~Kritika~

"Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you alone!" I said in finality.

"But, you have to go. Liam will feel very bad."

"I'm sure he will understand. You are ill, Stace. How could I leave you all alone at home. What if you need something? What if you want tissues? What if something happ-"

"Whoa there! I'm not even THAT sick honey. You have to go. Please? Pretty please?" she pleaded.

"No"

"Umm.. Please with ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce on top?" she tried again, with a killer puppy dog face.

Oh no. Don't give in. Do not give in.

"Fine" I grumbled.

"Yay" she squealed and blew a kiss towards me. She knew better than to hug me in her not so healthy state. Suddenly her phone started ringing. She picked it up from the bedside table and a huge grin broke on her face.

"Mumma." she squealed. At this I jumped on her bed too, tossing the tissue paper box aside.

"Put it on speaker." I whisper-yelled. She did as I told and my beloved aunt's voice floated out of it.

"Hi CJ, I miss you!" I yelled, using my nickname for her.

"I miss you too, love. Vikram says hi." Vikram was Stacey's dad and my uncle. "How is my beloved niece?" she chimed.

"I'm good.." I trailed "..but your beloved daughter isn't." Stacey gasped at this and shook her head rapidly.

Don't tell her, she mouthed. Too late, I mouthed back grinning. She tried to snatch the phone from my hand by I quickly dodged her and ran out of her room.

"CJ, Stacey's sick." I said and handed back the phone to a fuming Stacey. Now, my aunt is a doctor, and very protective about her daughter, so she will give Stacy a long lecture about how she never listens to her mother and how she never takes care of herself.

Serves her right, as she trapped me into going to Liam's party. Not that I didn't want to. Its just that, I'm afraid of leaving my harebrained sister alone.

I checked my watch out of habit. 6:30. Better get ready.

********

I examined my reflection in the full length mirror in front of me.

I had received a message from Louis this morning that they were having a themed party for some reason. And he told me to wear something 'traditional'. I had been highly sceptic because knowing Louis he was just playing a prank on me but then I heard Niall in the background asking someone whether a tuxedo was counted as traditional. Oh well.

Till now I was planning on wearing something simple but Stacey insisted on and on that I wear a saree.

"You are possibly going to be the only Indian out there and I simply won't let you wear western ..things. Indian pride, dont forget." Her words, not mine.

Sarees are beautiful and feminine, but I hate wearing them as they are so uncomfortable and you can hardly walk in one. I was over the moon when I realized I didn't have one with me. I only owned one and I had worn it only once. I hadn't thought that I had to bring it with me. I thought I was off the hook. But guess what? Stacey lent me hers.

Evil spawn of a sister.

I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. I have to admit it was breathtaking. It was was a beautiful blue chiffon one. Not too plain, yet not too fancy.

I didn't look too bad. The saree fit me perfectly and showed of my curves. I didn't look bad at all.

"But seriously, Stace. This is a birthday party, not someone's freaking.. marriage." I tried one last time

"You don't look like a human disco ball or anything, relax. This one has this.. cocktail party look to it." she said, raising her nose in the air.

"Cocktail party? Right. I look like a freaking tall glass of Blue Lagoon myself."

"Oh shush, you. Dont move." she spritzed some perfume on me causing me to let out a little cough "There, all done."

"But I'm just nineteen." I whined "I feel old."

"You look like a woman." she said with a tone that left no scope for argument "Now let's do you make up."

*******

"There's a box of tissues on your bed. If you run out of them tissues, there are 4 more boxes in that brown carton over there."

"Kritika.."

"Oh and I made you some vegetable soup. It's in a flask on your bedside table. So you don't have to heat it."

"Kritika.."

"And the TV remote is on your bed. But Don't watch it for long. I don't want you to strain yourself. And--"

"KRITIKA! You're rambling. Relax. Breathe. Darling, I'll be just fine. Besides, Luke would be here any moment.."

Luke. Of course.

Luke, short for Lucas, my other idiot best friend whom she had been dating for about three months now. He was the sweetest, most caring guy I had ever met, as cliché as it sounds. At the mention of his name, I relaxed. She's in safe hands.

"Fine. But no funny business." I joked.

"Yes, mother." she said, sticking out her tongue at me.

Very mature.

***********

As I drove, thousands of thoughts crossed my mind.

What if I look out of place in my saree? What if the boys laugh at me? What if I trip? What if everybody laughs at me? What if I trip and everybody laughs at me? What if--

My thoughts were cut short by a car honking behind me. I pull into the lounge parking lot and took a deep breath. I looked at my watch and cursed lightly. I was an hour late! I rubbed my eye lightly and looked at the two half moon shaped marks on my finger. The eyeliner!

"Ugh!" I groaned, slapping my forehead. I looked at the front view mirror to see a crazed looking expression in my eyes. I stopped fidgeting and stared. I then let out a huge sigh.

"Theres no need to be nervous. You look great. So go out there and have a great time." I told my reflection. Strangely, I felt better. I smiled and took in a deep breath.

Then very carefully I get out of the car and head towards the building.

~Liam~

"Nice party, man." Dan shouted over the music.

I just smiled and nodded. I looked over at the small crowd of people in front of me. It looked more like a Halloween party if I said so myself, but the costumes had completely been Harry's idea. He was the youngest of us all and I simply could not refuse him. I sighed, sitting back and taking a sip of my drink.

