The next few days passed quickly, and before I knew it, the weekend had rolled around.

Gabs and Kara were in Seoul, so I didn't really have anyone to hang out with.

Jungkook and his friends were unreachable as well.

So was Hyunjin, Jeongin and the rest.

It was weird.

"Oh, Ji Woo, I haven't seen you like all week. God, you've basically moved in with that boy. It's like what, 4pm right now?" I smiled as I saw my friend walk through the door, hauling her duffel bag into the living room with a heavy breath.

"Oh shut up. Once you get a boyfriend you'll understand." Ji Woo said, feigning anger with a small smile.

"Yeah, not happening."

"Wha..! Jungkook and Jeongin are cute! So's Jimin, and what's his name.. Hyunjin? They're all over you, just ask them out already." Ji Woo frowned. "You're so popular with the boys yet you don't want to date any of them, what a shame."

I sighed. "I just don't feel bothered to commit myself to anything at the moment. I can barely keep up with school work as it is."

"You're lame. Y'know what, I'm taking you out today. We're going out. Get dressed." Ji Woo clapped, running up the stairs and into her room.

I groaned, trudging to my room to get changed from my silky pyjamas into a casual white tee, throwing a black and white plaid jumper over the top, pulling up my black skinny jeans and sliding on a pair of black boots.

Walking back downstairs I saw Ji Woo already at the door, tapping her foot impatiently.

"What took you so long! My gosh." She groaned, heading out and walking into the car.

I followed close behind her, jumping into the passenger seat as she drove off.

Stray Kids POV
The members rushed around their small hotel rooms, getting ready for this evenings events.

"Gabs! Where in the world is my eyeliner!?" Kara yelled, rushing out of the bathroom with half a face of make up on.

"I don't have it! I think Hyunjin might've taken it." Gabs said, holding her hands in front of her innocently.

Kara grumbled in annoyance, swinging open the door that connected the two rooms, only to find half the members of the group shirtless.

Blush rose to Kara's cheeks, the anger forgotten as she closed the door again in embarrassment.

"S-SORRY!" She exclaimed, hiding her face in her hands.

Hyunjin opened the door, smirking slightly, his white dress shirt half buttoned up.

"Aww, our Kara is blushing. How cute. Here's your eyeliner." He smiled, passing the eyeliner to the girl with a wink before closing the door.

"Gosh he's such a flirt." Gabs shook her head, combing her hair carefully.

"I know.." Kara mumbled, still half in shock.

"Kara. You've seen them shirtless before. Why is this any different." Gabs sighed, eyeing the girl with an eyebrow raised.

"Uhm, well, they've all changed a lot since then.." Kara answered awkwardly, sliding away into the bathroom to finish her make up.

The boys in the room next door all laughed to themselves.

"That was all it took to flatter her?" Seungmin chuckled as Hyunjin walked back in.

"Well, if you have my charm anything is easy." Hyunjin said dramatically, flipping his black hair over his shoulder.

All the members had gotten their hair dyed black the night before, including the girls. It was a nice change. Plus, it made them all match.

"Yeah, yeah, no one asked you Hyunjin." Minho added with a roll of his eyes, leaning against the wall dressed and ready.

"Wow, no one uses that come back anymore. Lame." Jisung joked, poking his tongue out.

"You're an ass, Jisung." Minho grumbled, sliding his suit jacked on.

Back in the girls room, they finished sliding on their dresses.

Kara wore a black floor-length white-speckled lacy dress with ruffled short sleeves that were just on the shoulders, along with a pair of stockings underneath the skirt of the dress with a gun strapped to her thigh. Her now pitch-black hair was down, flowing around her face which had been done with a light make up, her lips a deep shade of red, her blue eyes highlighting her features.

Gabs wore a black dress also, her sleeves off the shoulder, her dress reaching the floor in length. The dress design was lacy, flowers embroidered on its surface. Her now black hair curled around her face, her eyes highlighted with a dark red eyeshadow, her lips a deep red also. She had a knife hidden in the heel of her boot, just in case.

The boys walked into the room, stunned at the sight of the girls.

"Wow.. you two look good." Bang Chan smiled.

"Well, I'd hope so." Kara shrugged, looking down at the dress. She slid on a pair of elbow length black gloves. "I hope it's not too much."

"It's not really. There'll be some girls wearing full on ball gowns." Felix shrugged, walking over to Kara, holding out his hand, letting her twirl around him.

"True that."

