May 1976
Pam was in her room getting ready for senior prom. She was struggling to get her hair just right, standing in front of the mirror with a frustrated look on her face. She added one more bobby pin to her already voluminous up do and sprayed it with copious amounts of hairspray. Just then, her mother, Irene, walked in, coughing at the fumes that filled the air.
"Honey, if it's not right by now, just put on a hat!" Irene joked
Pam shot her a look of annoyance and removed the towel from around her neck, revealing her prom dress. It was a blue and pink floral gown with puffy sleeves that cinched at the waist, and a long skirt that flowed effortlessly. She had chosen a pair of blue heels to match, and she had spent hours trying to find a tie for her boyfriend that coordinated with her dress.
"Oh, look at my baby girl going to her last prom" Irene said, her voice filled with emotion
Before Pam could respond, she heard her dad yelling from downstairs that Danny was at the door. She smoothed her dress one last time and checked her makeup in the mirror before heading downstairs. Carefully, she held onto the railing, trying to navigate the stairs in her heels
Pam walked into the living room, where her boyfriend of over a year was now standing, holding a bouquet of her favourite yellow flowers. He was wearing a grey suit with a pink and blue floral tie to match his girlfriend's dress. The grey flared pants made his legs look even lankier than they already were.
Danny's eyes immediately locked onto Pam, admiring her beauty. "You look beautiful, Pam!" he said softly, smiling as he handed her the flowers and gently kissed her cheek, careful not to ruin her makeup.
Blushing, Pam took a deep breath to enjoy the fragrance of the flowers in her hands. "Oh, Danny, these are lovely, huh!" she exclaimed with a grin as she moved closer to kiss her boyfriend. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his
"Can you two not make out in front of the TV? Huh!' 'I'm trying to watch Elvis!" Jesse shouted, throwing a cushion at the couple to signal them to move out of the way. Pam picked up the cushion and tossed it back at Jesse, but she missed him and accidentally hit the vase on the window ledge. The loud noise caused Irene and Nick to rush into the room.
"Will you two behave yourselves!" Nick shouted at his children as Irene hurried to save her vase from being smashed.
At that moment, Joey entered with his date. He was wearing a light blue suit and a Bullwinkle tie. This signalled that it was time to leave. But not before Irene and Nick snapped hundreds of photos for their albums whilst Jesse rolled his eyes in the corner
Prom came and went without a hitch. Pam had spent the entire evening slow dancing and making out with Danny. Even though he'd been her boyfriend for over a year, and this was nothing new, tonight felt different.
As they drove home, Danny and Pam settled into the backseat, lost in a world of their own, sharing deep, lingering kisses that made time feel irrelevant. In the front, Joey was telling his date a series of terrible jokes, each one more cringe-worthy than the last. She looked increasingly unimpressed, and after a few more minutes, she decided to escape the awkwardness by getting out of the car three blocks before her destination.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived outside the Katstopolis residence and got out of the car. It was now 12pm, and Pam felt certain that everyone in her house had gone to sleep. The thought of going to Danny's family home wasn't an option; he shared a cramped room with his older brother, and their father typically passed out on the couch after drinking one too many beers.
Knowing this was a significant night for Pam and Danny, Joey couldn't resist the opportunity to add a little humour to the moment. "Enjoy yourselves, horndogs!" he shouted playfully out of the window of his beloved VW Beetle. Before making a juvenile horn sound with his mouth and speeding off into the distance leaving a trail of exhaust smoke behind.
Once they were alone, Pam and Danny shared a passionate kiss on the porch with their arms wrapped tightly around one another, reminiscent of their first date, filled with excitement and nervous energy. After that, Pam quietly unlocked the front door and gently pulled Danny Inside, their giggles echoing softly in the quiet house. They slipped off their shoes at the door and carried them. Still shushing each other as they snuck around, trying hard to avoid waking anyone.
