CH 70

Joan loved her new Bronco. Well, new to her. It was roomy enough to give Allison and Bob a ride to school, and could carry their clothes and football stuff up to Austin when the time came. Yet is wasn't monster-big like Sonya's Excursion. It was also 4 wheel drive so she could go cross country with it. She also liked driving it.

Since Joan was picking Allison up for school, Allison had made sign for the top of the driveway that read : I got a ride!. Seeing that, they made one for Bob too.

They got to school to find Bob's video on feeding the alligator earned him an 'A'. He had told the story from beginning to end with no interruption, and it was an unusual story. He was happy about that. He went on to a course about designing a video.

Allison and Joan tested each other on football plays after classes. Since this really didn't require being in a class room, they sat outside on the steps of the school. The teams were on the playing fields in back of the school, so this was a good place to be outside where no one bothered them.

"Number 61." Joan asked.

"Pass right and lateral," Allison replied. "Normal pass to the receiver, then a lateral to the guard just behind her and block for the new ball carrier."

A paper airplane flew down into Joan's lap. Joan was going to ball it up but saw it had writing on it. She unfolded it and looked around. Her and Allison were alone.

"Where'd that come from?" Allison asked as she too looked for who threw it.

"I don't see anyone," Joan said. She then read the paper.

Please help me! I tried to help the sheriff, but he stopped me and won't even let me talk now! I know you tried to help me, but I didn't understand! Can you please come ask the sheriff to at least let me speak again!

"Ho boy," Joan said with a huff.

"Who's it from?" Allison asked.

Joan shrugged "Don't know, but they do like exclamation points. It references the sheriff, so after we're done, I'll go see him. Maybe he knows."

Allison grinned and asked, "So, it's not a love letter trying to steal you away from Bob?"

That made Joan giggle. "No, I don't have to go kick anyone's ass."

"Wouldn't that be Bob's job? It's only yours if that was to Bob from a girl."

"Details, details," Joan said and folded it up. They went back to quizzing each other on the plays.

Bob came out soon after and sat o the step behind and between them. "I got a new video test. Could you two help me out, I have to design a video. Like a how to do something, video. I was thinking how to swim with a mermaid tail."

"You just like to see us in bikinis," Allison said.

"Well yeah, but that's beside the point. I can't try to film myself doing it."

"That would be fun to watch, Bob in a bikini," Joan said and giggled. Allison joined her in her mirth.

Bob only grinned. "So, can we?"

Joan chuckled and said, "No Bob, no bikini for you. I'd be embarrassed."

They laughed again, then Joan told him, "I'll help you do the video."

"I will too, even though you won't be in a bikini," Allison said. I take it you have to plan how to make this video?"

"Yes, and I have to narrate it, telling what it is I'm showing how to do," he explained. "So besides the swimmer, I need at first, someone to hold the camera. For this I will also need to do under water shots, the add explanations of how you move and why."

"You want to show off our sexy, undulating bodies," Allison said with a grin.

"I never said I wouldn't enjoy doing it," Bob replied with a smirk.

"What do we get for helping you with this project?" Joan asked.

"What do you want?" Bob asked in reply.

Joan cast a devilish smile at him.

"Me too?" Allison asked, with a wolfish grin.

"You can record the porno Bob and I make."

"I'd rather do than watch," Allison replied.

Joan frowned. "Then Bob will have to record it, and he'll be left out."

"I'm OK with that," Bob said with a silly grin.

Allison snorted and said, "Yeah, and it would end up on a porn site."

"No," Bob said defensively, "I'd keep that for myself."

Seeing a bus pull in, Joan said, "We should get going, the late bus is here."

On the way home, They talked about how to do Bob's vid in the swimming pool at Joan's house. There, no small alligators would be hitching a ride in their hair.

.

One thing they hadn't thought about was the upcoming Prom. They only reason they though about it was Allison got asked to go with Bill, one of the boys in their class. Since no one else asked her, Allison accepted.

Getting ready to to Bob's video by the pool, Allison said, "Bill is taking be to the prom. Joan, has anyone asked you?" She flicked her eyes at Bob.

