Kyle hadn't worn a tie in years. The last time had been for a funeral.

He was kicking himself for not thinking about clothes for the dance earlier. He'd shrugged and gone “formal dance? Yeah I've got formal clothes.” He hadn't even bothered to try them on to see if they still fit. They did, but barely. They were tighter across the chest and shoulders than they had been, and a little short in the legs. He'd been worried at first he was getting fat, but actually the problem was the opposite. Either because he'd been working out with Trevor every day, because of his physical enhancement magic, or both, he was getting taller and more muscular.

It was a lot to think about. Jenny had been in his life for what, two months? Three, at the most? And so much had changed so fast. He wondered again what exactly he'd wished for that brought all this about. Or what of it was his wish and what of it was just a side effect.

“Weird feeling isn't it?” his grandfather said, sitting down across from Kyle at the kitchen table. “Waiting on a woman. There's a whole song.”

“I'm not used to it,” Kyle admitted. “I'm not used to the tie either. And there's four of them up there.”

“Yeah but you're only waiting on one of them,” his grandfather grinned. “Unless you arranged something real special while I wasn't looking! So are you taking them all to the dance, or...”

“Grandpa!” Kyle snapped. “Stop it! Evan's bad enough.”

As if summoned by Kyle's words, there was a knock at the door.

“And that's probably him now,” Kyle said, using it as an excuse to escape the lecherous old man's waggling eyebrows. When he opened the door it turned out to not only be Evan, but Trevor too, and someone else he'd never met before.

“Hey guys!” Kyle said. “And uhm...”

“Conrad Halford,” the stranger said, extending a hand. “I'm Ammeline's date.”

“Oh right,” Kyle said, taking his hand. Conrad was only a little shorter than Trevor, and a lot more slender. Everything about him was...blonde. Blonde hair, blonde eyebrows, pale skin, bright blue eyes. He wore the suit like he'd been born in it. “Nice to meet you.”

“He came and got us in a limo,” Evan said. “A whole limo.”

“Ammeline insisted,” Conrad sighed. “Honestly, she doesn't mean to throw the money in everyone's face. I just think sometimes she doesn't realize she's doing it.”

“Plenty of people have limos tonight,” Trevor pointed out.

“Not like that,” Evan said dryly. “Can we come in yet?”

“Oh right!” Kyle said, stepping out of the way. “Come on in!”

The arrival of friends didn't change as much as he thought it might change. Now they were all sitting around waiting for Jenny and the others....together. At least there was someone to talk to besides his grandfather. In fact once Kyle had other male company the old man made himself scarce.

“So how do you know Ammeline?” He asked Conrad. “You don't go to our school.”

“No I go to Walsham's Priory,” Conrad said. “But our families have known each other forever.”

“Arranged marriage kind of deal?” Evan said. “Lucky bastard, not having to find your own women. It's cheating.”

“You literally cheated at chess to get this date,” Trevor pointed out.

“Yeah see?” Evan said. “You see what I was reduced to? And it wasn't cheating.”

“Well for what it's worth,” Conrad laughed, “finding my own women isn't something I ever thought about much. I'm just here because Ammeline's parents said she needed a date to go to the dance, and she's a friend.”

Evan just shrugged and rested his head in his hands.

“Did the girls tell you how much longer they're going to be?” Trevor asked.

“Well it was five more minutes an hour ago,” Kyle sighed.

“Don't be ridiculous,” Conrad said. “Ammeline's involved. They've been ready for at least the past thirty minutes.”

“Then why are we still here and not going up to look?” Evan asked.

“You mean check, right?” Kyle said. “Going up to check. Not go up and try to look at them while they're changing.”

“I'm flexible,” Evan shrugged.

“They'll be down in a minute,” Conrad said confidently. “Ammeline thinks in terms of entrances.”

“Ahem!” Ammeline's voice called from the top of the stairs. “Ahem-hem! Ahem! If you gentlemen will all direct your eyes this way...”

Ammaleine stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a shiny red and black dress that flowed down just below her knees. Her hair was still in its usual wide golden loops, but she'd tied them behind her in a curling ponytail. She walked down the stairs and stood at the bottom, gesturing back up to the top.

“See what I mean?” Conrad whispered.

“If I may present,” Ammeline continued, “your dates for this evening.”

Goldie came down first, her hair cascading behind her in a golden waterfall. Her dress was gold as well, made of some shimmering material that caught the light with every step, rainbows of color sliding across the golden sheen. She floated to the bottom of the stairs almost like an angel, walking right up to Evan with the click click click of high heeled shoes.

