Maky parked the car in front of my house, and I mentally died. I was going to be dressed by Olicity—I mean, no offense but her sense of fashion was more... umm, flamboyant and revealing than mine and I don't think I'm ready for that level of dressing quite yet. I mean, I'm only seventeen nothing to be rushed here. I sighed when they got out of the car and waited for me to do the same. "You know we're at your house right, Alice?" I nodded at Maky, as she waited for me with a gentle smile.

Olicity didn't even seem to notice, instead she had her hand elbow-deep into her bag looking for something that I guessed she really needed. She walked to the front door, completely disregarding Maky and I. I pouted at Maky and pushed the door open, stepping out and shutting it as Maky beeped the alarm. She swung her arm over my shoulder—although she wasn't much taller than me, she still dwarfed me by a good few inches. She bent to whisper in my ear so that Olicity, who was still not taking us on wouldn't hear. "If you'd prefer to stay with me, you could always faint and I'd make up an excuse for you." I chuckled and looked back at her.

"Eh," I shrugged. "I don't know—I mean that's a great plan an all, but I agreed only because I didn't want to leave her alone with someone that wasn't one us and because I guess I wanted to."

"Oh please, Alice." She stopped walking and removed her arm from my shoulders to fold them over her chest. "Don't tell me bullshit. You don't wanna go, simple. You keep thinking of what you wanna say instead of actually saying what you really want and you'll find yourself agreeing with something that you don't wanna do. Saying no, is your right as a human being, Alice. Olicity can take care of herself and she will always try to use her scheming ways, to get you into saying yes to whatever crazy idea she has. Preston's parties are notorious for many vile and unsanitary things. I hope you know how deep you're digging your grave because you'll regret it once you reach a dead-end and can't get out." I stared at her for a long time, thinking obviously. I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by Olicity. "Hello! Lonely teen standing outside a locked door, waiting to get in." I reached into my front pocket and pulled out my keys and sent them to her. She caught it and happily opened the door.

I turned back to Maky. "I... I don't know Mak, I just don't want to hurt her feelings." She shook her head. Disappointed in me. "Sometimes Alice, you need to grow a stronger voice and take command, or else people like Lici, will walk all over you."

I looked away, worrying my bottom lip while I mulled it over. "Well, if I don't like it. I'll leave. I need to get out more, you two always complain about that."

"Different circumstances Alice, besides, parties aren't my thing, and neither are they yours. I just hope you'll be okay. And please don't let her get a hold of a drink." I nodded, jotting that down on my mental checklist.

We walked into the house, shutting the door after me and locking it since my parents were at work. Maky and I made our way upstairs to find Olicity standing outside my brother's room door, peeking through the crack. "Lici?" she jumped and chuckled clumsily, a hand rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment at getting caught spying on him.

Maky was smirking at my side with a hand on her hip as she shook her head at her peeping Tom ways. As I was about to question her motive for her actions, his door was pulled open and my brother exited his room and stood in front of his bedroom door with gym shorts and sneakers... and that's about it. He was shirtless with sweat running down his abs. "Ali. I didn't hear you come in." he breathed, he appeared slightly breathless as he spoke.

"Yeah, we just stepped in. I thought you were at work today?"

He shrugged and swiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Nah, closed for reno. Anyways, why are you three standing outside my door?"

Olicity was in a silent state, eyes practically raping my brother's body and Maky was following suit. I sighed and ignored my two friends who mouths were watering over my brother's physic. "I asked Lici to check to see if you were home, apparently you are. Hey, do you know when mom and dad will be home?"

He shook his head. "They called earlier. They're staying at a hotel, something about an important client and whatnot. Mom told me to bring you out this weekend, but I don't think you would wanna hang out with me."

"Wait, why would she suggest that?"

"I'm going to a Winter resort, for a music event with my friends for the extended weekend since Monday and Tuesday are holidays. They wanted me to bring you with me since they're busy, and worried that you'd get lonely." Huh, five days with my brother and his friends at a resort for a music event. Maybe, that doesn't seem like a bad idea. "Okay."

He arched his brow at me—that usually means he was surprised at me and I think I was too, but it could be good to bond with my brother. Since being back at school, I've been busy with homework and assignments and him with work, it only seemed fair. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow."

"Wait!" Olicity seemed to have snapped out of her trance as she grabbed Wade's bicep and pulled him back. "She's going out with me tonight. She can't go to some lousy resort with you." she complained.

He scoffed and yanked back his arm. "Well, that's not your decision to make. She can go to her party but come tomorrow, she'll be gone for the weekend." He said with finality as he moved past Maky and I. "Well, I hope you have fun." Maky tried. Olicity swore after my brother and stormed into my room. Maky and I shared knowing glances as we walked after her.

"This is so not fair, how can he just spring this on you and... And not even tell your friends! He is so annoying at times! And you," she whipped around to point at me. "Why the hell would you agree to that!? A music event at a winter resort if all places. IT'S COLD," she spat the words out like spoilt food, "who are you? A boring hipster? Urghhhh!" she stomped over to the bed and flopped down with her arms folded, face screwed up as she shook her leg like an angry puppy. Maky and I shared another look of knowing, her eyes narrowing as mine pleaded, hers still strict. I sighed, having lost our silent quarrel. "Olicity listen, I'll go to the party with you. I never said I wouldn't. But I think bonding with my brother is important. We've always been close, but as of lately we've been very busy. I'm sorry I won't be there, but I kinda wanna go to the resort. Is that okay with you?"

