Valerie

"Valerie!" Dad yells. "Someone's at the door!"

"I'll get it!" I reply bounding down the stairs two at a time. Yeah, right; like I even have a choice.

"Jessi!" I squeal excitedly letting her in and engulfing her in a hug.

Thank goodness she's finally here.

It's the night of the dance and we had all agreed that Jess and I would get ready together with Elliot meeting up with us at school. I'm less than thrilled to be going but hey, if it'll get them to lay off my case. Then I'm willing to do it.

"Shoot!" she replies when we pull apart. "I totally left my dress in the car."

While Jess rushes off to get her dress, I pad up the stairs to my room to change.

Fifteen minutes later, I find myself sitting in front of my dresser mirror while Jessi applies coat after coat of makeup to my face.

"Keep still Val." She whines for the third time in a row. "You're ruining the eyeliner."

"I can't help it if I keep blinking." I reply, shrugging. "You are working with my eyes and its only reflex."

Jessi mutters something under her breath and I pretend not to hear, instead focusing on trying to keep still.

"Done!" she exclaims, swiveling me to face the mirror.

"So..." she trails. "What do you think?"

"I look amazing." I say, reaching up to my face.

"Don't" jess says, swatting my hand away. "You'll ruin my masterpiece."

"Sorry." I chuckle.

My eyebrows have been filled in to look like prefect arcs above my eyes which usually seem dull and lifeless to me. Tonight however, they look excited and glittery encased in all that eyeliner. 

Jess has done my eyeshadow in hues of red and silver to match my dress, powdering my face up with just a hint of blush at the cheeks. My lips are coated in stop light red and I find that I'm smiling despite myself. I really do look beautiful tonight. And maybe it won't be so bad after all.

"Plug in the curling iron while I do my makeup." Jess instructs, gesturing at the desk where she'd dropped it. "When I'm done, we'll do your hair."

I do as I'm told then sit back to watch Jess apply layers of smoky eyeshadow to her face with a shiny gloss of pink for her full lips. 

After that, she straightens her beautiful black hair and puts on some dangling heart shaped earrings. All in all, she looks breath taking.

"Your turn." She smirks, pushing me to sit down once more in front of the dresser.

It's a really strenuous affair but after about ten minutes, the deed is done and my otherwise shaggy brown hair which usually looks like a dead beaver falls flawlessly to my shoulders, curls perfectly framing my heart shaped face.

"Thank you so much Jess." I squeal, pulling her into a hug. "I really do look amazing."

"You're welcome." She says, bouncing excitedly. "We are going to kill it tonight!"

I laugh as I quickly adorn my ears with pearl earrings and pull on my shoes. 

Hurriedly, I shove a few nick knacks into my clutch and follow Jess outside but not before speaking to my parents and giving them a 500-word description about my plans for the night.

Okay, I'm just kidding. They only asked for the important stuff like how will I get home and will I miss curfew so they can start planning on a suitable punishment. Still, I wouldn't put anything past them.

"Wow." Elliot says, sidling up to us once we make it into the school auditorium which is packed full with students, might I add. "You both look breath taking."

"Thanks." I smile, cheeks tinging with color. "You look great too."

"Thanks." He says breaking into a grin.

"Yeah yeah. I look great. She looks great, we all look great." Jess says, waving her hand dismissively. "Thanks for the compliment Elliot but we really gotta go." And with that, she pulls me towards the snack table.

"Catch you later sis." Elliot smirks, waving at her.

Jessi turns back then, sticking her tongue out at him, oblivious to the fact that we're in public.

Real mature Jess.

I'll never understand the relationship those two have.

We stand by the snack table, downing a cup each of fruit punch as music starts to blast off the loud speakers.

 Several fabulously dressed students start moving towards the middle of the transformed auditorium, bobbing their heads, moving their waists and pumping their fists in the air.

"Come on." Jess says, dumping her plastic cup on the table and tugging me towards the swarm of bodies. "Let's go."

"Wait." I call, digging my heels to keep from moving. "I don't dance and you know it."

"Sure you do." Elliot says, propelling me from behind.

When did he get here?

Sighing in defeat, I let them both lead me towards the horde of students letting loose.

Jess starts dancing around me trying to loosen the tense look in my eyes as Elliot takes both hands, twirling me about.

Soon I stop feeling awkward about everything and just give in. swaying to the beat, I pump my fists in the air and sing along to the music.

"That's the spirit." Elliot chuckles, spinning Jess and I around. We dance for a while longer, chatting and laughing and generally just having a good time.

 I had thought this would be weird, me coming to the dance with my best friend and her twin but it isn't; not one bit. The place is crammed full with students and everyone is too caught up in their own lives to care.

"I think I need a drink." Jess says, when the music changes.

"I'll come too." I say, trailing her as Elliot starts dancing with Bianca from Drama class. She looks pretty tonight, all dressed up in a midnight blue high-low dress and black pumps.

I'm panting heavily by the time we reach the table.

Who knew dancing would be so much fun yet exhausting?

Well I did, but I haven't danced in ages so...

"Thanks for making me come Jess." I say, smiling at her once I've quenched my thirst enough to talk. "I'm having a blast."

"Told you." She says, before downing half her cup of punch. Jess picks up a chip, chewing thoughtfully. She opens her mouth to say something but I barely hear her.

A slight buzz of movement at the entrance has me gazing intently at the people there. 

Kourtney comes in and it's all I can do not to roll my eyes. To say my ex best friend looks beautiful would be the biggest understatement of the entire school year.

She's dressed in a simple strapless white dress with roses etched into it. A black satin belt is cinched to her waist, accentuating her curves as the dress falls just above her knees.

 Her hair, needless to say, is immaculately curled, with the waves falling perfectly past her shoulders.

 Her blue eyes are lined beautifully with kohl and her eyeshadow, well don't even get me started. It's gold with flecks of glitter shimmering all round. 

She should look ridiculous, she really should but no. she doesn't. Instead she looks like something out of a Victoria's secret ad.

I take a sip of my drink and nearly choke on it. No, not because of Kourtney and her flawlessness but because of the person standing behind her, hand intertwined with hers and looking like a model in his trim black tuxedo.

How hadn't I noticed him standing there before?

"Val?" Jess asks but I only half hear her. I watch in horror as Raiden puts his arms around Kourtney's waist, whispering something in her ear. Whatever it is makes her smile and she pecks his cheek.

Together, they head to the dance floor and then I'm running.

"Valerie!" my friend screams from behind me but I don't stop. I have to keep running. This can't be happening; it just can't!