“Come on you jackass,” she told Evan. “Let's get this over with.”

“Would telling you you look beautiful tonight help?” Evan suggested.

“Not in the slightest.”

“Ahem!” Ammeline said, redirecting tension to the top of the stairs, where Betty had appeared.

It took Kyle a moment to realize it was her.

She didn't actually look much different. All she'd done was pull her hair back, and put on glasses with thinner frames. And while the dress wasn't what she usually wore it wasn't a huge change from her normal colors, just...different. Her dress was silver, and it shimmered like Goldie's but with a very different effect. Instead of a smooth surface Betty's dress was covered in studs, so the light that struck the reflective fabric scattered until it looked like she was covered in stars, or maybe she'd become some kind of sparkling gemstone. In fact that was a good way to describe everything about Betty's look for the evening. Just the same, but sparkling.

“Wow,” Trevor said. “I knew she was gorgeous but...wow.”

Betty walked downstairs and approached Trevor.

“Do you still find me aesthetically pleasing?” Betty asked.

“Are you ki---yes,” Trevor said, stifling a laugh.

“Good,” Betty said, adjusting her glasses. “Should lust overcome you, please bear in mind this dress was on the expensive side, and I would prefer it not get irreparably torn.”

“I'll try to control myself,” Trevor smiled.

And then Jenny was at the top of the stairs, and Kyle almost lost the ability to talk.

He had seen Jenny topless. He had seen Jenny naked. This was different somehow. She also wore her hair in a ponytail down her back, held in place by a brass metal tube rather than just tied. Her dress was sleeveless and backless, a waterfall of pink sequins flowing down from her neck and over her curves, sparkling with her every step down the stairs.

“Well?” She said when she finally made it to Kyle. “Do I look like a modern American girl?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” Kyle admitted. “But I know you look amazing.”

Jenny smiled, and it was like nothing else mattered in the entire world.

“Ahahahahahahahahaha!” Ammeline laughed. “Yes, they all do look gorgeous don't they? Don't forget I'm the one who helped pick out all their outfits! The beauty and magic of your dates tonight brought to you by Ammeline Trent! Though I must admit I had excellent material to work with.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“You, on the other hand, look like a drunk warthog,” Conrad said.

“Yes I did notice you had failed to comment on my beauty,” Ammeline said. “The other men in the room have dates, and it would be rude for them to admit I'm the most beautiful woman in the room, but it's part of your duties as my own date.”

“Yes wow,” Conrad said. “You are so gorgeous. Cannot believe. Much horny. I want The Sex.”

“Oh stop being an idiot,” Ammeline smacked him in the chest with the back of her hand.

“Seriously though you look great,” Conrad said.

“I know.” Ammeline turned to the others. “Alright everyone, you have all evening to stare at my handiwork in awe. For now, we're running a little late since the boys took so long to get here.”

“Since the boys-” Evan choked.

“Come on everyone!” Ammeline talked over him. “The car's waiting!”

They filed out and climbed into Ammeline's limo. And this time it was a real limo, every bit as luxurious as the car she'd taken Betty and Jenny to the mall in and twice as big. There was plenty of room for them all, and within a few moments they were on their way to the school.

“It just occurred to me it's kind of dumb to drive there,” Kevin said. “Jenny and I walk it every day.”

“But we're in these pretty dresses!” Jenny said. “They'd get dirty.”

“Besides,” Ammeline reminded him. “Entrances.”

“Evan you better watch your hands or I swear--”

“I'm not doing anything!” Evan said, holding his hands up in the air. “I was just shifting around in my seat.”

“Come on,” Trevor said. “It's a nice night, Evan, don't.”

“Why's everyone gotta accuse me?” Evan said.

“Because you are almost always guilty,” Betty pointed out.

“Alright fair, but this time I'm serious!” Evan insisted. “Something's poking into me....is this your fencing sword? Why would you bring that to a dance?”

“Ah,” Ammeline said. “Well. Consider it, uhm, a good luck charm.”

“Swords used to be traditional at dances,” Conrad said. “Part of your military uniform. And handy in case you needed to defend your lady's honor.”

“I'm your lady now?” Ammeline asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No of course not,” Conrad laughed. “I'm your lady. I'm also a complete slut so you're going to need that thing tonight, keep it handy.”

Kyle decided he was going to like Conrad.

They hadn't been paying attention to the windows, so the first they knew that they'd arrived was when the car ground to a stop. Ammeline's driver opened the door, and under her direction they stepped out in pairs.