She didn't reply right away, she wasn't even looking at me, she just stared at my poster of MCR, The black parade. "Lici?"

"Oh, come on Olicity, why are you being so stubborn about this? The girl spends every waking moment with us, this one weekend where she has an opportunity to bond with her brother and not us and you're livid. She has a life outside of us too FYI. You better not ignore her or you'll go alone to this party and she'll come with me tonight." I wanted to smile at Maky's words, but I kept it sealed away from Olicity.

Olicity who was still quiet, sighed and sat up. "Fine. But you better call us every day." she huffed.

"I won't forget, I promise and if there's no Wi-Fi then you have every right to come and kidnap me." she laughed and threw her arms around me. "Okay. Now on to your outfit!" she cheered, jumping from the bed as she raced to yank open my closet doors. She smiled cheerily and whipped around in glee. "I can't wait to dress you." I chuckled nervously, swallowing away the bad feeling about tonight.

~ ~ ~

Bad outfit, after bad outfit... failed attempt  after failed attempt and I was done.

I was five bad outfits into looking like a teenager of today and if I could make it so I could disappear into the floorboards, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Olicity had chosen, the shortest of clothing that I owned—which I didn't even know existed and made me wear them, but with a very strict motherly friend like Maky, I got to escape from looking like a tramp on a street corner.

I exited the closet, this time I was in black distressed skinnies, a black lace top and a black and red plaid shirt tied around my waist with plain black converse. Maky gave an approved nod along with a smile, but Olicity's mouth twisted in thought. "It's too plain."

"Urgh, stop it Lici, Alice isn't like you and she most definitely isn't going to be comfortable wearing the clothes you chose, she'll feel wrong and unsettled and that is not worth this party."

Olicity agreed for the sake of my dignity and Maky's wrath and I smiled satisfied.

"Okay, so since that's over with, you Ms. Alice, need to get packing. Come on." She pulled me towards the closet as Olicity typed away at her phone. "Get a big enough bag, you'll need to pack enough options of clothing and you can't pack for the life of you so come on, hurry up and look." I chuckled and obeyed her as I walked into my closet.

"So, I gotta get going to get dressed. Mak, can you drive us to the party when you're done helping Ali pack pleaseeeee?" she whined.

"Please, say yes to silence the beast." I quipped.

"Sure Lici." Maky chuckled, Olicity stuck her tongue out at me... reminding me of earlier in the hallways. I pushed the thought away and continued rummaged through my clothes.

"Sweet, thanks, bye Ali, see ya tonight." On that note she took herself and her cell and left. "Jerk." we both looked up to see who she insulted and saw Wade walking up to my door as Olicity rushed by.

"Okay," he replied, stretching the word out on his tongue, "anyways, Alley-cat, you need to pack warm, the Inn is in the valley and it's pretty cold up there. So pack sweaters and whatever else that's warm okay."

Maky saluted. And he chuckled in a hesitant manner. "Okay, thanks for the breaking news."

"Sorry, I know you don't favor the cold as much as I do, but it'll be worth it, I promise."

"It better be Wade." I smiled cunningly and he scoffed me off.

"Whatever short stack." he walked off to his room, closing the door after him.

"Why does he have to be your brother and look so good?" we laughed and I shrugged.

"You can date him if you want. I won't mind, besides, I rather you than Lici."

She shrugged but nodded in agreement. "Is it because I'm more responsible?"

"Yes, and Lici dates too much losers, she might mistake Wade for one." Maky laughed while I dumped piles of clothing on the floor. "Well, enough boy talk, we gotta pack before it gets too late."

~ ~ ~

Maky got my bags packed with warm clothes and a few cute outfits  and I was as ready as I'd ever be for a trip. "Okay, time to get you to your party." she announced.

"If you're trying to be funny, it's not working."

Maky grinned and stood, reaching out to help me to my feet. I dusted off my pants and grabbed my cell, and a small crossbody bag. "Ready or not here I go." she laughed and grabbed my wrist pulling me along with her.

Thankfully, Olicity lived three blocks away from me and Maky lived down only one, but sadly Preston's house was far enough that driving was quicker.

I was thinking of how the night would go, running it over in my head as I thought about the stories of Preston's crazy parties. It became kind of nerve wrecking to think about all the things that could go wrong... I hope I'll be able to survive it.

I had taken a shower and dressed in my party outfit, hopefully it would fit in just enough so no one keeps their eye on me. Maky and I got in her car and when the car pulled up to Olicity's house. I dialed her number, and she picked up on the first ring as if she had been waiting for ages "Hey, we're outside Lici."

"Great, I'm coming." She hung up before I could say anything else and I hummed in worry.

I pulled up a game of Free Cells just as I saw Olicity leaving the house. She had worn a black floral blouse with blue, pink, and green flowers that was tied, exposing her belly and a short black and white vertically striped shirt with blue saude flats. She had a black crossbody bag to match mine and it seemed that she had twisted her hair and let it fall in loose  curls down her back.

Whatever misfortune that was our night out going to entail, I hope for my sake that I could handle it. I sighed as she hopped into the backseat and resumed my game.