Disclaimer: If I owned them, Chad would have better timing.

No one was supposed to be home. In fact, no one was supposed to be home for hours yet. So, upon hearing someone moving around in the kitchen, Troy cautiously made his way there, only stopping to grab a baseball bat out of the hall closet. Flipping into the well lit room, Troy was ready to swing until he heard a familiar laugh. Dropping the bat down to his shoulder, Troy faced his big sister.

“Halley, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at college?”

Laughing, she took a bite out of her sandwich before replying. “Laundry day. Home comes with free food and I don’t have to use quarters. Besides, I’m a Lobos, Swingman. Not exactly far from home.”

“Ha, ha,” he mocked, dropping the bat in the corner. Moving around the island, Troy pulled the sandwich makings towards him and started on his own sandwich.

Jumping up on the counter next to him, Halley decided to tease her brother. “So, Mom tells me you’re in a musical.”

“Yeah,” he absently replied, more intent on his sandwich than his sister’s conversation.

“She said you had to audition in pairs.”

“That’s right.”

“She also said you’re in love with your partner.”

This caused Troy to take notice. Seeing his deer-in-the-headlights-look, Halley smiled. “So, have you told her?”

“Told her what?”

Laughing, she said, “Don’t play dumb with me, little brother, you’re very bad at it.”

Sighing, Troy went back to making his sandwich, but did say, “No, I haven’t.”

“Why not? Dad says she’s nothing like the spandex.”

Troy grinned at that. Halley was right. All those girls who wanted to be with him because he was a star, tried to drape themselves on him like spandex. He even thought of them that way since the first time she called them that, when he was a freshmen and she a senior.

“No,” he replied, grinning dreamily and trying, but failing, to the lid back on the mayo.

Seeing her brother’s mind wandering, Halley took the mayo and put the lid on with a deft twist as she asked, “So, what is she like?”

“She’s smart and funny. She has a great voice. She’s beautiful. She could do anything she wanted.”

Halley rolled her eyes and taking away the sharp knife before Troy could cut his fingers off with his inattention.

“Do not tell me East High’s Playmaker Dude doesn’t think he’s good enough.”

Leaning back against the counter, Troy nodded his head. “I’m not. She deserves so much better than me. I’m just a jock who can make baskets. Gabriela is brilliant. She led the Scholastic Decathlon Team to victory.”

Dropping her sandwich on the counter, Halley hopped down so she could look her brother in the eyes. “Troy Jacob Bolton, I’m only going to say this once, so you had better listen, got it?” After his nod of agreement, she went on. “Okay, just because you’re a jock doesn’t mean you are stupid. In fact, you have to keep your grades up to be on the team and Dad, being Dad, is harder on you than anyone else. Trust me, I remember. Obviously, you can hold your own in conversation with her or you wouldn’t be friends. So, as my roommate Julie would say, grow up, be a man, and tell her how you feel.”

“You really know how to take the romance out of something, you know that,” Troy replied with a grin before going back to his sandwich.

Lightly punching her brother in the arm, Halley replied, “It’s a gift.”

---

“Halley, dear,” Anita Bolton said later that night, as she passed her daughter the salad, “why don’t you grow out your hair. It looked so pretty long.”

“I didn’t cut it for twelve years, Mom. I think it’s about time I did my hair how I like it. Besides, short is easier for basketball.”

“Sweetheart…”

Jack Bolton quickly interrupted, “Nita, leave Halley alone. If she wants short hair, it’s her business. She is nineteen.”

Anita just rolled her eyes. She knew perfectly well that her husband only said that because the hair supported his favorite sport.

“Really, Jack,” Anita replied dryly. “I’ll remember that the next time Halley brings home a boy you don’t like.”

The oldest Bolton children grinned at that before hurriedly hiding their faces by looking down at their plates.

Changing the subject, Jack turned to his youngest daughter; sure he’d get a sensible conversation at least from her.

“So, Emma, how was ballet practice today?”

The seven-year-old, being well taught in the art of being a smart mouth by her two older siblings replied, “It was okay, but I’ve seen it happier.”

Jack blinked for a minute, trying to figure out that comment while Halley giggled and Troy shook with the unreleased laughter at their father’s expression. Even Anita’s mouth was turned up at the corners.

Taking pity on her Dad, Halley put her fork down and turned sideways to better see her brother. “So, Swingman, how’s Operation: Ask-Gabriela-Out, going?”

Troy turned bright red as his entire family’s attention was focused on him.

Puzzled, Jack said, “Troy, you haven’t asked her out yet? But, you’re always with her.”

“That’s 'cause he’s a dork and a coward,” Halley declared.

“Hal,” Anita lightly reprimanded.

