"It's so cool, you'll love it!" said Mel. She picked up a spoon and a fork and put them near each other. "Watch," she said. Zoey watched, and slowly, the spoon and the fork seemed to melt together. They became a rod of metal.

"Wow," said Zoey.

"I know, isn't it cool?" asked Melanie. She stared at the rod for a moment, and then, slowly, the spoon and the fork separated and became their own item again.

"My friend Synth has the same power," said Zoey. Melanie turned and looked at Zoey.

"Really?" she said. "I didn't know powers overlapped."

"Yeah," said Zoey. "Apparently they do. But there's a ton of people with super strength, you know. Like my dad."

"Oh, right," said Melanie. "I forgot about that. Oh well, I guess I'm just kinda annoyed that I'm not the only person with this power." Melanie laughed. "I kinda want to meet this person... Synth you said? Boy or girl?"

"Girl," said Zoey. "It's her nickname. I don't really know her real name." Melanie laughed.

"Oh man, she already has one of those 'I am a super hero' names," said Mel. "Man, that's weird." Zoey shrugged.

"I guess," she said. "I was just introduced to her that way."

"Yeah," said Mel. "So what's changed since I left? Did Mark clue in that Dana liked him?"

"No," said Zoey. "He's actually dating this senior girl, Sam. She's nice. She multiplies."

"Oh, wow, no way!" said Melanie. "That's cool!"

"Yeah," said Zoey. "She's friends with Synth, that's how we all met, through Mark. He took a Hero class."

"Oh? Which one?"

"Combat," said Zoey.

"Good choice," Melanie said seriously. "Do some people actually take boring things like Super Fashion Tips or whatever? I saw it on my course sign up. I didn't take any Hero classes. I decided to take something else, sort of to make myself less noticable, you know? New kid. Awkward."

"Yeah," said Zoey. "I get what you mean. But yeah, some people take it. It's actually required if you want to like, get a Hero diploma, or whatever."

"There's a special diploma?" asked Melanie, incredulous.

"Yeah," said Zoey. "It's stupid, especially since you don't really need a diploma to be a super hero. Most people just skip it and be a Hero without a diploma." Melanie snorted.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," she said.

"Yeah," said Zoey. "I agree. I think Mark said he's taking it, but Dana and I were planning on trying to convince him not to."

"Please do," said Mel. "I'll have to make fun of him until... well... forever, if he does." Zoey laughed.

"You start on Monday, right?" asked Zoey.

"Unfortunately," said Melanie, groaning. "I kind of wish I could just never go back."

"Me too," said Zoey. "At least after this year... When Rob graduates it's going to seriously suck..."

"Rob?" asked Melanie. "Who's Rob?" Zoey smiled and blushed. "Aww, is Robbie your eye candy or something?"

"No," said Zoey. "Not eye candy." Melanie pretended to look shocked.

"He's your boy?" she said, inserting fake incredulity into her voice. Zoey giggled. "What's he look like? What's he like? Tell me all about him! Oh, God, last time I heard you had this raging crush on that stupid kid who could like, do really good cartwheels as his power."