Work Text:
Adjusting her tux the final bit, Yaz stared at herself in the mirror. Tonight was the night. Tonight she’d finally say those three little words to Sammy. Or not so little. She was ready and nervous. Every time she was around Sammy, her heart soared.
She grabbed the corsage she’d carefully picked out and went to Sammy’s room. Here goes nothing, she thought. Her hand shook as she knocked and her heart fluttered when Sammy told her to come in.
Yaz knew what dress Sammy was going to wear, she’d been there when they’d picked it out. A deep purple floor length dress, the neckline showing just enough to make Yaz’s knees buckle. It only had one strap, showing Yaz a muscular shoulder and collarbone. Seeing Sammy in it, all dressed up—her breath caught and she’s pretty sure her heart stopped.
“Sammy—“
“Hey Yaz,” Sammy smiled at her and Yaz melted. “You look amazing!”
Yaz’s voice was reverent when she spoke, “you’re beautiful.”
Sammy laughed and pulled Yaz in for a quick kiss. Just that brief little kiss sent fireworks off in Yaz’s head. “Is that for me?” Sammy asked, gesturing to the corsage Yaz forgot she was holding.
Yaz shook her head to clear it, “y-yeah it’s for you.” God she was so nervous. Her hands shook while she carefully placed the corsage on Sammy’s wrist.
“It’s beautiful!” Sammy said, “I have something for you too,” and then she held up a single rose and carefully placed it on the lapel of Yaz’s tux.
Yaz held her breath while Sammy adjusted it. She was so close, Yaz could smell her perfume. Sammy’s hands were on her in an almost intimate way. She had to say it now.
“Sammy?” Yaz said quietly, now was the perfect time to say it. “I—“
Sammy’s eyes went from the rose to her eyes, focusing intently.
She was abruptly cut-off by Sammy’s parents in the doorway, “aren’t you two just the cutest!” Sammy’s mom said. “Let me take your picture!”
“Moooom!” Sammy exclaimed, embarrassed. Yaz blushed.
“Come on it’ll be quick, Yaz you know your mom wants pictures too.”
Yaz laughed softly and pulled Sammy close, “yeah okay you’re right.”
They held each other and smiled for more than a few pictures. “I’ll send these to your mom Yaz, you both look so lovely.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Gutierrez.”
“And now m’lady,” Sammy said looping her arm through Yaz’s and pulling her out the door, “I believe your chariot awaits you.”
The chariot in question was in fact Sammy’s beat up old truck, but it had its charm. And so did Sammy, she even insisted on opening the door for Yaz.
The truck started with a cough and some cajoling from Sammy and then they were off.
“You know,” Yaz started, “this is my first dance?”
“Really? First one ever?” Sammy asked, totally surprised.
“Dances were never really my thing,” Yaz shrugged. “I was too busy training and I just was never really interested in going to one.”
“You didn’t feel pressured to come to this one with me, did you?”
Yaz was quick to reassure her, “what? no babe, I’m happy to be here with you and I’m so glad you asked me to come with you.”
“Good!” Sammy said, “I’m going to give you the time of your life tonight, I promise!”
Yaz laughed, “I don’t doubt it.” She hesitated a moment. “I always have the time of my life when I’m with you.” She blushed instantly as soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she sounded extremely cheesy.
Sammy noticed and laughed, “yeah that was cheesy but in a really adorable way.”
Yaz tucked her hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture, deciding she didn’t care how cheesy she sounded. “Well as long as you think I’m adorable.”
“Always, babe.” Sammy said.
Now would be the perfect time to tell her how I feel, Yaz thought to herself. “Sammy—“
Just then a deer ran into the road, forcing Sammy to slam on her breaks. One arm instinctively reached over to Yaz. Yaz held onto her.
They both sat in stunned silence for a moment. “Are you okay?” Sammy said.
“Yeah I’m fine, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Sammy replied, “I’m so sorry about that.” She hadn’t moved her arm away from Yaz. Yaz didn’t mind in the least.
“Hey it’s not your fault these roads go through their territory,” Yaz said. She took Sammy’s hand in her own and intertwined their fingers. “It’s okay.” She kissed the back of Sammy’s hand. “We’re okay.”
Sammy shook out of her shock and started driving again. “And here I thought you were the bad driver,” she smiled as she spoke.
“What?” Yaz asked, feigning offense. “I only crashed us once on Nublar.”
“Uh twice babe,” Sammy reminded her.
Yaz laughed, “I almost forgot about the gyrosphere.”
A few minutes later they arrived at Sammy’s high school. They parked and were ready to walk inside when Yaz hesitated. She was nervous.
Sammy took her hand, “hey, you’ll be great and everyone will love you and I’ll be right here the whole night, okay?”
Yaz interlaced their fingers again and smiled up at Sammy and let out a breath, “okay I’m ready.”
