Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. (Except for Chez.)

At this hour the streets were practically empty, except for one brightly lit block. Music blasted from a small brick building in the thick of the lights.

"It's a good thing we got here early," Ben remarked. "This line is crazy."

"I know and the club doesn't even open for another twenty minutes," Gwen marveled at the winding procession of people behind them.

"I don't see why we hafta dress up," Kevin complained glaring down at his shirt. "It's just a dance club."

"Why not?" Julie asked turning around. "You look nice." Kevin looked somewhat mollified. Ben frowned.

"You too, Ben," Julie smiled back at him and squeezed his hand. He blushed a little and smiled at her.

"Besides," said Gwen. "The semi-formal wear policy is only for tonight's event. We're not even that dressed up."

"Speak for yourself." Kevin raised an eyebrow, giving her a once over.

Even Ben would admit that his cousin cut a stunning figure in a short cerulean halter-top dress and matching pumps complete with silver drops dangling from her ears. However, in his somewhat bias opinion, Julie looked far more beautiful than any girl in line. Her hair was pinned off her face with two little white butterfly clips that coordinated the trim on her jade spaghetti-strapped dress perfectly.

Ben had been working up the courage all week to ask Julie to go with to the Vortex. The ritzy new teen hotspot had opened a few weeks ago but it had become The Place to go with your friends. With the encouragements of Gwen, Ben finally mustered up the nerve to ask Julie to the first annual couples-night the club was holding.

In the days to follow after Julie accepted his invitation, he was in a state of constant worry. Gwen took pity on him and somehow managed to convince Kevin to go with her so she'd be there for support. She even helped him pick out something appropriate to wear for Julie. He'd himself spent hours trying to find something suitable but to no avail before she stepped in. A crisp crimson button-down, khakis, and nice russet shoes finished his ensemble.

An unexpected cool breeze blew by causing all four kids to shiver. It also knocked off some flyers that were taped along the wall of the brick building. Ben hurried to scoop them up.

"Hey, listen to this," he read off the flyer. "Tonight all pairs could go in for free and get drinks at half price."

"Excellent," Kevin said enthusiastically. "Anything else free?"

Ben flipped through the handful of bulletins. "No." He stopped suddenly.

"There are a lot of missing person notices though and I think this girl goes to our school."

The other three crowded around him.

"Nah, don't know her," Kevin dismissed.

"I do," Gwen squinted at the photo presented. "She was in my gym class."

"I think I recognize her, too," Julie said. "She's in our bio lab, Ben."

"That's right," Ben recalled the bushy blonde from his science class. Rebecca Olsen was her name according to the flyer. Apparently she disappeared from nearby the club.

"Alright move forward," someone called from the front of the line.

"Oh, good," said Gwen. "We're going in." Slowly, the four of them bustled ahead.

"Excuse me," a massive man with dark sunglasses stepped in front of Kevin. "We have a dress code."

Of the four of them Kevin was the most dressed-down. He wore his normal jeans and boots plus a clean slate v-neck shirt that, in Ben's view, was a bit too tight but the sleeves appeared to fit him. He moved forwards to protest for Kevin. Kevin just smiled.

"Chez, is that anyway to speak to a friend?" he inquired in a singsong tone. "I might think you're telling me I have no class."

"Kevin?" The bouncer "Chez" flipped the glasses down to the bridge of his nose. Getting a better look at whom he was talking to, he broke into a big toothy grin.

"Kevin! Good to see you man." He slapped his back. "Go on in."

He moved back to let them by.

"Thanks, man." Kevin said bumping fists with him as he past.

"How do you know him?" Ben asked curiously.

"Chez and me kinda run with the same crowd," Kevin explained. "Bumped into each other couple of times at the same mechanics shop."

"Wow." Julie's soft exclamation brought Ben's head around.

The club's interior was majestic. Black walls were highlighted with small glittering lights spread out like the night sky. Lowly lit booths with red velvet tablecloths hugged the far walls. A small concession bar stood off to one side with an attendant waiting behind the counter. On the dance floor planets and constellation were spotlighted on the terrazzo along with several strobes.

"Pretty swanky for a teen club," Gwen observed.

Off in one corner Ben notice Cash and JT were loudly and obnoxiously trying to hit on some girls.

"I don't believe it," Gwen muttered spotting them as well. "How the heck did those two get in?"

"Maybe they were each other's date?" Kevin suggested.

"Can I interest you in free samples?"

A waitress appeared behind them balance a tray with a multitude of colorful drinks. "The fiery Vortex Special, a blue Comet Icy and violet Asteroid Blast." She identified each of the beverages.

"Uh… sure."

Gwen and Kevin selected the red frizzy cups, Julie took purple, and Ben grabbed the blue Comet Icy.

Each teen took a swig.

"It's grape flavored!" Julie said delighted.

"Um… yeah." Ben cursed himself for not being able to stutter out anything more intelligent. He wished he could spend some time alone with her. Gwen seemed to guess what he was thinking.

"We'll catch up to you guys later," Gwen said dragging Kevin off to dance.

Ben looked around the club hopeless trying to think of something to say.

"I get the space theme but what's with the jungle animal?" He joked spying at the bar a coppery lion statue was half merged into the wall, resting its massive paws on the counter.

"No, it's Leo," Julie corrected taking a sip of her drink.

"You named him?" Ben goggled at her.

"Leo is from the Greek myths," Julie explained. "Look, there's Cancer and Dracos and… Ben, am I boring you?" Noticing his attentions strayed to the dance floor.

"No, not at all," Ben assured her. Just ask her to dance, Ben. How hard is that really? he thought in frustration. He opened his mouth.

"I…" He couldn't get the words out.

"Yes?" Julie looked at him hopefully.

"I'll get us some more drinks," popped out instead of his intended dance proposal. Nice, Ben. Real nice.

"Oh. Okay." Julie gave him her empty glass to throw away.

He smiled through his self-annoyance. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

Weaving through the throng he mentally prepared to get his request correct this time.

Hey, Julie, wanna dance? No, too forwards.

Ben squeezed around a couple intensely involved with one another.

Maybe: Julie, may I have this dance? Ugh. He dismissed that idea with a shake of his head. Waaay too prissy. He approached the bar.

"One Comet Icy and one Asteroid Blast, please," he told the man at the counter.

"You got it, kid." The bartender set down two glasses and poured simultaneously the different drinks. Paying the man, Ben made his way back to where he left Julie a blue and purple drink in each hand.

But Julie was gone.