Title: Formals & Friends

Author: Dontia

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the plot.

Spoilers: None

Rating: R but barely

Summary: Prom fic in my Michael and Tess universe.

Notes: Sequel to "Bunnies & Eggs".

Feedback: It’s the circle of life. I love to write, you love to read. Tell me you love reading, I’ll continue to love writing.

Dedication: To Lisa, without whom this prom fic would not exist.

***************************************

A few days before the Roswell Junior/Senior Prom, Liz approaches Max at lunchtime. "Hi."

Max looks up from his solitary meal, surprised. "Hi."

"I think we should talk."

"Okay. Sit down."

"Look Max, I won’t pretend I’m not still hurt that you kissed Tess without her using some alien thing to make you."

"I explained why I did it."

"I should be more important to you than keeping Michael and Tess apart. And much as I love Maria, keeping me happy should be more important to you than making her happy."

Max looks down guiltily.

"But I’ve been thinking," says Liz. "You didn’t mean to hurt me, no one did. You thought I’d understand why you did it."

"Do you understand?"

"I’m trying. I love you Max and I wanna put this whole mess behind us."

"So do I."

"What do you think of going to the prom? It can be our first official back together date."

"I’d like that."

***************************************

After school, Kyle tracks Isabel down in the parking lot. "What are you doing out here?"

"Waiting for Max," says Isabel. "He’s gonna give me a ride home before going to rent a tux. Liz forgave him, so they’re going to the prom together."

"Who are you going with?"

"I’m not, no one asked me."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Why’s that?"

"Have you looked in a mirror lately? Guys should be lining up."

"Well they’re not. Who are you going with?"

"Haven’t asked anyone yet. It’s kinda hard to get to know someone when I’m a member of the ‘I Know An Alien’ club."

"It’s really hard when you have to rush off to save the world but can’t tell them, so they think you’re ditching them."

"Yeah, this whole alien thing puts a serious damper on a social life. You wanna go?"

"Go where?"

"To the prom."

"With you?"

"There someone else standing here I don’t know about?"

"Why do you wanna go with me?"

"You’re blonde?"

"I’m serious."

"So am I. Look, fun’s been missing in my life lately. I get the feeling you could use some too. Since Roswell doesn’t offer many opportunities for fun, we have to take what we can get."

"So if we skip the prom, we’ll be missing out."

"And with our lives, who knows when another opportunity for fun will present itself? What do you say?"

"I’ll go to the prom with you."

***************************************

At the Crashdown, Alex walks into the back room. He sees Maria sitting on the sofa, her eyes closed. He notes how tired she looks as he sits next to her, careful to keep space between them. "Hey."

"What are you doing here Alex?"

"Looking for you. Haven’t seen much of you lately."

"I’ve been busy."

"Or you’ve been avoiding me. Maybe we should talk about it."

"We really shouldn’t."

"Fine. What are you doing Saturday night?"

"I’m gonna see if I can get an extra shift from Mr. Parker."

"Or you could come to the prom with me."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Come on, we’re still friends, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, what kind of friend would you be if you let me stay at home, wallowing all night because Isabel’s date is Kyle?"

"Isabel and Kyle are going together?"

"I heard them talking about it. What do you say?"

"I don’t feel like watching Michael and Tess all night."

"So don’t. You can help me watch Isabel and Kyle."

Maria laughs. "All right, I’ll go with you."

***************************************

At their apartment that night, Tess looks at Michael in frustration. "It’s just one night."

"A wasted night that I’ll never get back," says Michael.

"You’re saying a night spent with me is wasted?"

"That’s not what I meant and you know it."

"Please?"

"Why is this so important to you?"

"It just is. I want to spend the night dancing in a beautiful dress with you in a tuxedo. Is that wrong?"

"I guess not. Tess, the thing is…"

"What? You have some moral objection to dancing with me? If it’s the tux, you can wear just a suit or whatever you want."

