She never really let Garroth help her on her end of a dance. She didn’t need his help preparing. It was always the other way around. Alex would conjure with Zianna what she thought was best regarding his tie, but it was never the other way around. Garroth simply went with the flow. He didn’t see, or hear much for that matter, about how Alex prepared. 

So it felt strange that Garroth was in the same room as her when she started to prepare. It was later at night, and he would return home soon. Because it wasn’t anything as big as prom, Alex didn’t see the need to schedule a hair appointment for a style. The small group of girls planned on doing each others’ hair and makeup the following day. Even Cadenza planned on being home to help, and this made Alex happy. 

Mostly everything was in place. Her dress and shoes were hidden away, but she didn’t mind keeping her necklace out with earrings. Beside the set was her makeup, clean brushes nearby. Everything else was ready for when she was ready for them. Alex always liked to be prepared. 

“Do you normally get ready this early in advance?” Garroth asks the blonde. 

It had seemed that her bed was also Garroth’s bed. He always found himself laying on top of it. Alex wasn’t like his sister, who had bedding made of silk. She simply found a set she found pretty and adorned it on her mattress. Despite this, Garroth found it more comfortable than her desk chair. 

“It depends on the dance and what I’m doing. For this type of thing, no,” Alex admits, turning around to look at him. She heads his way, sitting beside him. There was about a foot of distance between them. Alex didn’t have a very large bed. Thus, another comparison to Kandi. “But I was bored and just did it.”

“What do you mean you were bored with me being around?”

There’s a short knock on the door, and it opens to reveal Hayden. “Alex, sweetheart, I wanted–Oh, Garroth. I wasn’t aware you were still here.”

Alex looks towards the door, offering her father a smile. “What is it, daddy? I was just preparing for the dance tomorrow.”

Hayden’s face becomes grim, and he steps his way into the room. Alex’s eyes narrow on the sheet of paper in his hand, a frown overtaking her lips. She glances towards Garroth, and he gets the hint. He stands, announcing he’ll be outside the room while the two talk. 

Hayden doesn’t say anything until he hears the door shut. He looks at Alex with an unsatisfied expression before placing the sheet of paper on the bed. It was her grades, and Alex was well aware of this before he had opened his mouth. 

“Do you really think that it’s best if you go to that dance tomorrow? Don’t you think that staying in and studying may be better? Or doing some form of extra credit. Your math grade is starting to go down again. It concerns me. Should I talk to your teacher?”

Alex picks up the sheet of paper and lets her eyes scan over it. She shakes her head before tossing it onto the hard surface behind her. “I’m trying my best. This unit has been hard, and I didn’t do very well on the last quiz. I’ve already talked to him, and I have a retake on Monday. Daddy, I have this handled.”

“You know I worry about your grades. Are you even trying? Colleges won't take you if you keep acting like this.”

The sound of a door creaking open sounds. Both Hayden’s and Alex’s attention divert to an emerging Garroth. Alex’s heart drops when the realization occurs that he must’ve heard everything through the door. It wasn’t a terrible conversation, but it wasn’t one she enjoyed having. 

“Sir, with all due respect, she is trying.” Garroth makes himself known in the room. His body slips through the crack he has created, and he stands between the two Zvahls. His stomach does a flip at the sudden act of courage. 

Hayden holds a hand up. “Son, this isn’t–”

“No, sir, I feel like I should say this,” Garroth says. “I’ve watched your daughter get visibly upset over her grades because she knows that you wouldn’t approve. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you get this way with Laurance before, and I know he’s gotten C’s. He has one in American Lit right now. I wish you would go easier on her when she’s trying her best.”

Hayden appears dumbfounded at the idea of Garroth speaking back to him on a topic regarding his daughter. And the idea he was willing to drag Laurance in the mud in the process was mind baffling. Hayden turns to Alex with a silent look that says “we’ll talk about this later” before leaving the room. 

The two remain frozen until the door closes once more. Alex quickly gets up to hug Garroth.