A/N: Okay, this whole Homecoming Dance thing has kind of got away from me, so its become a two chapter affair instead of just one! Many thanx to everyone who left feedback on the previous chapter - so glad you're all sticking with me on this crazy ride ;-)
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 14 - Dance With You, Part 1
"I hate this" complained Zoe as she sat around at Wash's house, watching him plough through his wardrobe full of brightly coloured shirts.
"Not exactly my idea of fun either, dear" he sympathised, "but I don't so much have plain non-loud shirts suitable for school dances. We don't usually go and besides..."
"I ain't talkin' about your clothes, Wash" she snapped perhaps a little too harshly at her boyfriend, immediately regretting it as she noted the expression on his face when he turned to glance at her, "I'm sorry" she said immediately, as she ran a hand back through her hair, "I was thinkin' of Kaylee"
Wash ought to have known that was the problem. He hated the situation too, evident as he sighed and came over to sit by Zoe, putting an arm around her shoulders.
"I know it's tough, Lamby Toes" he said, hugging her close, "I didn't love telling her about Bester, but it had to be done"
"But she's so happy Tracey asked her to this shindig" Zoe shook her head, "You should see the fancy rig she's bought, cost her two months allowance easy, on top of the extra her Daddy gave her for the gorram thing in the first place" she sighed, "Now I gotta tell her, on the day of the dance, that she doesn't have a date"
"Yi Dwei Da Buen Chuo Roh, that guy just..." it was rare for Wash to get so angry but he was pissed right now, first because Tracey had left Kaylee in the lurch and second because he'd made Zoe feel bad about it, "Seriously, that Tracey oughta be taught a lesson"
"He ain't ever gonna learn, Wash" she shook her head sadly, knowing only too well what her cousin was like.
Sure, Zoe loved Tracey, loved all her family if only because she knew what it was to lose them. Couldn't say she was too proud of her favourite cousin right now though, not after what he'd done to her sweet friend who never deserved such a thing.
"Hey, how about this" said her boyfriend, as he rubbed her back, "If you don't mind, how about we bring Kaylee along to the dance with us?" he suggested, just a little concerned that Zoe would feel her romantic night might get ruined by the presence of his best friend.
Wash was perhaps the sweetest guy in the whole world, certainly the nicest Zoe had ever met in all of her days. She was so thankful to have him in her life, and was proud to know he wouldn't ever run away and leave without a word, like her ruttin' cousin or other such men might.
"I think that's the best idea I heard in a good long while" she smiled at him, planting a kiss on his lips.
"Keep listening" he told her with a look that said far more than his words, "I got plenty more" he assured her as he pulled her into another kiss and eased them both down onto the bed.
Malcolm Reynolds was far from happy as he pulled up his car outside the pretty little house a few streets away from his own. This was where his date lived, but he was none too pleased to be heading to the Homecoming Dance with Saffron on his arm. Sure, she was pretty enough, all kinds of pleasing in all kinds of ways, but there was much more to her than met the eye, that he had come to find out the hard way.
In an ideal world, Mal would be taking Inara Serra to this dance, and they would be the most perfect couple at this whole fancy shindig. Truth to say, even Malcolm Reynolds might've looked forward to such an event if'n he could've had things like he wanted, been with the woman he loved. 'Course the 'verse didn't often give any person just exactly what they wanted, and where Mal was concerned, more often than not, he got the shorter end of the stick.
Still, he forced a smile as Saffron came out of the house in her peachy coloured dress that complimented her hair and face. She was a pretty little creature, there was no denying it, but behind the innocent eyes she showed the world, Mal knew Saffron was hiding a venomous snake of a temper. She was all kinds of deceiving, determined to make use of him to up her status at Firefly High. She'd already had him walking the halls with her, his arm around her shoulders, whispering nothing in her ear and making other folks think they was dating. Even his own friends wondered what kind of game he was playing, though they were all pretty sure he and Ms Serra were still seeing each other. Only Zoe knew the absolute truth, whilst the others believed he might actually be using Saffron rather than the other way round. The conniving little red-head made him swear he wouldn't tell the real truth of it to nobody, else her tongue might get loose on the topic of himself and Ms Serra and their affair that was less than legal and proper.