"It’s not that. I can’t dance Tess, at all. I tried to learn but I’m hopeless."

"Is that all?"

"I have no intention of making a fool of myself in front of the entire school."

"I don’t need you to," says Tess. "I’m not looking forward to the fast dances, but slow ones. Do you know what slow dancing really is? It’s foreplay set to music. We’re going to the prom for that."

"Foreplay indicates it’ll lead to something. We agreed-"

"That’s why I wanna go to the prom and dance with you. It’s the best I’m gonna get for a while."

"Fine, I’ll take you to the prom."

***************************************

The night of the prom, Kyle’s sitting at the counter of the Crashdown. He shudders as he watches his father with Amy Deluca. "I’d say get a room if I didn’t think they’d take me up on it."

Michael walks in and joins him. "Hey."

"What’s up?"

"Did Isabel tell you when she and Tess would get here?"

"I asked. Her answer was that they’d show up when they’re finished getting ready."

"So they’ll be here when they feel like it."

"Basically."

Jim walks up to the counter and asks for two sodas before turning to Michael and Kyle. "Where are your dates?"

"They’re meeting us here," says Kyle, running a finger between the collar of his shirt and his neck. "I’m still tryin’ to figure out why we have to wear these things."

"The question all men ask at one time or another," says Jim, picking up the sodas a waitress sets in front of him. "Eventually, you’ll come to the conclusion every man does."

"What’s that?" asks Michael.

"We do it to make the women happy. Talk to you boys later."

***************************************

In the back room of the Crashdown, Max looks through the window of the door to see Michael talking with Kyle. He starts to go say something to them when Maria comes downstairs from Liz’s room. They look at each other in silence.

Alex enters and things become even more uncomfortable.

"This is ridiculous," says Max, after a long moment.

"You’re right," says Alex. "It never happened."

Maria nods in agreement. "Easter never happened. I’m gonna go…talk to my mom. Liz will be down in a minute."

Maria escapes through the swinging door. Alex mumbles something and follows. Max sits on the sofa and puts his head in his hands.

***************************************

The front door of the Crashdown opens, the bell jingling as Isabel and Tess enter in their formals.

Michael looks up and spies Tess in an ice-blue gown that matches her eyes. Unable to speak, he walks over, slips the blue-lily corsage on her wrist, and kisses her hand.

"You look good," says Tess, smiling at the love in Michael’s eyes.

"I wish I had the words to describe how beautiful you are," says Michael.

"So I leave you breathless?"

"Definitely."

"Good."

"How about we skip the prom and go home so I can paint you?"

"Or we go to the prom and you paint me another night."

"Can’t blame me for trying."

"Relax, no one will notice how badly you dance."

"Thanks a lot."

"You’re welcome."

A few feet from them, Kyle and Isabel are checking each other out.

"I’m gonna be the envy of every guy there," says Kyle. "You look stunning."

"Thank you," says Isabel. "You don’t look so bad yourself."

"So you want me."

"In your dreams."

"You star in them every night."

"That’s disgusting."

"How? I didn’t tell you what we’re doing in my dreams. But it’s interesting what your mind immediately jumped to."

"That’s because that’s where yours usually is."

"You know I’m getting to you."

"You wish."

"Do you really wanna know what I wish Isabel?"

Isabel licks her lips at the intense look in Kyle’s eyes. Before either of them can say another word, Amy comes over.

"Come on you guys," says Amy. "I want to take a picture of all of us together."

Amy groups all of them together and has one of the waitresses take the picture. When the flash goes off, the picture is of Jim and Amy on one end, their arms around each other. Kyle and Isabel are next to them, standing close but not touching. Michael has his arms around Tess’ waist, and she’s leaning back into his chest. Alex and Maria are standing next to them with their arms linked, Alex standing closest to Michael and Tess. On the other end are Max and Liz, with Max standing next to Maria, Liz on the end. They’re all smiling or laughing because of a joke Amy just told.

