A Little Push
"That's it. That's the dress you're getting, Rose. It's perfect." Ronny grinned at her friend and then gestured to Vella to come closer. "Vella, tell Rose how beautiful she's going to look in this."
The slender blond came over to where the Overdrive girls were standing. "It's a very pretty gown, Rose," Vella said in her soft voice. "I think Mack would definitely notice you in that." Ronny beamed at the Mercurian. Rose groaned, knowing that there was no way she'd get out of the store without buying the dress.
The pink ranger held out the dress, examining it for a second time. It was very pretty, she had to admit, and it would probably look nice on her. "It's kind of expensive."
Ronny snorted. "You're just being a little kid, Rose. Stop being so afraid of everything and live a little. Yeah, it's a bit of a splurge, but isn't it going to be oh so worth it when Mack realizes how utterly gorgeous his 'just friend' is?"
Rose smiled slightly. "OK, I guess I'll get it, then. But can we please get out of here soon? My feet are killing me and I'm starving."
"Which is code for 'I want to go be a nerd and talk about books with my man,'" Ronny teased. "Rose, we still need to buy accessories to go with our dressed. Don't be such a spoilsport. It's not going to kill you to spend another half hour with your bestest girlfriends."
--
"Why do the girls always take so long to get ready?" Will grumbled. He, Mack and Tyzonn were at the bottom of the staircase waiting for their respective ladies to make an appearance.
"Calm down, Will," Ronny scolded as she came down the stairs. "Aren't we worth the wait?" As she reached the bottom of the staircase, she hugged her boyfriend before pulling back and planting a kiss on his lips.
"You look amazing," Will breathed as he lifted his arm and twirled Ronny around. The former yellow ranger was wearing a short black velvet dress that hugged itself to her curves and showed them off quite nicely. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and a small golden 'R' dangled from a thin golden chain around her neck.
"Why thank you," Ronny replied with a big grin.
Vella was descending now, her eyes focused on Tyzonn. "Happy Valentine's Day," she murmured to her fiancé. "How do I look? Ronny said it was 'sexy.'" She looked at Tyzonn nervously, who smiled.
The Mercurian female was wearing a pearl gray dress made of soft satin. Vella's platinum blond hair was down, barely brushing her shoulders. Her neck was bare, but she had a silver bracelet around her wrist. "You look lovely."
"Wait til you see Rose," Ronny said. "She actually let me and Vella fix her hair and do her make-up and I mean, wow. She just looks so, so pretty, Mack, and she did it just for you."
Mack's heart skipped several beats as Rose came down the stairs slowly. Her inky black hair had been twisted up into an elegant bun, with a few wispy sections framing her face. There was mascara on her eyelashes – something Mack had never seen her wear. She was also wearing bright pink lipstick.
And the dress – Ronny was right, Rose did look gorgeous. The pink ranger's gown for the evening was bright red with a V shaped neckline that gave off just a hint of cleavage. The hem swished around her knees as she joined her friends. "Do I really look alright?"
"Tell her, Mack," Ronny said pointedly. Mack looked sheepish and sputtered for words for a moment. "Mack," Ronny said again. Will looked at his girlfriend quizzically, but she did not notice this.
"It's OK, Mack," Rose said quietly. "Some people just don't know when to drop thins." She glanced at Ronny, who folded her arms over her chest, looking pouty. "Let's just go to dinner."
"That sounds good," Vella said brightly as Tyzonn helped her put on her coat. "I love the variety of choices there are on Earth. It's so refreshing to have options."
The Mercurian couple headed outside, followed by Ronny and Will. Mack held out Rose's coat and she took it. "She was right. You look very pretty, Rose. I just didn't know how to say it, especially-"
Rose grinned. "They're very fond of meddling, aren't they?" she questioned as she slipped her coat on over her exposed shoulders. "And thanks, Mack. It means a lot."
The others were chatting loudly when the former red and pink rangers got to the car. They sat side by side in a comfortable silence as Will drove the six friends to the hotel where the Valentine's Ball was going to take place. As the teenagers entered the hotel, Mack held the door for Rose.
"You know, Rose, Mack's such a thoughtful guy," Will said loudly to the pink ranger. Mack flushed at his friend's antics. Couldn't he just let them be?
"And Mack, you and Rose must be so comfortable with each other if you can go out and ignore all the rumors that must be starting right now," Ronny said. Mack and Rose shared an awkward glance. The Mercurians looked confused.
"Shut up, Ronny," Rose said through clenched teeth. "Just shut up now and I won't have to kill you."
Ronny rolled her eyes as the Overdrive rangers found the table they'd been assigned to sit at. Mack and Rose, sitting across from each other at the end of the table, promptly started a discussion about a novel they'd both read recently. Ronny looked triumphant. At a lull in her and the others' conversation, the yellow ranger looked at Mack and Rose and smiled. "Wow, you two have so much in common."
"Let's dance." The other five teens looked at Rose in shock. It was the most un-Rose like suggestion any of them had ever heard her make. Ronny applauded.
"I knew I could get you two together-"
Mack stood up from the table and led Rose away. In the middle of the dance floor he brought her close to him, the arm around her waist holding her tightly. "What's going on, Rose?" he asked her softly as they swayed back and forth.
"Ronny thinks you need a push towards me. That's why she's been so obnoxious tonight."
Mack smiled down at the pink ranger. "Will thinks you need a push towards me. Can't they ever let people live their own lives?" The hand resting on Rose's hip squeezed slightly. "So you don't want to be 'just friends?'" There was hope in his voice.
"Of course not." Rose buried her face in his chest. "Why do you think I let Ronny and Vella give me a makeover? I kinda wanted you to notice me, shallow as it is."
"How could I not notice the most beautiful, intelligent woman I've ever known? I love you, Rose."
She beamed up at him with the same love in her eyes. "I love you too, Mack."
And as the other two couples danced by the kissing red and pink rangers, Ronny smirked. "I knew all they needed was a little push."