I turned my head just in time to see someone stumble through the door. A very familiar, clumsy brunette.

I just stared at her amusedly as she fidgeted awkwardly. I could tell I was'nt the only one looking at her. There was a light hush in hall. All the attention was clearly making her nervous. She awkwardly looked around until her eyes seemed to meet mine. She grinned widely all the tension vanishing and made her way towards me.

"Happy Birthday!" she exclaimed, hugging me.

"Thanks." I laughed, hugging her back.

"So.. Where are the others?" she asked, adjusting a crease of her outfit.

"Hello, gorgeous."

"Hi, Harry." she laughed and gave him a hug. He winked and anyone could tell he was flirting. Hard. But she didnt seem to notice at all. Hilariously. I held back a smile.

Someone cleared their throat behind us.

We turn back and see the rest of the lads looking at us. Well, not at us, at her.

"Girl, why did you walk in?" Zayn blurted out. What?

"Huh?" she looked confused.

"And.. I win." Niall said, grinning "Thank you."

"Huh?" It was me who said that this time. I was taken aback and slightly.. hurt? "You didn't want me to come? Ouch."

"No, no. Not like that. You see, Zayn and I had a bet on who would walk into the room next. Zayn said it was going to be a guy and I said it would be a girl. So unless you're a guy, which you're not, I clearly won the bet. C'mon, pay up Zaynie boy."

I blinked "What's up with you guys and all this betting recently?" I asked

"Ways to make quick money." Niall said as Zayn went through his wallet angrily "Zayn loses most of the time. Guess I have him to thank."

"F*ck you." he scoffed "Look at my wallet. If this continues I'll have to pull a 'Beg borrow steal' to pay up." He grumbled "no more bets."

I caught Kritika's eye and she made a weird face at me. Wow, she mouthed to me.

I shrugged. Welcome to my world, I mouthed back.

~Kritika~

A couple of awkward introductions and even more awkward dancing later, a nice looking cake was brought in and placed in on a table that was strategically positioned in the middle of the room.

It was a rather large chocolate cake and let's just say that calling it beautiful would be an understatement.

Someone started singing Happy Birthday horribly off key and ask of us slowly joined in. Talk about embarassment.

After that, everything pretty much quietened down a bit. I stood there talking to this girl, Alexa.

I got to know that used to go to the same school as Liam's and by the looks of it they were really tight friends,even now.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around. Louis.

"Here, wear this." He said holding his hand out to me. I looked at the object in his hand and raised an eyebrow.

"A mask? What are we, five?" I said, taking it anyway.

He turned to Alexa "Here you go, Angela." he said, handing her another one.

"Alexa." she corrected but he was already gone by then.

I felt the phone in my hand vibrate

Stacey calling.

I excused myself and headed out of the building. I quickly pressed answer brought the phone to my ear, fiddling with the mask in my other hand.

"Hell-"

I cut her off at that.

"Hello? What's wrong? Are you okay? Why did you call me? Did aliens kidnap you? You got kidnapped didn't you and now the kidnappers want ransom. Oh god I shouldn't have left yo-"

"Shut up. I'm fine, geez. In fact, I'm better than before. Luke says hi. Just wanted to ask you how was the party going. Overreaction much?"

"Ha ha ha." I said dryly, rolling my eyes. We talked for a few minutes after that. I hung up and turned to go back inside.

I realised that I'd actually walked a long way away from the lounge exit while talking to her. I was a good number of yards away now.

Great. Thank god I didn't take Stacey's advice to wear heels. Atleast my feet aren't killing me.

Just as I passed by an alley, I heard someone whistle loudly behind me. I spun around saw a group of men heading towards me.

Unshaven bulky and most importantly, unsteady. These were enough to send warning signals to go off in my brain.

"Wait, where do you think you're going, babe?"

Seriously?

"Leave me alone." I said, trying to put up a brave front. I mentally kicked myself for walking off on my own in the first place. Brixton. At night. I'm done for. Might as well write my will.

But seriously, getting into trouble twice in less than a week. This is a new high even for me.

The whole time I had my mental pity party, I made sure to not stop walking. I once again thanked god that I hasn't written heels.

Almost there.

Suddenly, I felt someone grabbed my arms and I spun around, smacking the person in his face.

"Oh no you shouldn't have done that." he clucked his tongue, pulling at my arm. I almost gagged at the smell of his mouth. Alcohol.

"Uh huh? I'm sorry. How about I do this?" I said, punching him square in the face.

Yeah that's right, don't mess with me. I took a year of training in self defense in school.

That's right, don't mess with Texas.. I mean... India.

But sadly, It was one against four. I was soon in their clutches, struggling to break free. I racked up my brain trying to think of something. Anything.

When I had no success, I decided to do what any girl would do.

I screamed. Bloody murder.

"Help me! Somebody!"

"Shut up bitch."

"Who you calling bitch you little.. Carly Rae Jepsen wannabe!"

"Let her go." someone said.

Bless their soul! God has sent an angel to help me.

I turned to the source of the voice and saw the silhouette of a person. When they came closer my eyes widened in shock.

"Batman?" I whispered, pointing to his bat mask with a trembling finger in disbelief. They grinned and pulled off their mask.

"Guess you could call me that."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Dun Dun Duhhhhhhh

Imagine me doing a Beethoven like piano chord on that one :3 Sorry it's pretty obvious.. But OH WELL

Next update soon :*

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Stay Beautiful ❤

Kay❤