Finally, the special day they'd all been waiting for, formal day, had arrived! It was a sweltering November afternoon, and the girls were arriving with their dresses and makeup to get ready at Izzy's house. Mia, who had happily agreed to host pre-drinks, appeared even more excited about the evening than Izzy.

Surviving the past couple of weeks without her sister, would have been impossible. Mia did everything she could to fill the gaping hole their mum had left behind. And Izzy was ridiculously grateful. Mia had even helped her pick out her dress for the evening, and shouted her a makeup session and French manicure.

Priya had been the first to arrive, followed by Tal, Zara and Em. Izzy greeted them all one by one with hugs and gestures to come inside. It was a while since Em had been at Izzy's house and they were all happy to have her there. It meant a lot that they were all together at the end of the year.

Em was focused on creating an official formal 'get ready with me' vlog. She had her camera out and was interviewing Priya on the lawn in front of the pink hibiscus. Priya didn't seem overly enthusiastic. Though Izzy also wasn't super keen to be in the vlog, she'd promised Em she'd help edit it with her.

'C'mon Em, we don't have much time!' Priya moaned.

'I'm done! I'm done!' Em said. 'You can go...'

Priya laughed. 'Why thank you! I can go, can I?'

Izzy ushered both girls inside and they all retreated to the back of the house to get ready in her room.

It felt strange that none of Izzy's friends knew that she'd been talking with Dom. She was so used to sharing everything with them. Nothing had happened between the two of them beyond talking and texting. Still, Izzy felt so strongly for Dom. She'd have liked to share how she felt with her friends.

Unfortunately, Em still clearly cared so much for Dom. She had never been one to hide her feelings and was vocal in her hopes that this evening would bring them back together. Tal and Zara had both tried to dissuade her from this, but Izzy was careful to stay out of it. She felt disloyal enough not saying anything about her and Dom, and she didn't want to ruin the tentative new bond she'd formed with Em. Only Tal suspected something was up and had been bugging Izzy on the side to talk to her. Izzy said nothing. Even though in the two weeks since they'd last seen each other at school, she'd thought about Dom all the time and they'd texted about a million times.

A knock on the door interrupted Izzy's thoughts. She lifted her head as Mia entered her bedroom precariously balancing a tray of champagne glasses. Em stood up quickly and took the tray from Mia. She placed it carefully on the dresser and then turned to hug Mia. Izzy realised they hadn't seen each other since her mum had died.

'I'm so sorry,' Em said gently.

'Nice to see you, love,' Mia responded, tears abruptly welling in her eyes. 'Mum would be happy you're here.'

Izzy wrapped her arms around her sister. 'No tears,' she said, though her own eyes had spontaneously watered.

'You're right. Specially not you!' Mia wiped her eyes briskly. 'Crying and mascara don't go well together!'

Mia stayed to help Izzy dress and do her hair. She tossed a pillow on the floor and got out her curling tongs. The other girls had had their hair professionally done, but Izzy hadn't wanted to spend the extra money. Besides, Mia had done her hair once before for a wedding, where she'd created gorgeous waves that fell long down her back. Izzy sat patiently as her sister replicated the look. In no time, Mia had completed her work. She finished up by securing Izzy's a diamonte pin, to keep the curls away from Izzy's face.

'Let's all put our dresses on at the same time.' Em said, when Mia was done. It was a silly thing, but it was cute that Em was so excited.

Izzy lifted her dress off the hanger on the back of her bedroom door and stepped into it. The dress fell to the floor and was made of a midnight blue material with a soft sheen-like quality. She'd discussed the colour with Dom. They wanted some of their photos to at least look like they were a couple. Izzy hoped no one noticed and wished she'd chosen something less obviously matched with Dom.

'You look beautiful, Iz,' Mia said as she helped Izzy with the dress's tiny zipper and clasp. 'You all do.'

Mia had lent her a pair of silver strappy heels and Izzy sat on the end of her bed to pull them on. She paused for a moment to reach for a glass of champagne.

'A toast?' Tal said, picking a flute off the tray.

'To...friendship?' Izzy asked tentatively, raising her glass to no one in particular.

Em scrambled over the bed and clinked glasses with Izzy. 'And to the best night ever!'

'I'll drink to that!' Zara said, sculling the last of her champagne.. She was wearing a tight sleeveless blood orange gown that stretched to the floor and clung to her curvaceous figure and looked particularly fierce this evening!

