A picture of Avery's dress is above.

If you don't like it, imagine it how you want. This is just my opinion.

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Song: Dance Monkey by Tones and I

Chapter Eighteen: Bollocks! I'm bloody knackered

"You did what?" She exclaimed as she paced across the floor, still munching on her popcorn.

Reveka exclaimed when I finished telling her about me being Avery Adams and saying yes to Wren.

"I should have known something was up. You're more of an antisocial person."

"I'm not."

"You only have four friends."

I crossed my arms. "That counts for something."

"Yeah right." She snorted. "Back to the matter at hand."

"I'm stupid, aren't I?"

"You bet your red hair you are."

"How did you not recognize Avery when I walked in?"

"I don't know who Avery is. I just thought you wanted to try a new style for the masquerade ball."

"About that, are you sure you don't want to come? She literally gave invites to everyone in the school."

"I can't afford a dress."

"I told you Leyla agreed buy one for you."

"But I don't like to..." She trailed off.

"It's okay. I get it." I touched her shoulder. "Neither do I."

At that moment, it was like a light bulb lit in my head.

This is a bad idea.

No, it's a great one.

"Veka." I cooed.

She looked up and began shaking her head. "No."

I frowned. "I haven't even said my idea yet."

"I know you, but I know that look on your face. Whatever it is you're thinking, no."

"It's a great idea."

Not.

"Fine. I'm listening."

************************************

"Happy Birthday Leyla!" Zahra and I both screamed as we came in for a bear hug.

When we released her, she was beaming.

"What are you guys doing here? I thought we agreed to meet this evening."

"We wanted to surprise you." I said.

"It was all Charvi's idea. She was like blah blah blah, and next thing I know, bam, we're on our way to your house."

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't say blah blah blah."

She snorted. "Sure sounded like it."

"I said, since Zahra didn't seem to get it before," I shot her a glare. "When was the last time the five of us got together?"

Leyla questioned. "Five of us?"

"Happy Birthday!" Xander and Kai exclaimed as they rushed into the room and engulfed her in a hug.

She laughed. "Thanks so much guys."

They both turned to me. 

"How was that? Dramatic enough? Was it like a scene out of a movie?" Xander asked.

"It better have been. You swore to cut off our gonads if we didn't perfect it."

We laughed at that.

"Perfect."

"What the hell's a gonad?" Zahra asked.

"You know. Knackers. Cojones. Goolies." He explained.

She shook her head.

Xander raised his brows. "You mean balls, right?"

"Yeah, that."

Zahra placed a hand on his shoulder. "Something is definitely wrong with your dictionary."

I chuckled. "Leave Kai alone. Let him say words like canoodling and goolies if he wants."

He crossed his arms. "You guys can make fun of me all you want, but my vocabulary is expanded."

"Oh, we will." Leyla confirmed as she laughed.

"So, Charvi. What's the plan for today?" Xander asked.

I searched Kai and Xander's hands. "Where are the gifts?"

I ended up buying her a charm bracelet with a lot of pendants on it from a gift shop, since I couldn't afford the necklace. I hope she liked it.

She would love it.

"They're in the car." Xander replied.

"Why?"

Kai pointed out. "Because no one brought them down."

I groaned. "I thought I told you guys to bring them down."

Kai put his hands on his crotch. "Please spare my goolies."

Is he serious?

I gave him an incredulous look as they all laughed.

After we went down to the car to get Leyla's gifts and watched as she opened them, we went to the movies. It took us about 15 minutes to agree on a movie. We wanted to watch Little Women or Charlie's Angels but all the boys wanted to watch was Avengers: Endgame. Since we couldn't choose between the three, Zahra offered up Shazam! and we all agreed. I had watched it before, but I didn't mind watching it again. It was quite funny.

After the movies, we went to the food court, then just walked around the mall, talking, until our legs got tired.

************************************

Reveka gushed. "You look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you. For once, I actually feel beautiful." I smiled at her, and touched the diadem on my head.

It's not going to disappear.

I know. I just can't believe Leyla would pay for all this for Zahra and I.

It feels unreal, I know.

She's an amazing friend.

"You should."

"You look stunning, Veka." I paused. "Absolutely stunning."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"Stop looking so nervous."

"Are you sure it's going to work?" She asked as she smoothed the non-existent wrinkle on her dress.

This evening was somewhat hectic. The planning and all.

After I told Reveka my plan, yesterday night, with a lot of persuasion, she finally agreed. The love I have for my sister cannot be measured. Okay, maybe about a foot.... Just kidding.

Today, by about 5:30pm, I got Reveka ready for the ball. I needed to get her ready extra early because Zahra would be picking me up to go to Leyla's house by 6pm. I explained to Reveka what she should tell Wren's driver to do when he gets here.  

After I finished getting ready at Leyla's house, I told her that she didn't need to take me in her limo because I'd be going with a friend. I didn't give her any more information. She didn't seem too bothered, but Zahra was quite upset I was leaving her in a limo with Axel and Leyla. I told her not to worry because Xander and Kai were meeting them here.

When Wren's driver got to Leyla's house, they were then very curious to know who this friend was because of the white limo that had pulled up. 

I got into the limo without disclosing much information to them and without letting them see who was inside.

"You look like me, sound like me, and are the same height as me. If my friends didn't notice I was Avery, I doubt they'll notice you're Avery."

"What about Wren? Am I supposed to pretend to be in love with him?"

"I'm not. So don't. Just be yourself."

She gave me an incredulous look.

"I mean 'Just don't be yourself, be me'."

She rolled her eyes. "Like it's that easy."

"It should be. You've known me for the past 15 years of your life."

"What about the slight British accent you expect me to master?"

