A/N Thank you for the reviews. I do really appreciate them. Your input is of great interest to me. I still am just borrowing these characters, I own nothing.

The day after the game, Jasmine had picked up her friend Elise Gordon and they both went over to Diane's house where Mary and Diane were waiting for them. They were all in Diane's bedroom talking about the game.

Elise was talking, "So, Mary, how is it to have your date be the man of the hour? He is going to be the big man at school for a while."

Diane couldn't resist, "Yeah, the shortest big man."

Mary just smiled, "It will be interesting. But with the Prom coming up, everyone will be excited about that."

Jasmine smiled, "Hey, maybe he will be voted Prom King."

Diane was stunned, she, like everyone else, had expected Steve to be elected. She sighed, was Mary going to show her up again?

She spoke up, "Don't forget, it was my brother that threw the pass."

Mary smirked, "And Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon."

When the others laughed, Diane felt stupid. Why was that funny and what did it have to do with her brother?

Elise spoke up, "Speaking of the Prom, does anybody know if Cindy Howard is going?"

Cindy Howard had been diagnosed with cancer. She was bald from the chemotherapy and confined to a wheelchair.

Jasmine shook her head sadly, "I asked her but she said she said no one asked her and she didn't really want to go the way she looked."

Mary spoke up, "That's too bad. I hate to see her miss out." She sighed, "I hate to say it, but it could be her only chance to experience it."

As they all agreed, Mary suddenly had an idea. She realized it would be difficult if not impossible, but the more she thought about it, she thought it might be worth trying.

"I just had an idea. Why don't we see if we can make it possible for her to go?"

Diane answered, "Jasmine just said she didn't want to go."

Jasmine spoke up, "That's what she said but I think she was just saying that because she didn't have a date and didn't want to be an object of pity."

Elise broke in, "What did you have in mind, Mary?"

Mary smiled, "It would take a lot of work and we don't have much time but here is what I was thinking."

After she explained her plan, the others thought it would be great but doubted they could pull it off.

Finally, they decided they wanted to give it a shot.

Agreeing they needed to talk to Cindy's parents, to be sure they would be in favor of it; not wanting to embarrass Cindy and to be sure it wouldn't be too much for her, Mary and Elise said they would try to talk to them on Monday.

They decided they could get started on one part of the plan, getting her a date in case it turned out she was able to go.

They knew almost everyone at school had a date and besides they wanted someone special.

It was Diane who thought of Steve Harper's cousin. He went to a different school so could be available. She knew he was a great guy and was almost as good looking as Steve.

Diane got Steve on the phone, "Hey, Steve, this is Diane, I am with Mary, Elise, and Jasmine. We have a big favor to ask you."

Steve was surprised, what was going on, "What is it?"

"We were talking and we thought about how great it would be if Cindy Howard could go to the prom."

"That sounds great but what does it have to do with me?" He hesitated, "Do you want her to go with us?"

"No, but I was thinking of Mickey."

"My cousin?"

"Yeah, I know his Prom is already over and I know he is a good guy. I thought he might be willing."

"I guess I could talk to him. If I explain the situation…"

"Here's the thing. We still need to be sure we aren't going to embarrass Cindy. We need to talk to her parents. See if he will agree to go but let him know we are not sure if it will happen."

"I understand, I'll give him a call."

The girls were surprised and thrilled when Steve called back in about twenty minutes and said Mickey thought it sounded like a great idea and would be glad to help out.

After the girls left, Mary called Brian and after swearing him to secrecy, told him of their plans. He thought it was a great idea and told her how proud he was of her.

She told him how proud she was of him but not to let his success go to his head. There would be a lot of girls paying attention to him.

He told her she needn't worry; he already had a girlfriend.

Mary was thrilled to hear him say it, "Am I your girlfriend?"

"You better be, after the way we kissed."

"How do you know it just wasn't the excitement?"

"I suppose that could be." He took a breath surprised how bold he was being, "We can find out by trying it again this weekend."

Mary blushed, "That sounds like a good idea."

The next morning, Mary and Elise went and talked to the principal, Mr. Jeffries. They explained what they were doing and asked if he had Cindy's parents name and number. They also asked if they did agree to see them, they could take some time off from school.

He was surprised but told them he thought it was a great idea. He gave them the number.

"Hello."

"Is this Mrs. Howard?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"My name is Mary Cooper, I go to school with Cindy." She hesitated, "Would it be possible for my friend and I to meet with you? We would like to discuss something with you about Cindy."

"What is this about? Is Cindy in some kind of trouble?"

"No, No. It is about the Prom."

Helen Howard wondered what was going on. She was tempted to tell them no, but her curiosity was piqued. What was this about Cindy and the Prom?

"All right. When do you want to meet?"

"Would this morning be all right? We would like to talk to you as soon as possible."

"How about 10:00? Do you know the address?"

"Ten will be fine. Yes, I have it, we will see you then."