***************************************

At the prom, Michael and Tess are on the dance floor. They have their arms wrapped around each other and are slowly swaying to the music as they have been for several songs. This is causing several of the chaperones to frown at them as this song, like the previous one, has a fast beat.

Finally, the vice-principal walks up and taps Michael on the shoulder. "I think it’s time you came up for air, don’t you Mr. Guerin?"

Michael rolls his eyes before meeting the vice-principal’s gaze. "We were just gonna get some punch. Come on Tess."

As they head to the punch table hand in hand, Tess giggles. "You showed a lot of restraint. I thought you were gonna say somethin’ to him."

"A month and a half, then school’s out. I can make it ‘til then. Besides, the entire school knows we live together. Wonder what difference he thinks not dancing like that is gonna make?"

"Maybe he’s worried we’ll set a bad example for the others."

"Whatever. Just confirms my theory that almost all authority figures are stupid."

"Better watch that theory. Remember, we were the authority figures on our planet."

"I used the word almost. Come on."

"I don’t wanna leave yet."

"We’re not. I wanna kiss you but if they freaked out over a dance, I don’t think kissing will go over well."

"Probably not." Tess lets Michael lead her out of the gym.

***************************************

As a song ends, Liz smiles as she takes Max’s hand and leads him over to Maria and Alex.

"You guys having fun?" asks Liz.

"Yeah," says Maria. "You look happy."

"I am. Now that everything’s out in the open, I think we’ll all be all right."

Liz reaches down to adjust her shoe, so misses the uncomfortable and guilty glance Max, Maria, and Alex exchange.

Liz stands upright and smiles. "Max, could you and Alex get us some punch? I need to talk to Maria."

"Sure," says Max before he and Alex walk to the punch bowl.

"What’s up?" asks Maria nervously, stomach tight with tension.

"I wanted to say I forgive you," says Liz. "I know you and Max weren’t trying to hurt me."

"You do?"

"Yes. You were jealous over Michael and Tess. The fact that I would be hurt never crossed your mind."

"No it didn’t. I would never hurt you Liz, not on purpose. I want you to always know that."

"I do. We’ve been best friends forever Maria. One little mistake isn’t gonna change that."

"I hope not," whispers Maria as she and Liz hug.

Max and Alex rejoin them.

"Everything okay?" asks Alex.

"We’re good," says Liz. "And I wanna dance with my other best friend. Max, you and Maria dance together while I dance with Alex."

Liz drags Alex off, leaving Max and Maria behind.

Max clears his throat. "We should dance. Liz will notice if we don’t."

Maria nods. "All right."

They begin dancing to the slow tune, barely touching and as far away from each other as possible that can still be called dancing together.

"This is stupid," says Maria. "We agreed that it didn’t happen."

"But we know it did," says Max quietly.

"It shouldn’t have. Do you know Liz just forgave me for my plan with Michael and Tess? If she finds out about this-"

"She won’t."

"She will if the three of us keep acting weird around each other. I’ve already lost Michael, I can’t lose Liz too."

"You won’t. Liz will never find out."

***************************************

In the eraser room, Michael is plundering Tess’ mouth with his tongue. He lifts her up, bracing her back against the wall as he pushes the skirt of her gown up until her legs fit comfortably around his waist. He moves his body as close to hers as possible, but still can’t get close enough.

As Michael releases her lips and moves his mouth down her throat, Tess moans. "What’s gotten into you?"

"Am I doing something you don’t like?" asks Michael, pulling back a little.

"NO! It’s just, you said you weren’t ready."

"I’m not, I just need to touch you."

"Okay. Just checking."

Michael smiles before capturing her mouth again. He caresses her outer thigh before sliding his hand up her ribcage. Just as he’s about to cup her breast with his hand, the door opens.

"What the hell is goin’ on in here?" asks Jim.

Michael uses his body to shield Tess from view as he lets her slide to her feet. Tess pushes the skirt of her dress down and smoothes her hair before pushing past Michael.

