Modern AU.

Madge gathered her skirts one hand. With the other she reached out to the banister. Each step was a struggle in the tall shoes she had borrowed from her mother's closet. When she reached the first floor, she relaxed. Her skirts fell around her a mixture of blues and greens.

Now all she had to do is stand in front of the fireplace for endless picture taking until her date came. He wasn't her parent's first choice for a boyfriend or a prom date but Madge couldn't help but adore him. They were lab partners in second period, Chem. At first she couldn't stand his come backs and smart tone but the more they worked together and met outside of class the more she knew she couldn't be without him.

Her mother dragged her across the living room and positioned her in the exact spot Madge had envisioned standing. Her father was messing with the camera settings and swearing under his breath. this whole thing was began to be a disaster.

Madge reached up to touch her hair. There was so much hairspray that the hair had dried out completely and felt like straw. "Don't mess with your hair." Her mother snapped, "It looks great." It had been piled up on her head with a mess of curls and shiny bobby pins. She glanced out the window at the setting sun.

Her dad gave a triumphant yell and the first flash took over the room. Madge squinted and looked down at her shoes. "Smile, darling." Her mother said pointing to her own dimples. She smiled and her eyes were blinded by flash.

"I wasn't blinking right?" She asked her father.

"No, you look beautiful." Madge smiled slightly and pulled at the corset of the dress. The doorbell rang and she snapped her head up to look at the door. Her mother wandered off and Madge couldn't take her eyes off the foyer doorway.

"Don't you clean up nice." She heard her mother astonish.

"Thanks." Gale murmured. He came out of the foyer and offered her a small smile. In a second she melted into his side to kiss his cheek.

"Beware of the flash." She whispered in his ear. He chuckled and ran a finger over her exposed back.

"MM beware of the flesh." He whispered back. She blushed and moved aside to let him shake hands with her father. They spent an hour with plastered smiles and aching cheeks but soon they were stuffing themselves in her father's small convertible.

"Drive safely." Madge's father grunted.

"Have fun." Her mother said and blew kisses. Madge rolled her eyes but blew kisses back.

"You ready for this?" Gale smiled and pulled the car into reverse. He turned to look over his shoulder and left the long driveway.

"Ready as ever." She beamed and waved to her father and mother.

Review & Request!

Erin