sablestardust (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sablestardust) wrote2008-09-03 07:37 pm
sablestardust) wrote2008-09-03 07:37 pm
Entry tags:
fic: I Would Drop It On A Dime For You
dudes, I don't even know. Its something old that I never posted. Uhm, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
e5chatlovelies...*hides*
I Would Drop It On A Dime For You
Cobra pre-gsf, Pete/Patrick, Frank/Gerard, Brian V./Amanda Palmer
R 2,600 words
It was Sadie Hawkins Dance time at Banatallo Domya High School, and the classes were, predictably, a buzz. Girls gave boys furtive looks before turning around to giggle with their friends. Boys showed off to the girls, talking louder and puffing their chests out. The teachers watched it all fondly, talking to their coworkers about memories of their dances. Victoria stood among all these goings on, half-listening to Patrick’s conversation with Brian and Amanda. She was pretty sure Brian was talking about where he could find shoes to match his dress. Victoria decided not to dwell on that. Instead she gave Amanda a small smile, the slightly catty one you gave to fellow bitchy girls and tugged at Patrick’s arm. He rolled his eyes and smiled at Brian and Amanda before yielding and walking away with Victoria.
“They’re disgusting,” She said, avoiding a couple that was shyly holding hands.
“Who, Brian and Amanda? They’re…different, I wouldn’t say disgusting.” Patrick started.
“Not them,” she cut him off, “Them. These…breeders. The ones making heart eyes at each other. Well, the ones making heart eyes and not planning to cross dress for the dance. It’s bullshit you know.” A teacher tutted at her language, but they didn’t slow their walk.
“The dance? You’re just saying that because you’re too chicken shit to ask anyone,” Patrick teases.
“Oooh, for shame, Mr. Stump. You and your appalling language. I’m not scared of anything,” She pushes the door open and they walk into the bright sunshine. “I just don’t see anyone worth pursuing at good ol’ BanDom.” She holds a hand up, shading her eyes.
“I’m sure.”
“Hey, not all of us can have steady college playthings.”
Patrick snorted and directed them towards their car. “Yes, a college plaything that I couldn’t bring to this damn dance if I wanted to. Because everyone in charge is a conservative asshole with his head so far up his ass that—,” He cut himself off, the way she knew he would, the way he always did when he talked about the school.
“You could, y’know,” She said softly. “Brian’s going in drag. And he’ll probably be just as gorgeous as Amanda, who’s gonna come in something totally inappropriate. You could just bring him.”
Patrick made a face and Victoria sighed. “Patrick, when are you gonna live a little?”
He shrugged, “When I’m not dating someone that the school has said in no uncertain terms I can’t bring? You know I’m not going to do it Vic.”
Victoria frowned. “Vicky-T. And you know he’d do it if you asked.”
Patrick smiled, soft and warm. The only time Victoria wonders if she’s happy alone is when he smiles like that.
“Fine, Vicky-T. I’ll ask him, if you ask your crushes.” Patrick starts the car, and it almost drowns out her spluttering.
“Four, Patrick. There are four of them.”
Patrick nods. “Guess you oughta start asking then, huh? Oh, and I’m pretty sure that as a straight girl you aren’t actually allowed to use the term breeders in reference to other straight people.”
-*-
Victoria knew it was wrong to be taking advantage of Ryland and Alex’s relationship. But she knew that they did everything, everything together, according to the twittering in the Girl’s locker room. So they wouldn’t blink at her asking both of them to the dance. She hoped.
There was Gabe, but he was right up her alley. He was an unapologetic slut and quick to list the reasons why you weren’t really worth the attention he was paying you. It had gotten better the year when William and Travis were there, but that had ended with William and Gabe being expelled and Gabe worse than before. So, basically perfect for Victoria.
Really it was Nate that was the problem. Nate was an actual Nice Guy and Victoria had a bit of a…reputation. The bitchy smiles she traded with Amanda weren’t all for show after all. If you dared step out over the lines drawn for you, (skirts a certain length, heels a certain height, you are not to be friends with boys that aren’t potential boyfriends and you must be as pure as the driven snow) then you had appearances to keep up and Nice Guys to alienate. So maybe Victoria was a bit…cautious of Nate.
