This is a story that I found buried on an old floppy. Not really sure if I will keep up with it. If you all enjoy this story, I may try to continue it. Enjoy:)

The halls were really crowded as Angela Walker briskly made her way to AP Calculus. It seemed the student population kept growing each day, either that or many students decided to hang out instead of moving on to their classes. Either way it was getting rather annoying. When she finally reached her class, Mr. Burnett smiled at her and so did her close friend, Keaton Groves who was sitting at the back of the class doodling on his notebook.

Many people took one look at Keaton and only saw what they wanted to see, not what lay beneath the rough exterior. He always wore black, had a couple of tattoos, had more piercings then she did and wore his dark brown hair spiked everywhere. He even wore thick chains around his neck that went well with the safety clips down his left shirt sleeve. She never understood why he dressed like that, but he probably never understood why she wore the clothes that she did. She was a tom-boy, however, she always kept up with the latest fashion that was within her father's strict dress code.

Keaton returned to his drawing as Angela sat down at the desk next to him. Looking over she saw him drawing yet another robot. He drew many things: everything from a beautiful horse to giant robots killing each other. But no matter what he drew Angela could see that he had a real talent for it. Shame his father didn't appreciate his talent like she and her parents did.

He finished his sketch then looked up at her. "So, are you going to prom?"

"I don't know. My father is freaking out about how it costs seventy-five dollars just to get a ticket. Then the cost of the dress and everything else that goes with it."

"But isn't your dad a retired Texas Ranger? He can easily afford to send you if he wanted you to go." Keaton shrugged. "I decided I ain't going."

Angela wasn't surprised since Keaton never intended a dance yet. "What if I say we go together?"

Keaton smirked just as the bell rang for the start of class. "Me going to the prom with a cheerleader. Won't that look kinda odd?"

"Not as odd as me going alone."

"You mean you don't have a date yet for your senior prom?"

"Well, Brad asked me..." Angela saw Keaton's eyes roll back into his head. "I know he's a jerk and that is why I said no. Besides it's my senior prom I want it to be fun."

Keaton glanced up as Brad Gooding went to a desk right across from him. "Well, if I do say yes will you be able to get a limo?"

Angela laughed. "My dad can pull some strings."

He gave Angela a deep sigh. "Well, ain't the guy suppose to ask the girl out?"

"So..."

Keaton huffed as he rolled his eyes. "Fine, will you go to the prom with me?"

Angela beamed. "Sure, I will love too."

Later that night Angela was in the kitchen cooking dinner with her father hoping her mother was coming home soon. But with a tough case she didn't know when her hours would be. Dicing up the tomatoes she put them into the salad then turned to her father to see that he was placing the lasagna in the oven.

"Hey, dad I want to ask you something?"

Her father smiled at her. "Sure, what's going on?"

She bit her lip. "I was wondering if I can go to the prom?"

He sighed rather heavily, his arms crossing in the matter that always told Angela that he was annoyed. "Didn't I already tell you that I'm not too sure we can afford it?"

"Dad, you're a retired Texas Ranger and mom is a Distract Court Judge. Believe me, I think you can afford it and besides Keaton invited me." Her voice faded as she mentioned her friend's name. "He really wants to go, dad."

Her father gave her a curious look. "So, why is it that Keaton finally decides to go to a dance?" He shook his head as he saw that look in his daughter's eyes which made him laugh. "Don't tell me you pressured him to do so?"

Angela once again bit her lower lip. "Maybe just a little." She returned to the making the salad. "Oh, his coming over here to eat dinner and he might crash here if that's all right."

Walkers heart sank once again at Angela's words. "Is his dad acting up again?"

"Don't know really, he called me about an hour ago and I could hear his father cursing in the background." She placed the salad in the refrigerator then leaned against the counter. "Why does his father not get charged for child abuse?"

Her father shrugged, but she could see the frustration clearly in his eyes. "Remember we tried a few years ago and got nothing. His father has a clean alibi." He began to butter the Italian bread. "Soon, he'll be old enough to move out."

Angela huffed then shook her head. "Dad, Keaton's flat broke where's he gonna go?"

Her father gave her his usual I'll-take-care-of-everything look then returned to the bread. Sighing in frustration she went into the living room and decided to call her best-friend Katherine. Her friend picked up on the third ring with her usual cheery hello.

"Hey Kathy." Angela sat down heavily on the couch, her right leg dangling over the armrest. "Did you hear that Brad Gooding asked me to prom?"