"You clean up nicely" smiled Saffron as she met Mal on the sidewalk outside her house and waited for him to open the car door for her, "I thought you might not make an effort"
"And I thought all there was to you was sweetness and light til a couple o' days ago" he answered in kind, his own fake smile never wavering as he ushered into his vehicle, "Seems we both was wrong" he added as he slammed the car door shut behind her and moved around to climb into the drivers seat.
"Don't mess with me, Mal" she said, her tone severe now, as she checked her lipstick in the mirror and reapplied a little before he got the car started, "You know I hear that several faculty members will be at the dance... with their partners" she added with a nasty smirk.
Mal would've answered, but honestly, he dare not say a word for fear of something stupid falling from his lips. Instead he wore a tight smile that he considered much safer as he pulled away from the kerb and headed for the school. He would be very glad when this night was over.
It had been a fair walk from one side of town to the other, and it weren't a journey Jayne Cobb would usually want to be making like this. Strange how it didn't bother him tonight, almost as strange as how he'd voluntarily put on his Pa's suit for the occasion, and actually looked half-decent and presentable for a change. What was happenin' to him, Jayne had no idea, but he didn't dwell on it none. He was here now, outside the Tam's house, to pick up his date for the Homecoming Dance.
Sounded weird even in his own head as he thought on it. Jayne weren't exactly the type to attend such fancy shindigs as this, at school or otherwise, but this one was different, River was different. She just weren't like any other girl he ever knew. Two years younger than his ownself, at least, but with brains enough to out-do any full grown woman in town. She was some kind of genius, and all kinds of cute at times. Plus the girl had crazy fighting skills that impressed Jayne to no end, even if he wouldn't tell her exactly any of this.
When she'd mentioned wantin' to go to the Homecoming Dance, hadn't rightly occurred to Jayne he'd ever be a willing volunteer to take her, and yet the words had come tumblin' out of his mouth as easy as falling off a log! So here they was, him outside her front door in a borrowed suit that almost fit, and her expecting some fairytale no doubt, when all he had to offer was a long walk to the school on his arm.
He hadn't had a chance to knock when the door swung open and Jayne was greeted by a surprised Simon.
"Ah" the wannabe-doc looked surprised by the sight of him, "Jayne, hello" he greeted him awkwardly, "My sister is..."
"Here" said a voice from the stairs, and Jayne woulda swore to almighty God that when he looked up then he saw an angel o' some kind floating down that stairway.
River was a vision in a long blue dress that flattered her slight figure and flowed down almost to the floor like a waterfall. The smile on her face as she descended the stairs to meet her brother and her date proved she was loving the whole occasion already, and was entirely pleased with herself for the reactions she had evoked in the men.
"River... mei mei..." said Simon looking stunned, "You're... you're so grown up" he smiled at her.
"Almost sixteen" she rolled her eyes, "Should not be a shock"
"You scrub up pretty good, girly" Jayne smirked at her, making a joke seeming so much easier than seriously complimenting her.
"She could say the same, Man Called Jayne" she smiled back in kind, noticing that his eyes betrayed him - he liked her appearance more than he would admit, she knew it and it thrilled her.
"Um, where is your car?" asked Simon then, breaking the would be moment between his sister and her date as they quit staring at each other to glance his way, following his gaze out of the door to an empty space.
"Er, yeah, I couldn't so much get transport for tonight..." said Jayne, shifting awkwardly on the spot.
"She likes to walk" River insisted, taking a hold of his arm and making for the door, only to have Simon stop her, much to his little sister's annoyance.
"It's fine, you can ride with me" he insisted, as he reached for his own jacket and pulled it on.