_*_
Patrick laughed at her shocked look the next day as they walked to the car from school.
“How’d it go?” He asked and laughed louder when she grimaced.
“They said yes, but God how are they so gay for each other? They were basically holding hands the whole time. “ She readjusted her bag and looked over at him.
Patrick shrugged. “Not like they can help it.”
Victoria laughed and shook her head. “Two down, brother of mine. Two to go.”
“Stepbrother. And I’m shaking in my shoes. Really.” He shook his head and opened his car door.
“Isn’t it lucky that Pete’s gonna be in town that weekend? And that the hotel room has already been booked?”
Patrick blushed. “Making arrangements already? Aren’t you confident.”
Victoria shrugged and got into the car. “Is it even a bet anymore? Pete’s gonna want to go Patrick. He’s proud of you.”
Patrick sighed. “Would it be silly to mention how scared I am right now?” He asked sliding into the driver’s seat.
Victoria threaded their fingers together. “Yeah. You’ll have at least five well dressed body guards. And Amanda said that Brian said that Mikey was inviting Gerard and his boyfriend so y’know their flame will outshine yours or something.
Patrick laughed and tugged his hand away to start the car. “Gerard Way is coming back to school to strike fear into the hearts of homophobic jocks everywhere? Yeah, sure.”
-*-
Gabe looks surprised when she asks, but he covers it well. He gives her a cool maybe and she nods and walks away, ignoring the feeling of his eyes on her swaying hips.
_*_
Patrick is with her on the football field when she asks Nate. His excuse was something that used at least three technical drumming terms so she’d let it go. They talked drumming for a while until the football coach was making hand gestures at Nate. Then she asked. And Patrick was there when she stumbles over an explanation of how she’s going with two, maybe three other guys and he’s there for her shocked look when Nate shrugged and said yes.
“Um,” Victoria said, watching Nate walk away. “So, ah, can Pete dance?”
Patrick laughed. “Not at all. Guess I’ll have to—Oh my fucking God Pete is coming to my fucking high school dance.”
Victoria shrugs, “You’re just picking that up now? Come on, Stump, we’ve got dress prom clothes to pick out.”
“Hey! Asher!” Gabe called and jogged over to them. “Heard you got the Wonder Twins and Nasty Nate. Sure you still want me?”
Victoria didn’t point out that she’d “got” Nate less than a minute ago. Instead she raised an eyebrow and responded. “Think I can’t handle you too, Gabriel.”
Gabe whistled low and grinned. “I guess we’ll see, huh.”
Victoria shook her head and started to walk away.
“Oh, Gabe.” She called over her shoulder. “Since you’re the last to accept you have to buy the tickets. For all of us.”
Patrick elbowed her, hissing about prices but she shrugged. “He shouldn’t’ve waited then.”
_*_
Victoria had always understood why Patrick comes home from Petevisits tired and walking funny, but she thinks her mother and stepfather really get it now. Pete had smiled sweetly and sedately at the parents, who had never officially met Pete as Patrick’s boyfriend, then exploded with energy the moment she and Patrick entered the living room.
He bounced up the stairs into Patrick’s room and stood twitching and moving until Victoria and Patrick He only stilled to sweep a thumb across Patrick’s bottom lip and kiss him sweetly. When they separated he threw himself at Victoria. Literally.
“Have we properly met? I’m Pete.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed him out of her lap and onto the floor. “You made out with me for a year and a half then dumped me for my brother. I think we’re good Pete.”
He grinned up at her. “True. But hey, prom. I hear you’re working the whole polyamory thing this year. That’s cool. Mikey and I tried that once but then Alicia and him kinda, ow! Patrick, what?”
“Haven’t we discussed you talking about your exes?” Patrick glared down at Pete.
“You talk about my exes all the time!”
“She’s my sister! And I’m in a band with three of your exes. Ryan hasn’t stopped glaring at me yet!”
“Huh,” Pete said, “what about Spencer?”
Patrick shrugged, “You know Bob? Bryar, he was in your English class. He hooked up with Spencer, right after you moved on to Mikey.”
