Even Now

Vada couldn't quite believe it. Alo was here. He just showed up. No having to pick him up at the airport. He was here.

She didn't have to go to the dance, but he said they must. He wanted to meet all her friends. Well, she wasn't so sure she had any to really speak of. But they went and Cody wasn't quite as moody as he'd been the past week.

Perhaps things were better with him and Ruby. He wasn't exactly talking about her, but she was with him and she was happy.

It was quite a sparkly event. Shiny snowflakes floating from the ceiling. If only it wasn't so frozen outside.

"I still can't believe you drove all the way here from New York City." Vada was serious. If she'd known, she would have worried. "I didn't even know you had a driver's license."

Alo smirked. She didn't ask for his wallet, but if she had, she doubted she would have found what she was looking for. At the moment, he was sleeping on the couch in the basement. A part of her wished he was with her, but this would have to do. She was grateful he was here. And it didn't sound like he was leaving, anytime soon. So they danced.

Nico just about lost it when Sky told him he was going off his meds, but he'd given him the keys to the old car in their father's garage that had been meant for Sky. He'd checked it out. It was running great. Sky was a little hyper, but not weird. Sky was excited to go to the Winter Formal with Josie. Nico hoped it wasn't a mistake to give the car to Sky.

"He would tell you..if..if anything was wrong. Wouldn't he?" Mitch asked when Nico got to Mitch's and they were going to settle back for another nature show.

"I hope so." Nico did feel he was not as keen on life as he used to be. Sure, life as a nurse always had its ups and downs. But he felt as if he might never get through to his brother Draco. Maybe he was forgetting who was really important to him. Mitch.

That's when he decided to spell it all out to Mitch. About Sky. His family. How his parents still didn't know he was gay.

"I bet they know." Mitch smiled as if he was glad Nico could confide in him.

"Yeah, I guess my Mom knows." Nico doubted he gave any of them anything to worry about. Especially, when Draco was around and all his domestic troubles.

"Draco still didn't go to Denver." Nico sounded as if it might be the only Christmas present he ever wanted.

"Maybe he needs to be home." Mitch told him.

Nico looked at him as if he finally understood. It was time for him to move on. He kissed Mitch. There was no time for nature shows tonight.

Jen could hardly believe this day finally arrived. An actual date with Carly. And both dressed in their prettiest red and white dresses for the dance. They'd gone shoe shopping.

Yes, it felt like freedom. At last. Jen didn't want to jinx it.

"Its just..I kept thinking..that maybe..you didn't like me.." Jen finally confessed. "You'd say we'd go out. You know, meet me here. And you'd never show."

"God, you know I always wanted to go out with you." Carly sighed. "Its just..my family." Carly rolled her eyes.

"You, don't want them to know about me?" Jen figured it out.

Carly pressed her pretty lips in a little frown and took Jen's glitter finished fingernails.

"No." Carly shook her head. "That's not it. I could care less what they think. Its ..my sister. She's back..with her little girl. And guess who has to babysit? All the time?" Carly was dead serious. "I'd rather be with you."

Jen couldn't help but smile. After all, she thought they were the best dressed there.

Maybe not. Jen looked over her shoulder.

No. There was someone everyone was looking at.

Henry's date.

Gage was certain now he must have been hanged in another life. No way could he wear a tie all night. He felt like he was in a monkey suit. But Macy's brother drove them to this so called Christmas shindig, as Gage kept referring to it. He didn't mean too. After all, Macy looked so pretty in her winter dress.

He was happy to be her date. If only the tie just wasn't so tight. But they managed their way to the dance floor. Rico stood by the punch bowl.

Gage guessed he liked the guy. He was pretty down to earth. And Gage was glad he didn't have to call him Dickie. Although, Macy's dad called him that.

He was just Rico. Sort of a fish out of water. Looking at everything brand new. Still, he was sure there was no way they could ditch him. So he took Macy dancing. First the fast ones. Then the slow ones.

He was happy to see her smile. She was his date.

Gage looked over his shoulder, once, to see Vada with someone. He didn't know who. But evidently, Vada knew him well by the way she held his hand and the way he smiled at her.

Gage had loved her once. Or so he thought so. Maybe he didn't know how. With Macy, it was different. Somehow, he wanted to be with her. Every step of the way. For better or for worse. He hugged her close as he closed his eyes. He knew he couldn't go to England this summer without her.