Author: Sam

Story: Say it With Music: 3 of ?

Series: none

Summary: A way to pass a cold night brings back memories of another night…

Setting: The Realm and Earth

Song Note: When You Say Nothing At All by Boyzone from the album By Request...

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk

Webpage: http://www.oocities.org/samwise_baggins/index.html

The night air was cold and snow was falling steadily, blanketing the world in pristine white. Moonlight competed with star shine, blinding on the delicate white ground. Shivering in a cave, a fire built up against the weather, sat five teenagers, a child, and a baby unicorn. They had sought refuge from the cold and were trying their best to keep their spirits up with storytelling and song singing and generally playing stupid campfire games.

Bobby the Barbarian, lay curled in a shivering ball, stocky body looking tiny in his restless sleep. His head lay on the lap of his older sister and his arms were wound securely around the equally tired unicorn foal. Neither had lasted much past midnight.

The older red-haired girl, Sheila the Thief, was running a hand through her brother’s blond hair, watching him with soft eyes. The Realm of Dungeons and Dragons had done wonders to bring the siblings closer together. Where once the pair had been a couple of normal, squabbling siblings, the Realm had brought out the protective instincts in both, as well as their desire to cling to their only remaining family.

Sitting next to the pretty teen, Hank the Ranger couldn’t help a soft smile. His eyes watched every movement of Sheila’s hand. However, used to keeping his private life private even from these closest of friends, the young man didn’t reveal what her gestures might mean to him.

“Hey, what’s…” Presto the Wizard’s voice was tired and punctuated with small yawns and sighs, “taking so long. I‘m not getting any younger, Eric. You gotta follow rules,“ the youngest of the teens felt his jaw pop with another huge yawn and shook his head to get his sleepy golden eyes to uncross. “You drew song from the helmet and spun Diana on the bottle, so sing something for Diana, like you‘re supposed to.” His eyes were almost closed, however, and it was readily apparent that the Wizard would most likely fall asleep within a few minutes, even though his turn would be next.

Eric the Cavalier frowned, an idea forming. They were all just trying to keep awake, right? None of them would actually understand what he meant. No one, except… except one person. He turned to look at the Acrobat, clearing his throat softly, his emotions apparently as hidden as Hank‘s. He began to sing in a pleasant baritone.

Diana’s eyes widened slightly and her smile slipped away. With a slight frown, she stared intently at the Cavalier, wondering why he’d chosen that particular song. How could he even think to? Did he even remember…

The night had held a bit of chill, despite the clear late spring date. Stars by the thousands winked down on the nervous, excited teenagers dressed in formal wear. It was Senior Prom Night, and most were certain it was a night they’d never forget. There was at least one, though, whom wished it could be forgotten as soon as possible.

Diana Lawrence had been stood up.

Checking the delicate gold watch, a piece of show jewelry to go with her floor-length prom dress, she sighed and crossed her arms, no longer careful of the delicate lace trim on the bodice. It was an hour after the beginning of the Prom and her date was nowhere to be seen. She should have gone to the meet over in Springfield, but had told her coach that she couldn’t be there. It had been the very first time, and the last she was damn sure, that she’d ever skipped out on a gymnastics event. That creep would pay tenfold for this!

Of course, it didn’t help that she’d also gotten her hopes up after squashing the guilt for deserting her team. After all, as had been pointed out by many a friend, the Prom only came once in a lifetime… twice for a lucky junior like her… she should be happy to have such a magical memory to tuck away among all those blue ribbons and trophies.

Magic sucked right about then in Diana’s way of thinking.

Yeah, give her the well-earned triumph of a routine finished to perfection: the hammering heart, the sweat and rapid breathing, the feeling like she might pass out and scream in joy and run and hide to treasure the moment all at once. She’d heard that love was like that, but so far the only thing love made her feel was anger beyond anything else. If love was being left on the porch in an expensive gown on Prom Night, love could go fly a kite.

With another glare down the road, the sixteen-year-old turned. She winced at the sound of tearing fabric. Her lace over-skirt had caught on one of her heels; she really should have gone with flats after all. Sliding down onto one knee, the high school girl fingered the torn lace. Things were just getting worse, weren’t they? That jerk better hope he broke his leg before school Monday, or she’d be sure to break it for him!