“Oh,” Pete nodded. “What about Frankie? Patrick, ow!” Pete rolled away from Patrick’s socked feet.
“He’s coming with Gerard. Mikey invited them,” Victoria supplied.
“Is that even like…legal?” Pete asked, inching back to Patrick.
Victoria shrugged. “I guess it’s too late to tell them no now? Considering that prom is tomorrow and Mikey isn’t exactly keeping it a secret.”
“Yeah,” Pete nods but he’s staring at Patrick. Victoria rolls her eyes and leaves the room before she gets an eyeful of something unpleasant.
_*_
“Victoria, Patrick,” their mother called up the stairs. “your…many dates are here! And we’re leaving.”
“No, seriously,” Victoria said. “Why are they so cool about everything. I know we’re seniors and all but I feel like we should be oppressed somehow.”
“I feel like a pansy,” Patrick muttered, ignoring her question. She laughed.
“Whatever, it’s a little eyeliner. You made me do it, because Pete asked. So stop whining. Now come on.”
Patrick bumped into her at the bottom of the steps.
“Vic—oh. Wow.”
Powder blue. Pete stood to the side, obviously trying hard to restrain his giggles.
All four of her dates wore powder blue suits of the exact same shade that were probably older than they were.
“I didn’t know there was a uniform requirement,” Patrick said and wheezed when her elbow connected with something soft.
“You’re all idiots, you know that right?” She asked as she walked into the den.
Gabe’s wide grin told her exactly who was behind this. “Well, Victoria love, after finding out that you were going to make me pay for the tickets the guys and I decided to pool our money so only you would get a free ride. But this resulted in none of us having enough for suits. Luckily, the men of my family had great senses of fashion and very varied height ranges. So, our lady, your chariot awaits.”
She was vaguely aware of Pete and Patrick leaning against each other, trying to stay upright in their laughter but mostly she had to bite her lip to keep her smile out of grinning like a complete dork range.
“Ok,” she nodded. “Let's get to prom then. “
The ride to prom was kind of ridiculous. It’s in Gabe’s SUV, which Victoria suspects was actually his mom’s car, and the first half of the ride Nate, Alex and Ryland are squished to one side of the van, sneaking glances at her. Finally she rolled her eyes and slid over until she was tucked into Nate’s side.
Gabe laughed and Victoria was pretty sure one of them squeaked.
“Guys, seriously. I know it’s a little unorthodox but I really do like all of you,” she looked over at them. There was silence for a second, then Nate slid his hand into hers. She grinned a little bit.
“Well,” Ryland said, and Victoria was almost positive that he was holding Alex’s hand. “It’s not exactly fair that our Nate is the only one that gets access to you. Perhaps there should be some…shifting.”
So there was. With only one instance of someone falling off of a seat, when Gabe takes a turn sharper than necessary, Victoria was settled with Nate to one side, Alex and Ryland on the other. The rest of the ride was comfortably quiet, Victoria holding Nate and Alex’s slightly sweaty but mostly warm hands and Ryland’s fingertips brushing the back of her neck. She frowned, then moved forward until her knee brushed Gabe’s elbow.
-*-
Prom was a freakshow. Or their corner of it was anyway. Brian had found a pair of blood red pumps that matched his dress perfectly, and accented Amanda’s just as well. Victoria took a moment to be jealous of just how pretty Brian was before being pulled to the dance floor with Amanda.
“So you really like all of them?” Amanda asked, swinging Victoria around the dance floor, barely missing a cluster of cheerleaders and football stars.
“Yeah,” Victoria said, shrugging. Amanda was the last person to berate her for it.
“Cool. Does this mean you’ll be too tired to go shopping tomorrow? Me and Brian found this awesome place when we were looking for his shoes.”
Victoria blushed and was looking for an answer when they bumped into two men. One of which looked suspiciously like Mikey Way.
“Hey Amanda!” The Mikey-looking-one said and waved. “Are you Victoria?” He asked, though he seemed to be looking over her shoulder.
“Yeah. You’re Mikey’s brother right. And you’re Frank.”
The shorter, tattooed man nodded. “Hey, you’re the one that invited Gabe and some other people, yeah?”
