I mentioned there'd start being a wait between updates, yes? This is the last of my pre-written ficlets/scenes. I've got the rest plotted, but school, real life, a renewed fixation for Ugly Betty, etc. have slowed me down. Plus the next chapter is really difficult to get a handle on, but absolutely has to happen. So, delays. Sorry!


.o.o.o.


"Come on over, Tracy, we need to have a little chat. Everybody else, keep working on this week's dance." IQ's blood ran cold at Corny's words, as the last two 'little chats' he had with Council members resulted in Brenda and Jesse leaving the show. He was slightly off rhythm as he wondered what could be wrong, but no one noticed since Link kept making mistakes and dropped Amber twice. This went on until they left the office, and everyone could see Tracy was still smiling.

"Okay, so what we'll do is that after the roll call and the group shot, you'll run backstage, right over here." Corny walked to one side, where a tiny square was partitioned off with curtains and hidden by part of the set. Your dress will be there and you'll have to hurry up and change, because after I'm done talking about what's coming up, that'll be your cue to come join me, with one of the boys serving as your escort – just make sure they take turns. Then we'll just talk for a little bit, and you find something nice to say – I'm sure you won't have any problems, since you're such a sweet thing – and when I take us out to commercial, you go change back into your regular clothes. Sound all right?"

"What if I say something wrong?" she asked timidly.

He smiled gently and gave her a one-armed hug. "I'm sure you'll do fine, but if something goes wrong, we'll fix it. Just don't say anything bad about Mr. Pinky's or Ultra Clutch and you'll do great."

Right then and there, IQ resolved two things. One was that he would station himself right next to the curtains so that no one would tear them down, whether to make fun of her or to leer, and the other was that he'd have his dad get the boxing bag set up again in the basement so he could get some practice at using his fists. If any of the guys said one single word about her doing commercials for a place called Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway, he'd deck him. And if one of the girls did... Well, he'd think of something.

The show started and they went through roll call – she was now in front of Link, but she gave it all the pep in the world even when she was just announcing herself like the rest of them.

He got to the curtained alcove just before she did, and felt awkward until she smiled. "I couldn't have picked a better escort for my first day – you're always so sweet, I can't get nervous if you're right there with me."

"A-any time." He held open the curtain and she dove in, and the sound of zippers and cloth rustling was so distracting he almost didn't notice Sketch sneaking up behind him. "Don't even think about it."

"Think about what?" Tracy said, a bit muffled. She had to be pulling something over her head and, oh God, her skirt was on the floor.

IQ pulled himself together and glared at Sketch, who was laughing silently. "About being nervous. You'll do great, just like Corny said."

She came out dressed in a sparkly pink dress that covered her from neck to knee, but flowed over her so that it highlighted every curve in between. She had a rose in her hair and he couldn't see any more because she grabbed onto his hand to steady herself as she strapped on pink shoes with a little heel and she was holding his hand and the blood was roaring through him so fast that he couldn't see or hear anything, just feel her hand in his.

She let go to put on matching gloves and he could breathe and think again, which meant he was hustling her towards the stage. She paused just at the edge and whispered, "How do I look?"

He couldn't say anything, but Link was standing right next to them and he said what IQ was thinking. "You look even more beautiful than usual, which I didn't think was possible, sweetheart." All right, so IQ wouldn't have had the nerve to add the endearment, but he fully agreed with the sentiment.

"And now here's Miss Tracy Turnblad, here to tell us about her favorite place to shop, Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway! How're you feeling, Miss Tracy?"

"I feel pretty!" She sang it out, like in West Side Story.

"And you look really pretty, doesn't she?" Corny looked around and the Council clapped and smiled, even if some more sullenly than others. Amber in particular looked like she wished she was elsewhere.

"It's all because Mr. Pinky gave me such a great dress for becoming their spokesgirl! Mr. Pinky has so many nice clothes, and the ladies at the shop are so friendly! My mom went with me and they did our makeup and our hair, and they only use Ultra Clutch, because Mr. Pinky only gives his customers the best!" She was talking to Corny instead of the camera, but she looked so enthusiastic that IQ was ready to go give Mr. Pinky money just for making her so happy. "You should've seen my mom, she looked so pretty and glamorous!"

A shadow passed over her face, but she remembered the camera and turned towards it, not decreasing her smile at all. "Us hefty girls can have a really hard time feeling like princesses, but Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway can make it happen, and for a reasonable price."

"That's Mr. Pinky's, 3311 Eastern Avenue – for all you big and beautiful princesses out there. And we'll be right back after a word from our sponsors."

The light went off and Corny gave Tracy one of his one-armed hugs. "That was perfect – and great job mentioning Ultra Clutch. You're a natural."

"Thanks!" She beamed at him, then scurried back to change while IQ followed her and stood guard again.

The rest of the show went on as normal, except when Tracy lost the rose she'd left in her hair and Link picked it up for her. Afterwards, IQ got pulled aside by Amber. "I need you to stand guard again. Don't let anyone else hear this, got it?"

Confused, IQ went with her and tensed as he saw she had followed Tracy towards a dark corner of the set. "Amber--"

"Don't worry, lover boy. You can stop me if you think I'm going to hurt your precious princess." Amber stepped forward and grabbed Tracy's arm. "I need to tell you something."

Tracy's normally sunny expression went grim. "What?"

"I don't like you, and you need to stay away from Link, but..." She pinned IQ where he was with a glare, and he noticed that from where she stood, Tracy couldn't see him. "Your mom really did look pretty. Huge, but pretty."

Tracy frowned. "Why are you saying this?"

"My mom..." Amber trailed off and stamped her foot. "Just, your mom didn't deserve to stop feeling like a princess, okay? And if you tell anyone I said this, I'll... I'll do something really terrible."

She stomped past IQ, and he dithered but ultimately followed her. After a few feet she whirled around. "What?"

He shrugged. "That was really nice of you, Amber. You didn't have to do that."

"No, I didn't. And I don't want to talk about it, or hear about it ever again." Her lower lip was pushed out in the way everyone on the show recognized as the sign of Amber in a temper, and he held up his hands in surrender. If she didn't want anyone to know she'd showed a sign of being human, he wouldn't tell. He wasn't sure anyone would believe him anyway.