A/N: Written in response to challenges on pp, May-July 2008, before I started Dusk & Summer. The story went where the challenges led it, so it's not always consistent and it changes direction several times.

Disclaimer: Not my characters, not making any money.

WARNING: It starts light but ends up heavy. A little angst and some smut coming up eventually, but guaranteed HEA because this is, after all, me.

oOo

Senior Prom

By Dee

1

Everyone was getting crazy excited about the prom. Everyone, that is, except me.

"So Stephanie, which one of those hot guys in your life are you going to ask to be your escort for the prom? I'm sure Joseph would be more than happy to take you."

Yeah, right. "Grandma, Joe hates to dance and he looks like a casino pit boss in a suit. There's no way he's going to put on a tux just to go to your prom." Besides, Joe and I had a humdinger of a fight last week, complete with waving arms, shouting, and stomping away. We still weren't speaking.

The second annual "Senior" Prom was just a week away, and Grandma was already driving me insane. She had a date, a dress, a corsage on order, condoms in multiple sizes, colors and flavors, and her usual case of hot and heavy Hungarian hormones.

"Well how about that bounty hunter with the nice package? I bet he dances just like Patrick Swayze in that dirty dancing movie. Them Cubans all got rhythm." Grandma leered at me. "I'm sure he's great at the horizontal hula, if you know what I mean."

Uh-huh, I could testify to that, although not lately. And not something I wanted to think about right now. Or ever. "Ranger's out of town. I don't know where he is or when he'll be back."

Oh, dear Lord. How the hell had I ever gotten roped into being a "chaperon" for the seniors? It's not like they were high school kids and needed someone to keep them out of trouble. Although knowing Grandma… Oh, yeah, that's how I got enlisted. Mom knew Grandma far too well and thought I could keep her in line.

Not in this lifetime.

Grandma was unrelenting. "Well, how about Diesel? He's single, right? And those dimples are really cute. And he looks to have an awesome package, too… Gets me all warm in funny places just thinking about it. None of those old farts I date are anywhere near that well-equipped, and most of their equipment don't even work."

Eeuw… Too much information. "Grandma, I haven't see Diesel in quite a while." I was steadfast in my refusal to think about the look in his eye and his hand on my ass just before he disappeared the last time. He was hot, but my life was complicated enough without getting involved with an Unmentionable to confuse me even further.

I shook thoughts of Diesel out of my head. "Anyway, I don't have any idea where he is. I couldn't just call him up out of the blue and invite him to the dance."

"So who are you going to ask?" With her head cocked to the side and her eyes bright with curiosity, Grandma looked like a terrier. A pit bull.

"I think I'll just go stag. I'm going to be serving refreshments, anyway, so I'll be too busy to dance."

Grandma frowned and shook her head at me. "No, I can't let you go alone. No granddaughter of mine is going to the prom without a date. That's just plain humiliating." She brightened. "I'll talk with your mother. She always hears when guys in the Burg get divorced and are up for grabs again. She'll find someone to fix you up with."

Yikes! "No, no, Grandma, please don't talk to Mom about it. I really don't want to go with anyone from the Burg. I'd much rather go alone." I'd much rather slit my throat with a butter knife.

It was obvious from her face that Grandma just couldn't understand why I wouldn't want a date. I kept talking. "You see, I've already got too many men in my life. I need a break from them all."

It was true. Joe wanted to marry me and knock me up with hoardes of Italian bambinos, Ranger wanted to… well, everyone in Trenton knew what Ranger wanted to do with me, and Diesel wasn't even an option.

"Well, think about it. Maybe Ranger will come back before Saturday night." Grandma pulled a large, plain brown shopping bag out from behind a chair. "Now, Lorraine Shlein drove me over to Pleasure Treasures because Caroline got in a whole bunch of new merchandise. I've got some questions for you." She dumped the contents of the bag onto the sofa.

Oh… my… God…

"Sorry, Grandma, I have no answers for you right now. And I'm late. Catch you later." And I made my escape.

TBC