She nodded, and refused to think about how Gabe knew these two. It would only lead to more blushing.
“You might wanna go save him,” Gerard said, nodding in the direction he’d been looking in since they bumped into him. “I think Alicia let Mikey loose for the night.”
Victoria turned to see Gabe and Mikey was grinding. To a Britney Spears song. She was too amused to actually be angry, but she nodded and smiled goodbye at Gerard, Frank and Amanda.
“Mikey,” She said tapping him on his shoulder.
“Vicky-T!” He looked surprised and more animated than she’d ever seen him at school. “I guess you want your date back.”
He stepped back, gave her a quick hug and walked over to where Pete was trying to get Patrick to dance.
“Hello, there,” Gabe grinned down at her.
“Gabe,” she started then shook her head. “C’mon, we need to find the rest of our dates.”
They only had to search for a few minutes before almost tripping over Ryland and Alex, who had apparently finally gotten their ac t together, judging by their matching ruffled looks. They both gave Victoria apologetic looks and Ryland assured her that it had nothing to do with their opinion of her, they’d be thrilled if her and Gabe were to join them in a bit of a night cap (this was the point in which his strange British accent slid in) and really where was Nate?
Nate was standing on the wall talking drums with a pair of 11th graders, Gabe muttered something about ninja drummers then pulled him away.
-*-
“So,” Nate said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. They were standing outside of Victoria’s house. “So we left prom early and Ryland and Alex haven’t detached faces since you came and found me. And Gabe keeps looking at me weird.”
Victoria nodded. “Yes well, Nate. I understand that your views of relationships might be somewhat skewed but sometimes when a man loves a woman very much, and then that woman loves another man, or three, they—”
“Get their shit together and go in the house. Where there are beds. And a suspiciously convenient lack of parents. Can we go in now?” Gabe asked, wrapping an arm low on Nate’s waist.
Victoria rolled her eyes. “I don’t know Gabe, I don’t feel especially loved right now. I mean, no one’s even kissed me.”
Gabe, Nate and a newly detached Alex and Ryland frowned at each other.
“That,” Nate said, “should be remedied.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Go ahead, Rock Paper Scissors will be fine.”
e5chatlovelies...*hides* I Would Drop It On A Dime For You
Cobra pre-gsf, Pete/Patrick, Frank/Gerard, Brian V./Amanda Palmer
R 2,600 words
It was Sadie Hawkins Dance time at Banatallo Domya High School, and the classes were, predictably, a buzz. Girls gave boys furtive looks before turning around to giggle with their friends. Boys showed off to the girls, talking louder and puffing their chests out. The teachers watched it all fondly, talking to their coworkers about memories of their dances. Victoria stood among all these goings on, half-listening to Patrick’s conversation with Brian and Amanda. She was pretty sure Brian was talking about where he could find shoes to match his dress. Victoria decided not to dwell on that. Instead she gave Amanda a small smile, the slightly catty one you gave to fellow bitchy girls and tugged at Patrick’s arm. He rolled his eyes and smiled at Brian and Amanda before yielding and walking away with Victoria.
“They’re disgusting,” She said, avoiding a couple that was shyly holding hands.
“Who, Brian and Amanda? They’re…different, I wouldn’t say disgusting.” Patrick started.
“Not them,” she cut him off, “Them. These…breeders. The ones making heart eyes at each other. Well, the ones making heart eyes and not planning to cross dress for the dance. It’s bullshit you know.” A teacher tutted at her language, but they didn’t slow their walk.
“The dance? You’re just saying that because you’re too chicken shit to ask anyone,” Patrick teases.
“Oooh, for shame, Mr. Stump. You and your appalling language. I’m not scared of anything,” She pushes the door open and they walk into the bright sunshine. “I just don’t see anyone worth pursuing at good ol’ BanDom.” She holds a hand up, shading her eyes.
“I’m sure.”
“Hey, not all of us can have steady college playthings.”
Patrick snorted and directed them towards their car. “Yes, a college plaything that I couldn’t bring to this damn dance if I wanted to. Because everyone in charge is a conservative asshole with his head so far up his ass that—,” He cut himself off, the way she knew he would, the way he always did when he talked about the school.