Emma, however, quickly came to her big brother’s defense. “That’s not true, Halley. Troy gave Gabriela a valentine on Tuesday.”

“Em…” Troy tried to say, he was cut off by his own mother.

“How do you know that, sweetheart?”

Emma grinned proudly and said, “Because Troy used one of my valentines.”

Holding his jaw stiffly to not laugh, Jack asked, “Not one of your Barbie Valentines, Em?”

“Uh huh!”

“What did it say?” Halley asked brightly.

“Cool, it’s Valentines,” Emma answered between slurping up noodles.

“Oh, Troy, how have you not won her over yet. I mean with a valentine like that, Gabriela had to know it was love.”

“Now, now,” Anita said between giggles. “I’m sure he did more that just that. What else did you give Gabriela, Troy?”

Jack, who was sitting closest, couldn’t make out what his son mumbled and asked for a clarification.

By now, Troy could have subbed for a stop light. Pushing his spaghetti around his plant, he repeated, “The chocolate frosting Oreos Mom packed in my lunch.”

Halley almost fell out of her seat she was laughing so hard. “You are the most pathetic lover in history, Romeo.”

“I know,” Troy replied, slumping in his chair.

“It’s okay, Troy,” Emma said to comfort her brother. “You’re a boy and boys never get anything right the first time. Huh, Halley?”

“That is what Hitch said,” Halley replied with a grin.

“Troy, if it makes you feel better,” his mother said. “Your father royally screwed up our first Valentines and I still ended up marrying him.”

“Trust me,” Jack agreed. “I completely tanked.”

Completely serious, Halley went into lecture mode. “Okay, what this needs is a grand gesture. You can’t just say, ‘Hey, I like you let’s date’ after your sub par performance only four days ago.”

“You should get her ring,” Emma happily exclaimed.

“I’m asking her to be my girlfriend, Em, not my wife.”

Shaking her head at her brother’s stupidity, Emma clarified. “I read about it in a book. The boy gave the girl his letterman’s jacket when they started going out. You can’t do that though, because you don’t have a jacket and you keep your letter in your locker.”

“I could give Gabi my championship ring,” Troy said thoughtfully.

Before her father could protest, Halley intervened. “Oh, that took a lot of thought and effort.”

“Huh?”

“Come on, Swingman. Four days ago, the supposedly most romantic day of the year, you tell Gabriela you think so little of her that you stole one of you little sister’s valentines and gave her part of your lunch. I’m sure Chad wasn’t even that pathetic.”

“He gave Taylor red and white roses,” Jack added.

“See, even Chad (though like a brother to me), is a moron when it comes to girls, did better than you. And that’s taking into account that his flowers were school colors.”

Groaning, Troy slumped even more in his chair. “I’ve really messed up, haven’t I.”

“I’m afraid so, dear,” Anita said sympathetically.

“How am I ever going to fix this?”

Putting down her bread, Emma very seriously replied, “Halley and I will help you after dinner, Troy. Don’t worry.”

“Emmie’s right, Swingman,” Halley said with a grin. “Your sisters got your back.”

---

The Bolton children were crowded around the computer in the den looking at yet another jewelry website. Emma giggled as Halley jiggled her on her lap. Troy, however, was rubbing his temples with his eyes closed. They’d been at this for over an hour and had yet to find anything.

Trading a look with her sister, Emma leaned over and poked Troy in the shoulder. “Hey, Swingman, we found it.”

Troy stared in disbelief at the ring his sisters had found.

“It’s under $500, just like you wanted,” Emma said.

Halley went further and read the product details out loud. “This beautiful 14k yellow gold ring features a 10x10mm cushion cut topaz that is artificially coated to give the color of mystic fire, accented by pink tourmaline and .02 carat round diamonds. Presented in a lovely keepsake ring box.”

Upon seeing her brother continue to stare in disbelief, she added with a grin, “And Reeds Jewelers is only asking $350 for it.”

“Please tell me you are not serious.”

“Why not, Troy? It’s mystic fire.” Emma asked with a deceptively friendly smile.

Narrowing his eyes, he replied, “I think you got Gabriela confused with spandex.”

Sighing, Halley turned to her sibling on her lap and asked, “Should we show Troy our real pick?”

“I think so,” Emma replied as she changed the screen, bringing up a three-stone ring with a garnet as the center gem, framed by diamonds in a white gold band.

“It matches your championship ring with the dark red gem,” Emma added.

“You know, since she really should get a ring for the decathlon,” Halley added in explanation.

“It’s only $179.95,” Emma further added, eagerly.

“It is nice,” Troy hedged.

“Don’t you like it?” Emma asked, disappointment clearly laced her words.

