Frost had changed standing positions twice by the time Amber appeared. Not from the field, but across the parking lot in a chocolate-color dress that offset her hair perfectly. Frost was sure he’d seen her at dances before, but really looking as she approached, even in the dark he was sure his jaw slackened. He reeled it in and stood straight, as he realized she’d managed to get to the lot, and change somewhere without anyone being the wiser. He also silently thanked his mom for suggesting the maroon button-down instead of something brighter.

“Good evening Amber,” He stepped forward as she approached, “you look amazing.”

“You came.”

She stopped just outside of easy reach, the words both accusation and question. Frost reminded himself he was a senior, talking to a junior. He swallowed audibly, the reassurance meaningless.

“I did. I realized,” he continued cautiously, “I couldn’t remember seeing you with the team before.”

“Mm.”

No words, as such. All the same Frost heard loud and clear. So it had been deliberate. That joined the jumble of other questions pushing and shoving to be asked first.

“At any rate,” he took a slow step forward, offering his arm, “shall we?”

His heart jumped, which was weird. Amber eyed the proffered limb, a small riot of emotions crossing her face. Where offering the arm gave a thrill, it was nothing to what he felt as she threaded her arm through his. Did her cheeks pink? Hard to tell in the dark, but he thought so. Made a point of not looking too long.

“Are we actually getting to the dance some time tonight?”

“Right, sorry.”

Frost ducked his head. He’d never felt so flustered before. Grant, he’d never walked a girl he’d slept with to a school dance either. He breathed rhythmically, reaching for his center of calm as they walked. Hadn’t found it, and wasn’t sure why, by the time they reached the school. Beside him Amber was in full Cheer Captain mode, chin high and utterly unflappable. No way. There was no way that all those inconsistencies could point to… Surely, she’d react to being on his arm, which she wasn’t. He certainly was. The electric thrill running up and down his spine was a little terrifying. Forget palms, his whole arm had to be sweating the way her touch was setting off his senses.

They reached the dance. Space created itself around the two of them, those in the vicinity pausing to look, be impressed by Amber and note her date of the day. Frost found himself still having trouble focusing beyond the hand on his arm. Peripherally, he remembered how he hadn’t been thinking too clearly in the park either. Did she have this effect on everyone? Seemed the kind of thing Jess would be able to-

“Frost. Were we,” Amber wasn’t looking at him. Weird. “Going to dance, at this dance?”

“Oh. Yes, please. Shall we?” Wow, good job Frosty.

Shaking his head, Frost led her away from the periphery into the room proper. Various high schoolers bumping, jumping and in general doing things they labeled dancing that still made room as they passed. Frost didn’t notice, but a few didn’t even realize they were doing so.

They reached the middle of the floor, the DJ conveniently starting something you could waltz to and Amber stopped. Her hand dropped away as he turned to face her, the awareness of her presence receding but not disappearing. She did not look up and it was with some surprise that he reached for her hands. Frost told himself to remember to thank his mother later for seeing he learned to dance ‘properly.’

The tingles surged back in with a vengeance. Frost remembered intending to lift her hands to a Waltz hold. Her hands dropped away and he looked around. Blinked and looked again. The room was mostly deserted, people starting to pack up the drink table and DJ equipment. Had he missed the whole dance? Surely there’d been more than time for one song when they got there.

“Sorry.”

Frost turned to Amber, looking much smaller than before with her hands together in front of her.

“Why?”

“I didn’t let you,” her words were a whisper he had to lean in to hear, “get a drink.”

Frost became suddenly aware he was incredibly thirsty. He checked his watch. Over an hour since they got to the dance. Where had it gone? Frost shrugged with a smile.

“It seems time really does fly when you’re having fun. Looks like the party’s over. Can I give you a ride home?”

Amber did look up then, the strength of her gaze pushing him back a half-step. She searched his eyes, and he almost formed the words to ask what for when she looked down again. Gave a tiny nod.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Frost sucked in fresh air, getting lungs going again. Wondered anew just what was going on as he offered his arm once more.

“Mi’lady. Do you mind if we stop by the fountain on the way out?”

“No.”

Her hand rested on his arm, and again that tingling warmth made laps through his nervous system.

Later, safely in the car, Frost risked a glance at his date before pulling out onto the street.

“Where to?”

“Head for the bench.”

As the lady said. He nodded and headed for the bench. So his friend was right after all about her being monied. Made sense with all she did. Explained having a new dress for half of Homecoming.

“So,” Frost cleared his throat carefully, “Amber.”