“You could, y’know,” She said softly. “Brian’s going in drag. And he’ll probably be just as gorgeous as Amanda, who’s gonna come in something totally inappropriate. You could just bring him.”
Patrick made a face and Victoria sighed. “Patrick, when are you gonna live a little?”
He shrugged, “When I’m not dating someone that the school has said in no uncertain terms I can’t bring? You know I’m not going to do it Vic.”
Victoria frowned. “Vicky-T. And you know he’d do it if you asked.”
Patrick smiled, soft and warm. The only time Victoria wonders if she’s happy alone is when he smiles like that.
“Fine, Vicky-T. I’ll ask him, if you ask your crushes.” Patrick starts the car, and it almost drowns out her spluttering.
“Four, Patrick. There are four of them.”
Patrick nods. “Guess you oughta start asking then, huh? Oh, and I’m pretty sure that as a straight girl you aren’t actually allowed to use the term breeders in reference to other straight people.”
-*-
Victoria knew it was wrong to be taking advantage of Ryland and Alex’s relationship. But she knew that they did everything, everything together, according to the twittering in the Girl’s locker room. So they wouldn’t blink at her asking both of them to the dance. She hoped.
There was Gabe, but he was right up her alley. He was an unapologetic slut and quick to list the reasons why you weren’t really worth the attention he was paying you. It had gotten better the year when William and Travis were there, but that had ended with William and Gabe being expelled and Gabe worse than before. So, basically perfect for Victoria.
Really it was Nate that was the problem. Nate was an actual Nice Guy and Victoria had a bit of a…reputation. The bitchy smiles she traded with Amanda weren’t all for show after all. If you dared step out over the lines drawn for you, (skirts a certain length, heels a certain height, you are not to be friends with boys that aren’t potential boyfriends and you must be as pure as the driven snow) then you had appearances to keep up and Nice Guys to alienate. So maybe Victoria was a bit…cautious of Nate.
_*_
Patrick laughed at her shocked look the next day as they walked to the car from school.
“How’d it go?” He asked and laughed louder when she grimaced.
“They said yes, but God how are they so gay for each other? They were basically holding hands the whole time. “ She readjusted her bag and looked over at him.
Patrick shrugged. “Not like they can help it.”
Victoria laughed and shook her head. “Two down, brother of mine. Two to go.”
“Stepbrother. And I’m shaking in my shoes. Really.” He shook his head and opened his car door.
“Isn’t it lucky that Pete’s gonna be in town that weekend? And that the hotel room has already been booked?”
Patrick blushed. “Making arrangements already? Aren’t you confident.”
Victoria shrugged and got into the car. “Is it even a bet anymore? Pete’s gonna want to go Patrick. He’s proud of you.”
Patrick sighed. “Would it be silly to mention how scared I am right now?” He asked sliding into the driver’s seat.
Victoria threaded their fingers together. “Yeah. You’ll have at least five well dressed body guards. And Amanda said that Brian said that Mikey was inviting Gerard and his boyfriend so y’know their flame will outshine yours or something.
Patrick laughed and tugged his hand away to start the car. “Gerard Way is coming back to school to strike fear into the hearts of homophobic jocks everywhere? Yeah, sure.”
-*-
Gabe looks surprised when she asks, but he covers it well. He gives her a cool maybe and she nods and walks away, ignoring the feeling of his eyes on her swaying hips.
_*_
Patrick is with her on the football field when she asks Nate. His excuse was something that used at least three technical drumming terms so she’d let it go. They talked drumming for a while until the football coach was making hand gestures at Nate. Then she asked. And Patrick was there when she stumbles over an explanation of how she’s going with two, maybe three other guys and he’s there for her shocked look when Nate shrugged and said yes.
“Um,” Victoria said, watching Nate walk away. “So, ah, can Pete dance?”
Patrick laughed. “Not at all. Guess I’ll have to—Oh my fucking God Pete is coming to my fucking high school dance.”
Victoria shrugs, “You’re just picking that up now? Come on, Stump, we’ve got dress prom clothes to pick out.”
