[h3] Dean [/h3]

Dean tapped his foot nervously on the bottom step, waiting for Esme to call back to him and hopefully confirm that she was coming down. He was more than excited to see Esme in her dress, as he wasn’t 100% sure which one she had decided on. What he did know, was she would look gorgeous no matter what, and the thought made his heart flutter as she finally called down to him that she would be down soon. Dean glanced over at the clock on the wall and then he turned his eyes back to Duke briefly, watching him adjust his hat in the mirror…over and over, as if it was going to change with a few centimeters of shift.

As he was watching Duke, he caught the sound of the door opening at the top of the stairs, and his eyes darted toward it, standing a bit straighter at the bottom of the old creaky wood stairs. He shifted his shoulders nervously when Esme walked out and his heart leapt into his throat. His mouth dropped slightly open as it went completely dry and he forced it closed after a couple of seconds, swallowing hard at how absolutely gorgeous she looked.

“Um…hi.”  Dean muttered quietly, his voice hoarse as she descended the stairs and finally stood in front of him. Her compliment only made him blush, on top of his overwhelm, his gaze turning almost dopey as she reached up and fixed his hair. He knew he had some really strong feelings for Esme, but standing in front of him…looking like this…he would chop off his right hand and give it to her in gift wrap, if she asked him to. “Um…thanks. I showered…”, he muttered awkwardly.

As she turned and talked to Duke, Dean let his breath he was holding out in a huff and he straightened his jacket awkwardly, until Esme came back to him, complimenting him again. He honestly didn’t know how she could say anything about him looking good, in that dress. He was swimming as she teased him, and then leaned in and kissed his cheek.

“I um…I don’t think you have to worry about me lookin’ at anyone.” He drawled out in almost a whisper as she wiped the lipstick from his cheek and broke him from his haze by asking if they were ready to go. Dean cleared his throat and he nervously fixed his sleeves, fidgeting with the cuff links before nodding, “I’m ready when you guys are…”

[h3] Duke [/h3]

Duke turned back and forth in the mirror, staring at himself all the way from the top of his cowboy hat, down to his boots that were nice and shiny and black and definitely matched the vibe of the evening. He brought his arms up in front of the mirror and smiled at the diamond cuff links in the shape of Texas, which was his home state. It was a little reminder of Bobby’s love for him, bringing tiny reminders of Duke’s background up…at least the happier parts.

Duke rolled his eyes as Dean called up to Esme, accusing him of being full of himself in the mirror. He was just surprised…that’s all. When the door upstairs opened, Duke glanced toward the ceiling, but he leaned into the mirror and adjusted his hat again, wanting it to look perfect when Esme came downstairs. For whatever reason, he wanted to look just as good for her as Dean did. Maybe he would get a dance or two out of it. When he heard her make it to the bottom of the stairs, he turned and he furrowed his eyebrows seeing the unfamiliar dress. All the colors of the dress were a mixture of his suggestions, which caused his heart to swim around in his chest, catching his breath in his throat as his mouth fell open and he instantly became fixated on her.

He barely even noticed that Bobby had placed a hand on the back of his neck, trying to keep him from gawking, “Wow…”

“Don’t gawk…remember?” Bobby whispered in his ear. But when Esme turned to him and she smiled, Duke’s arms went numb. Her compliments only made the blood rushing through his ears a bit louder, and it took him a moment…and a tight squeeze of Bobby’s hands for him to think of anything to say.

“I think I told you so, didn’t I?” He teased, managing to bring his signature wide smile onto his face, now less obscured by his hair. His brain tumbled around the idea that women would be falling all over him.

‘The only one I wanna dance with is you’

Before his lips could utter the words, and ruin the moment, Duke pressed his lips tightly together and he shifted his shoulders, almost glad that Esme turned back to Dean and gave him a moment to collect himself. Bobby chuckled and shook his head at Duke, causing Duke to shoot him a glare.

“Sorry. Having it bad is a bit of an understatement here, don’t you think?”

“You shut your mouth.” Duke grumbled at Bobby, elbowing him gently to push him away. Duke straightened up and he did his best to loosen his shoulders, bringing some of his careless swagger back into them as Esme asked if they were ready to go. He tipped his hat at her, but Bobby straightened up and rocked onto his toes a bit.

“I’m not gonna lie, seein’ you guys like this is nice. All three gettin’ along. It’s an in and out case. No one should be bleedin’ tonight. I feel a bit like you’re off to the prom.” Bobby teased back to Esme, before stepping toward her, placing a soft kiss to her forehead, “And you’re gonna be the prettiest girl in the room…count on that.”

At the mention of a photo, Bobby raised a finger and he nodded, “I think that’s a great idea! I like to keep them around the desk and all that.”

“Really? Prom photos?” Dean complained, but Duke took the opportunity, as Bobby pulled his camera from a drawer of his desk. He took a few steps forward, and wrapped an arm around Esme’s waist, his heart racing a bit at the touch, but he pulled her into his side and nodded to Dean. Dean grumbled a bit, but he stepped over and wrapped his arms around Esme, one of his hands under Duke’s awkwardly.

“Now, everyone smile. Sandwich her in there…” Bobby chuckled, before taking a few photos, with the boys both seeming to compete over where to put their hands. Bobby tilted his head and then he shook it, setting his camera on the desk. “Alright. Get out of here. Dean has my card. And you guys be careful…no drinkin’ and drivin’. You call ahead.”

“Wait…” Duke muttered, looking up at Dean with his head tilted. He and Dean communicated silently for a moment, and finally, Dean released Esme and let Duke pull her around the corner toward the kitchen. Duke rummaged through his jacket pocket, and he pulled the necklace he had stolen earlier in the day, along with the bracelet, “My contribution. I think, not like you need the help, they’ll bring out those pretty blue eyes. Don’t ask where I got them…I got sticky fingers. But, I couldn’t help think of you when I saw them…”