"Easy for you to say," Ren snapped at Hutch. "What if I embarrass her though? She'll never talk to me again. I mean, come on, just look at me! I'm at least six inches shorter than every other guy in my class."
"She won't care."
"And I'm scrawny as hell. Nothing but skin and bones. Not the sort of guy you can expect to protect you. Sure, I'm good at hiding it with my oversized sweaters and coats, but I look like a twig in this suit! You think she isn't going to care about that too?" he questioned, throwing out his hands, panic written across the wrinkles in his face.
"I guarantee it, Ren. And before you think of any more excuses to wind yourself up further, you need to take a breath and calm down. Trust me on this. You've already crossed the biggest hurdles any guy must face when it comes to asking out someone they like. The first, you asked, and she said yes. The second, is that you have her father's approval, and support. Casimir is here, in your kitchen, visiting with your mom. He wouldn't still be here if he didn't like you, at least a little. And to someone like Clara, that matters more than you will ever know."
Ren took several deep breaths, in through the nose, followed by a slow exhale through the mouth.
"You're right," he remarked, seemingly having gained some manner of control over his nervous energy. "You're right. I did get over those hurdles, thanks to you."
"I only did for you what someone once did for me," Hutch replied, from the side of Ren's bed.
"Seems he isn't much of a supervillain after all," Ren remarked, as he sat down on the chair by his desk.
Hutch shrugged. "There might be a bit of villainy lurking around in him somewhere, but I'm more convinced…" he paused, huffing before looking up at Ren with a satisfied grin, as he corrected himself. "I know. I know I was wrong about him. I spent a lifetime, viewing him through a skewed perception, that was not only bias but narrow, and it was clouded by my own ignorance. I only saw what I wanted to see, and only listened to what already fit the narrative I had. I'm almost positive that you had already realized that too, hadn't you?"
"I didn't want to say anything," Ren admitted, "but I think he's a really good guy, with a really amazing family. And I think you are super lucky to be a part of it. And me, by association; obviously. I'm glad you figured it out on your own."
"I had a bit of help, but I'm glad I figured it out too. Now, finish getting dressed. Clara's going to be here soon."
"Promise to catch me if I faint at the sight of her?" Ren asked, as Hutch went to leave his room.
"I'll be right behind you."
"Thanks."
"Anytime, Ren. Anytime," he replied, smirking as he left Ren alone to finish getting ready.
"How is he?" Stephanie asked once Hutch had closed the bedroom door.
"Nervous, as you'd expect. But I know he's going to be okay, once Clara gets here and he doesn't pass out at the sight of her."
Casimir let a faint laugh escape him.
"That would be adorable if he did though," Stephanie remarked, her cheeks warming as she looked away.
A few minutes later, Ren emerged from his room, dressed in his new suit, hair combed, tie properly tied and in place, looking like a proper young man should for such an occasion. Stephanie's eyes grew misty, as she got up from the table with a small box in hand, making her way over to where he stood. Opening the box, she pulled out an old golden tie tack with a single diamond chip at the center, interrupting the graceful curve of the design on its face.
"This was your father's. I've been holding on to it for you," she explained as she fastened it across the front of his dark blue, and silver paisley tie. "The diamond's small, but it's real. It was a gift from his grandfather the day he married me. I don't think he'd mind if you borrowed it for the night." Smoothing his tie back into place, she adjusted his collar, and swept off his shoulders. "Look at you, all grown up and off to your first winter formal, looking like you just stepped off the cover of a magazine."
"Short guy edition," Ren remarked with a smirk, as he grabbed his mom and hugged her. "Thank you, mom. It's perfect."
"Oh, easy now. Don't want you messing up your hair," she replied, promptly stepping back, and turning away, frantically fanning her eyes as she mouthed, 'It's too much!' at Hutch while hustling back to the table.
"It's pretty remarkable, how well you clean up. I can't remember the last time I saw you in anything that legitimately fit," Hutch muttered as he looked Ren up and down.
"And now you know why," he replied, straightening his back, and dawning the fakest of confident grins as he held his chin up with his hand, striking a peculiar pose. "If I looked like this all the time, I'd get bullied a lot more and I'd look amazing while it happened. For real though," he dropped the act, sinking back down into his normal self, "I look like a sapling in a suit."
