Chapter Twenty Five
Tiffany glanced in the mirror. Aralyn had insisted she have her hair done too. Their dresses were on, Daisy’s makeup artists had just finished, and Trixie and Honey were fastening on the girls’ jewelry. They were at Daisy’s house, crowded in the foyer and living room.
Tiffany had a feeling she knew who her mysterious date was Aralyn had set her up with, and she didn’t mind. She had told him no repeatedly and he finally quit asking but she suspected Aralyn and Cam had been conspiring. It was either go and be miserable watching all the couples and miss Tony, or stay home and be miserable eating chocolates. At least she’d be with her friends and not stuffing her face with candy and crying over sentimental movies.
So when the doorbell rang and Dean was standing next to Cam, she just smiled. Dean gave her a wide smile that wasn’t his usual playful leer, but one of genuine appreciation. He looked good, she thought, in his black tux. Dean was a nice looking boy, she thought to herself.
“You look amazing,” Dean said, offering her the corsage of white roses and gold ribbon.
“Thank you,” she said awkwardly. “You clean up well.”
“I try,” he grinned. His lips brushed her cheek and she knew the night would be okay.
“I know you don’t want to really go. But I promise to behave.” His merry blue-green eyes twinkled at her and she found herself smiling.
The parents of Dana’s boyfriend and Dean were there as well for pictures, minus Cam’s, so it was a large crowd at the Mangan house. The group had decided to use one of the Wheeler limos for the night, and Tom Delanoy was happy to drive the large group he considered his surrogate nieces and nephews. Even Regan had found a reason to come by and see the kids dressed up. It reminded both of another prom, many years before, with a different bunch of kids.
Daisy had brought in a favorite photographer she used for business, and they ended up taking pictures on the lawn, to accommodate the size of the group. Jesse and Stephanie were there as well, having just come from her parents house where he picked her up.
Aralyn’s dress was a stunning, sexy gown of ivory and peach that deepened and lightened in color throughout the dress, with silver embellishments around the waist and a deep neckline that wouldn’t get her thrown out of the prom but showed off her fuller figure. Her long hair was pulled up in sections and flowed down her shoulders and back in golden curls. The wrist corsage Cam brought her was made of peach roses.
Tiffany, despite her protests of not wanting to go, couldn’t help but love the emerald green gown Daisy had made her. Some built-in enhancements boosted her minimal cleavage, which Dean tactfully didn’t stare at. Gold embellishments trailed down the dress, and showed off her slender figure. She opted to wear her hair down, and the straight hair had been given some fun curl by Daisy’s hairdresser.
Rayma, the artist, was delighted with her mermaid tail gown. It was lavender with deep purple roses embroidered down the front and sides an onto the tulle. Her blue-black hair was swept up to show off the amethyst necklace she wore.
Dana, the family’s declared fashionista, was in her signature red. With cutouts placed carefully so as to not get her in trouble with the school dress code, and a sweeping train, she loved her gown and was glad she had her mother’s height of five foot eight. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head, showing off her elegant neck and calling attention to her athletic, curvy frame.
Cam stood with his arm around Aralyn as Daisy took the final pictures of Rayma and Riley. Cam had been struck speechless when he saw Aralyn, and his heart ached. Graduation was next month, which meant she would be leaving for her cross country trip, and he’d be without her. They hadn’t discussed what to do about their relationship, both were avoiding it, but Cam took every opportunity he had to be with her, mentally filing away every moment that he could. He knew he was running out of time with her. Realistically, he didn’t see how they could maintain their relationship for a year while she was gone, no matter how much he wanted to. At some point they’d have to discuss that.
Dana's boyfriend was there as well, a young man named Don. Rayma hadn't wanted to go alone, so she nagged her brother Riley, into taking her. Jesse was taking Stephanie, and they had just arrived from her house.
After dinner at their favorite pizza place, the ten headed to the hotel the dance was being held at. They had discussed a fancy dinner but earlier but agreed pizza would be more fun.
