December has come by too quickly. Most schools would just have their students send out candy canes or play Secret Santa, but not ours. We have to have a dance. Not just any dance, a Christmas Masquerade. Ian said, "You're going."

"What makes you think I'm going?" I asked him.

"We are going to have a little fun out of this year. Besides, my sister is already designing your dress." he explained. His older sister is a fashion designer. Yeah, Ian's family is full of artists.

"Can't you tell her to call it off?" I wondered.

"There's no calling off the masquerade. She's making our outfits and I'm making the masks." Ian replied.

-TIME SKIP-

In Art, the teacher walked in and said, "Alright, today I want you to paint what Christmas means to you."

I started to paint a family eating dinner together. Lance looked at me and waved. I smiled. Ian chuckled, "See, why not go? You may run into Lance."

I laughed. It is a nice thought.

-TIME SKIP-

I was cleaning the house as usual, then Theresa walked in, "Elisa, Victoria's birthday is coming up and I need this house looking clean."

"But I cleaned every room already." I told her.

"There is one place that isn't clean." she said. I don't like where this is going. She led me to the basement which I'm pretty sure hasn't been used in years.

"I will return at midnight. When I return, this place will be beautiful." she said. With that, she left.

I called Ian, "I can't go. Theresa got me cleaning the basement."

"Wait, she got you imprisoned?" he asked.

"Yes, and I won't be going anywhere until it's clean." I replied.

Ian was silent for a moment, then he said, "Wait there. I got an idea. See you later."

He hung up. I continued cleaning, then I heard the door bell. I walked to the front door. It was Ian holding up my dress. I said, "Ian, didn't I tell you I'm not going?"

"You did, but your fairy godbrother says otherwise. For starters, you've been trapped here too long and I have a little help for the basement." Ian explained.

I saw a cleaning business van behind me. I looked at Ian, "How can you afford this?"

"I have my ways. Besides, we need to go." Ian told me.

-TIME SKIP-

We arrived at the school in my green dress. Ian's sister always told me that green was my color. I put on my mask. I set my phone alarm to 11:45 so I wouldn't be late going back. Ian said, "Ready for your big entrance?"

"You're not coming in with me?" I asked.

"Hey, my moment will come after yours. You need this moment more than I do. Go ahead, my lady." Ian said, opening the curtain.

I walked inside. All eyes and masks were pointing my direction. I walked toward the refreshment table to get a cup of punch. I heard Lance's voice behind me, "Hello, there."

I turned around, "Hello."

Does he recognize me? He said, "May I have this dance?"

I nodded, "Sure."

He led me to the middle of the dance floor. We had a nice waltz. Then he said, "I wasn't sure if you were coming or not."

"You know who I am?" I asked.

He laughed, then whispered, "Yes, Elisa."

My eyes widened, "How can you tell, but no one else?"

"You can wear a mask but I know those beautiful eyes anywhere." he answered. He smoothly lead me out of the room to the courtyard.

"So what are you doing after this year?" he asked.

"This year period or this school year?" I wondered.

"School year." he replied.

"I plan to be at an art school with Ian. He'll be a painter, I'll be a singer." I told him.

"I've never heard you sing." he said.

"I haven't sung in a while. I may be a little rusty." I retorted.

"I'm sure you sound great." he told me, smiling.

I took a deep breath, then started singing, "As Long As You're Mine." When I finished, Ian said, "You sound great."

"Thank you." I replied. He moved closer to me and was about to kiss me, then my cell phone buzzed.

"Oh, I have to go. I'm sorry, Lance." I said, running away.

"Wait!" he said, running behind me.

I saw Ian and motioned that we needed to go. He ran with me and we made it to the car. As he drove, he said, "You were with Lance! I'm proud of you!"

"I sang to him." I told him.

"Really? I'm proud of you! I know there was a reason I liked the guy." Ian answered. We got to the house and the van was gone. I ran out of the car and into the house. I managed to change into a tank top and shorts and ran down toward the basement. It was really clean. I started to look around, then I heard footsteps. It was Theresa. She looked around and said, "Hm, apparently, you can do something right, for once."

I'm so glad I removed my makeup, otherwise she would've known something was up.