Chapter 9

Bayville High's annual Holiday Formal was traditionally scheduled for the week before Christmas vacation started. This year was no exception. The only thing different about this year's event was that Jean was actually nervous about showing up with her date.

By unspoken agreement, and for reasons neither really understood, Scott and Jean had kept quiet about their relationship while at school. They maintained their usual outward appearances – eating lunch together with the other kids from the Institute, sitting together in their common classes, and carpooling to and from school. Jean would even occasionally link her arm through Scott's as they walked through the halls, as she had been doing since their freshman year; but there was no hand-holding, no stolen kisses between classes, or anything else that would indicate that their relationship had changed.

There were new rumors circulating that Scott and Jean were now dating, but they were nothing new – people had assumed as much off and on for the past four years. So for the time being, the rumors remained unsubstantiated.

That would, of course, change when Jean and Scott showed up together at the dance. It would be obvious that they were a couple, and it would become fodder for the school gossip mill. That bothered Jean, but not enough for her to consider not going – it wasn't a secret that she and Scott were dating, she just didn't especially want the whole school to gossiping about them.

A private person by nature, Jean didn't like people knowing too much about any aspect of her life – though few people would suspect that given her outgoing personality. Few people realized there was more to Jean than what she allowed people to see – she was more than a straight-A student, more than a star athlete, more than the nice, pretty, popular girl who everybody liked. Those were all superficialities. Yes, they were part of who she was, but not all that defined her. Everyone thought they knew Jean, but they were wrong. Only a handful of people really knew her and really knew what was going on in her life. She liked it that way.

Much to Jean's dismay, Duncan had enjoyed flaunting their relationship, thereby destroying any possibility of privacy. She was grateful that Scott seemed to share her sense of discretion. He was more reserved, at any rate, and wasn't inclined to draw undue attention to any aspect of his life, let alone his personal life.


Jean finished fussing with her hair and examined her reflection in the full-length mirror. She sighed. I guess this is as good as it's gonna get, she thought.

Although Jean had been told often enough how pretty she was, she couldn't quite bring herself to believe it. She looked in the mirror and still saw everything she'd ever been teased about when she was younger. It didn't bother her most days, but when she was making an effort to look nice, it frustrated her. By the look on Scott's face when she met him downstairs, though, she figured she must have done something right.

"You look amazing," he told her, smiling in awe. She ran her hands nervously down the bodice of her dress, smoothing out any wrinkles.

"You really think so?"

Scott shook his head in amusement. "How you can even question it, I have no clue."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, quickly wiping away the lipstick she left behind. "You're sweet. And you look pretty sharp yourself," she told him, giving him the once over.

"Hey, you two look great!" Kurt exclaimed as he appeared in a cloud of smoke. "Are you ready to go? We need to pick up Amanda in 20 minutes."

"Then let's go," Scott said, ushering Kurt and Jean ahead of him.

When they arrived at the school, the dance was already in full swing. The boys went to hang up the coats, while Jean and Amanda stood off to the side chatting. Jean really liked the younger girl, in no small part due to the fact that Amanda knew about the real Kurt and liked him because of it, not in spite of it.

The gym had been decorated to depict a winter wonderland. White balloons and streamers were everywhere, interspersed by large snowflakes that glittered in the light cast by the mirrored ball revolving high overhead in the middle of the room. Fake snow had been sprayed on construction paper evergreen trees and bushes that were taped to the walls, and a few real trees covered in white lights had been placed around the room. Jean thought it actually looked rather nice.

Kurt and Amanda were out on the dance floor in a matter of minutes, leaving Jean and Scott sitting alone at a table. Scott's arm was casually draped along the back of Jean's chair, and she leaned into him slightly. They were apparently the topic of conversation for more than a couple of groups, and Jean sighed as students shot not-so-discreet peeks in their direction.

"And so it begins," Scott muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Jean to hear. A smile tugged at her lips.

"Why do people care, anyway?" Jean asked.

Scott shrugged slightly. "It's just the way things work in high school. It doesn't help that you're one of the popular girls, so that automatically makes your life a matter of great interest," he teased.

She shot him a disapproving look out of the corner of her eye, which made him laugh. "Why isn't this bothering you?" she demanded.

"Honestly? Because I'm with you and that's all that matters to me. They can say or think whatever they want."

Jean looked at him for a long moment, a smile spreading across her face. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better, don't you," she said, not making it a question.

A shadow suddenly fell across them. They looked up to see the smirking face of Duncan Matthews, several of his football buddies standing behind him.

"Hey, Summers, she let you discover if she's a natural red head yet?" he asked, leering at Jean.

Scott jumped up from his chair and grabbed Duncan by the front of his suit jacket before the other boy knew what was happening.

"Scott, don't!" Jean said sharply.

Scott didn't let go of Duncan, instead glaring at him, their faces inches apart. Duncan actually looked startled.

"He's not worth it, Scott," Jean insisted, glancing at the crowd that had begun to gather around them.

"Don't look at her. Don't talk to her, and don't talk about her," Scott threatened in a low, dangerous voice. "If you do, I will make you regret it."

With that, Scott released Duncan, shoving him so that he stumbled slightly. Duncan glared at Scott, but backed away and made a quick exit from the gym, followed by his goons. There was a scatter of applause and a few cheers from around them, and Scott glanced at the crowd, noticing them for the first time. He flushed in embarrassment, and sat back down.

"My hero," Jean said dryly, watching as the students went back to dancing. Such macho displays had never impressed her. "Nice Neanderthal impression, but the way. What happened to, 'they can say or think whatever they want'?"

Scott looked at her, partly shamefaced and partly defensive. "I'm sorry, Jean, I just can't stand by and let him say things like that about you."

Jean sighed. "I know, and I think it's very sweet that you want to defend my honor," she told him, slightly tongue in cheek.

He glared at her, but then laughed. "You're such a smartass," he chuckled.

She grinned at him as she stood and held out her hand. "Dance with me."

He took her hand as he stood and led her onto the dance floor as a slow song started playing. He circled his arms around her waist as she draped hers over his shoulders. He suddenly realized that in all the years they'd known each other this was the first time they'd ever danced together.

He must have broadcast that thought because Jean chuckled. *I know, strange, huh?* she sent to him.

*It was worth the wait,* Scott replied as he pulled her closer. Jean rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, and he felt her sigh of contentment. He lightly stroked her lower back as they danced, loving how the velvet of her dress felt under his fingers. He silently wondered if her skin would be as soft, and when he'd get the chance to find out.

*I heard that,* came her mental voice, shocking Scott out of his musings. He could feel her body shaking with silent laughter.

"It's not polite to eavesdrop," he muttered, leaning down slightly so he could speak right into her ear. She giggled harder, and Scott found himself laughing too.

"I'm sorry," she replied softly, fighting to keep a straight face as she met his eyes through the red lenses of his glasses. "I didn't mean to, but you were thinking pretty loudly."

He tried to give her a disapproving stare, but gave up when she smiled at him. *And if you play your cards right, you may get your chance soon,* she sent to him.

Scott was sure that if he didn't stop grinning, his face was going to cramp up.

~~

Writer's block is trying to smother me…the only thing that can save me is feedback!