"Hi," says Tess, smiling brightly at Jim and Amy as she and Michael walk out of the eraser room. Michael stifles a laugh at the pure innocence shining from her. "We were just-"

"I know what you were just doing," interrupts Jim. "I’m not that old."

"Far from it," whispers Amy in his ear.

"We got a little carried away," says Michael. "Won’t happen again."

"Won’t it?" asks Amy. "You two are living together."

"We’re not having sex," says Tess. "We’re waiting."

"You expect us to believe that?"

"Yeah. I mean, Michael’s really stubborn and he’s the one holding out."

Jim almost laughs at the miserable expression on Michael’s face. He stops himself as he remembers that he’s the adult here. "I think we need to talk Tess."

"Do we have to?"

"Yes."

"While you’re doing that," says Amy, "I think Michael and I will have a talk of our own. Come on."

Michael has a ‘deer-caught-in–the-headlights’ look on his face but dutifully follows Amy down the hall.

Jim clears his throat. "Tess, you’re different from other young women your age but some things are similar, like the way hormones affect you."

"I told you Michael’s holding out," says Tess. "We’re not gonna have sex for a while."

"What happens if he can’t hold out anymore? Have you thought of that?"

"Uh huh, it’s the day my dreams come true."

"There are a lot of risks involved. You have a mission that could be severely compromised if you got pregnant."

"We’ve discussed birth control in detail. When it does happen, we’ll be as safe as possible. And one of the things I love about Michael is that when I do have his baby, he’ll be the greatest father you’ve ever seen."

"I’m worried about you."

"I know, and I love you for it. But I’m not approaching this like an in-love, hormonal teenager, neither of us are. We’re weighing everything, including the risks to our future and our responsibilities to our home planet. I promise you, we’re not rushing into anything. Are we done?"

"For now."

Tess smiles and hugs Jim. "Thanks for worrying."

Michael and Amy come back toward them, Michael looking pained.

"We’re gonna go back and dance," says Michael, grabbing Tess by the hand and pulling her away before Jim and Amy can give them a joint talk.

"That bad?" whispers Tess.

"I never want to do that again. I’d rather dance."

Tess laughs, Michael joining her as they walk back to the gym.

***************************************

"Tonight’s been nice," says Isabel as she and Kyle dance.

"All the fun I promised?" asks Kyle, his arm tightening around her waist.

"And then some."

"So you’d do it again? With me?"

"Reserving a date for next year?"

"I was shooting for next Friday."

"If I went out with you, where would we go?"

"Wherever you want."

"I see. Is money an object?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"How soon you’d want me to afford a second date."

Isabel laughs, leaning her head back. Kyle’s mesmerized by the column of her throat. Acting on impulse, he leans forward and kisses her neck. When Isabel becomes really still, he pulls back and looks into her eyes.

"Sorry," says Kyle. "I shouldn’t have…I should’ve asked-"

Isabel cuts off his words with her lips. Kyle pulls her closer and deepens the kiss.

***************************************

Jim and Amy enter the gym a couple minutes after Tess and Michael. The first thing that meets Jim’s gaze is Isabel and Kyle kissing on the dance floor.

Amy grabs his arm. "We’ll take care of it later."

"But-"

"It’s not an isolated problem. Look at all of them."

Jim looks away from Kyle and Isabel, still kissing. He sees Michael and Tess on the dance floor, almost as close as they were in the eraser room. He notices Max and Liz dancing just as close. Even Maria and Alex look very chummy as they laugh at one of the tables, Maria on Alex’s lap.

"What do we do?" asks Jim.

Amy sighs. "We can’t handle it alone. We’ll call everyone’s parents tomorrow and discuss it. Then we’ll sit down with the kids and talk to them."

"Okay, we’ll handle it that way. In the meantime, dance with me."

"I thought you’d never ask."

***************************************

THE END