Opps, Bob knew about it but hadn't thought about it. The look Joan gave him made him think about it, fast. "Joan I just ... never mind." He got down on one knee and clasped her hand with both of his. "Joan, may I please have the honor of taking you to the prom?"

Joan grinned. "Just the Prom? Down on your knee like that, I thought you were going to ask something else."

"Maybe at the Prom. That is, if you will go with me?" Bob asked.

Joan smiled, "Sure, I'll go with you." She didn't add she hadn't thought about the prom either, but now she really wanted to go.

"That's a new way to coax for a date," Allison said. She should have recorded that.

.

Bob was picky about how Joan sat down and put her tail on. He wanted a shot of her zipping up. He had the sound off, so he could narrate over it later. After she rolled in, he watched that segment, then put the waterproof cover on his camera and had Allison go under the water to get a bottom shot of Joan rolling in, then swimming away to turn and come back close to the camera. When Joan rose to tread water on the surface, Allison came up and got a surface shot of that. Again, he scrutinized the video, looking for any flaws in it. He was happy with the results.

Joan and Allison's attention after that went directly to the prom.

In Driftwood, there was no rental store for gowns or a Tux. Joan dragged Bob in to shop on line with her and Allison.

Joan and Bob looked, Allison called Bill to find out what he was going to wear before she shopped. In their looking, Joan found the perfect black Tux with Purple highlights for Bob. She got a strapless black gown, wit a slit on one side with dark purple stockings and shiny black High heels to match. Bob gasped at the price of these outfits as she hit 'buy', then 'rush' delivery. Allison chose a very becoming medium blue gown with a low neckline and again a slit up the side. Black stockings and again, black high heels.

There was a flower shop in Harry's general store, and he'd bought corsages just for the occasion. After school the next day, Joan gave Harry and Allison a ride with her an Bob to go get theirs now so there would be a better selection. They found there were only 5 left. Having a better eye for color matching, Harry and Bob let the girls pick out the ones they wanted, then paid for them.

.

Joan had never worn high heels before. Getting her shoes, she found out they were a little tricky to walk in. To practice, she wore them down to go show her parents what she got. Losing her balance a couple times, she bumped into the upstairs hallway walls, then fell down the stairs with a yelp.

Getting up from the floor as everyone watched, she asked, "WHY do women wear these things!"

"Practice standing on your toes," Delilah told her. "That is essentially what you're doing."

"OK, yeah," Joan agreed. She walked around teetering to the amusement of the other kids.

"Now I know why women hold onto their man's arm. It's to help keep their balance!" she complained.

This was gonna suck!

.

The sheriff was sitting in his office a few afternoons later and lifted his head. He felt a presence. He watched the door and it came partway open. A man with nearly trimmed dark hair peeked in.

"Hello, I'm not looking for trouble, Just a Robert Tanner," he explained.

The sheriff nodded. "No trouble is good. What did you want with Bob Tanner?"

The man came in and held up an envelope. "I have his graduation from film school 101. I have the address, but your streets here aren't marked very well. Where is Small Lake road?"

"Sorry about that," the sheriff said as he got up. "A couple weeks ago the Peterson boy knocked it down when he was learning to drive. The highway department hasn't gotten around to put it back up yet."

The man went out with him. Looking around he said, "You've got a nice quiet town here. I take it you're keeping a low profile."

"Trying to. Works most of the time. See that road down there, second to the left? That's Small Lake road. Go straight down to the end, the Tanners live right at the lake. Just go straight, can't miss it. Sorry, I didn't get your name."

The man sported a brief grin. "Didn't give it. Like I said, I'm here to give Bob his package, then I'll probably never come this way again. Unless we have another student from here."

"By then, we should have that sign back up," the sheriff assured him.

"I'm sure you will," the man said, "Thanks."

The sheriff waved and watched him drive off. He went back inside and saw the man go were he said he was going. While he was watching, He saw a Bronco pull out and head this way. Joan Connor. She drove up and pulled in. He hoped she wasn't coming to talk to the demon again.