“Hey! Asher!” Gabe called and jogged over to them. “Heard you got the Wonder Twins and Nasty Nate. Sure you still want me?”
Victoria didn’t point out that she’d “got” Nate less than a minute ago. Instead she raised an eyebrow and responded. “Think I can’t handle you too, Gabriel.”
Gabe whistled low and grinned. “I guess we’ll see, huh.”
Victoria shook her head and started to walk away.
“Oh, Gabe.” She called over her shoulder. “Since you’re the last to accept you have to buy the tickets. For all of us.”
Patrick elbowed her, hissing about prices but she shrugged. “He shouldn’t’ve waited then.”
_*_
Victoria had always understood why Patrick comes home from Petevisits tired and walking funny, but she thinks her mother and stepfather really get it now. Pete had smiled sweetly and sedately at the parents, who had never officially met Pete as Patrick’s boyfriend, then exploded with energy the moment she and Patrick entered the living room.
He bounced up the stairs into Patrick’s room and stood twitching and moving until Victoria and Patrick He only stilled to sweep a thumb across Patrick’s bottom lip and kiss him sweetly. When they separated he threw himself at Victoria. Literally.
“Have we properly met? I’m Pete.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed him out of her lap and onto the floor. “You made out with me for a year and a half then dumped me for my brother. I think we’re good Pete.”
He grinned up at her. “True. But hey, prom. I hear you’re working the whole polyamory thing this year. That’s cool. Mikey and I tried that once but then Alicia and him kinda, ow! Patrick, what?”
“Haven’t we discussed you talking about your exes?” Patrick glared down at Pete.
“You talk about my exes all the time!”
“She’s my sister! And I’m in a band with three of your exes. Ryan hasn’t stopped glaring at me yet!”
“Huh,” Pete said, “what about Spencer?”
Patrick shrugged, “You know Bob? Bryar, he was in your English class. He hooked up with Spencer, right after you moved on to Mikey.”
“Oh,” Pete nodded. “What about Frankie? Patrick, ow!” Pete rolled away from Patrick’s socked feet.
“He’s coming with Gerard. Mikey invited them,” Victoria supplied.
“Is that even like…legal?” Pete asked, inching back to Patrick.
Victoria shrugged. “I guess it’s too late to tell them no now? Considering that prom is tomorrow and Mikey isn’t exactly keeping it a secret.”
“Yeah,” Pete nods but he’s staring at Patrick. Victoria rolls her eyes and leaves the room before she gets an eyeful of something unpleasant.
_*_
“Victoria, Patrick,” their mother called up the stairs. “your…many dates are here! And we’re leaving.”
“No, seriously,” Victoria said. “Why are they so cool about everything. I know we’re seniors and all but I feel like we should be oppressed somehow.”
“I feel like a pansy,” Patrick muttered, ignoring her question. She laughed.
“Whatever, it’s a little eyeliner. You made me do it, because Pete asked. So stop whining. Now come on.”
Patrick bumped into her at the bottom of the steps.
“Vic—oh. Wow.”
Powder blue. Pete stood to the side, obviously trying hard to restrain his giggles.
All four of her dates wore powder blue suits of the exact same shade that were probably older than they were.
“I didn’t know there was a uniform requirement,” Patrick said and wheezed when her elbow connected with something soft.
“You’re all idiots, you know that right?” She asked as she walked into the den.
Gabe’s wide grin told her exactly who was behind this. “Well, Victoria love, after finding out that you were going to make me pay for the tickets the guys and I decided to pool our money so only you would get a free ride. But this resulted in none of us having enough for suits. Luckily, the men of my family had great senses of fashion and very varied height ranges. So, our lady, your chariot awaits.”
She was vaguely aware of Pete and Patrick leaning against each other, trying to stay upright in their laughter but mostly she had to bite her lip to keep her smile out of grinning like a complete dork range.
“Ok,” she nodded. “Let's get to prom then. “
The ride to prom was kind of ridiculous. It’s in Gabe’s SUV, which Victoria suspects was actually his mom’s car, and the first half of the ride Nate, Alex and Ryland are squished to one side of the van, sneaking glances at her. Finally she rolled her eyes and slid over until she was tucked into Nate’s side.