“It’s not that, Em. I think it looks great and we would match and all, but…would you two mind if I looked for a while on my own before I make a decision?”

“Since it is from you, I don’t see how that would hurt,” Halley replied, standing up. “Come on, Em, let’s go watch a movie.”

“Something Disney?”

“Of course, who makes better movies,” Halley said as they left Troy alone with the computer.

---

A week later, Troy walked into his home to hear the James Bond theme song blaring from the family room. Dropping his bag on the floor, he wandered into the room to find his older sister with feet up on the coffee table eating from a large bowl of popcorn as the opening credits for the movie whipped across the screen.

“I could be wrong, but I thought college took more time than you’re giving it,” Troy teased.

“Mrs. Wilson couldn’t watch Emma today so I’m babysitting.”

Plopping down next to Halley, Troy stole some of her popcorn, and quickly dodged her slap aiming for his head.

“So, babysitter, where’s Emma?”

“In her room doing homework. Don’t you have some to do as well, Swingman?” Halley teased back.

Before Troy could retort, a tall, brown haired guy wandered in with two cans of soda and another bowl of popcorn.

“There wasn’t any root beer, so I got you a grape.”

“Thanks, Jeff,” Halley replied as she caught the can.

Troy just stared at the newcomer in disbelief. Halley didn’t seem to notice as she introduced them.

“Jeff, this is my little brother, Troy. Troy, this is Jeff Daniels or JD the DJ.”

Neither male commented on this, instead, Jeff exclaimed, “Hey, it’s you.”

“You two know each other?”

“You know how my parents own that ski resort in Vermont?”

“Yeah, you work at the Freestyle Club whenever you visit.”

“Well, Troy here was one of my victims at the New Years Eve Party.”

Halley turned to her reddening brother with grin. “You mean to tell me that’s where you and Gabriela met.” At Troy’s nod of agreement, a wicked smile spread across Halley’s face as she put her movie on pause. “So, you welcomed in the new year together. You know what that means, don’t you?”

Perceive the opportunity to join Halley in teasing, Jeff jumped in with the answer. “It’s said that whoever you spend New Year’s with is the one you’re destined to spend your life with.”

Seeing that she had once again got her brother to turn stop sign red, Halley took pity on Troy. “Okay, Swingman, all teasing aside, where are you on asking her out?”

“I’ve got the ring.”

“Ring?” Jeff cried out, surprised.

“Shut-up, Jeff,” Halley commanded. “Can I see?”

“Sure.”

It only took Troy a minute to run up the stairs, grab the ring and come back down. During that time, however, Halley explained the difference between promise rings and engagement rings to her befuddled boyfriend.

Opening the ring box, Halley oohed appropriately. “I like it. Silver?”

“Sterling,” Troy confirmed.

“From what you told me about her, this is perfect. Simple yet elegant and classy. I love the rose.”

“It’s from Tiffany’s,” Jeff added.

Seeing the engraving, Halley looked up with a grin. “Good job, Swingman. How much did this put you back?”

“150.”

“Wow, even better. Who knew you were such a good shopper?”

Jeff’s brow creased as something seemed to occur to him. “Wait, if you met Gabriela at New Year’s, she was that girl I got you to sing with, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah,” Troy admitted with a grin. “And you were right. Thanks.”

Jeff smiled back. “You’re welcome, man. Makes it even better to know I was a matchmaker for Halley’s brother. Speaking of which,” he said turning to Halley. “Why weren’t you in Vermont with your family?”

“I swear you have short-term memory loss. On December 30, I was playing Oklahoma. We lost by thirteen, by the way. Then on January 1, we played New Mexico State. That one we won by thirteen. Speaking of which, Swingman, I’m sorry I didn’t make it to you’re championship game.”

Grinning, Troy replied, “Playmaker, you were playing UNLV at the same time. It was a Mountain West Conference game. And you won. Trust me, I’m not upset.”

“Good. I was sure you knew I’d have been there, but since my boyfriend is a moron, I just thought I’d mention it.”

“Hey,” Jeff protested, but that only caused the Boltons to laugh harder. Sulking, he added, “Just so you know, I have an idea on what you could do to ask her to be your girlfriend.”

Intrigued, Halley turned, wrapping her arms around Jeff. Cuddling next to him, she asked, “So, what’s your plan, sweetheart?”

Grinning he replied, “I’m so being played.”

“Good that you know that,” she said with an answering grin. “Now tell us the plan.”

Upon hearing the plan, Troy said thoughtfully, “This is going to take a lot of work. We’re going to need some help.”

“Got anyone in mind?”

“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “I do. In fact, let’s just say they owe me.”