Malorie looked up as her son Martin came in the kitchen door. "Hey sweetie, how was school?"
"Great. I aced my physics test, Mr. Shelly loved my paper on the European colonization of the African continent and I'm taking Katerina Wilson to the prom." Her son replied happily as he grabbed a pop out of the fridge.
"Hey, that's great. You worked hard on that...wait, who's Katerina Wilson?"
Martin grinned at his mother, "Remember the redheaded cheerleader you commented on last winter at the Garfield basketball game?"
Malorie turned and looked at her son, trying to hide any suggestion of disbelief, "The one with the huge...long legs?" Seeing the big grin on her boy's face, she hugged him, "I remember her. Your dad told me he was leaving me for her and I told him I'd join him. That's great! She's really beautiful." She stopped, trying to ask...
"I know, right? She's in my Physics class and we've been lab partners, so when she told me she and Craig had broken up, I blurted out the question and she said yes." He blushed, "I was actually totally shocked."
"Who's Craig? Do I know him?" His mother asked. "I mean, this isn't going to be a problem."
Martin looked suddenly serious, "Yeah, well, I hope not. Remember 8th grade, the guy who kept beating me up? I never told you his name, you've seen him. He's the quarterback on the football team. Kind of the star of the school." He grinned again, "But hey, Kat said yes, so I guess that's his problem. I'm going up to start on my math homework."
Malorie watched her son bounce out of the room. As proud of her son as she was, she knew how social dynamics work in high school...hell, in life. 'Christ, I love him, but that girl is way out of his league.' She thought.
Mark came in from the garage and kissed his wife, "How was your day? Anything exciting happen at the store today?"
"Nothing. It was quiet all morning, however, um, remember that cheerleader I sort of tease you about?"
"The redhead?" Mark felt his cock throb. He looked back at the stairs, "Um, why are you bringing her up? Perhaps a quickie before dinner? You have the red wig? Martin's out with his friends?" He pulled her in close.
Malorie gently extracted herself, "I wish, but no. He's up doing his math homework." She looked thoughtful, "Actually, when he studies, we could pretty much do anything we wanted. But, perhaps that's a good segue. You know our boy is really bright, I mean off the charts. I mean, you could say he's a nerd?" She blushed, admitting this, but seeing the questioning look on her husband's face, "Ok, so guess who agreed to go to prom with him?"
"No idea. He's been out on a few dates, but nothing ever serious. Wait! You mean the cheerleader?"
"Holy shit! If you could see the look on your face right now." Malorie laughed, "Look, this is serious. I know where your mind is now...prom night, the cheerleader. But the prom is a month away and she just broke up with the school's quarterback."
"You mean Craig Wilson? They were going together? He's going to State this fall and pretty much the pros after that." He looked at his wife, "Oh fuck. I see why you're worried. She might have said yes to simply make Craig jealous." He rubbed his face, "I really hope you're wrong." He looked back at the stairs, "I guess we'll find out." He looked at his wife, "Unless you want me to talk to him."
"No. I mean, yes, but I cannot think of what you'd say. 'Son, I heard you asked a girl out who is way out of your league. I just wanted to be sure you know what you are doing.'" She laughed, "Perhaps we're just over thinking this.
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Marty sat down in Physics lab and looked up with a grin seeing Kat walk in. His grin faded fast when she wouldn't meet his eyes. As she sat down, he looked at her, "Kat, what's wrong? You look like you lost your best friend."
Katerina looked over at the boy who'd been so good to her. Listened whenever she had fights with her boyfriends, helped her get through Math and Physics and couldn't think of what to say. Finally, she sighed and looked at Marty, "We should talk about prom. Can we walk over to Pizza Hut at lunch?"
Martin had a sinking feeling, but perhaps it's about the dress or where to go to dinner, or last-minute plans seeing as how it's just 10 days away. "Sure, that's fine."
When he came out the front door he saw Craig and Katerina talking. She pushed his arm away and apparently said something to make the larger boy back away, hands held out in surrender. As Craig passed Marty he glared at him and bumped his shoulder before heading back into the school.
Kat hugged the boy as he came up and broke away, "Come on. You're going to hate me. I feel really bad about this, but Craig came over last week and we sort of got back together."
Marty stopped, feeling all the blood rush out of his head, "What? He cheated on you. Slept with Laurie. Shit! He slept with your sister!" He looked back at the school, "What does someone say to make up for that?" He looked hard at the girl, "And you want to go to the prom with him rather than me. Is that it?" Seeing the apologetic look on her face, he spun on his heels and headed back into the school.
"Marty, Marty wait! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She cried.
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Malorie looked up as her son slunk in the front door and head immediately upstairs. 'Oh fuck!' She thought, 'He has never done that. Never not greeted me before going to his room.' She went and got water out of the fridge and headed upstairs. Knocking on the door, she opened it and saw her son face down on his bed. "Hey sweetie, how are you? Something happen today?"
"Go away, mom. Sorry, but all I want now is to just be alone."
"Ok, I brought you some water." She put it down and started for the door, "Look, you don't have to say anything, but sometimes it's good to get it off your chest. What happened? Did you fail a test? Did something happen to a friend?"
Martin looked over, "No. Everything is fine. Except..." He felt like he was going to cry and swallowed hard, "Um, Katerina got back with her boyfriend and, well, I guess we're not going to the prom." He buried his face in his pillow.
"What? Just over a week away and now she's telling you? That fucking bitch!" Malorie swore loudly, "How did you find out? Please tell me she didn't text you."
Martin turned his head hearing his mother say fuck for the first time. "No, she actually tried to be really nice about it, but Craig! Christ, the boy is a slut. He's slept with half the school and she is taking him back. He even slept with her sister." He rolled over and looked at his mom, "Why? Why do really bad people seem to always win? I mean, Leo Durocher was right 'Good guys finish last.'"
Malorie hugged her son, "I know, right? I wish there was something I could do..." She sat up, "Look, if you want me to order out, anything you want, or if you want to go out to a restaurant, let me know."
"Thanks, mom. I'll just have to deal with it..." He looked suddenly panicked.
"What is it? You just had a thought." His mom asked.
"Shit, sorry, um, I pretty much told everyone the Kat was going to the prom with me." He covered his face and groaned, "I'm going to be the joke of the school. Also, now it's too late to find someone."
Malorie shook her head and stood up. "I'm sure everyone is wrapped up in their own world, you know, graduation, other plans..." She almost said prom plans but caught herself.
"Thanks, mom, but I doubt it. Now I have to cancel the limo, the dinner reservation, the hotel room." He rolled over and faced the wall.
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Mark walked in and saw his wife drinking a glass of wine, "Ok, something's wrong. You never drink in the afternoon." He grabbed a beer and sat down next to her.
"Katerina is back with that quarterback and going to the prom with him. Christ, I knew this would happen. I knew it!"
"Look, you might have known this would happen, but what could you have done?" He looked up the stairs, "Shit, I feel like punching out that asshole Craig Wilson. That takes serious balls to steal someone's prom date."