A/N: So I'm not sure how regular updating will be for the rest of the month as I am attempting my first NaNoWriMo. But whenever I need to procrastinate I will try to update for you all :) If any of you are doing likewise I'm using the same user name (It's also my Twitter BTW) on the NaNo website so feel free to buddy me.
Disclaimer: Arrow & characters belong to DC & CW.
"What?" She asked trying to make sure she heard correctly.
"I asked you to go to the prom with me." Malcolm repeated. He shifted his weight trying not to let his nerves show in his face.
"Why?"
"Well, the way I see it, I've got a tux and you've got a dress. I'm not working this evening so I have no plans and unless your plans changed in the last two hours I'm guessing you're free as well." Malcolm looked at her like this was the most obvious thing ever.
"But, you don't want to go, you said it didn't matter." She said.
"It matters to you." He said. "So now it matters to me." He looked over his shoulder at the grandfather clock in the hallway. "You've got an hour. Ninety minutes if you can stand to be fashionably late. So?" Moira blinked a couple of times before breaking into a big smile.
"Mom, can you come help me get ready?" Malcolm smiled back before being guided gently into the living room to wait with Mr Green. After Moira showered, Mrs Green helped her daughter with her make-up.
"Not exactly how you imagined the day going is it?" Mrs Green asked.
"Not in a million years." She smiled trying not to move too much. "It's so weird. " After her mom finished applying her lipstick, she stood and was helped into her dress, a blue chiffon dress with white lace straps and a hoop skirt.
"Well, I'm not sure I understand it," Her mom said as she zipped Moira in. "But not every boy would pull something like this off."
"He lives to amaze." Moira smiled. "And confuse, and annoy, but mainly amaze." Mrs Green chuckled a little and gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek.
The second time Moira came down the stairs to see Malcolm in the foyer, she smiled. He had been talking to her father before her mother called down that they were ready. She saw him turn to face the staircase and a look of awe pass over his face. She looked over at her father who smiled warmly.
"My little girl all grown up." He said.
"Aw, Dad." Moira walked over and gave him a hug before turning back to her date. She waited for him to say something but was surprised to find him quiet.
"Why Malcolm Merlyn, are you finally speechless?" She teased.
"Pretty close." He replied. " You look beautiful." He offered his arm as they said their good nights before heading to the car.
"Thank you again for this." Moira said as they drove towards the school. "I know this is probably the absolute last place you want to be tonight." He shrugged.
"I don't know. I may have judged things a little harshly. Our graduating class isn't entirely horrible. Besides, if all else fails after you win we go for ice cream. Deal?" She laughed.
" Deal. I love the confidence that you think I'm going to win."
" Well I voted for you." He explained.
They walked into the gym to find the usually bare walls covered in balloons, lights and crepe paper. Once the lights and disco ball from the DJ were added it gave the room an ethereal glow. They stopped to have their portrait taken by the school photographer. Moira sat in an ornamented chair as Malcolm stood behind her. Jennifer spotted them and waved the pair over to her table.
"Lose a bet Malcolm?" She asked.
" Nope, Jeff did. I won." He said as he pulled out a chair for Moira to sit. The two girls gave each other a look that agreed he had said a good answer. Jennifer's boyfriend Paul attended a different school so he introduced himself to Malcolm as the girls caught up on the day's activities and gossip. A few minutes later the DJ played an upbeat song that caught Moira and Jennifer's attention. Jennifer grabbed Paul's hand and rushed to the dance floor. Moira tried to do likewise to Malcolm and was met with a shake of his head.
" I don't dance, at least not like that." He admitted. He offered to get them a couple of soda while she enjoyed the song with the others. Reluctantly she agreed. This ended up being the pattern for most of the evening. Moira danced, Malcolm kept himself busy.
As predicted, Moira did win Prom Queen. She danced the first slow song of the evening with the prom king but kept glancing over his shoulder at Malcolm. She shot him a smile as he gave his perfected 'I told you so' expression. She wondered what it would feel like to dance and hold Malcolm instead. She also noticed that she hadn't thought of Jeff the entire night.
Later on as they sat and chatted a second slow song came on. Malcolm stood up and offered his hand to Moira. "Come on."
"What?" She asked.
"I said come on, let's dance."
"Didn't we spend the whole night with you saying you didn't dance?"
"I don't dance like that. This, I can do." Once again she found herself unable to argue with him. They walked to the dance floor and she found herself in the arms she had been thinking about more often than she cared to admit. She leaned against his chest and enjoyed the moment.
" You never asked me again you know." Malcolm said.
"Asked you what?"
"What I thought of love. You asked me that first day, I told you that I wouldn't tell you until you gave me your answer, and then you never asked again." A memory came floating back to Moira. They had that discussion back when she thought they would only work together for that week and then move on. Now she was finding it hard to remember what it felt like to not have Malcolm around.
"Oh, well what do you think?" She felt him tense and take a deep breath.
" It's definitely a feeling. But I came up with an interesting problem. The problem being, how do you know what you're feeling if you've never felt it before? But then I saw you today." She looked up at him as they danced. "In the store, you looked so sad, and I knew that I wanted to do everything in my power make it better. Does that sound like love?"
" I don't know." She answered honestly. " But I like it."
"So, does that mean, you, maybe, want to um." She could almost hear his heart racing.
"Be your girlfriend?" He nodded. " Yes."
" Great!" He relaxed.
They had their first kiss that night. He walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight gently. She would tell Thea the story years later, leaving out the mystery boy's identity. Thea said it sounded like something out of a movie. Moira just wished it had a better ending.