Is there a light at the end of this tunnel? - Scitah

Mary giggled excitedly as she and Johnny approached the front door, "How exciting! I havn't been to a Christmas Party in ages!" she gushed, then looked to Johnny, who fidgeted with his tie, "Don't do that, you'll undo it!" she slapped his hands away and tightened it enough to look better.

Her hair had been in curlers for the past day and a half, the other half of the first day was spent on putting them in, and the blue dress went well with her rather pale skin.

Johnny thought she looked good but he thought he looked like a monkey, he frowned, "Mom- I look dumb and this thing is choking me!" he whined trying to loosen the tie a little bit.

"Stop that whining and don't you dare loosen it again!" she hissed, tightening it to near choking, "It's supposed to be tighter, rather than slob looking! You kids and your fashion statements! Oi!" she then looked at the two doormen, standing in festive vests and black slacks as they opened the doors for both.

The place was already bustling with the who's who of the town! The Mayer, Crabblesnitch, and Danvers were sharing jokes, Danvers doing most of the laughing and being quiet. The Harrington branch of town was all upturned noses, ignoring the one journalist and photographer who asked about the pictures and story of the rich kids being hardcore homosexuals… Yep. It was a smashing party alright.

Johnny frowned irritably, "That's so not cool." he sighed and trudged into the party miserably.

"Don't complain." Mary hissed from the side of her moth, other side miraculously smiling as Dillan walked over.

"Mary! So glad you could make it!" he gushed, pulling her hand to his mouth and kissing the back of it.

Mary giggled and blushed, "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"You look gorgeous, as always, Mary." he then looked to Johnny, "Hello, Johnny. I am surprised to see you he-mph!" he stopped as Mary nudged him enough to silence him.

"He's here because Sally asked for him to be here." she said strangely, clearing her throat at Dillan who got a little confused, then gasped silently as he got it.

"Oh, yes! How silly of me! She should be down from her room any moment now… Ah! There she is!" Dillan pointed, at the top of the stairs, his exclamation gaining just about every one's attention.

Johnny eagerly looked over and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull, "Aw- damn- she looks great!" he gasped, staring at her even though the crowd of people he knew it was her because of the sequence which set off her gorgeous red hair.

Sally walked down the stairs all proper and suave, then approached Dillan, Johnny, and Mary, hugging and kissing Mary's cheeks, "I'm glad you could make it!" Sally smiled, then nodded at Dillan and glanced at Johnny, "Hello Johnny. I hope you'll enjoy the party?" she said stiffly, a little uneasy about him being there, but she promised Dillan no scenes.

"Mary brought him because you requested it, Dear." Dillan stated oddly.

Sally made a little 'oh' face and pushed out a small laugh, "I did, did I?"

Johnny frowned suddenly and looked at Mary, "It was all an act, huh?" he asked her.

"Don't cause a scene, Johnny. You'll embarrass your mother." Sally stated, "Now, excuse me… I have guests to greet." she said and began to walk away until Derby stepped in front of her.

"My God, Givanno? Is that really you under that make up?" Derby asked, many of his school group watching and listening from their spots.

Sally chuckled, "Of course it is. I'd prove it to you, but I promised I wouldn't be brash tonight." she said very posh like.

"Hey, now. I was just complimenting you. You look all right for a Jock Queen. Care for a dance?" Derby offered.

Johnny growled and resisted the urge to stomp over to him, he politely touched Sally's shoulder, glaring daggers at Derby, "Shouldn't you go dance with that fiancé-cousin of yours?" he asked, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

Derby scoffed, "I," he pointed to himself, "Am not yet married, Vincent. And it isn't like you and Sally are together any more! Nor are you dancing with her! So, I see no problem!" he smirked.

Sally watched with raised brows as Mary winced and Dillan sighed.

Johnny eyed him a moment, "Preps stay in their own social-class, Harrington, that I know. And people in your class, your stuck-up, rude, in-bred, materialistic snobby social class, don't mingle with girls like Sally." he said and smirked, "Or ya' tryin' t'dance with a girl so the journalist over there quits callin' ya and Trembly bed-budies?"

Derby tried not to growl, "If you haven't noticed, she is living here now and thus, she is more my social class now, any ways! You shouldn't even be here!" he pointed, then turned to Sally, "Let us dance. The music is good, and I owe you."