The theme of the prom was outer space, so the lights were dim and the ceiling was made to look like the night sky. The tabletops matched the ceiling, the lights made to look like stars—a golden yellow giving the place a nice ambiance. Curtains a deep purple, almost black. Various planets hanging from the ceiling. It was really quite beautiful.
“Wow,” Yaz said softly.
“It’s out of this world,” Sammy agreed. Yaz shook her head at the terrible pun.
“Yo Sammy!” A loud voice said from behind them, they turned to see one of Sammy’s friends coming up to them. He wrapped Sammy in a hug. She laughed and hugged him back.
“Yaz this is Reggie,” Sammy said, introducing them. “One of my best friends.”
“So glad to finally meet you!” He said, “Sammy talks about you all the time!”
“All good things I hope.” Yaz replied, feeling somewhat awkward.
“Of course, of course, not a bad thing about you at all. She adores you.”
Yaz smiled and blushed, tucking a hair behind her ear. “I adore her too.”
“Awe babe, you have a crush on me,” Sammy teased.
They laughed at that, “okay I’ll see you guys later I’ve gotta mingle.” Reggie took his leave of them.
That was how their night went, everyone coming up to Sammy to greet her and catch up and to meet Yaz. Everyone seemed to really love Sammy. She didn’t blame them.
“Who knew my girlfriend was so popular?” Yaz said at one point.
“Uh babe, we’re popular,” Sammy laughed when Yaz gave her a confused look. “We’re part of the Nublar six! We survived dino island for months! We’re kind of heroes around here.”
That explained why everyone had wanted pictures with them. “I didn’t even think about that.” She laughed at herself.
Sammy pulled her in for a quick hug, “you’re so cute.” Over the speakers one of Sammy’s favorite songs came on. “Ohh I love this song! Come on dance with me!”
Sammy pulled her to the dance floor, Yaz laughing with her at her eagerness. It was a faster song and Sammy danced with her. Sammy twirled her around and she twirled Sammy.
They kept dancing into the next song, it was slower and Sammy pulled her in close, her arms wrapping around Yaz’s waist. Yaz wrapped her arms around Sammy’s neck and they swayed slowly together, their eyes locked together.
“Sammy,” Yaz started and took a breath, ready to say something she’s been dying to say for hours. “I—“
Abruptly the music stopped and the principal came over the microphone, he tapped it a couple times, interrupting them with static. “Okay everyone, it’s our favorite part of the night. It is time to elect our king and queen! The votes have been tallied and now I will read them off.”
He made exaggerated movements opening the envelope and he smiled. “Well this is new. It looks like this year we’ll have two queens.” There was some cheering from the crowd and Yaz and Sammy looked at each other. “These two have been through a lot together, I know we all feared we’d never see them again but I am so glad they are here today. And I can’t think of anyone who deserves this more than them! Please help me congratulate Sammy Gutierrez and Yasmina Fadoula!”
They were both a little confused. “But I don’t even go here,” was all Yaz could say. “Sammy, what?”
“Don’t look at me, I had no idea I swear.” They both just kind of stood awkwardly for a moment before the crowd cheered loudly for them and they were being ushered up on stage.
“To the Nublar survivors!” The principal said happily as the crowns were brought out. The crowd cheered again and he placed the crowns on their heads. Yaz and Sammy waved awkwardly. “Now go off for your first dance as royalty you two.”
The music started again, another slow song and they left the stage. Sammy leading the way. She had one hand on Yaz’s waist, her other hand holding Yaz’s to the side. Yaz’s free hand was on Sammy’s shoulder. They danced together while the crowd looked on, but neither of them paid any attention to anyone else.
Eventually, other couples joined them on the dance floor and after a couple songs, they left the floor. They stayed for a couple more hours, just dancing and mingling, and enjoying themselves.
Eventually the night started to wind down and people slowly began to leave. Then they left too. They were walking out to Sammy’s truck, hand-in-hand. The night air was cool and the stars were bright. “I had a lot of fun tonight,” Yaz said.
“Told ya I’d show you a good time,” Sammy replied.
Yaz laughed softly. They made it to Sammy’s truck and Sammy went to open the door for her, but Yaz stopped her and pulled her around to face her. She took Sammy’s hands in both of hers and pulled her closer.
Sammy gave her a questioning look and Yaz took a nervous breath. Then Sammy smiled softly and all her nerves went away. This was Sammy. Her Sammy. This was the simplest thing in the world to do. She smiled, “I love you.”
Sammy’s eyes went wide in surprise and then she smiled even wider. She grabbed Yaz’s face in her hands and kissed her excitedly. “I love you too,” she said when she let go.
Yaz just pulled her back in, kissing her slow and deep, leaning back against the truck with Sammy pressing against her. Sammy’s arms wrapped around her waist and she wrapped hers around Sammy’s neck, holding each other as close as possible, never wanting to let go.