Joan came in and unfolded a paper to hand to him. "This was a paper plane that landed on me," she explained. She then waved at the corner.

The sheriff read it. "By the exclamation points, I know who sent this. It won't happen again."

"But, sheriff, you won't even let her speak?" Joan asked.

"Remember your suggestion to let her try to help me? She abused it and tried to seduce me again. Joan, she can't be trusted," he said firmly. "I let her have a tiny bit of freedom and she attempted to use it against me."

Something pounded in the corner that sounded like a fist on the floor. Joan frowned and said, Maybe she was trying to help, but just didn't understand it wasn't really help?" she asked.

The sheriff chuckled. "I see, she can't speak, so she wants you to speak for her. Joan, she tried to use her power on me," he said firmly. "That's not help. What that is, is attempting to turn it around so she has control of me."

"Did you really do that?" Joan asked. Then said, "She's shaking her head."

"Of course she is. You are her only hope to be able to speak again," he told her.

"She's making writing motions." Joan said. "Sheriff, please just this once give her the benefit of the doubt."

The sheriff rolled his eyes. "OK, let's see what she comes up with. Go ahead and write."

A paper came up and slapped down in the desk. A pen lifted in the air. Joan saw her on the other side of the desk getting ready to write. Quickly, Joan said, "Be detailed. What you did and why you did it."

The demon wrote for a while, half filling the page. She then picked the paper up and held it out to Joan. Joan read it out loud.

"He refuses to let anyone love him. It has been five hundred years since his wife died..." Joan stopped reading and looked at the sheriff.

"Go on," he said evenly.

"Is that true?" Joan asked.

"Just keep reading," he said evenly.

Joan did. "Yes, I tried to Charm him, but not to take him over. I used Carol's form so he would fall in love with her..." Joan shook her head. "She loves exclamation points, huh?"

"Go on."

"His refusing to love anyone or let them love him is bad for him. It is also bad for me. What I thrive on is lust and sex, and it certainly would help him to not be so cynical. He exists, yes, but he is not living life! Immortality doesn't mean anything except eternal purgatory if he's not living the life he has. I know about this. Look, he is my master, I cannot hurt him or have any power over him, he knows that. My last master at least knew how to live life. We were all happy. Yes, he mourned over mortal women he was close to when they died, he even build a grand building to his first wife when her time came. He honored her, but he accepted that eventually all mortals die. He just wasn't as good with a sword, so he got his head chopped off. If Master can accept that for most people death is a part of life, then we can both be much happier. I cannot chose my master as mortal women can. That means I must try to make him suitable, at least livable for me. I am bound to him. What he feels, I feel. I have tried to tell him. He refuses to listen."

Joan looked up at the sheriff again. "Ahh, sheriff, this does make sense. I take it she has tried to set you up with women before?"

"The point is I don't want another wife," the sheriff said. Frowning slightly, he added, "Losing Heather was a pain I never want to feel, ever again."

"That was five hundred years ago?" Joan asked.

"It still feels like yesterday," he said softly.

"Wow," Joan said softly. The sheriff was studying his desk, the demon was looking at her, like she could change things. She then had a thought. "How old are you?" she asked the demon and handed the paper back.

The demon took it wrote on it and handed it back.

Joan looked at it. "Holy shit! You're 8000 years old?"

The demon nodded. She waved a hand for the paper. Joan gave it to her. She wrote on it and handed it back.

"Hold on, what do you mean, you knew the Four Horsemen?" Joan asked.

"The four horsemen of the Apocalypse," the sheriff said. "People are confused, they equate Armageddon of the bible with the Apocalypse. They are not the same. The Apocalypse is an ancient event now. Armageddon is yet to come. By myth, the Four Horsemen are to return for that also."

"This is some wild shit," Joan muttered. "So basically, you're both immortal?"

"More or less."

Joan frowned and asked, "So what's the problem? Sheriff, you're afraid of loving someone who's going to die, right?" She pointed to the demon. "She's never going to die, and all she really wants is lust and some love. She is already yours. You are bound together, basically, she's your wife."