“Alright I have to admit,” Jenny giggled. “Everyone looking at us like this is kind of fun. Maybe Ammeline has a point about entrances.”

“They're mostly looking at you,” Kyle said. “But maybe you've got a point.”

Plenty of people in the parking lot were dressed up, but most of them looked like Kevin. They'd found their formal clothes in the bottom of drawers and the backs of closets. It made it a lot easier to appreciate Ammeline's special touch. They were early, so they were through the line at the door in only a few minutes and inside the slowly filling gym, which had been lined with streamers and balloons.

“So I've never actually been to one of these,” Kyle admitted. “Not sure what we're supposed to do.”

“Me either,” Jenny admitted. “It was very different in my time. Hey look, Tanya!”

“Wait!” Kyle said, but Jenny was pulling him away towards a table in the back, where Tanya stood wearing a white shirt and black pants. She was arranging drink cups on a table.

“Hi!” Jenny said cheerfully.

“Yes,” Tanya sighed. “Hello.”

“So are you dancing with anyone tonight?” Jenny asked.

“No,” Tanya said. “I'm on the planning committee because I'm on the student council, but that's all the time I have to spend on this nonsense.”

“But I like nonsense!” Jenny said.

“I've noticed,” Tanya murmured. Then a little louder, “most people do, that's why events like this exist. Go, have your fun. And let me get on with my work.”

“But talking to you is fun!” Jenny said. Tanya put a hand over her face, and Kyle tried not to laugh as around them the dance got started for real.

“Looks like things are getting started,” Eric said, bowing to Goldie and extending his hand. “This dance, m'lady?”

“Don't say m'lady,” Goldie snapped. “But fine, I guess that's part of the bet too.”

“Of course,” Evan said. “But honestly Goldie, what I wanted from the bet was to show up with a gorgeous woman. Give that punch in the face moment to everybody.”

“You didn't want a date,” Goldie said slowly. “You wanted revenge.”

“Exactly,” Evan grinned. “So if you want to ditch me right now, that's fine.”

Goldie stared at Evan, her arms crossed in front of her.

“That earned you a dance,” she said. “One dance.”

“I can't believe my luck!” Evan said. “Surely, no man has ever been so blessed...”

“Don't press your luck jackass,” Goldie said. “Come on.”

“Hey Trevor!” the redhead said, leaning over to show off her cleavage. “I didn't know you were coming to the dance! How about we hit the dance floor?”

She had stepped right past Betty to say it, and as she talked she shifted her shoulder to kind of block Betty's view of Trevor. Aside from that, she gave no sign she knew Betty was there.

“I'm here with a date,” Trevor said, grabbing Betty's arm and pulling her closer.

“Oh she won't mind if we have one little dance!” the redhead said, barely looking at Betty. “Right?”

“No of course not,” Betty adjusted her glasses. “Trevor and I are here as friends, not lovers. However I would recommend he not do anything more than dance with you.”

“What do you mean?” The redhead asked icily.

“You purchased rash ointment from my father's clinic the other day,” Betty said. “Considering how much of your skin is revealed by your outfit tonight, I can only assume the rash in question is somewhere intimate....”

“You little--!” The redhead sputtered, taking a step back. “How dare you? That's private!”

“Yes,” Betty looked confused. “That's what I just said.”

The redhead sputtered, turned away, and stormed off. Trevor went red in the face as he tried to hold down a fit of giggles.

“Are you alright?” Betty asked.

“Yeah,” Trevor said. “I mean I might be about to burst something if you're that amazing all night, but yeah.”

“Amazing how?” Betty asked. “I was merely talking.”

“That's part of what's so amazing,” Danny said. “You don't even know what you did to her just now, do you? Not really.”

“No,” Betty said. “I do not. Should I apologize?”

“NO!” Trevor said. “No, Betty, under absolutely no circumstances should you apologize.”

“Hm,” Betty said thoughtfully. “Oh, I see. She was being rude to me.”

“Extremely,” Trevor said.

“I do not always pick up on that,” Betty said. “Evan once said he associated me with an old song lyric. “That's no way to treat someone who's feelings don't get hurt.”

“I think it fits,” Trevor said. “Anyway I kind of counted on it. Girls like Jessica would treat whoever I brought like that regardless, but I figured you could handle it. I didn't expect you to shut her down that hard though, that was amazing.”

“So I am here primarily as your bodyguard,” Betty said.

“I mean maybe?” Trevor shrugged. “Not just that, though.”