Helen opened the door promptly at ten. She had looked in Cindy's sophomore yearbook and had been surprised when she saw who Mary Cooper was. She remembered then how Cindy had said that although Mary was one of the most popular girls in school, she was also really smart and nice.

When the were seated, Mary started, "We wanted to meet with you to see how you would feel about Cindy going to the Prom."

"I don't understand. Why would you be interested in whether she does or not?"

"I know this could sound wrong, but we just felt that because of what she has gone through, we thought it would be something she could experience."

Elise broke in, "I know she told a friend of ours she wasn't interested but she felt she really would like to go."

Mary continued, "Before we did anything, we wanted to talk to you and maybe her father. We didn't want to do anything that you didn't feel was right for her."

Helen pondered what they were saying, "I am glad you decided to talk to me. Are you just doing this because you feel sorry for her?"

"I have thought about that. I can see where you and she could think that. But it isn't that. I just hate to see her miss out. I would feel the same about anyone who isn't going. But I also know that part of it is because of what she has gone through. I would just hate to let that stop her from taking part in what is a big part of high school."

"Let's say I might agree. Were you planning to have her join you and your date? I hope you weren't thinking she would go alone."

Mary looked at Elise, "Actually, we have someone who is looking forward to going with her. We told him we wanted to clear it with you first."

Helen was surprised, "Who is this boy?"

"His name is Mickey Harper. He is a cousin of Steve Harper who is the quarterback of our team. He attends Los Angeles Central."

She went on, "We don't have a picture of him, but he looks a lot like Steve." She showed Helen Steve's picture.

Helen couldn't hide her surprise. She smirked to herself, Wow.

"How much do you know about him?"

Mary answered, "I have met him several times, he really is a nice guy."

Helen surprised herself a little to realize she knew Cindy would be thrilled, "I will talk to Cindy. But there is so little time."

"If Cindy wants to go, we will be glad to help. We can help her pick out a dress." She hesitated, "You can tell us what Mickey will need to do in regard to transportation and helping her in and out of her wheelchair."

She hesitated and went on, "A bunch of us are going over to Jasmine Koothrapalli's house after the Prom. They have a pool. If Cindy does decide to go, she is welcome to join us there. Jasmine's parents will be home."

When Helen told her husband, he was doubtful at first, but when they told Cindy, he could see how surprised and excited she was.

It took a lot of effort, but when the time came for the Prom, everything was in place. There had also been a new twist to the plot. Mary and the others weren't sure it would work out, but had done their best.

As for themselves, they had decided that the Limo would pick all the guys up first and then the girls. Mary was all dressed and ready to go. She was finishing up putting items in a bag for the party afterwards.

She first put in her regular bikini swimsuit. She then took out the red bikini she had snuck off and bought. As she looked at it, she wondered if she should go through with this. It was indeed, 'an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bikini.'

She was about to chicken out when she thought how much she wanted Brian to see her in it. She quickly put it in the bag, deciding she could always change her mind at the pool.

Cindy Howard sat nervously in her chair. For the umpteenth time, she checked to be sure her wig was on straight. She wondered how she had ever agreed to this. She had never even met this guy and he had never met her. What if he was disappointed after he saw her? Was he just doing this out of pity? She sighed, she had been over this a hundred times. She was going to stay optimistic. She was going to have a great time.

Her thirteen-year-old sister was looking out the window. She turned her head and called out, "He's here."

She looked back out and then turned again, "Wow, is he a hunk."

Cindy's father shook his head, "Cathy, we don't need that."

Cathy looked down, but then looked at Cindy, whispering, "But he is."

Helen came into the room, "Cathy, get away from the window and behave."

"Okay, Mom."

Helen answered his knock, "Hi, you must be Mickey, Come in."

Cindy looked up, her eyes widening, 'Cathy was right, he is a hunk.'

Mickey moved over to her and held out a corsage, "This is for you."

As Cindy smiled and thanked him, Helen took it and said, "Here, Cindy, let me help you with that."

Bill Howard held out his hand, "I am Bill Howard, Cindy's father."

Mickey shook it, "Good to meet you, Sir."

"I know I can count on you to take care of my daughter. I will expect her to be home by 1:00."

Cindy was stunned, "Dad!"

Mickey nodded solemnly, "You can count on it, Sir."

Cathy came up to him, "Hi, I'm Cathy, Cindy's sister. I'm almost fourteen."

Mickey smiled, "Hi, Cathy. You are almost as pretty as your sister."

Cathy just stared while Cindy felt herself blushing.

Helen spoke up, "Okay, time for a picture."

Mickey went over and put his arm around Cindy's shoulders. Helen smiled and said, "Say Cheese."

Cathy and her parents stood in the doorway as Mickey pushed Cindy's chair out to the car.

He easily lifted her out of the chair and placed her in the front seat. He helped her with the seat belt and then folded up the chair and put in the trunk. Then, as both he and Cindy waved, he got in the car and drove off.