He frowned at her. "That demon is NOT my wife!" he stated in a hard tone.

"Yes she is," Joan replied. "You just won't let her be a proper wife. You're miserable, she's miserable, and you're stuck with each other. Accepting her will never dull what you feel for your first wife, will it?"

"Why are you taking her side on this?" he asked.

"Don't avoid the question," Joan said. "Will she, or anything ever change the way you feel about your first wife?"

"No! but THAT is a demon."

"So what?" Joan cried. "I'm half terminator, Bob knows it and he doesn't care. He loves me for me. Same with Dad, he knew Mom, both my Moms, are full terminators designed to kill people, and they have. If it's a thing of, 'she's not human', then neither are you. Not really. So what's the real problem?"

Seeing movement, Joan looked to see the demon was clapping and wearing a smile.

"AND YOU!" Joan snapped, pointing her finger at the demon. "The Sheriff gives you a chance to do something good, and you try to trick him? What the hell is wrong with you? If you want him to trust you at all, you must EARN that trust. Trying to trick him the second you are able to is NOT helping yourself!" Joan's eyes turned red as she continued to yell at the demon. "You said once you were happy with your old master, maybe you're pissed off that he's gone, but guess what, he is GONE! There is nothing you can do about that. This is your master now, he is the one you have to deal with. You keep proving that you won't behave yourself, and you will never feel that lust you need. Don't you get that? Every trick you pull only hurts yourself. Stop acting like a brainless fool and maybe, just maybe after another thirty, forty years he might start trusting you."

The demon blinked at her.

"This situation you're in is your fault more than it is his," Joan told the demon. "I get it, I bet you enjoyed lots of lust, most likely orgies of all kinds with your other master."

The Demon nodded.

"Well guess what, those days are over. This is your life now. You talk about him putting himself into purgatory, what do you think you're doing?" Joan asked. She then shifted her gaze between them. "There is a thing called compromise. Give a little, get a little. With 99% of the people on this planet, it works. And when you get a little, appreciate it and GIVE a little. It also helps if you THINK before you DO!"

Joan let out a huff and said, "I got things to do, you two need to work this out. See you later," She grabbed the door handle to leave, then paused. "You know, I always thought being older meant being wiser. I guess being older just makes you more stubborn." She then left.

The sheriff stood behind his desk, the demon stood in front of it. It was a long time before either of them said anything or moved.

.

When Joan stopped by, Bob proudly showed her his certificate. She also got to see his tux. Afraid to get it dirty, he kept it in plastic in his closet.

"You did try it on, right?" Joan asked.

"Yes, and it fits good, fairly comfortable too. Have you tried your gown?" he asked.

"I did. Those stupid shoes though, I think I'm going to get some flats," Joan grumbled.

"I take it you don't like high heels?" Bob asked.

"First time I put them on, I kissed the hallway walls twice, then tripped down the stairs! Trying to walk in them is really awkward."

Bob chuckled. "If anyone can master it, I'm sure can," he assured her. "Speaking of our fancy party, The closest limo service is up in Johnson City. Renting one is going to be expensive."

Joan shook her head. "Don't. Mom Two is going to take us in Christine. Bill's going to pick Allison up. Before we go, I'm going to make sure Christine is polished up perfect. She's going to out-shine any limo there."

"I'm sure she will draw attention," Bob agreed.

They made some time for some making out before Joan had to go home.

.

The sheriff let out a sigh and said, "You can talk."

"Thank you," Aliana replied. "I am sorry you took offence to me trying to get you to love Carol. That was my intention. I meant no harm."

"You don't understand, if you force someone to love, that's not truly love. It's only manipulation," he told her.

"You're right. I don't understand. Connor, I do desperately want to feel lusty feelings again. To be loved again. I think it would be good for you too."

The sheriff chuckled. "That Joan Connor is a fireball, isn't she?"

"Yes. Especially for her age, she is very strong willed, and intelligent," Aliana agreed. "You are also strong willed, as am I. Maybe we were each focused only on what each of us wanted. I never thought about any compromise."

