"I bought the cutest dress yesterday!"

"For tomorrow?"

"Of course! What else would it be for?"

Stacey was greeted by Kate and Donna's conversation with a start when she set her foot in the café. She slid into her usual spot in front of the counter and rested her chin in her hands, intently staring at the two waitresses with a quizzical look.

"Dress?" she questioned.

"You would love it!" Donna said excitedly. "It's yellow, just a bit above my knees... Oh! And it has these adorable sandals to go with it!"

"Donna loves shopping," Kate chuckled. "But then again, who doesn't?"

"I don't mean to brag, but... I look great in it," Donna cooed with a wink. "It's just my style and colour. When I was buying it yesterday, the cashier told me that she loves it, and that she thinks I'd look great in it. And they're always right, right?"

"Isn't it supposed to be, 'The customer's always right'?" Kate asked.

"Shh."

"What's the dress for?" Stacey inquired curiously. "Are you going on a date or something?"

"I wish," Donna laughed. "But remember I mentioned my birthday a few days ago? It's tomorrow."

"Is it?" Stacey raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Mhm. Tomorrow at seven at the All Star Nightclub, remember?" Donna said.

"I... do, now that you mention it," Stacey said slowly with a kind smile.

"Can't wait!" Donna squealed. "I really can't wait another day! But so help you, if any of you mention my age..."

"For God's sake, Donna, you're still young!" Kate rolled her eyes. She turned to Stacey and smirked. "She's turning thirty-two tomorrow."

"Hey!" Donna glared.

"That's not old," Stacey pointed out.

"You see?" Kate said, sending the flustered Donna a knowing look. "Even Stacey agrees. So just shut up about your age."

"I know it's not that old," Donna sighed. "But I'd much prefer to be in my twenties again..."

"Wouldn't we all?" Kate agreed. "I'm currently thirty-seven. I'll be forty in two years from November this year. It sucks. So consider yourself lucky."

"Guess I should," Donna mumbled. She turned to Stacey with a solemn grin. "You're lucky. You're still sixteen. I'd give anything to be a kid again."

Stacey bit her lip in embarrassment. "Don't be jealous. It's not like I have a simple, perfect life just because I'm sixteen."

"Kid's got a point," Kate nodded.

"Ah, well, this got depressing real fast!" Donna said brightly. "Tell me, now. What're you wearing tomorrow?"

"I'll probably just wear some jeans shorts and a tank top," Kate shrugged. "I may be thirty-seven, but I look great for my age." She posed dramatically and puckered her hot pink lips. Stacey giggled.

"Stace?" Donna asked.

"Oh... I don't know," Stacey said. "I haven't really... thought about it."

Of course she wouldn't, especially considering she completely forgot about Donna's upcoming birthday. Also because she was supposed to be with Jesse tomorrow around that time. And she didn't even have a good feeling about that club Donna so desperately wanted to hold her birthday at. Why should this be something to think about?

"I'll probably wear a skirt," she said after a moment of silence. "I bought one a few days before I came to Whitwick. I think it's party material."

"Then problem solved!" Donna chuckled. "Cheer up, Stace!"

"What's the matter?" Kate asked.

"Oh, nothing," Stacey forced on a grin, desolately hoping it was convincing. "Didn't get a good sleep last night, that's all."

"Nightmares?" Kate said worriedly.

"Nah," Stacey shook her head. "Just wasn't tired. I am now, though."

"Better get some rest tonight, hon," Donna winked. "I need your energy tomorrow."

"Oh, lay off her," Kate chortled. "You want a coffee to help wake you up?"

Stacey sucked on the insides of her cheeks until they were sunken in, making her look like a fish. She shook her head. "No. I'm just gonna go find some shoes for the party tomorrow. I'll be fine."

"Oh, she knows how to make a girl like me satisfied," Donna wiggled her eyebrows playfully. Stacey grinned. "Have fun, sugar."

"Come back here if you get hungry or something," Kate added.

"Will do," Stacey nodded as she stood up from her seat. "Do me a favour and tell Mom I left?"

"You got it, hon," Kate replied. "See you later, ok?"

Stacey turned after bidding her and Donna goodbye and exited the café, the sound of the bells faintly tinkling behind her as she closed the door. She almost smiled to herself, but she resisted. She was always told by her father that she was a good liar. She was starting to believe him.

The familiar walk to the park started to seem like a routine; visit Anne's café first for a coffee or just hang out with the waitresses for awhile, then go visit Jesse at the park, where he would usually sit on the same bench while playing his guitar.

And he was there. He was seated on that very bench, strumming away at his acoustic gently, plucking each string with love and passion. He seemed at peace with himself.

"Hey, Miller!" Stacey called, jogging up to the bench. "Play me that song!"

"Which one?" Jesse chuckled. "You've made me play so many."

"The one, Jess," she said in a low, mystic tone. "The one."

"I'm lost here, Stace," he snorted.

"I'm kidding. Play whatever you want."

"About time."

Stacey smiled. She slipped onto the bench next to Jesse and pulled her legs up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and hugged them tightly while resting the side of her head on her knees. She watched Jesse play a short riff on the strings of his guitar. She sighed softly.

"How long have you been playing?" she asked.

"Since... since I was fourteen, I think," Jesse replied after a short pause.

"Have you ever taught anyone?"

"No... Why?"

"You're gonna have to teach me someday."

"Oh, that'll be fun," he said with a hint of sarcasm.

Stacey smacked his arm lightly. "I'm teachable!" she defended. "Anyway, it doesn't even look that hard."

"Yeah, you would think," he shook his head.

"You make it look so easy," she shrugged.

"Well, I would think so, since I've been playing for years," he chortled.

"Anyway, you're teaching me," she put in.

"Now?"

"Not now. First I need to convince Mom to buy me a guitar."

"And how easy do you think that'll be?"

"Not even a little bit. But give me some time."

"I'll give you a week."

Stacey giggled. "Alright, alright, that's actually not what I came here for," she said.

"What's up?" Jesse asked.

"Donna's birthday is tomorrow at seven," she said with a frown. "I think our plans have been tarnished."

"Hm..." he hummed thoughtfully. "Where's the party at?"

"I think it's called the All Star?" she said with knitted eyebrows.

Jesse scrunched up his face, like he tasted something sour. "Why there of all places?" he said exasperatedly.

"Why? What's wrong?" Stacey asked worriedly.

"Haven't you ever been to a nightclub?" he questioned. When she slowly shook her head in response, he said, "You're about to meet with a lot of drunks, Stace."

"Well... I assumed there'd be a lot of alcohol," she said uncomfortably. "Aren't all nightclubs like that?"

"Yes... But I've been to a bunch before," he said. "Not voluntarily, of course... Anyway, looking at all the ones I've been to, the All Star is basically every crazy nightclub around here in one."

"Damn it... I didn't even want to go in the first place!" Stacey said, annoyance clear on her face.

"Why would Donna, of all people, want to have a party there?"

"Well, she's a pretty wild person herself."

Jesse sighed once again and ran his fingers through his messy dark hair. "Well, there's no way I'm letting you stay there all night. You said it's at seven?"

"Yeah..."

"I'll get there as soon as I can, and we'll go somewhere else. Or I'll stay there with you so you won't suffer alone."

"I'd rather the first option."

Jesse grinned in agreement. Stacey suddenly felt a lot better about the party.