Standing, graceful despite the unfamiliar clothing, Diana sighed and moved slowly towards the side door. She didn’t want her parents to try to comfort her right then; that could wait until morning. It was humiliating just knowing that they’d never heard her date pull up for her, to confront them would make this entire fiasco more than one person could be reasonably expected to bear. She pulled her house key from the small purse tied to her wrist.

The sound of a car coming to a slow, purring stop in front of the Lawrence house froze the teen in her tracks. So, now the jerk shows? Diana warred with herself between relief and continued anger. He could have called to say he’d be late. Thoughtlessness was one of the things she really hated. However, he had showed up, albeit late, hadn’t he? Perhaps she should give him the benefit of the doubt and listen to what he said before deciding to knock his butt onto the pavement.

Turning, hands going to her hips in a stance most would recognize as customary of her annoyance, the beautiful teen directed a glare at the dove gray limousine. Trying not to be impressed that her date had gone out of his way to get such a nice car for her fairytale night, Diana merely waited and watched.

An uniformed chauffer slid easily from the driver’s seat and crossed around to let his passenger ascend. The youth said something privately to the man and stepped back from the curb, watching quite calmly as the employee drove away.

The nerve! Diana softly growled at the presumption that not only would she accept him unequivocally after being so late, but that she’d prefer to hang out here on Prom Night rather than go to the hired ballroom and her friends. Well, this creep had another think coming! She couldn’t wait to tell her father to bring out grandpa’s old rifle, too. That sure would fix the guy.

Her arms moved from akimbo to crossed as she watched the dark-haired, tuxedoed young man walk slowly up the front drive towards her. He was carrying a bouquet, and even from this distance she could tell it was lilac and honeysuckle. A very odd choice for a formal, and last, date but certainly her favorite. She refused to cave in.

“Hello, Diana.”

With a start, she did an almost comical double-take. Blinking, stance relaxing in confused wonder, Diana stepped forward to see the young man better in the light. With a soft, confused gasp, the dark-haired teen stopped and shook her head. “Eric Montgomery? What are you doing here?”

Eric smiled, smoothly extending the floral offering, which she took in wonder. “I saw a lady standing in front of a castle and thought she’d be interested in meeting a lonely knight.” His voice didn’t hold the normal derision he used so often at school. It was soft and filled with laughter.

She couldn’t help but respond with her own smile, watching his eyes light up in response. Such beautiful eyes, a deep soulful brown… almost blue they were so dark. She’d never realized just how expressive Eric’s eyes were. Of course, normally he was hurling sarcastic comments around, not letting anyone get close enough to even like him, let alone see his true self.

Sniffing the flowers to give herself time, the gymnast thought things over. Sure, it made sense that Eric Montgomery would be driving around town in a limousine; his father owned several after all. It also made sense that he’d be in a tuxedo on Prom Night. Even as a junior with a pessimistic sneer, the son of the richest man in town was quite a date. A girl could absolutely count on being treated like a queen, couldn’t she? Montgomery’s had a lot of money and no compunction about spending it when they wanted to impress others.

Finally, Diana raised her face and shrugged one shoulder. “What makes you think I don’t already have a cavalier waiting in the wings? I don’t habitually dress in floor-length just to stargaze.”

Her schoolmate frowned momentarily, taken off guard, but he recovered quickly and came back just as smoothly as before with “Ah, but this cavalier was drawn to your shining presence, my princess…”

Nice as it was to trade playful flirtation with him rather than barbs, Diana’s heart just wasn’t up to it so soon. After all, she’d just been cruelly dumped by a senior the night of the Prom… dumped without even a Dear Jane letter to show for it… or to burn in effigy. “Can it, Montgomery.”

He blinked, staggering back as if struck. With a look more of worry than confusion, he seemed to be trying to think of some way to keep her attention. Was he that desperate he had to desert whatever senior had asked him out to hang out with her, even if she was a friend from their days in diapers?

Slowly, he stepped forward, climbing the porch steps to stop in front of the angry young woman. “Sherman is already at the Prom, Diana.” He shut up with those harsh words, his normal everyday frown in place. His distrust of people firmly vindicated in this case; her childhood friend had never liked the wrestler she’d casually dated, even if he’d never gotten involved in her romantic life before.