“I do not understand other people very well,” Betty admitted. “I have always felt a little bit like I was outside the world, looking in. It is true I do not feel things as much as others seem to, and I often fail to understand normal interactions. I have a much easier time understanding the world of games and stories. Those have rules you can follow, easy patterns to recognize. In the real world, I often get confused. Or miss cues that should tell me what is going on.”

“Okay,” Trevor said. “Then how about we make this simple?”

He grabbed Betty around the waist and pulled her into a kiss. She responded, with her mouth at least. The rest of her body did...nothing. She didn't go stiff in his arms, or limp, or even move. But she returned the kiss, and he was the one who pulled away.

“I see,” Betty adjusted her glasses. “If lust has overcome you--”

“Betty!” Trevor said. “Listen, I'm not saying you're not gorgeous but that's not what I was getting at.”

“I understand,” Betty said. “Mostly. But you understand I was just shot down, correct? The first time I expressed feelings for anyone else.”

“I do,” Trevor said. “I'm not trying to...dammit Betty I don't know.”

“If neither of us understands,” Betty adjusted her glasses, “then we are on equal footing. That is an unusual experience for me.”

“I suppose that's one way to look at it,” Trevor said.

“I would enjoy an attempt to dance,” Betty said.

“I think I would too.” Trevor took her arm.

“Are you sick?” Goldie asked, when they were off the dance floor taking a break. “You haven't tried to grope me once tonight. Well not since the car.”

“That wasn't me!” Evan insisted. “Look, I'm trying to be on my best behavior, alright? Unless you want me to grope you...”

“No.”

“Worth a shot,” Evan sighed. “Listen Goldie, I'm...something happened to me lately. You could kinda say I got smarter. And I took a look at where my life was going, and I didn't like it.”

“That so?” Goldie raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Evan said. “It's so. Listen, the bet...the bet got you here, I got my entrance, great. But I swear there's more to me than it looks like on the surface, okay? How about I promise not to touch you for the entire night, I mean unless it kind of happens accidentally when we're dancing and....let me try that again. I promise not to intentionally touch you for the rest of the night, and maybe we can kind of pretend this is an actual date?”

“I assumed chances to grope me were what you wanted out of this date in the first place,” Goldie said.

“I don't want that,” Evan said. “I want...more. And no, I don't mean sex I don't need the sarcastic remark.”

Goldie chewed her lip thoughtfully.

“Alright,” Goldie said. “Okay. We'll see. Tonight is a date. Impress me and you might get a second.”

“That's all I'm after,” Evan said. “Back to the dance floor?”

“Sure,” Goldie said. “Watch the hands.”

Jenny got all the attention, but Kyle didn't mind.

It kind of surprised him, that he didn't mind.

If you'd asked him before he'd have said he'd be jealous. Scary jealous. He could far too easily see himself becoming the kind of aggressive, possessive boyfriend nobody wants to be around. But when Jenny took over the dance floor with some kind of undulating dance that must have come from ancient Uzbedi, all he felt was a kind of odd pride. Here she was, drawing every eye in the room, and she'd agreed to come to the dance with him.

And there was a little vindictive joy in seeing the faces of people who'd ignored, looked down on, or even made fun of him their entire life twist with jealousy when her dance ended and she ran back into his arms. He wasn't super proud of it, but he couldn't deny it was fun.

“They like my dances!” Jenny said. “I wonder if they still dance like that back in Uzbedi?”

“I bet someone does,” Kyle said. “Modern times try to keep old traditions alive. There's probably at least a few people.”

“Good,” Jenny said. “I like a lot of things about the modern world better, but it's nice to think some of the things I remember are still around.”

The music started up again, tinkling and soft.

“This song sounds different,” Jenny said.

“Slow dance,” Kyle told her. “Come on, I can at least copy this one from what I've seen on TV.”

He led her out onto the dance floor and the pressed themselves together, moving in time to the music. A hush seemed to fall over the entire room, so much so that when they spoke it was almost in a whisper.

“Well this one's easy,” Jenny said.

“It's most an excuse to get all close like this,” Kyle said.

“We can do that at home all the time though!” Jenny giggled. “Uhm, Kyle?”

“What?” Kyle asked.

“Are you...” Jenny bit her lip worriedly. “Are you happy you found the lamp?”

“Of course I am,” Kyle said. “I met you that way, didn't I?”

“It's just...” Jenny sighed. “I've caused a lot of trouble.”

“You didn't cause anything,” Kyle said.

“But Danny...”

“Was a psycho to start with,” Kyle said firmly. “Besides, he's in jail.”