"A handsome sapling in a very expensive suit," Hutch corrected him as he shifted towards his friend and wrapped his arm over his shoulder. "You my friend, need to stop worrying and just enjoy the moment. Besides, no one is going to care what you look like once they see her."
"You know, I'm starting to wonder why I'm still friends with you," he uttered as lights flashed through the kitchen window.
"For the perks," Hutch whispered in his ear. "All you need to do is smile."
"I'll certainly try."
"Oh! She's here!" Stephanie was saying as she got up from the table and hurried herself to the kitchen to look out the window. "Hutch, could you go and help her. Make sure she doesn't slip on the steps."
"I'm on it," he replied, releasing Ren, and heading for the door. Slipping on his boots, he grabbed his coat and headed outside.
Making his way to the car, he arrived just in time to see Clara setting a pair of boots into the back seat.
"Sorry, had to get my shoes on. I know my dad's in there with his camera, and I refuse to be photographed in bad footwear. These may be flats, but at least they're cute."
"Just glad you aren't in heels. Ren's basically in panic mode, at this point," Hutch said, as he offered her his hand.
"Oh, that's terrible," she remarked, blushing softly as she took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. "Especially since I can't help but find it flattering. What's he so nervous about though? He's already gotten passed the hard stuff."
"He's afraid he's going to embarrass you because he's short and scrawny."
Clara giggled, as she wrapped her arm around his and they carefully made their way towards the house. "I like the fact that he's a bit short. Gives me a reason to not wear heels. Instead, I get to be comfortable all night, while the rest of the girls are going to have blisters for the next week."
"You look stunning, by the way."
"Thanks, Hutch," she replied, bumping her shoulder against his. "I'll take any excuse I can get to spend the afternoon at the spa and salon with mom. I'm just glad that this dress still fit. I've been keeping it in hopes of getting to wear it again, and I couldn't think of a more perfect occasion. Really hoping he likes it."
"Something tells me, that isn't going to be an issue."
Even in the dim light of the setting sun, Clara looked stunning in her floor length gown. It was a brilliant red velvet, lined with black silk, and edged with a lush, thick white fur. The top remained a mystery beneath her heavy fur coat, but her hair had been curled and done up in a basket weave braid, studded with red crystals and ribbons to match the color of her eyeshadow, lipstick, and nail polish.
Ren was speechless at her arrival, his breath instantly stolen away at the sight of her. And even though Hutch had promised to be behind him in case he passed out, it was Casimir who was at his side, reminding him to breath, before giving him a firm push towards her.
"You're beautiful," he managed to gasp out.
"Not looking so bad yourself," she replied, smiling at him. "Want to introduce me?"
"Oh! Right!" he snapped out his daze. "Sorry. Just… wow," he shook his head, and turned towards his mom, "Mom, this is Clara Salvador. Clara, this is my mom, Stephanie Dodge."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dodge."
"My word," Stephanie said, her clasped hands dropping from before her face, finding their way to her chest. "It is so nice to meet you. You are just… absolutely gorgeous. That dress is incredible. Alright, come on now, side by side. Got to keep moving or I'm going to stand here gushing the night away."
"Don't forget to give me your email address so I can mail you a copy of these," Casimir commented, as he pulled a digital camera from his pocket and began to snap an excessive number of pictures of his daughter with Ren.
"Okay, okay, I think that's enough," Ren remarked, his brain finally starting to catch up with what was going on around him.
"I agree," Clara remarked, pointing at Casimir. "Enough already."
"Alright, alright," Casimir conceded, with a smile, "I'm sure at least one of these will turn out alright."
"Nonsense," Stephanie remarked. "Just looking at the two of them together, I know most of them are going to be keepers. Now don't let us hold you up any longer."
With that, Ren and Clara said their goodbyes, and headed out the door together.
Hutch had never aspired to go to winter formals, holiday dances, or proms, but as he watched through the kitchen window as Ren helped Clara back into the car, before maneuvering his way to the passenger side and tossing a wave back at his mom in the doorway before getting in, he found a strange sort of satisfaction in having been there to share in that moment with his friend.