"Neither did I," he agreed. "Truthfully, I have always seen you as something evil. A seductress."

"I am what my master makes me. I have been very angry, I was convinced you wanted me that way. Maybe as a way to punish my ex-master by punishing me."

"No. He's gone, I haven't even thought about him since then." He thought for a moment, then asked, "That time you took Heather's form, you weren't trying to trick me?"

"I was trying to give you what I thought you wanted. It confused me when you became enraged with me. Sometimes, my ex-master would badly miss a women who died. I'd take her form and sooth him. He'd hold me and pour out his grief. Usually later there would be much kissing, petting and sex."

The Sheriff let out a snort. "I imagine there was."

Slowly, the demon said, "Master, if you will show me what it is you do want, and let me have some lusty feelings, I will do my best for you."

Pressing his lips together for a moment, the sheriff frowned. "All right. I must be out of my mind, but I will give you one more chance. I think I know where we can find some lust, but if you misbehave, that's it. Never again."

"I understand."

.

The night of the prom started in the early afternoon. After Joan got help washing and polishing Christine, taking care to inspect every bit of the old car, Joan, like every other girl, want to be a pretty as possible so she fussed over her makeup. What eyeshadow to wear? How will it look with this blush and that lipstick. After two hours of deliberating, Cameorn helped her come up with a good look. Then it was time to do her hair and Cameorn thought Joan was going to get ulcers before she decided on a hair style. Picking for her, Cameron found a French braid that wrapped around the crown of her head with a few strands on each side curled and bracketing her face.

Buy the time her face and hair was done, Delilah came in to hurry Joan up a bit, the Prom started at 7 and it was 6:30, and once they left, they still had to collect Bob. Both her mothers helped Joan get dressed, then escorted her down to the car to be sure she didn't trip and fall in those heels. Getting in the car, Joan sat in the middle of the front seat so Bob could just jump in.

On their way to Bob's house, Joan meekly asked, "Mom, think Bob will like the way I look?"

Delilah grinned. "I'll be surprised if he doesn't faint from how beautiful you are," she replied. To her anyway, Joan would outshine any model those fashion magazines had to offer.

Getting to Bob's house, Delilah pulled in and Bob came out. Joan noted Bob looked very handsome in his tux and his hair slicked back. The car door opened for him. He sat down and seeing Joan, he cast her a blank open mouth stare. "Joan, you're gorgeous!" he said in a whisper.

"Better pin that corsage on before we get moving," Delilah told him. "Otherwise you might stick something you don't want to."

"He could always kiss it and make it better," Joan said with a crooked grin.

The strapless dress left Joan's shoulders and upper chest bare, the top began not far up from her breasts. Bob swallowed, "Maybe you should …"

"Nope, it's your job to push something hard into me," Joan said with a giggle.

Delilah laughed. Bob blushed.

A deep breath and Bob very carefully pinned the flowery item on the edge of Joan's gown, right above her left breast. He blew out a breath of relief. He did it and not a yelp nor bit of blood had been spilled.

Delilah drove them to the school where the Gym was set up like a dance hall. Many cars were there, and a few chaperones were outside. Everyone looked as Christine idled up to the entrance. Joan looked too. The sheriff was here, with a woman with long black curly hair and wore a close fitting black dress. Mr. Nader opened the door for them. Bob got out and helped Joan out. Studying the woman, Joan noted the still invisible wings and realized who this was.

Towing Bob over to them, Joan said, "Hi sheriff, and thank you." to the demon, she whispered, "Don't you DARE screw up!"

"I will be on my best behavior," Aliana replied.

Bob gazed at the woman briefly, then asked, "Joan, you know her?"

"She's a reformed addict the sheriff is helping," Joan replied.

Joan took her proper place on Bob's right side, her arm tucked under his as the went inside. A man with a camera there stopped them to get a picture of them, then they went in to see part of the Gym was converted into a night-club environment. There was a stage at the far end, along the left wall was the buffet. A man was near the stage feeding music into the Karaoke machine that was supplying the speakers. At the moment, he was playing a soft classical tone.

.