Sally chuckled, "You owe me nothing, Derby." it was then that a woman and man, posh and stiff, walked over, looking much like Derby.

"Derby, son? This the girl that saved you?" the man said brusquely.

Derby smirked and nodded, "Of course, father! I was just about to dance with her!"

"My, she's a snappy dresser! I thought you said she stuck to the poor people's uniforms and sweaty work out scraps of clothing?" the woman said curiously, almost tipping her drink.

Sally went to speak when the woman waved for her and Derby to head to the dance floor, "Go on, now. Go and dance!"

Derby smirked devilishly at Johnny, then took Sally's hand and lead her off.

"I think we should arrange a marriage between them. She is a better dresser than Pinky…" the woman said, glancing at the blushing pinky, who wore a rather bad looking halter topped pink and red dress.

Johnny turned to them, "She won't marry him" he told them- not cring who they were.

The Harrington's looked at Johnny like he was a ghost that just appeared, then laughed, "Who are you? I haven't seen you any where… You don't look like you're from money… What is that, Target?" the woman said.

The husband then looked to Dillan, "Dillan, old friend! How 'bout it? Let's go discuss the financial brilliance it would be!"

"Uhm… But, I was…" Dillan began as an arm was wrapped around his shoulders and he was lead away.

Mrs. Harrington upturned her nose and walked away.

Mary sighed, "Johnny…"

Johnny grit his teeth, "I'm out!" he said.

Mary grabbed his arm, "Don't leave… I mean, you're all dressed up and everything! Don't listen to the richies… You can still get her, Johnny."

"I cannot." he growled, "An' I didn' wanna be dressed up, mom," he said tensely.

"You're just gonna let that boy snatch her up like that? Just let her go?" Mary asked.

Johnny rolled his eyes, "She went on her own" he said but didn't take another step because Mary was making perfect sense.

"But she would rather dance with you, Johnny… She waited to see if you would offer… You didn't notice that?" Mary said quietly, moving in front of Johnny.

"Uh... no.." he said blinking, "She did?"

Mary smiled a little at Johnny, "Yes… You didn't notice that she said nothing. She let you fight the battle… She's attempted to learn from her mistakes of always trying to fight for you…"

Johnny blinked, "Oh.. okay.." he nodded and grinned, "Alright, mom, you get her- I ought'a just go in and like.. uh, what's it called, step in?"

Mary nodded, smiling proudly. "Go and get her, Johnny! Good luck!" she said, pushing him towards the dance floor where Sally was nodding at one of Derby's bad-taste-in-your-mouth jokes, smiling despite herself, trying to be polite, wishing she had just said no.

Johnny bit the inside of his lip, he stepped up suddenly, "Hey, can I cut in?" he asked grinning and looked at sally.

Sally sighed in relief, "Yes, yes. Please do!" she said almost desperately, parting from the frowning Derby and clinging to Johnny.

Derby scoffed and walked away, leaving the two to dance.

"I thought you had given up on me…" Sally said after a moment. "Thank you, though."

Johnny smiled, "No, I got myself straight!" he said, "Uhm.. and, I'm not so good at dancing, okay?" he smiled a bit, blushing.

Sally laughed lightly, "I know. But that's alright. I'm in heels, we'll stumble through this song together…" she grinned up at him. "So. What d'you think of my dress?"

"Once I get past the blinding sparkling sequence, it's amazing" he said, smirking, he was feelig pretty confident right about now.

Sally laughed again, bowing her head slightly, brushing the tip of her hat against Johnny's nose accidentally. "It was the only dress I remotely liked in that store… I had to have gone through about thirty of 'em!" she said, totally relaxed now.

Johnny smirked, "I think ya'd of looked great in all'a 'em" he told her matter-of-factly.

She chuckled, "I'm sure you would have loved the real small black one… It was very, very tight… I almost couldn't breath!" she said with a smirk.

His eyes glistened, "I'm gettin' pretty happy jus' imaginin' it" he said.

"I'm no loose goose, Johnny." she smirked, jokingly reprimanding him.

Johnny smirked, "Aw, I know, but a guy can dream, right?"

She sighed with a nod, "Yeah… And a girl can dream of a house and kids and a dog named spot who pisses on the white picket fences! Dreams don't come true unless you do something." she smiled, then the song ended and she pulled away slightly, "Thanks for saving me from Derby's really bad jokes! I just about died."

