A/N: I know, I know! It's been too long! Bad author! It's been forever since I updated this story; I figured it was about time to get back on the ball. So, here's the next installment for you. I'm still not entirely certain where I'm taking this thing, and I warn you now: I only went to one high school dance, my senior prom, so I have no idea how any other dances are. I'm making this all up as I go along, so I hope it's all believable.
Disclaimer: (Room is filled with hysterical laughter) No, no I don't own the characters of Ned's Declassified. I only wish I did. I do own Beth, Darren, and Sean, but they're just figments of my imagination, which aren't half as fun as real people. But anyway, that's my issue, not yours. On with the story!
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My dread was justified moments later as Beth rounded a corner with a camera and several rolls of film in hand. I hate getting my picture taken. I have ever since I was small, pictures just don't come out right when I'm in them. I tried to beg my out of the photography session but neither Suzie nor Beth would allow that to happen. She must have taken two rolls of Suzie and I before the boys got there. When the guys did pull up she took another two rolls of the two of them. Then another two rolls of all four of us together. It was total overkill. What on earth was she going to do with so many pictures? What would Suzie do with copies of those pictures? I shudder to think of the possibilities.
In a few years I'll probably be glad to have those pictures, but knowing that didn't make getting them all taken any better. I will say one thing for Beth's enthusiasm over those pictures; it gave me plenty of time to check out the guys' outfits. Of course, they were in tuxedoes and both looked great. They wore black cumber buns, but their cuff links and the flowers in their button holes matched the dresses. Darren had a dark red flower, Sean a yellow one (a green flower is nearly impossible to find, so he decided to match Suzie's gold jewelry instead of her dress). They looked like they could be male models, which is kind of funny because they don't like having their picture taken any more than I do.
Somehow Darren managed to convince his mother that we absolutely had to go, we had dinner reservations and we couldn't be late or they'd give away our table. I wondered for a moment how Darren had managed to swing dinner reservations, but then I remembered that he and Suzie had been planning this for a long time. I was glad they had though. It was beginning to look like this was going to be a fun night.
Actually, I'd been having fun since this day started. Debbie's was an experience, but a good one, even though I'd been a complete dunce most of the morning. Touring the small town with Suzie had been great. Even getting all gussied up in dresses and cosmetics had been enjoyable. I didn't even mind that there were now dozens of pictures of me in a dress. I was excited. I was even looking forward to this dance, despite the deception we were laying for Beth about who our dates really were.
We had to pause just outside the house to fully process the decorated car we would be riding in. Darren hadn't been kidding yesterday when he said they were going to transform Sean's car. It's gone from regular beat-up first car to parade float. They must have worked all morning, and most of the afternoon, getting it to look like this. There were flowers all over it, covering everything but the windows. Streamers hung from the rear bumper, long enough to let everyone know they're there, but not long enough to drag in the street. It was surprisingly pretty.
Beth had followed us outside and snapped a few shots of the vehicle and of us beside the vehicle before letting us leave. Cleverly placed streamers amidst the flowers disguised the door handles and added to the whimsical look of the car. We all piled in, Suzie and I in the back admiring the flowers, Darren and Sean up front discussing the nights plans. I don't know if Beth read anything deeper in our unconscious separations of girls and boys, but I hope she didn't. It would be kind of hard to explain why we weren't sitting next to our dates for the evening.
I was amazed that the flowers didn't fall of as we drove. I was expecting to lose at least a few, but none of them came off. It was incredible. People walking on the sidewalks stopped and stared as our car passed, other motorists honked their horns (in approval or annoyance I don't know), a few people even clapped as we passed by. We were a blur of color in the grey street, all whites, pinks, blues, purples, and yellows. Streamers and petals were fluttering in the wind but holding tight to the moving car. We definitely got a lot of attention from everyone.
After a time we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, Lee's. It was a Chinese buffet, I knew the moment I laid eyes on it that I would like it. It was painted in all reds and golds, with a meticulously carved dragon perched above the entryway. Walking in I noticed a stylized lion statue on either side of the doors facing into the restaurant, bringing luck. Bamboo plants were everywhere, as decoration and privacy screens between the booths. We were graciously welcomed by the floor host, she showed us to a booth as soon as she heard the reservation name and was paid for four all-you-can-eat meals (something around ten dollars per person). She seated us and left to fetch our plates.
We'd be dishing ourselves up here, which is all to the good. Once our plates were brought to us we left in pairs, leaving two at the table so we'd be able to find it again. This place was surprisingly full, but then it was Saturday evening. Suzie and Sean went first, leaving Darren and I to each other's company until they came back.
"So, what do you think?" Darren asks with an honestly curious expression on his face. I wonder what exactly he's referring to, because there are quite a few things to choose from.
My response is a necessary "Of what?"
"Of everything so far. Outfits, car, restaurant? Anything." He's still wearing the curiosity face, but it's tinged with amusement as he waits for my reply.