"I can feel it," Aliana said quietly with a big grin, "It's like there's lust in the air. I can nearly taste it!"

"Enjoy and behave, and we can stay during the whole thing," the sheriff replied in the same low voice. Once everyone had arrived, then went in with Aliana on his arm and enjoying the feel of young lust filling the room.

.

Bob got Joan and himself some punch and besides cold and tasty, it had been spiked.

"Joan, Bob!" Allison called as she and Bill came over.

"Whao, Allie, looking good!" Bob noted.

Bill eyed Joan and said, "Damn Bob, you got one hot date there too!"

Allison cast Joan a crooked grin. "Isn't the punch good?"

"It is. Dump something in there by accident?" she asked.

"No, it was on purpose," Bill assured her.

"Joan!" another couple from their class called as they came over. The boy asked, "Can you sing like you did at the Halloween party?"

"Nope! Those were songs for the season, but, maybe Allie and I can think up something, as long as someone feeds us a little more of that punch."

"You got it!" Bill stated.

Joan turned her nanites off. She was getting a nice warm feeling from this punch. She wanted it to last. On their way over to the machine that was playing a soft waltz, she saw the Sheriff and his demon nearby, watching the crowd. "Bob, steer me over there."

"To the sheriff?"

"Yeah."

Bob went over. Joan said, "Excuse me sheriff, can she sing?"

The sheriff laughed. "I don't know."

"I have," Aliana said carefully.

"Great!" Joan announced. She drained the last of her cup, handed it to Bob, then grasped the demon's hand. "Come on. Don't worry sheriff, if she misbehaves, I'll beat the snot outta her!"

That got a chuckle from everyone. Aliana looked at the sheriff. He nodded.

Bob now with Joan in his arm and her holding the demon's hand, went over to the Karaoke machine. Allison told the man there, "You can take a break, we got it."

The man replied, "We can only do authorized songs."

"Nope, we're going live," Joan stated. She then looked at Allison. "Tell me you brought your thumb drive."

"I did, got yours?"

"I do," Joan said with a nod. To the demon she asked, "Do you know the song Waterloo?"

"Yes, I've heard it."

"Great, now we're gonna sing it! Our Moms did, now it's our turn!" Joan announced. She grabbed the mike, and nodded to Bob who had the thumb drive. He pulled the one in it out and tossed it to the man and put Joan's in. The music started up. Joan and Allison both blasted out the lyrics, followed by Aliana joining in.

MY MY!

At waterloo Napoleon did surrender.

Oh yeah!

And now I've met a very similar fate

The history book on the shelf

it always repeating itself!

Waterloo!

I was defeated, you won the war...

The mingling turned into a real party atmosphere. People were dancing and some were singing along. Aliana got into the happy spirit and stared doing the simple dance Joan and Allison were doing. The song was lively and fun!

After they belted out Waterloo, Allison did Blondie's Call me. Another half cup of punch, and Joan went all 'Pat Benetar' with Invincible then Hit me with your best shot. prodding Aliana into doing one, she did do Bonny Tyler's Total eclipse of the heart, and she did it well. Allison took the next one with I need a hero.

The rock party went on until they ran out of songs. By this time Joan had drank three cups of that wonderful punch. So had Allison. It was getting dinner time, Joan was able to squeeze one more song in. She stood up on the stage (barefoot so she wouldn't fall), and sang to Bob who was standing just below her.

Again it was a snappy upbeat tune.

Boy can't you see what I do

to get your attention and your time!

I don't bear these fruits, for just anyone

they bounce and bounce for you

AH HAA!

I don't let go of the hope

that some day your heart will be all mine

So I play it cool, be smooth

Strike a sexy pose and wait for my sweet

to notice me.

But then again it seems you such a shy boy

Scare to look my way, when I'm TRYING to show you I care

Ya-ho Ya ho-ho-ho

SUN SUN SUN!

Thinks of us together under parasols

lying on the beach without a care at all

and Ill be whispering sweet nothings in your ear

NO NO NO!

No one could ever love you more than me

I love you so much that it's embarrassing

Don't you see.