Pam guided Danny carefully through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps muffled against the hardwood floor as they navigated the house covered in complete darkness. The moonlight filtering through the curtains offered just enough glow to avoid any noisy collisions with furniture.
Once they reached the living room sofa, they settled into its warm embrace, their hearts racing with excitement. Without hesitation, they leaned into each other, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss that deepened with every passing moment.
Unbeknownst to them, Pam's younger brother Jesse was perched just outside the living room door. He had been waiting up for Pam's return. Since her "neat geek" boyfriend had entered the scene, Jesse had taken on the role of the protective sibling, determined to ensure that his big sister made it home safely.
He hastily flicked on the living room light, flooding the space with a harsh glow, and playfully shouted "Ooooh" in a childish tone. The unexpected interruption made the couple jump, prompting them to quickly untangle from each other. Pam whipped around, her cheeks flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing at her brother, while Danny awkwardly wiped the remnants of Pam's vibrant lipstick off his mouth, his face turning a deep shade of crimson.
"Jesse!!" Pam shouted, her irritation evident, the sound echoing through the living room.
"Nice shade of lipstick, Neat Geek!" Jesse teased, a mischievous grin plastered on his face, before sprinting back to his bedroom to escape the wrath of his now annoyed sister.
With a sigh of frustration, Pam turned back towards Danny, her expression softening as she took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry about him, huh!" she murmured, her voice low and sincere, before closing the distance between them to steal another kiss. Gently but insistently, she pulled him off the sofa, guiding him upstairs in search of the privacy they both desperately needed
The next morning, Pam slowly opened her eyes, the soft light filtering in through the curtains, casting a warm glow around her small bedroom. She rolled over and smiled at the sight of her boyfriend who was sleeping peacefully beside her. Pam couldn't help but chuckle. His curly brunette hair was a mess and his long legs dangled off the edge of the narrow single bed. At six foot four, Danny often found himself in this predicament
It was Saturday, a rare day free of classes or social obligations, and Pam wished she could remain curled up in her cosy pink sheets, surrounded by the comforting scent of Danny's aftershave that lingered in the air. Just a little longer, she thought, wishing they could enjoy the morning together, wrapped in each other's warmth. But reality tugged at her. She knew her father would soon be up and turning on the TV in the living room for a full day of watching football and screaming at everyone to be quiet.
Pam sighed softly, knowing she needed to get Danny out of her bed and the house before the chaotic Katstopolis morning routine began. She gently brushed a hand against his cheek, hoping to wake him without startling him.
Later, Pam cautiously eased her bedroom door open, her heart pounding as she looked around the hallway for any signs of life. Satisfied that the coast was clear, she slipped out, her footsteps barely making a sound against the wooden floor. Trailing behind her was Danny, juggling an assortment of his outfit from the night before: a pair of shoes, a tie and a fitted suit jacket that he had hastily thrown over one arm. His shirt was also halfway undone.
Danny's hair was a wild cascade of tousled curls. The chaos of his locks was a testament to the late hour and the whirlwind of activity from the night before. Exhaustion clung to him like a heavy fog, evident in the way his eyelids drooped, but what captured the eye most was the love bite marking the smooth skin of his neck
The couple had thought they'd avoided detection, but their illusion was shattered when Jesse appeared at the bottom of the stairs, unable to contain his laughter. At only thirteen, he had already begun to embrace his role as the family rebel, his mischievous grin spreading from ear to ear. "Eww, you had sex with neat geek!" he shouted loudly, relishing another chance to torment his big sister. Each word dripping with mockery and his hatred for Danny.
Pam flew down the stairs and chased after her baby brother as he continued to torment her, whilst Danny stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. He was used to Pam and Jesse's sibling arguments and often laughed as the chaos unfolded. Him and his little sister Wendy usually behaved the same way.
Even though Pam was now legally an adult, she still enjoyed the care free, juvenile lifestyle that came with living at home with her brother and parents. But little did she know, her care free days were soon about to be over...