"Courtney, will you be my date for the prom?" Billy held his sweetheart's hand as he gazed into her starry blue eyes.
"Yes," her cheeks felt hot as Billy's face broke into a shy dimpled grin.
That was five weeks ago.
Mary Bromfield had agreed to be Freddy's prom date. The girls got ready at Mary's home. The boys would pick them up from there.
Music blared as the girls danced in their tees, with face packs on.
"Can't wait to graduate and get on with life!" Grinned Courtney.
"What will you be doing?" Mary asked, sipping her soda.
"Travelling maybe? Before I take on more responsibilities at JSA.
Terry wants me to be his deputy, to lead the next generation of heroes,"
Courtney plopped herself into a beanbag.
"Thought you'd be helping Billy with League stuff," Mary quirked her freshly groomed eyebrow.
"The League wants him to start his own Justice League branch here in Philly.
With his work at Whiz Network and the JSA, he's not sure whether he can commit that much time," she bit her lip.
"If he does start a branch, I'd join him. He'd need all the support he can get."
The alarm went off.
"Boys will be here in an hour," grinned Mary. "Get moving!"
-------
The Bentley's door opened.
Out tumbled Billy, Mary and Courtney, giggling away. A crutch emerged, poking the trio. Freddy hobbled out grinning from ear to ear as he tapped the trio with his crutch. "I won."
Albert Rothstein loomed over them. He offered his hand to Courtney. "I'm chaperoning tonight," he beamed.
"Holy Moley!" Billy's jaw dropped.
"Where's your date?" Stuttered Courtney.
"You," he gave her his best puppy dog eyes.
Whack!
Albert yelped as a crutch hit his leg.
A red-faced crippled boy pointed at him, "hands off our friend you pervert, or I'll..."
"You'll what?" The giant leaned over the boy.
"Freddy, it's ok. He's an old friend with a bad sense of humour," Courtney tugged at Freddy's sleeve.
"You should have hit him harder," mumbled Billy.
"You kids, that way,' he shooed Billy, Freddy and Mary towards the hall.
"Court," I've got something to show you.
Billy tapped the giant's back. "That's my date you're hitting on."
"Hey Billy, it's ok. Al just treats me like his baby sister," she grabbed his hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
"So what you gotta show us Al?" She beamed.
Al shrugged. He hadn't planned on Billy coming along but he'd be able to shake off the reporter on the way. "You'll see. You'll love this, Court."
"Billy! Courtney!" Yolanda waved at the trio. She had just arrived with their clique. All twenty of them. Quite a few had a crush on the hunky football coach.
"Guess what? Albert here is our chaperone. He's got something really cool to show us all," grinned Courtney, waving the entire group over.
As the giant chaperone was swarmed by a gaggle of girls, Billy grabbed Courtney's hand and slipped away.
--------
The lights dimmed and music slowed.
Billy held Courtney in a close embrace as they moved to the music on the dance floor.
"May I cut in?" Someone tapped Billy's shoulder. Who else but the shameless one.
"No," replied Billy, ignoring the giant as he and Courtney continued swaying, lost in each other's arms.
"Ahem," Al tapped again.
"Don't you have a job to do, chaperoning us?" Billy replied, his eyes still gazing into Courtney's baby blues.
"You two are dancing too closely. It's not proper," Al assumed an authoritative tone.
"And it is proper for chaperones to hit on the kids?" Billy replied without looking up.
"Sorry," Mary bumped into Al, spilling a glass of fruit punch over his shirt.
"Oh no!" She exclaimed in mock horror. "I guess you have to go clean up."
-------
Albert had been practically impossible to shake off.
Yolanda offered to help. Her slinky black gown played up her hourglass figure.
"You'll both owe me for this," the cat-like girl winked at the desperate couple."
Sashaying to Al with cat-like grace, the femme fatale slipped her hand into the crook of Al's arm.
"Going for the after-prom party big guy?"
Al looked down at the feline temptress and swallowed. His large eyes widened as he took her in.
That gave Billy his opening.
He grabbed Courtney and ran with her in the opposite direction, leading her to their favourite spot in the park.
Billy seemed strangely nervous.
"Take a seat, Court," his voice was hoarse as he gestured to their favourite bench facing the fountain.
She felt a breeze, and distinctly saw red and blue blurs around them.
Something was up, she smiled to herself. Her heart raced.
Suddenly lanterns and fairy lights that weren't there a moment before lit up, turning the park into a romantic wonderland.
The fountain, now lit up in a rainbow of colours, danced to their song which played in the background.
With a huge dopey dimpled grin, Billy dropped on one knee.
His brilliant blue eyes gazed into hers as he slipped a handmade golden ring bearing an enormous diamond onto her finger.
"Courtney, will you marry me?"
Her heart beat so fast and hard. Her cheeks burnt. Tears of joy spilled from her eyes. She could barely get the word out.
"Yes," she whispered.
He picked her up and swirled her around in ecstasy.
Twin bolts of lightning struck. Mary and Freddy came out from the smoke to congratulate them.
"It's beautiful! How?" She examined the ring on her finger.
"Made it myself using super strength smack in the middle of a volcano," winked Billy.
Laughing, Courtney pulled Billy closer.
Their lips met in celebration.