Chapter 12

Mark and Princess entered the Federation High gymnasium, which had been festooned with balloons, crepe paper, and other homemade decorations. Twinkling lights had been strung up near the high ceiling, to give the impression of a night sky.

A live band played on a temporary stage, and young couples gyrated to the music as the faculty congregated near a punch bowl, pretending not to notice that the beverage had already been spiked.

"It's everything I thought it would be!" gushed Princess.

"No, it's much better," Mark said quietly, "because I'm here with you."

Princess blushed, her skin nearly matching the shade of her dress. She didn't know what had gotten into Mark. Over the last couple of weeks he had been much more romantic: coming up with compliments when she least expected it. Not that she minded at all, but it was so unlike his previous behavior that she was still somewhat taken aback by his comments.

For his part, Mark was starting to settle into his relationship with Princess. Their newly found closeness had made him more bold, and he found himself occasionally uttering the thoughts that came into his mind, rather than biting his tongue, as he previously had done.

As he saw Princess' reaction to his words, the Commander was glad that he had made the effort to show her his feelings.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked her.

"I thought you didn't like to dance?" Princess asked.

"This is a special occasion." Mark winked, and Princess was reminded once again why she was head over heels for this man.

"I love you." she whispered, leaning up to kiss him lightly, before leading him off to the dance floor.

The couple danced to two fast songs, before the lights dimmed and the band began to play a slow ballad.

"Just what I was waiting for." murmured Mark, drawing Princess into his arms. She sighed softly, resting her head on his shoulder, as they swayed in time to the music. Princess wished that the song would never end.

But all too soon, the music changed again, and couples reluctantly pulled apart to dance to the faster music.

"Let's get a drink." she suggested.

"Sounds good." Mark replied, leading her to a nearby table, and pulling out a chair for her. Princess grinned widely. The Commander was pulling out all of the stops, tonight.

"I'll go and get us some punch." he said, before making his way through the crowd toward the refreshment table.

Princess smiled to herself, gazing around the room. This was the happiest day of her life. Well, perhaps not: there was that afternoon at Swan Lake…

She was rudely torn away from her pleasant thoughts by a loud voice.

"How's it going, Princess?" Brad Peterson asked, dropping, uninvited, into the chair next to hers.

"I'm having a very nice time." Princess replied. She felt a little uncomfortable around Brad now, but felt she should at least be polite.

"I'll bet you are." he leered, leaning over in an attempt to peer down the neckline of her dress.

"Mark will be back in a second." Princess said, moving as far away from Brad as she could, while still remaining on her chair. "He's just getting some punch."

"What happened to Jason?" Brad asked, his words slightly slurred. Princess felt his breath on her face, and smelled alcohol on it.

"Jason?"

"Wasn't he your date?" Brad leered. "Did you get dumped by your own brother? And now you're here with another brother?"

Princess glared at Brad, trying to decide if messing up her fingernails was worth punching him in the face.

When she didn't respond immediately, Brad pressed the issue further.

"I'm surprised at you, Princess. And here, I thought you were such a nice girl. What exactly goes on, in your house, at night, between you and your brothers?"

That did it. Princess's hand flashed out, slapping Brad's face, just as Mark came back with two glasses of neon pink punch.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Brad raged, leaping up from his seat. Unfortunately, in his haste, he ended up tripping the approaching Commander, who stumbled forward, spilling both glasses onto the front of Brad's tuxedo.

"Gee, Brad, I think pink is your color!" Princess giggled, amused by the dripping senior.

"You can't get away with that, bitch!" he yelled angrily, grabbing Princess' hair and yanking her head back.

Princess jammed her elbow into Brad's solar plexus, just as Mark twisted his arm behind his back.

"Get away from her."

Brad instantly let go of Princess' hair, and the Commander shoved him away from the table, his eyes blazing. It was obvious from Mark's expression that he was someone Brad did not want to mess with.

"She's just a piece of trash!" Brad cried, stumbling away. "You'll be sorry you wasted your time on her!"

"Are you okay?" Mark asked Princess in a solicitous tone.

"I'm fine." Princess smiled. "Better than fine, now that you're here."

"Let's just pretend that didn't happen." Mark suggested.

"Pretend what didn't happen?"

88888

Jason entered the prom with Kandi on his arm. He saw Mark and Princess heading out to the dance floor, and spotted Tiny checking out the buffet table. The party was already in full swing, but it looked like they hadn't missed anything important.

Of course, Jason supposed he could be wrong. Brad Peterson stumbled toward him, a bright pink punch stain gracing the front of his rumpled tuxedo.

"What's wrong with that sister of yours?" spat Brad. "That little bitch slapped me!"

"Then I'm sure she had a good reason." Jason remarked, while Kandi looked at the Rugby Captain in disgust.

"What is that on your tux, Brad?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

"You Anderson kids are all freaks!" Brad insisted, moving away from the couple.

"What a creep!" Jason observed.

"Oh, look! There are Princess and Mark!" said Kandi, pulling Jason toward their friends.

"Princess, you look gorgeous!" Kandi cried.

"Wow, that dress is great!" Princess complimented her friend. The two girls were quickly engaged in a meaningful discussion about prom fashions.

"So, what's with Brad Peterson?" Jason asked Mark. "He said Princess hit him?"

"Don't ask." Mark rolled his eyes. "The guy's bad news. I'm starting to wish he was a Spectran agent, just so I'd have an excuse to kick his ass."

"Hey, you never know." Jason grinned. "Stranger things have happened."