Diana blinked. “Oh.” She couldn’t think of a single thing to say to that. After all, she’d wondered weeks ago why he’d invited her instead of that Rachel girl he seemed to like so much. Stupid not to think harder on the fact, really. She’d actually wanted to go to the Prom despite the gymnastics meet, hadn’t she? Still a bit shell-shocked, Diana glanced over Eric’s shoulder, looking for the return of his limousine. “So, where’s your date?”

Eric shrugged and turned his dark eyes towards the stars, as if he didn’t care about some silly Prom. “Rachel’s at the Prom… dancing with Sherman, no doubt.” He didn’t look at her, anger now evident in his tone.

Ah… so that’s how he knew about her date. That also explained why the couple hadn’t gotten together immediately; she must have already asked Eric. “Nice of them to watch out for each other.” Then, out of the blue, the absurdity struck her. She laughed, startling Eric out of his study of the evening stars.

“Huh?”

“Oh, think about it, Eric. They deserve each other. And in a few months, they’ll probably be sneaking out on each other like they did to us. After all, leopards don’t change their spots, do they?”

Eric’s grin came back and his eyes sparked mischievously. “Not without a great surgeon or a lot of paint.”

That took Diana by surprise, but she recovered quickly and they both started laughing at their shared joke. “Hey, Eric, wanna come in for a soda? I mean, if you don’t mind staying in the monkey-suit a bit? I’ll just go get changed and meet you in the kitchen…”

“Nah.” Eric grabbed her arm quickly, but not painfully, startling her into stopping her progress towards the side door. “I was thinking we could stay out here a bit longer.” He glanced over her then nodded as if confirming something. “You look beautiful tonight, Diana.”

Would this night of endless surprises never cease? Diana looked over herself, almost as if to verify she was still wearing the gold lace and white lame gown she’d slipped on a couple hours previously. Yes, still the same expensive gown. Slowly, the girl raised her chocolate eyes to meet dark soulful ones. “Uh… thanks… Eric.”

The raven-haired teen flushed but merely tried to play it off with a cool he didn’t normally possess. “Well, you look like you could fit in at one of my mom’s dinner parties. Very nice.” It was a typical egotistical remark, but somehow, at least that night, it came off as a sincere compliment.

At least, Diana was willing to take it as such. She smiled at him and placed a hand on his traditional black tuxedo. His cummerbund and tie were emerald, probably to match Rachel’s gown, but the color was good on him. Besides, Rachel had given up all rights to Eric when she’d gone to the Prom with Sherman. “Hey, Eric… thanks.” She stroked the soft sleeve, certainly not the typical cheap tux of the local rentals. “The tuxedo suits you.”

“Specially tailored for tonight.” Another habitual comment, but also another acceptable one.

“So, what do you want to do? I could give you an impromptu astronomy lesson.” She gestured to the clear night sky, smiling at her companion in her typical easy manner. Somehow one of the most annoying friends she claimed had found a way to restore her humor on this most horrible of nights.

“I’d rather dance, Diana.” Eric took one hand in his, looking at it, not her face, as if afraid of the rejection he might get; after all, Diana wasn’t one to fawn all over his wealth, and without wealth, Eric was just a snob with a monster chip on his shoulder, wasn’t he?

Diana bit her lip, then nodded slowly. Okay, her dress wasn’t torn badly enough to trip her up and even if Eric couldn’t dance, what were a few broken toes between friends, right? He did come to cheer her up, after all, instead of staying home and getting waited on hand and foot… or even bribing some other senior girl to take him to the Prom.

Reaching out to gently touch Eric’s hand, Diana smiled at him. “Sure, Eric. What song will we dance to? I don’t have a radio out here.”

“That’s okay… I’ll sing.” And, to her disbelief, Eric Montgomery had a very pleasant baritone.

Shaking her head, Diana felt tears welling up at the thought that Eric would possibly twist that happy memory just to provide entertainment for the gang. Sure, they didn’t know he was singing the same song they’d shared on that aborted Prom Night… but it was still… well… a special song... a special, private memory.

The Acrobat turned a glare on the Cavalier, determined to make his life a living hell for that. Suddenly, however, her eyes met his. Drawing in a sharp breath, her hands clenched, then released. Oh! All anger drained away and Diana felt as if she were transported back to that night so long ago. A night when two friends spent their Prom dancing under the stars to only music they provided themselves. A night when two hearts took one step closer to each other.

Diana sighed as she listened to the words Eric sang to her for the second time in their lives: their song.