"Well, I must say that you and Sean do cut fine figures in those tuxedoes. I thought your mom was going to burst with pride at how handsome 'her baby' looked. I can't believe she took so many pictures, I mean, what is she going to do with them all?"
He laughed. "She'll develop them, give us copies, send copies of her favorites to all our relatives, then put them in a box and never touch them again. She's done it with pretty much every set of pictures she's taken since I was born; at least that's what Dad says."
"That's crazy. You saw that she took nearly seven full rolls of film, that's a little expensive to develop for pictures she won't look at but once."
He shrugs at this but offers no explanation; his eyes seem to say 'yeah, I know, she's crazy'. "And what about the car?" It's his way of changing the subject. I guess I can understand. I wouldn't want to talk about my mom either in his shoes. I wonder what she'll do with all the pictures once she finds out he's gay.
"That car is amazing! How did you get all those flowers and streamers to stay that way? How are they going to come off? How long did it take?" I'm awash with curiosity about this car. All those flowers must have taken forever to put on.
He shoots me a beatific smile and wags his finger at me. "Ah ah ah, can't tell you how we got them on, trade secret." He winks conspiratorially, and then continues. "It took around four hours. We had so much fun putting it all together. We designed that look over the summer and have just been dying for an opportunity to show off our skills!" The exclamation is accompanied by little claps and a happy wiggle in his seat. "They'll all come off with a spray solution and a garden hose tomorrow afternoon. You and little Suzie will be helping clean up the mess afterwards. Soggy flowers and streamers take a surprising amount of time to clean up. But with the four of us it shouldn't be too bad."
I'm hard pressed not to laugh at his mannerisms, he's such a card! I nod to show my assent with that plan. "That's fine. We'll be doing that at Sean's tomorrow then?"
"We will. Debbie told us this afternoon that Suzie had already promised you'd both come visit before going back home, so we figured on doing it then." I practically saw when the light bulb went off in his head, he clapped his hands in excitement again, "Hey! Why don't we all just spend the night over there? That way we'll have tonight, tomorrow morning and afternoon to hang out with Debbie and get things done. I can call my mom to let her know, we can pick up your girl stuff after the dance. That'll be so much easier!"
"Fine by me. But don't you have to ask Debbie if we can stay?"
"Nope." He flapped his hands in a dismissive gesture. "Suzie and I have standing invitations to be over there, comes from being her second set of kids, I'm sure she won't mind having you at all. She seemed to like what she saw of you this morning, so I don't see there being a problem." He's beaming now, practically glowing with happiness at his own plan.
Just then Sean and Suzie return with their plates loaded down with food. More food than they could possibly eat by themselves. "Hey, we decided to just fill these two plates and share. That way we don't have to waste anymore time gathering food." That was Sean speaking as he settled in beside Darren.
"We weren't wasting time. We came up with a plan." Darren was leaning over the table and winking conspiratorially again, only this time it was directed at all of us.
Suzie smiles at the eccentricity of her favorite relative and indulgently asks, "Oh? And what is this plan, cousin dear?"
"Well. Jen and I were talking and it just hit me! We should all spend tonight at Debbie's after the dance. It's perfect. We won't have my mom watching our every move and we'll get to hang out all night. Then when we get up tomorrow Debbie can stuff us with one of her famous breakfasts! We'll have all of tomorrow to clean up the car and catch up with Debbie. What do you guys think?" I have no idea how he did it, but Darren said that all in one breath and now he's holding what remains of his air to wait for their response.
I see Suzie and Sean share a look, unspoken communication taking place, and a decision is reached. It's Sean who answers with a smile, "Sounds fine by me. Mom'll love it. She's always happy to have company."
Darren smiled beautifully again, one of those heart melting smiles that seems to run in his family, and says "I'll call my mom to tell her. We'll be picking up their stuff after the dance." He waves a hand in the general direction of Suzie and me as he whips out his phone and speed dials his mother.
After the call was made we turned our attention to what truly mattered, the food. I spied my greatest culinary weakness and couldn't help myself as I exclaimed "Egg rolls! Yes!" I snatched one off Suzie's plate and took a bite of it, closing my eyes in rapturous enjoyment. A mistake, for the moment my eyes closed Suzie snatched the treat out of my hand and popped the rest of it into her mouth with a chuckle.
I let out an indignant "Hey!" and I hear the boys laugh across the table with soft commiserating sighs of "Girls" complete with shaking heads. I stick my tongue out at the both of them and turn it on Suzie the egg roll thief. She smiles, pats my cheek, pecks my lips, and turns back to the plate wielding chopsticks.
Yes, tonight is going to be extremely fun.
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A/N: There you have it. Chapter…uhm…eleven? Eleven, yes, wow. This one looks like it could rival Stop Watch for chapters, we'll see. Anyway, review if you like. Also, if you get the chance, review the 'Shark' story I wrote a little while ago…no one has actually reviewed that one but I know it's been looked at. Dammit, now I sound needy. Poo. Bah! Poobah…hehehehe. Sorry. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Let me know. I'll put up something more soon I hope.