Johnny grinned and tugged her back in, "There's another song," he said, "And I'm sure we can.. try to work out something about kids and dogs" he said.

She looked at him in shock, "Really? You're not just saying that so you can tear off my nylons later, right?"

Johnny nodded, "Yeah, of course.. but can I take you up on that later?" he asked.

She posed a thought, "Perhaps…" she smirked, "If you behave?" she giggled lightly.

Johnny grinned, "Behave?" he asked, "Okay- how?"

"Answer my questions and I'll answer yours. How's that sound?" she smirked.

Johnny nodded, "Sounds good. What's you're question?"

She thought a moment, "Would you be upset if I told you I took out a lot of my aggression on Gary by breaking five of his fingers and beating the crap out of him?" she asked honestly, "That happened after we yelled at each other after the fire."

Johnny thought a moment, "Naw, I wouldn' be mad." he replied calmly.

"How about if I told you, I haven't spoken to anyone other than the Jocks since that night?" she asked, almost timidly.

His eyes widened, "I'd be concerned" he replied.

She smiled in spite of herself and glanced down, quite ashamed of how she had handled things. "Peanut was asking what was wrong with you and me. They all want us back together so badly, it's weird… And, I had just gotten finished with Gary, and I was still upset over, well, almost everything!" She declaired almost, "And I freaked out at Peanut… I yelled and he yelled and I yelled some more and left, grabbed my things from Eva's place and came here… Haven't really spoken to Eva, either… Though, I'm sure he's sucken face with Vance anyways!" she chuckled dryly.

He chuckled too, "Well, hey, I ain't been no better. I've been layin' around mom's place." he said to her lightly.

She snorted lightly, "I can see that."

"Wha? How?" he asked.

She smiled, "Think I don't know you… And hello? I've been hanging out with her and Dillan a lot… It gets kind of weird, though… They flirt so bad, and they're so cheesy!" she laughed.

He frowned, "That's ridiculous!" he told her.

She smirked, "You weren't there, Johnny… You didn't have to sit through it…" she hid her laughter.

"I wouldn' wanna be" he replied.

She shook her head and sighed a little, "Got any questions for me, or are you gonna guess my answers?"

He frowned, "Well, I ain't got any questions" he sighed, "I figure t'just work through it all"

She chuckled dryly, "Like we're any good at that…"

"... We could try…" he replied.

She looked hard at him, "Are you sure? Because you had been pretty adamant about not hooking back up…"

"...I told ya I got my head clear, didn't I?" he asked.

"I didn't know if you meant clear of me or," she smirked, "Clear of all that bullshit."

"Clear of the bullshit." he answered automatically.

She blinked a moment, thinking, "I got another question…"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"You gonna propose to me again?" she asked… Almost shyly.

Almost.

He bit his lip, "I'd really like too."

"Is there a 'But' after that?" she asked cautiously.

"...only if you want one t'be there." he sighed.

She frowned slightly, "Be where? By your side? Johnny… I've always wanted to be by your side, and for a while, I was."

He nodded, "I want ya t'be there too." he said.

She smiled, "That's good to know… Because after our fight…" she trailed off, just letting that hang there.

"Don't talk about it." he said and kissed her. His eyes slipping shut and praying she'd return it.

Her gut flew into a frenzy as her eyes widened in shock. She was not expecting this, but she sunk right into it, arms wrapping around the back of his neck, eyes shutting.

He slid his arms around her waist and drew her closer.

The song ended, but neither seemed to care.

A bright flash blinked, even behind their shut eyes, "New girl in Money finds love?" the reporter asked loudly.

Johnny looked up and blinked, "I think New girl in Money get's Hitched sounds better." he smirked.

Sally gasped up at him, then giggled in delight and looked at the reporter, "Do me a favor, an early wedding gift, hm?"

The reporter smiled back, "Sure! Anything! You name it!" he spoke quickly, the photographer blinking.

"Scram!" she growled, glaring harshly at him.

The reporter gaped. "Scram!" wasn't the usual, "No comment." he always got and he walked away, the photograph following like a lost dog.

Johnny grinned and kissed her again. entwining his fingers with hers, "I should take that as a yes?"

"No!" she scoffed loudly, "That would be a Hell Yes!" she laughed.

And he kissed her again, "Good!" he said.