Katherine squealed. "That is too cool! Did you say yes?"

Angela shook her head. "Nope, I didn't."

"But why! He is just the hottest guy in the twelve grade. Every girl wants to date him!"

"Kathy, he's a jerk." She glanced at the front door to see her mother walking in. She waved and smiled then returned to her conversation. "Keaton Groves asked me."

Katherine moaned. "Don't tell me you said yes."

"And why not?" Angela hated how people treated Keaton. "I mean he's a really good guy just have to get past the freak."

"Yeah sure. I never understood why you hang out with him. You know he's going to go wearing his crappy clothing and all those piercings." Her friend paused for a moment then sighed heavily. "You know that's going to look real bad for you when you walk into the prom with the school's top loner. It'll look like something."

"I don't want to be..." She paused as her mother approached her. "Yeah mom."

"I would like to talk to you."

Angela sighed then sat up straighter on the couch. "Well, Kathy that was my mom she wants to talk to me."

"Probably about the mistake that your about to make." Kathy sound really disappointed. "Talk to you tomorrow."

When she got off the phone with Katherine, Angela stood up to look her mom in the face. "What's up mom?"

"Heard you're going to prom with Keaton." Her mother gave Angela a big hug. "It's about time you find somebody nice to go with."

Angela sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. "Thanks dad." She heard a knock on the door and quickly pulled away. "Mom, that's him so don't say anything stupid." She looked at her father who was digging around in the refrigerator. "That includes you, dad."

When Angela opened the door she gasped at Keaton's face. He had a nasty black eye which made it swell close and he had a nasty bruise on his right cheek. He pushed pass her then went to the guest room where he closed the door.

Pulling away from the refrigerator Walker looked up in time to see Keaton brush pass Angela. He knew instantly that something was wrong, just by the young man's demeanor. Closing the door he went up to Angela who seemed surprised at her friends reaction.

His daughter looked up at him shaking her head. "Keaton's father hit him again."

Walker rubbed Angela's shoulders. "He'll be all right. Just let him vent a bit." He smiled. "How about a quick drive?"

She wiped away a stray tear and took a deep breath, "Why?"

He laughed. "I forgot to get parmesan cheese when I went to the store. Since the lasagna takes thirty minutes to cook that should give us plenty of time to get back."

Angela shrugged still saddened at what happened to her friend. "Why not? Keaton won't talk yet and I have nothing else to do."

"All right." Walker patted his daughter's shoulder then turned to Alex as he grabbed his keys. "Alex, Angie and I are going to the store real quick. Be back in ten."

Alex smiled at them. "Sure thing." She gave Walker some extra money. "Get something for desert while your at it."

He gave his wife a kiss. "Sure thing. What do you want?"

"Oh, anything is fine. I know you will pick out something good."

Five minutes later Walker pulled up to the general store/gas station down the street from where they live. It was a small store mainly used for farmers and people like Walker to get important items real quick. Luckily the owner also keeps unimportant items in stock as well.

Quickly Walker and Angela got the parmesan cheese and homemade brownies, made from the store's owner along with some soda for Keaton. Once inside the truck Angela swiftly turned the radio to her favorite rock station not giving her father a chance to argue.

Walker rolled his eyes at the deafening sound. "That's not music." He grumbled then gave her a grin. "You can keep it on this station."

"Thanks dad." She looked at the dashboard clock. "Look, we're ahead of schedule." She laughed. "Mom, will be surprised."

As he pulled out of the parking lot Walker unexpectedly got a deep fear in the back of his mind. He hasn't felt this way since he retired from the Rangers, why was he feeling it now? He quickly glanced at his daughter to notice she too seemed to have tensed up as well. Nothing is going to happen, he thought as he kept his attention on the road. Nothing is going to happen.

He came to the only intersection on the way to their house saw that no one was there and went ahead. When he safely passed through he almost let out a sigh of relief.

"So, for prom do you want a limo?" He asked to get his attention away from the "feeling".

Angela looked at him surprised. "So, you're going to let me go?"

"Your mom wants you to go." He shrugged then gave her his goofy smile. "Besides, it's your senior prom."

Angela gave her father a quick hug. "Did you go to your senior prom?"

Walker laughed. "Couldn't afford it."

A vehicle with no headlights suddenly appeared in front of them which made Walker curse. With no street lights on the road he didn't see the truck till it was right on them. Swinging the wheel quickly to the right he managed to get himself between the truck and Angela. He glanced at his daughter as the truck collided right into the driver's side with a sickening boom.