Ro saw herself looking in a mirror, looking at herself. Although remarkably cleaned up. And she didn't look bad, if she said so herself. Her dress was bluish-silver, formed to her not especially curvious-form, her shoulders and arms bare. There were pretty hair clips and flowers in her hair, her hair slightly waved and tied back. She was even wearing make-up!
"Oooh, he won't be able to take his eyes off you!" Tiffy squealed.
With her voice, Ro noticed her friend, and a bit of wind left her sails. While Ro might look pretty in this get-up, Tiffy was beautiful. Hair and make-up perfect, beautiful dress, adorable shoes.
"Do you think so?" Ro asked, now dubious as she rechecked herself, now seeing only the flaws.
Tiffy laughed and brushed her coiffed hair with a careless hand as she examined herself in the mirror. "Well, you'll do, Rosalie. Oh! That's Charlie!" she squealed when there was a honk from outside, and she ran to the window and waved out.
"See you later, Ro!" she called as she ran out, even in those heels, grabbing her shawl.
Ro went to the window just in time to see them burn air out of the driveway. Almost nervously, she looked at the clock, wondering if Zee was late. Then she laughed. Was Zee ever late?
She checked her hair in the mirror. Part of her felt guilty for stealing this night, but she wouldn't let that stop her. She was probably dead, so she deserved at least this.
With such thoughts to calm herself and her conscience, Ro smiled and fixed her hair and smoothed her dress. Every few moments – she couldn't help herself – she looked at the clock. It wasn't eight yet. So he wasn't late.
The longer she waited, the more nervous Ro felt herself getting. This was a date. With Zee. To the Prom. Any of those alone warranted nerves, but all together they made a mess of butterflies in her stomach.
It was only a minute before eight when Ro heard another hovercar pull down the drive and she ran to the window. There, a blue convertible and Zee! She grinned, her cheeks hurting, and rushed out of the room. She only made it a few feet before her ankle twisted.
"Ow! Ow! Damn!" she hissed, limping and swearing at her shoes.
The door was knocked – part of Ro grinned that her date actually knocked like a gentleman, while Tiffy's had honked. Biting back the pain, Ro tried to stagger some more, but she heard the door being opened. And her brother's voice welcoming Zee.
"I'm sure Ro'll be down in just a minute, Zee. Do you want to take a seat?"
"Sure. Thanks, Casey."
At Zee's voice, Ro straightened and again fixed her hair and dress. Then she took several deep breathes. She was going to be calm and cool and collected. She wasn't going to look silly, not for this.
Walking slowly and deliberately, because she didn't want her ankle to give out, and she certainly didn't want to crash down the steps, Ro started down the stairs, hand on the banister. Halfway down, she could see Zee sitting nervously on the couch, feet twisting and knee bobbing. (That was all she could see.)
Taking another deep breath, Ro left the steps and entered the living room. "Hey, Zee," she said with a poise she really didn't possess.
Almost instantly, Zee was on his feet. "Ro! Umm, hi! You look, … nice. You do."
She felt shy now, but probably nowhere near Zee, who was bumbling and shifting his feet. "So do you."
And he did, in his light purple tux and polished shoes and silly tie. He was handsome.
"Here!" he said suddenly and thrust out a box. "I got you this! It's a corsage!"
Ro struggled not to laugh, but her smile didn't stop itself. Daintily, she held out her wrist and then watched as he nervously put it on for her. It was – FLASH
Blinding.
She blinked her eyes, trying to remove the spots, and then scowled when she saw her brother standing in the doorframe with a camera.
"It was just so beautiful," he sniffed, mocking. Then he turned firm. "All right, stand together. Closer, pictures for prosperity."
Ro rolled her eyes, semi-cringing with embarrassment. Big brothers. Why had she wanted to know what living him would have been like?
Zee and she stood though Casey's obvious enjoyment at making them squirm before they were finally freed. "I want her home by midnight, Zee!" he called from the door.
"No problem, Casey!" Zee responded, a bit calmer now that that ordeal was over. He escorted her to his car and gallantly opened the door, closed it when she was in, and then ran like a silly endearing fool to get in himself.
"Ready?" Ro grinned, trying to feel brave, though her hands were twisting in her lap.
"Yeah." Zee smiled back as he started the hovercar. However, they hadn't even gone two feet when he slammed on the brakes.
Ro grabbed the dashboard. "What was that for!" she yelled.
"I forgot!" He dug into his jacket pocket, and after a few moments presented her with a box with a bow. It was nice, even if the bow was crushed and lopsided and the ribbon wrapping the box was about five times too many. But Zee was beaming. "Here, I got this for you."
"Oh, thanks," she said, taking it. It was a bit of work to get the ribbon undone, but she opened the box. And then gasped.
"Do you … do you like it?" Zee asked nervously.
Gently, carefully she lifted the gold and silver necklace. "Oh, Zee, it's beautiful. What does it mean?"
He leaned over. "This is the Greek symbol for Ro," he said, tracing the silvery insignia, "and this is the symbol for Zeta," he finished, following his finger to the intertwined gold figure. "You do like it, don't you?"
Her eyes were tearing. "Yes. Zee, I love it. Help me put it on?"
She gave it to him and twisted in her seat. However, it took him a long time to clasp it, fingers obviously not used to manipulating something like it. Ro managed to her giggles under control, not wanting to make it even more difficult for Zee.
But he did manage. "There!"
Ro turned, hand ghosting the necklace. "Zee, thank you."
Part of him blushed, but he still looked proud. "I'm glad you like it." He turned back to the steering wheel. "Well, we better get going, otherwise we'll be late.
"Yeah," Ro agreed, leaning back and closing her eyes. "We'd better."