Jayne looked awkward and as if he'd like to argue the point, but he never got the chance as River did so for him.
"No, Simon" she sighed heavily as she turned back to look at him, her grip on Jayne's arm still firm, "She likes to walk" she said with determination, sure that her brother would not dare to argue after that, and not giving him a chance to as she turned and began walking away, pulling Jayne along with her.
She threw a few words over her shoulder about seeing Simon at the dance, but did not look back again. He had not meant to annoy her, of course, not on a night he knew she saw as so very special.
The would-be doctor was not thrilled at the idea of his mei mei attending Homecoming with any man, least of all someone like Jayne, but he had at least thought he would be able to keep an eye on them so it wouldn't matter.
It would appear that River did not like the idea of her guh-guh playing chaperone, which left Simon wondering why he was even bothering to attend this dance at all. Going stag was not his idea of fun, he really only planned to go in the first place as Kaylee's date and when his nerve deserted him and she agreed to Tracey's offer, well, that left Simon feeling lousy about the whole thing.
With a sigh, the young Mr Tam decided he should probably still go. It would do no harm to keep an eye on River, even from a distance. He would like to trust Jayne with her and vice versa, but unfortunately, he couldn't quite manage it somehow.
Kaylee was trying to put a brave face on it, but tears still filled her eyes and her nose still sniffled some as she climbed out of Wash's car in the school parking lot. She was a vision in pink and white, a million miles from the tomboy she usually appeared as in scruffy denim or coveralls, grease under her nails and her hair shoved back in a ponytail just to keep it out of her way. Tonight she looked like she ought to be in a fairytale, even though Prince Charming had left her hangin'.
"Well, I figure I gotta be the luckiest guy here" said her best friend kindly as he moved around the car with Zoe already on his arm in her own slinky silvery affair, "Got the two prettiest girls in the school on my arms" he grinned, offering Kaylee the chance to be escorted in.
She found a smile for him, but it was a little weak and watery. Poor Kaylee, she kept on thinking she'd found Mr Right, and they always turned out to be Mr Right Now. Her dream date was never Tracey, of course, and they all knew it, but Simon showed little or no interest and it hurt so much to just sit and wait around for him to realise she was there.
Just as Kaylee was about to accept Wash's arm and head inside with him and Zoe, they spotted Mal's car approaching, Saffron in the passenger seat beside their friend. Nobody much liked the red-head, for various reasons, and couldn't fathom why Mal was dating her. Only Zoe knew for sure what was going on, only she saw trouble coming before it happened as Inara Serra stepped out of a car just across the way, a man that could only be her fiancé joining her in an instant.
"I'll be right back" said Zoe, planting a quick kiss on Wash's cheek and moving away as fast as her heels and fitted dress would allow.
Kaylee looked around at all the happy couples filing on into the school and sighed.
"Everybody's got someone" she lamented, "Wash, tell me I'm pretty" she urged him, and though his eyes remained on Zoe, he answered directly.
"Were I not attached, I would take you in a manly fashion" he assured her.
"Because I'm pretty?" she checked with a smile,
"Because you're pretty" he confirmed even as he tried to lip read what Zoe and Mal were talking about across the way.
It was clear their conversation referenced Ms Serra, as their gazes were obviously fixed that way. As Saffron got out of the car they tried to be less obvious, but it was still pretty clear what was being said from the body language.
"You sure you know what you're doin', Mal?" asked Zoe in a low voice as she leant in close to him.
"Can't say as I do" he answered grimly, eyes never leaving Inara til she disappeared into the building and out of his sight for a moment at least.
When he tore his eyes away he saw Wash calling to Simon, asking where his sister and Jayne might be. Everybody would be here soon, and twas going to be an interesting night, that was for gorram sure, and for more'n one reason. Truth to say, not one amongst the friends gathering here could really know what was coming, and by the time they realised, t'would all be far too late...
To Be Continued...