"Everything fine in there?" asked Rahne.
"Yeah. I'm just not quite used to dresses this puffy," said Lorna.
She stepped out of her room and into the hallway. True to her word the dress was puffy, but the gown also swept the floor dramatically. The cream satin halter turtle neck hugged her torso while the tule skirt fluffed out.
"You look wonderful," Rahne said.
Lorna turned in it a few times, brushing imaginary lint off her skirt.
"Do you think it clashes with my hair?" she asked.
"Nope," Rahne said, "I think it looks very good. It sort of compliments it, you know?"
"That's exactly what Maeve said," Lorna said, turning and going back into her room
"Who's Maeve?" frowned Rahne.
"Sean's girlfriend," Lorna explained, "She's a local. Helped me shop around. I've never done this before, and she was really great about it."
"Is she a mutant?" Rahne asked, entering the room and closing the door.
Lorna hesitated before shaking her head.
"No," she said, "She doesn't even know about Sean."
At first Lorna had been disconcerted when she was told how long Sean had kept his mutation from Maeve. When she asked him about it he'd given a bitter laugh and said;
"Would you date a guy who could turn your brain to putty if someone dropped something on his foot?"
There was nothing she could say to that. She tucked a stray strand of green hair behind her ear as there was a knock on the door. Lorna straightened and Rahne squealed.
"It's your boyfriend, isn't it!"
"Rahne," Lorna chided.
Still squealing Rahne bounced over and opened the door. Alex leaned in the doorframe and looked down at Rahne with amusement.
"Ah, and here I was thinking I could get past meeting an enraged sibling willing to break my neck if I broke Lorna's heart," sighed Alex dramatically, "But alas, I am thwarted."
"You'd better believe it!" Rahne chirped.
"Rahne," sighed Lorna, pushing past her.
"I'll be up waiting for you and then you have to tell me all about it!"
"Okay, okay," said Lorna, closing the door, "See you!"
"See you!"
The door closed and Lorna looked shyly at Alex. He grinned and picked up her hand. Immediately she blushed, even though she told herself that he was only holding her hand. With a grin his other hand came up and slid a yellow rose corsage on her wrist. Alex kissed her hand and then let go.
"What do you think?" he asked.
She stared at the rose. Unbidden the thought that she'd struck gold with Alex came.
"It's pretty," she said.
"Like the person it was made for," Alex said.
She blushed again and laughed.
"Smooth," she said,
"I can be smooth when I want to be," he said.
"The key words are 'when you want to be'," Lorna said, "Now come on, we're missing the party."
"Don't make me do this."
"Oh no. You signed up to be a chaperone and you're going to be a chaperone," said Moira, tying his bow-tie, "Now come on. We already booked Mrs. Johnson to take care of David. He's already downstairs"
Charles groaned.
"Sweetheart, next time the urge possesses me to oversee hoards of hormonal teens dancing stop me," he said.
She laughed and kissed his forehead.
"I don't know," said Moira, "It reminds me of when we started dating. You remember?"
"Of course I do," he said, "It wasn't that long ago."
He gave a wry smile.
"Still…are memories all that brings?" he asked suggestively.
Moira ruffled his hair and laughed.
"Not in front of the children," she said, "But maybe later."
"Alright then," Charles said, "Let's go down and meet the hordes."
"Pictures too?"
"Yeah. A few kids have photography equipment, so go us!"
She gave him a skeptical look.
"Hey," Alex said, "I said I'd take you to the prom. And that means I'm doing things properly."
He pulled her into the line. She was smiling at him and he found himself wishing that the school year was longer. Summer was coming soon and he'd go home with Scott. Lorna was going to stay at the school since they didn't think it was safe for her and Rahne to go to Muir Island just yet.
Although his summer break was only a month, he was starting the term early due to the Brotherhood's increased activity, he wouldn't see her in that time. It was a shame, but he was definitely going to keep in contact with her during the month he was away. It sounded sappy but he really hadn't met anyone like her before.
Lorna was opinionated, strong, smart, and he supposed the word was lively. She accepted all of a person. She'd been on a few other missions with them and had consistently held her own. Overall she was just really fun to be around. And, despite their constant bantering, he knew she liked being around him too.
It was a major change from when he had been the delinquent in his household. He'd dated then; mostly the type of girl you'd bring home to enrage the folks. His parents hadn't really minded. They ignored their freak son except when they decided to yell at him for his most recent brush with the law. The only one who had seen him like he was someone was his little brother. Not really that encouraging.
Then he'd come to the school and fought and become a hero. Sure, the X-men weren't the Invaders and Lorna wasn't a nameless mysterious government spy. However, he could feel everything coming together. Alex had found purpose, and he would definitely not mind doing what he was doing now for the rest of his life.
The photographer motioned to them and they stepped forward. Someone had constructed an archway with roses growing in the trellises. It was probably some mutant who coudl do things with plants. He didn't know of one personally but he was sure the school had at least one.
Next to him Lorna put a hand around his back and onto his shoulder. It displayed the corsage on her wrist perfectly. At first he had been afraid that it wouldn't match her dress. Alex was only going on information gleaned from when he'd seen her pick yellow roses in the gardens once. He'd figured that, if it wasn't her favorite flower, it was among her top ten. He was glad that it had turned out fine.
In response to her hand he put an arm around her waist. They smiled and the camera flashed a few times. When it was finishing up he motioned to Hank and Sean, who were standing on the sidelines. Neither of them had dates. Sean still hadn't told Maeve about what he was and hence couldn't invite her to the prom. Hank wasn't comfortable enough with his appearance to try and date someone. They'd have to fix that soon.
"Team picture?" asked Lorna.
"For posterity," he answered.
"Yeah, posterity," Sean said, "Whatever."
"Maybe the Professor and housekeeper should be in on it," said Hank, jerking his head towards where they were standing, chaperoning.
"Nah," said Alex, "This is just an informal picture for us kids. Come on."
Hank sighed but he and Sean stepped up.
"Now, could you get on her right, and if you could get on his left," the photographer said.
They arranged themselves in the requested manner. Lorna put her arms around Alex and Sean's shoulders. Sean followed suit and soon they were all standing like that. There were a few more flashes and they parted.
"You're paying for that," Hank told Alex.
"Ah, don't be such a spoil sport," Alex said, "I'm having fun tonight. Come on Lorna, last dance of the night!"
He dragged her into the fray. The band was playing something slow and sappy; he didn't know the name of it. Alex slipped his hands around her waist and she laced her hands behind his neck. They swayed together. As he found out during the first few dances he couldn't do anything beyond slow dancing. Lorna, the ballerina, was patient with him but he knew he was going to get teased for it later.
Together they continued to sway.
"I had a really great time tonight," she said.
"Me too," said Alex.
Lorna paused, and then boosted herself up on her toes. Her lips touched his tentatively and he blinked. She pulled away after a few seconds, looking nervous.
"What-?"
"Tonight's been perfect," she said, "and I always told myself that I wasn't going to miss out on having my first kiss on a perfect night."
"That was your first kiss?" asked Alex.
She nodded.
"Alright," he said, "Since you instigated the first one, can I do the second?"
A slight laugh escaped her lips before he went in to kiss her again.