"You boys look really good, too." Gabs said, looking over the boys in their suits.
"Damn she's right, you're all hot as fuck right now." Kara smirked, looking them all up and down.

"Oi, watch your language, Kara." Bang Chan said sternly.

"Sorry, but like as if you don't swear yourself." Kara grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Dad mode activated." Felix whispered.

"I heard that." Bang Chan said, eyeing Felix.

"You were meant to. I never said it was a bad thing." Felix shrugged.

Jisung wandered over to Gabs, taking her arm in his.

"Alright, let's finally go! You guys got your ear pieces in place?" Changbin announced, turning to face the girls.

"Yep, and our microphones connected to just behind our ears. It shouldn't be too muffled." Gabs smiled.

"Let's roll out then! To the gala we go!" Hyunjin smiled, walking out the door, the other 9 trailing behind him.

Y/N and Ji Woo
"Are you only taking me out shopping because Taehyung's busy." I whined, struggling to carry all of Ji Woo's bags in my hands.

"We've only been here what, three hours?" She smiled, skipping ahead of me happily.

"You haven't had to carry bags on bags of clothes!" I cried, eyeing Ji Woo with annoyance.

"Okay, okay, I'll buy you dinner to make up for it." Ji Woo said, holding her hands in front of her face.

"How about now? You can't tell me you need to buy more clothes! How much money do you have woman?" I complained.

"Tae-Tae gave me some money." Ji Woo shrugged, walking towards a small café outside the shopping mall.

"Gosh, how rich is he? I guess he probably got the money from Namjoon, his dad owns a bank." I shrugged.

"Does he now? That's interesting..." Ji Woo said, her voice trailing.

"What do you mean 'interesting'? You seem unsure of something." I asked, tilting my head slightly.

"Well, Tae said he had an important meeting in Seoul to go to, along with his friends. Apparently they own some sort of health agency. But if you said they own a bank...." Ji Woo trailed, her voice turning monotone.

"Ji Woo... maybe Tae's family owns the other agency? There's nothing saying they share everything they all have."

"I know.. but it just seems a bit weird, don't you think?" Ji Woo asked, genuinely concerned.

"If it's concerning you that much, ask him about it when he comes back. I'm sure you're just overthinking." I reassured her, stepping into a nearby restaurant, finally placing all her bags down onto the floor, sitting down and rubbing my aching wrists. "My arms hurt so much, gosh, Ji Woo, why do you treat me like this."

Ji Woo chuckled, sitting down in front of me. "I'm so nice, what're you talking about?"

I rolled my eyes, checking out the menu quickly.

"Hmm, I'll have some Bulgogi, you're paying." I smiled, Ji Woo walking off to the counter to order.

The food came, and we talked and talked, catching up with each other.

"Despite being roommates, and friends, we really don't do this often." I mentioned, pushing my plate forward.

"I know.. it's nice, we should do it again sometime."

"Agreed." I smiled.

Stray Kids POV

They arrived at the Gala hall after what seemed like hours, stepping out of the limousine and into the hall.

The room was a rich golden colour, the ceiling high with sparkling chandeliers hanging, sending dazzling light throughout the hall. There were tables covered with white cloths, candles placed in the centre, along with a banquet table against either side wall, a stage covering the length of the back wall. Men and woman alike stood around in lavish dresses and suits of many colours and designs, talking filling the hall, giving it a warm atmosphere, despite the people inside.

Everyone in this hall has blood on their hands.

But yet, they act as if they're just normal people with a lot of money in their banks.

"Wow.. it's a lot more bright than I remember" Gabs exclaimed, blinking at the sudden brightness of the room.

"There's a lot more people, too." Kara noted, looking around at familiar and unfamiliar faces alike.

"Well, a lot of groups formed over the past year. Plus, some rookie groups don't like attending." Bang Chan shrugged.

"True that.. so where's this TXT..?" Kara clapped, looking around the room.

"Well... I'm not too sure... all we managed to get was their names.." Hyunjin chuckled awkwardly.

"So what's their names? We can work with that." Gabs said, shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"Choi Soobin is their leader.. their other members are Choi Yeonjun, Choi Beomgyu, Kang Taehyun, and Kai Kamal Huening, but he goes by Huening Kai." Jeongin explained briefly.

"Alright, easy. Well, we'll see you boys around then. If we need help we'll scream." Kara smiled, releasing her arm from Felix's.

Then the two girls walked off.

"Nothing bad can happen here.. it's not exactly allowed." Jisung said quietly, almost as if to reassure himself.