Izzy perused her reflection in the full-length mirror. She'd been worried her dress was a bit extra. This wasn't the case though. Next to Zara's bold ensemble and Em, in her gold Alex Perry mini with heels the height of the Empire State, Izzy looked positively underdone.

'Somethings missing,' Izzy said.

'Your jewelry, silly,' Mia reminded her.

Izzy reached into her jewelry case for a statement necklace from Lovisa. She also slipped on a large blue sapphire daisy ring that her mum had given her.

Before the boys arrived, Em said: 'We should take a little group pic?'

Mia took Em's phone from her and shuffled the girls into positions. Izzy insisted they took at least one photo with Atilla, who they propped up on a stool between Tal and Priya. They all held up glasses of champagne and blew kisses at the camera.

'So pretty!' Mia said, handing Em back her phone.

Em examined the picture, her fingers scrolling in and out on the glass. 'Cute. Beautiful. Love it!'

Izzy thought Em looked stunning, and she seemed happier than she'd been in a while. She knew that Em had been offered a gig on a local soap opera starting in December. She was so proud of her. It was exactly what Em had always wanted.

'Are you all still coming to my place for afters?' Em said.

'Of course, we'll be there,' Tal reassured Em.

A fleeting concern for what the night would hold for all of them washed over Izzy. These were her best friends, and she couldn't have survived what she'd been through without them. She was looking forward to the evening, but these pre-drinks had been a reminder of all she stood to lose if she messed things up with Em again. The After party at Em's was a big deal too. She knew that Em had invited some of the people from the cast of her new gig to her house that night, to get to know them before filming started. Things really needed to go well tonight.

As two luxury vehicles pulled up outside the house, Izzy snuck a peak through the curtains to the street below. Priya's date Nikesh had hired a black Maserati and it was parked next to a stretch Hummer. Izzy couldn't quite believe the glamorous vehicles taking up half the driveway, were for them. She waved Priya over to the window.

Mia offered to go out to the street and greet the boys, so the girls could finish up. While everyone was arriving, Izzy snuck into the bathroom to text Dom.

Iz: Is that you out there?

Dom: Yeah, get out here! I want to see you...

Iz: I'm worried 'bout Em...she's not over you.

Dom: Don't be. I'll be good. Promise.

Izzy checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror and sprayed perfume. The girls had gone on ahead and she could hear laughter from the far end of the house.

Izzy walked down the corridor and entered the lounge, just as Dom, who was standing by the fireplace, fastened a corsage to Em's wrist. It was strange seeing him in her home, among her things.

'Hi,' she said pausing in the doorway and waving at the room in a non-committal fashion.

Her dad looked up and smiled. 'You look beautiful, sweet-heart.'

'Thanks dad,' Izzy said softly, moving slowly into the circle of guests. She gravitated towards Dom like a moth to a flame, but Cole blocked her path, kissing her awkwardly on the cheek. He'd bought her a pink lily corsage and offered to put it around her wrist. It was beautiful and smelled lightly floral.

Mia busied herself introducing everyone. She topped up glasses and handed out fresh flutes of champagne to the newest arrivals. Tommo, had agreed to escort both Zara and Tal and was grinning like a buffoon, with two beauties on either side of him.

Izzy watched transfixed as first Cole and then Dom stretched a hand to her dad, to introduce themselves. She was glad, in this moment, that her dad didn't know what Dom meant to her, and the greeting was brief and informal. They all stood around chatting briefly before heading out to the yard for more photos, as Em buzzed about, vlogging.

At times, Izzy could feel Dom's eyes on her. He caught her gaze for a moment and winked at her when no one was noticing. She grinned. Soon though, it was time to head off and they all piled into the plush leather seats of the hummer. Izzy waved at her dad and sister, and before she knew it, they were on their way.

Fortunately, Izzy had a window seat facing Tommo and Zara with Cole on her left. She was relieved to have some space away from Dom and Em. The night was going to be tricky enough to navigate as it was and the butterflies in her stomach were only getting stronger. She gazed out at the Sydney streets on the way to venue, her mind full of anticipation.

'You ladies look beautiful,' Dom said.

Izzy's face flushed.

'Seconded,' Cole said. 'If only you looked like this every day!'

Em chuckled. 'You're a dag!'

'Just kidding!' Cole said, grinning. 'You know you're all gorgeous. Watford girls forever!'

Izzy smiled. She wished they'd all, always be, this happy.