The hotel was decorated in silver and blue, the school colors, with streamers and puffy decorations and balloons. Dean and Tiffany followed Cam and Aralyn inside, where the lights swirled overhead and the music was loud.
Unlike the last dance either girl had attended in eighth grade, there was no division of students, boys on one side, girls on the other. They co-mingled, dancing, nibbling on snacks, sipping punch. Teachers roamed as chaperones to catch the students with wandering hands, and everyone gossiped about everyone else’s dresses. The school receptionist had been stuck on vote patrol, stationed at the large box where people filled out votes for the Prom King and Queen.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look?” Cam asked, drawing Aralyn into his arms for a dance.
Aralyn laughed. “Yes, but that’s something a girl doesn’t get tired of hearing so you can say it again.”
Cam grinned. “You look absolutely beautiful tonight.”
Despite his smile, his heart hurt. He knew how much her impending trip meant to her, and he wanted her to be happy, but dear god it was killing him to think that he had only a few weeks left with her. Sure, she’d be back but what would a year apart do to them? How would they change? He didn’t want her to change. He loved her just the way she was.
Dean spun Tiffany and pulled her to him, the pair laughing. Tiffany was surprised by how friendly she and Dean had become. There was still no affection other than another brother, but she felt secure around him. She knew she could trust him.
Tracy, in a stunning, slinky golden tangerine dress sidled up to them a little while later. Her long hair had been braided and wrapped, with gold streaks weaved throughout.
“Did you see Ellen?” she giggled, pulling Aralyn and Tiffany away from the boys, who decided to go hit up the food table. “She really doesn’t look happy with Callie!”
“Where?” Aralyn asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ellen looked rather elegant in her pale pink gown, though the swirling asymmetrical hemline stood out. Ellen’s hair was in an elegant upswept ‘do, and guessing from the expression on Ellen’s face, she was not happy. It didn’t take much to figure out why.
Callie stood next to her and outdone herself for tacky this time. Where most of the girls wore long, stunning gowns in the tradition of showing off, Callie was one of the few in a short dress.
Her dress was partly pale pink too, with black, but nowhere near the elegant dress of Ellen. The short skirt appeared to be black tulle, her breasts were cupped in black velvet and black lace over the pink, her thin figure was hugged by the pale pink bodice, and right over her crotch and belly button, was a large, silver glittery diamond outlined in black velvet. Her thin hair was down and messy, but the intentional ‘messy’ look didn’t work.
“I almost feel sorry for Ellen to be seen with her,” Tiffany murmured. “Almost,” she repeated, when Aralyn gave her a dark look.
“Not me,” Tracy said cheerfully. “They deserve each other! I’m amazed she got past the front door in that getup.”
“Well, she’s definitely taking trashy to a new level,” Aralyn murmured.
“How did those two ever get to be friends, anyway?” Tiffany wondered.
“Common enemy,” Aralyn answered. “Me. Ellen wanted Cam, and I think Callie saw it as an opportunity to get to me.”
“Epic fail!” Tracy beamed.
The three friends raised their glasses of punch in a toast. Cam, Dean and Rick, another classmate and Tracy’s date for the night, returned with plates of snacks.
“Uh-oh,” Cam said. “I sense plotting.”
“No plotting,” Aralyn slipped her arm around his waist and smiled. “Just being catty and celebrating.”
Ellen glanced their way and Aralyn nodded to her. Ellen’s attempts at getting Cam’s attention had failed miserably and she quickly had gained a reputation not unlike Callie’s, to her dismay. While she had insisted it was undeserving, her close association with Callie quickly gave her a matching reputation. After that, not many of the other girls would befriend her.
Ellen turned her back to Aralyn and marched away from Callie, who looked furious. She stared at Aralyn who smiled widely at her and raised her glass to her. Callie pouted and began to look around the room.
“Methinks someone is jealous,” Rayma smirked, sauntering up.
“Not our fault our cousin is a haute couture designer,” Tiffany snickered.