Gabe laughed and Victoria was pretty sure one of them squeaked.
“Guys, seriously. I know it’s a little unorthodox but I really do like all of you,” she looked over at them. There was silence for a second, then Nate slid his hand into hers. She grinned a little bit.
“Well,” Ryland said, and Victoria was almost positive that he was holding Alex’s hand. “It’s not exactly fair that our Nate is the only one that gets access to you. Perhaps there should be some…shifting.”
So there was. With only one instance of someone falling off of a seat, when Gabe takes a turn sharper than necessary, Victoria was settled with Nate to one side, Alex and Ryland on the other. The rest of the ride was comfortably quiet, Victoria holding Nate and Alex’s slightly sweaty but mostly warm hands and Ryland’s fingertips brushing the back of her neck. She frowned, then moved forward until her knee brushed Gabe’s elbow.
-*-
Prom was a freakshow. Or their corner of it was anyway. Brian had found a pair of blood red pumps that matched his dress perfectly, and accented Amanda’s just as well. Victoria took a moment to be jealous of just how pretty Brian was before being pulled to the dance floor with Amanda.
“So you really like all of them?” Amanda asked, swinging Victoria around the dance floor, barely missing a cluster of cheerleaders and football stars.
“Yeah,” Victoria said, shrugging. Amanda was the last person to berate her for it.
“Cool. Does this mean you’ll be too tired to go shopping tomorrow? Me and Brian found this awesome place when we were looking for his shoes.”
Victoria blushed and was looking for an answer when they bumped into two men. One of which looked suspiciously like Mikey Way.
“Hey Amanda!” The Mikey-looking-one said and waved. “Are you Victoria?” He asked, though he seemed to be looking over her shoulder.
“Yeah. You’re Mikey’s brother right. And you’re Frank.”
The shorter, tattooed man nodded. “Hey, you’re the one that invited Gabe and some other people, yeah?”
She nodded, and refused to think about how Gabe knew these two. It would only lead to more blushing.
“You might wanna go save him,” Gerard said, nodding in the direction he’d been looking in since they bumped into him. “I think Alicia let Mikey loose for the night.”
Victoria turned to see Gabe and Mikey was grinding. To a Britney Spears song. She was too amused to actually be angry, but she nodded and smiled goodbye at Gerard, Frank and Amanda.
“Mikey,” She said tapping him on his shoulder.
“Vicky-T!” He looked surprised and more animated than she’d ever seen him at school. “I guess you want your date back.”
He stepped back, gave her a quick hug and walked over to where Pete was trying to get Patrick to dance.
“Hello, there,” Gabe grinned down at her.
“Gabe,” she started then shook her head. “C’mon, we need to find the rest of our dates.”
They only had to search for a few minutes before almost tripping over Ryland and Alex, who had apparently finally gotten their ac t together, judging by their matching ruffled looks. They both gave Victoria apologetic looks and Ryland assured her that it had nothing to do with their opinion of her, they’d be thrilled if her and Gabe were to join them in a bit of a night cap (this was the point in which his strange British accent slid in) and really where was Nate?
Nate was standing on the wall talking drums with a pair of 11th graders, Gabe muttered something about ninja drummers then pulled him away.
-*-
“So,” Nate said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. They were standing outside of Victoria’s house. “So we left prom early and Ryland and Alex haven’t detached faces since you came and found me. And Gabe keeps looking at me weird.”
Victoria nodded. “Yes well, Nate. I understand that your views of relationships might be somewhat skewed but sometimes when a man loves a woman very much, and then that woman loves another man, or three, they—”
“Get their shit together and go in the house. Where there are beds. And a suspiciously convenient lack of parents. Can we go in now?” Gabe asked, wrapping an arm low on Nate’s waist.
Victoria rolled her eyes. “I don’t know Gabe, I don’t feel especially loved right now. I mean, no one’s even kissed me.”
Gabe, Nate and a newly detached Alex and Ryland frowned at each other.
“That,” Nate said, “should be remedied.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Go ahead, Rock Paper Scissors will be fine.”