"You were in the drama club before right?"

"Yeah. In middle school."

"What are you again?" I teased.

"Really?"

"I'm kidding. I know you're a sophomore."

"Yeah. So the last drama class I had was like 2 years ago."

"You couldn't possible have forgotten everything you learnt."

She snorted. "It's not like I learnt anything in the first place."

"Why not?"

She shuddered in disgust at the memories. "Because nose-picker Eddie was always trying to flirt with me, and the fact he picks his nose while he is, was quite disturbing."

"Please don't tell me that he still does that. I mean he's in 10th grade."

"He left the school, so I'm not too sure. I hope not though."

"Anyways, try it."

She cleared her throat.

"Fancy a cuppa?"

"It's not like that. I don't- " I didn't bother continuing so I just shook my head and played along. "Bollocks! I'm bloody knackered."

She laughed.

"You know I don't actually talk like that. I said slight British accent. You don't have to use their slang, Avery grew up in America."

She shrugged. "I just like the way it sounds."

"Same here, mate." I patted her shoulder.

"I wish I brought a coat, it's brass monkeys outside."

"Even I don't know what that means. How do you?"

"There's a transfer student who just joined my grade from England this year. I've heard him say all sorts."

"Makes sense. What's his name?"

"Why do you want to know? Want some lessons?" 

"Depends on if he's a nice chap."

"He's a good bloke alright. His name is Harry."

"Styles?"

"No. Buckingham."

I chuckled. "Really?"

"No."

***********************

We got there a little early. Actually, we're right on time. It's 7:34pm. People are obviously just fashionably late.

A few minutes later, people started arriving anyway.

When my friends arrived, I rushed up to them.

It's actually quite hard to recognize people with their masks on, but I already knew Zahra and Leyla's dresses. They were accompanied by three boys who were probably Axel, Kai and Xander. All clad in suits. One silver, another grey, and the last black.

The silver should probably be Axel. He'd want to match with Leyla.

"Hi guys!" I waved at them as I approached with Avery.

"Charvi? Is that you?" A voice called out.

Sounds like Kai.

I smiled as he engulfed me in a hug. "In the flesh."

"You take my breath away." Xander remarked.

"I'm glad to be of service." I replied as I hugged him too. "You guys look amazing."

"Don't I always?"

I rolled my eyes. "Xander, you're way too full of yourself."

"Am I going to get any compliments?" Axel asked.

I turned to him. "Judging from the smug expression on your face, you've had enough."

"You flatter me."

I shrugged. "I try my best."

"Who's that?" Leyla asked as she pointed at Reveka.

She looked absolutely beautiful, it hurt to stare.

I hope you're not having that stupid self-doubt again.

Pfft. Of course not.

And you're not jealous?

No.

Good. Because you're beautiful.

Only if someone actually told me this, and not the voice inside my head.

People have told you this before. You don't need reassurance.

"Can't you recognize her?"

They shook their heads.

"It's Avery."

They gasped.

They're so dramatic.

"Avery? Like Tate's Avery?" Zahra asked.

"Yup."

"Your dress is absolutely amazing."

"Thanks." Reveka smiled. "Happy Birthday, Leyla. You look great."

Leyla grinned. "Thank you. Who'd you come with?"

"I came with Wren. He's my date tonight."

"Scott?" Axel asked.

I asked. "Do you know any other Wren?"

"So you and Wren are like together?" Leyla asked.

"I hope so. Soon, at least." A voice called from behind me.

I turned to see Wren walking towards us, clad in a red suit to match Avery's.

I snorted. "What an entrance!"

Are you just going to ignore what he said?

I'm trying to.

"I can't really tell from your face, but I'm pretty sure that's you Charvi." He smiled at me. "You look stunning."

"As do you."

He turned to Avery and smiled so bright he literally lit the dimly lit hall.

"I knew the sight of you would knock me off my feet, but I didn't know it would be this much."

She shot me a panicked glance, and I gave her a slight thumbs up I hope she didn't miss.

Shouldn't it disturb you that he's talking to your 15-year old sister like that?

It is, but I'm shaking it off because he thinks it's me.

You don't like him, do you?

Of course not.

Then, what do you plan to do after tonight?

Like I've said before, I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

"Thank you, Wren."

"My pleasure." He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

He turned to me. "Avery, this is Charvi I was talking about."

I waved a dismissive hand. "We've met." 

"You have?"

"Yup." I nodded.

He turned to the rest of them. "I can't really tell who is who."

Zahra shrugged it off. "No need."

"Okay. Which one of you is Leyla?"

"I am."

"I should have guessed from the tiara on your head." He teased.

She giggled.

"Happy Birthday." He went over and hugged her. "Thank you." She gave her rehearsed response from this night, seeing as she would be getting a lot of those.

"Where should I put your gift?" He raised a bag in his hand.

She pointed to the table already piling with gifts. "Over there."

"Okay." He turned to Avery. "I'll be right back."

"Okay." She nodded.

He turned and left.

I brought out my phone to text mum about my whereabouts, and after a while I realized the hall had gone dead silent.

I looked up and my friends were staring at something behind me. 

"What are you guys looking at?" I asked as I turned around.

There was a couple standing at the top of the entrance stairs. The guy's hand was wrapped tightly around the girl's waist and they were matching completely. You couldn't even tell where one ended and one began. They looked like angels, clad in all white.

The girl had very long brown hair and wore a beautiful white dress that made her look like she was attending her wedding. She wore a white mask as well. 

The guy was wearing a white tuxedo with a black shawl lapel. He wore a white mask as well. All of a sudden, it clicked.

Wait a minute! Do we not know that tuxedo?

We do, but who is that beautiful girl he's with?

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