The night was spent dancing and specializing with friends, with camera flashes going off every few minutes at various tables. Tiffany danced with a few guys from their class, but Dean kept an eye on her to make sure she was comfortable with it. He danced nearby with Aralyn, then Tracy, and then whatever girl he could, charming his way through dance after dance.
Jesse and Stephanie hung with their friends and danced. Stephanie was gorgeous in a green and black dress, her red hair pinned up. Dana danced with everyone, even forcing her cousin Riley to dance with her. The shy science student cast a despairing look of help to Jesse, who laughed and refused to rescue him. Riley’s friend Nick finally stepped in and swept Dana away for a sultry tango that left their classmates applauding. Aralyn wondered where Nick had learned to dance like that and Riley’s odd expression as he watched was unreadable. Aralyn was pretty sure Riley didn't find girls attractive, and the thought occured to her he might have a crush on his friend.
Aralyn and Cam slipped off to a dark corner for some alone time. Cam tried to squelch the despair that built up in his chest. He would not let her see how her trip was destroying him.
“Fun party,” she murmured, kissing him.
“Yep. Dean looks like he’s having fun. I’m glad Tiffany agreed to come.”
“I didn’t really give her a choice,” Aralyn laughed. “Daisy and I plotted the whole thing and I roped Dean in early on.”
“Dean swears his future is with one of you girls.”
Aralyn laughed. “I don’t think it’s Tiff, and it’s definitely not me.”
“That still leaves a number of options,” he teased.
“Dana is heading to England this summer for soccer camp and she’s too young. Tim would beat the crap out of him.”
“Maybe Rayma?” he suggested.
“Maybe,” Aralyn answered. “But I really don’t want to think about Dean with my cousins. I could never even really see him with Tiffany, as much as I encouraged her to give him a chance.”
“I’m just glad to see her having a good time. She’s been so withdrawn since that creep.”
Aralyn nodded. “I know. She admitted Dean makes her laugh. But Dean’s always been like another cousin or brother…the thought of them together is kinda gross, really.”
Cam laughed and kissed her.
Hours later, when the formal pictures had been taken, the dancing was winding down, and the snacks devoured, the students gathered for the announcement of prom king and queen. Aralyn had hoped to duck out before then but Cam wasn’t budging. He actually wanted to win, the pictures would make the yearbook inserts and they would be immortalized. He’d remember this night every time with love whenever he looked at his yearbook.
It was no one’s surprise when Aralyn and Cam’s names were called as the Prom King and Queen. They made their way to the stage where they were crowned, and smiled at each other. Cam’s was forced as he struggled to not think about what was coming.
During the final dance of the night, Tiffany danced with Dean, a slow dance.
“Hope you enjoyed your night, Duke,” Dean said softly in her ear.
Tiffany smiled. “I did. Thank you, Dean.”
“My pleasure,” he smiled.
They both felt the moment and Tiffany hesitated only a second before they both leaned in for the kiss.
And several seconds later, both pulled back, bewildered, staring at each other.
"Interesting,” Dean finally said.
“That felt like I was kissing my brother,” Tiffany blurted out.
Dean nodded. “After all these years…I never thought I’d feel nothing when I finally got to kiss you. But…yeah, it was like kissing my sister.”
They burst out laughing and Dean hugged her. “Guess I have to set my sights on one of your cousins,” he teased. “I’m not done with you Belden-Duke girls.”
Tiffany smacked his arm. “Keep your pants zipped, Acklen.”
“Friends?” he asked with a smile, holding her close.
“Always,” she promised.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- A huge yee-haa to the ever-fabulous Ronda, for editing this!
- Alas, no Dean/Tiffany romance for you shippers. They are both meant for someone else, but those are other stories, to come further down the road. And they will, I promise!
- Aralyn and Tiffany's dresses provided by Terani Couture (not Daisy Duke! ;) ); others unknown.
- Graduation is just around the corner!
- Yes, we will eventually "meet" both Rayma and Riley.
-Word Count, 2,226
| 