Frost was all too aware of her. He felt less and less bad about giving into … whatever happened that night. Conversely, he felt even less purposefully manipulated. He knew this would be his only chance tonight if he was going to ask anything. He’d meant to probe a little during the dance, but clearly that didn’t happen. At least, he didn’t remember doing that, so it didn’t matter if he had.

“I suppose you want to know about… that night.” She stared straight ahead.

“Oh,” he reached behind her seat for a little bag, “and give this to you.” She eyed it skeptically a moment, before tucking it into her pack and turning forward again. Frost took a deep breath, “Yes, I would. At least what happened.”

“What do you think happened?”

Her venom had him leaning far to the left. Careful, Frost. He quelled the urge to retort.

“Yes, there’s that.” He tried for calm, “Where does the tattoo fit in? And if it’s possible to say, why?”

“I didn’t mean for it to be you.”

Suddenly, Amber was just a normal, hurting teenage girl. Shoulders slumped she leaned forward in her seat and wrapped her arms around herself. Frost hurt inside without even looking at her.

“Amber,” easy now to be gentle. He wondered where the anger had gone so quickly. “You said that then. I think I believe you.”

“You do?”

A glance took in a sight that nearly made him forget the road. Amber, hunched and hugging herself, looking up at him with big eyes, tears in the corners and rolling down her cheeks. In that moment he couldn’t have condemned her, given irrefutable proof of her guilt.

“I do. But,” he continued quietly, “that doesn’t answer why it happened. Not something you’ve-“ he stopped himself from saying done and re-phrased, “had happen before.”

“Oh,” she laughed bitterly, “sure I make a habit of defiling boys in the park. Especially se-“ Whatever she was going to say further she cut off. Pulling up her legs she put her head on her knees.

“Like I said, only time. Do you know,” he’d worked on this. Framing it as a question that didn’t assume her culpability, “why it happened?”

“I am,” she gave a delicate cough, “my mother’s daughter.”

“Um-“

“Trust me Frost.” She was slightly muffled talking to her knees, “this one, you would not believe if I told you.”

“You’re an alien.” In his periphery he could see her head snap up and smiled as the sorrow he felt inside grew cracks. “You, plural, have studied us, determined charm works better than violence. You are the vanguard to lull us into complacency before the coming of your people as our new overlords.”

“What?”

“Witchcraft? Are you a survivor of Salem? Nah, too pretty and who in their right mind would go through the teen years a seco-“

“Frost,” she warned. But he had a head of steam now.

“I know! Transformer. Wait, that’s just the alien thing again. You’re from the future! This is all one major history project.”

“The future, really? A time traveller would pick this high school, in the early 2000s?”

“Maybe all the other kids picked first and got the really interesting periods. Or something big is about to happen here.” He waggled his eyebrows, still careful to watch the road.

“Uh-huh.”

“Ooooh. You’re a mutant. Am I driving you back to the X-mansion?”

Actually, that one didn’t sound that crazy, once he said it. The right one of those could do a lot of what he now associated with her. It would definitely explain what everyone who’d crossed her ended up doing to themselves. He risked a look across. Amber wasn’t crying anymore, just staring at him like he’d grown a third head.

“What, I got it right? I admit that one makes the most sense. So you’re a… telepath? Is there anything else you can do?”

“I cannot read minds.”

Frost could not work out what he was feeling. There was a lot of emotion there, but it was all over the map. His insides hadn’t felt this out of control since middle school.

“Sorry. It just seemed to fit the best. Hmm. Super-charged pheremones and a dollop of cat reflexes?” He pursed his lips, “phasing, maybe?”

“Fay what now?”

“Walking through walls. Like Kitty Pryde.”

“Uh-huh.” She didn’t get the reference. “No.”

“Mm.” He looked over as a passing streetlight highlighted her vibrant green tresses. “Ooh, Poison Ivy!”

“EX-CUSE me?”

“Okay, no,” wow. Her displeasures had hit him like a physical force. “Sorry. I-“

“You are Not imagining me in that getup.”

“I -“

Well that’s interesting. He hadn’t meant to, but the thought of course popped in as soon as he said it. Now it was gone. Consciously trying to visualize it yielded blank space. That was plain weird.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You can drop me off here.”

“Here? Is this-“

They were at the top of the hill and he’d been about to ask for further directions. Pulling off to the side, he looked across. Amber offered no further explanation, opening her door to leave.

“Thank you,” she didn’t look at him, “for the dance.”

“My pleasure, Amb-“

In one smooth motion she exited and shut the door. Frost could no longer see her nor where she’d gone. At a loss to explain this latest vanishing act, he shook his head and headed slowly homeward. That could have gone better.