Look. Me. In. the eye, and tell me,

You don't wanna give these melons of mine a squeeze.

YA-HOOO!

The principal rushed over and announced dinner time and many laughed and clapped, and some cheered Joan on. They got their thumb drives back and the soft music returned. Joan returned the demon to the Sheriff's side. "She did good, be proud of her," Joan announced and let Bob wander her off to the cafeteria style line to get their food.

"I take it the punch is spiked?" the sheriff asked.

"It is," Aliana agreed. "Yes, she's somewhat tipsy, but a whole lot of fun. Both her and he friend Bob are burning with lust!"

.

While in line, just before the food was the ballots for the Prom King and Queen. Joan convinced Bob to vote for Bill and Allison. Joan and Bob got their food. A couple times, Joan staggered and nearly dropped her tray. Bob took it for her and had her hold onto him and point out the things she wanted. A couple girls giggled at her clumsiness. Joan retorted, "Hey, it's these heels! This is the first time I ever wore they stupid things!"

"Of course, it can't be the punch!" another girl said with a giggle.

"Nope, it's these stupid heels," Joan said with a nod of her head that made her lean into Bob to maintain her balance. Loaded down with their trays and drinks, Bob got help from Bill to put everything on the table, then Bob helped Joan into her chair.

Across the table from her, Allison asked with an amused grin, "Why are you so clumsy now?"

Joan waved a hand. "I turned my nanites off! I really like this feeling."

Allison laughed.

They had a good dinner. Joan had Bob sample some tasty bits of her fork, he shared some of his tasty bits with her.

"Having a good time sweetie?" Bob asked.

"I am!" Joan agreed with a wide grin. "And we're going to have a better time later!" she sang.

A round of "ooh!"s came from surrounding tables. Allison giggled at her. "Joan, you shouldn't be so loud." she admonished.

Joan shrugged. "I know my Bob will take care of me."

"You take care of me, don't you?" Bob asked.

Joan giggled. "Oh yeah."

They got finished with dinner, Bob had Joan stay there talking to Allison and took they trays back. He came back to sit down and the Principal announced, "And now, it's time to announce the Prom King and Queen!"

"Better put your shoes back on," Allison told Joan.

Joan frowned and asked, "Oh! We gotta get up already?"

Joan was putting her shoes on when the Principal got on stage at the microphone nd said, This year, the Prom Kind and Queen are ... Bob Tanner and Joan Connor!"

Joan looked up. "What? It's not Allison?" She turned to Bob. "But, we voted for Bill and Allison!"

"Apparently more people voted for us," he said and got up. He helped her up and they made their way to the stage as others cheered and applauded.

At the foot of the steps, Joan halted Bob and looked up at the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Making sure nothing is going to spill down on us like in that movie," she told him.

A bunch of students and a couple teachers laughed. Now she knew it was safe, she let Bob guide her up the stairs and maintain her balance.

"I never wore heels before. These things are a pain!" she told the Principal. The mike was right there so everyone heard.

They turned around so Mrs. Hughes could give Joan her bouquet of flowers. Everyone cheered. The Principal motioned to guide them to their thrones.

"Joan, hold up a minute," Bob said and gently turned her to face him. He then got down on one knee in front of her. Girls clapped their hands over their mouths.

Bob tied his shoe. He looked at the expectant crowd and asked, "What? my shoe's untied." He then looked up at Joan's stare. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. He reached out and clasped Joan's hand, put the box in her hand and held her hand in both of his. "Joan Connor, all the good things in my life happened because of you. You are my everything. I humbly ask if you would allow me the honor of being my wife."

There was dead silence i he room. Joan nodded. "I would be proud and happy to be your wife, Bob ... as soon as you have a job."

Laughter clapping and cheers sounded through the room as Bob got up and they kissed. Bob showed Joan the ring, she had him slip the diamond encrusted ring on her finger. They kissed ad shared a hug. The applause kept on as they went over to the fancy seats. Bob helped Joan into hers, then he got into his. They held hands as the photographer took pictures.

It was a good Prom.