"You're kidding, right? You have to come to the dance!"
"Why? It's not going to ruin my life if I don't..."
Andie was lying on her bed, her friends standing around her. The Valentine Masquerade dance was that evening, and the girls were trying to get Andie to go despite no longer knowing if she had a Valentine. She had considered calling Bane, but hadn't been able to press the call button.
"Well..." Jessica said, who seemed to be struggling to think of something to say. "Go for our sake, then!"
Andie frowned tiredly.
"What?" she asked.
"It'll ruin it for us if you don't go. It won't be any fun." Isabelle said, catching on.
"And I'm sure that you don't want to ruin our evening as well, do you?" Jessica asked, batting her eyelashes.
"Come on, Andes, it'll be fun..." Emily insisted.
Andie sighed and looked at them.
"Okay, fine. Fine. I'll go."
Jessica clapped and whooped.
"I told you that would work!" Jessica told the other two.
Andie rolled her eyes.
"But there's one problem," she said. "I don't have a dress."
"Yes, you do," Jessica said, grinning.
"No, I don't," Andie replied. "Jess, I would know if I had a dress for the dance..."
"Yes, you do," Jessica insisted.
She set down the three bags of shopping she had come with and pulled out two boxes.
"Jess... what did you..." Andie began.
"Hush," Jessica silenced her. "And prepare to be amazed."
She held out the larger box to Andie, who took it incredulously. The girls all looked at her expectantly. Andie gingerly opened the box, and gasped. Inside was a beautiful white dress with rhinestones around the bodice and straps. She pulled it out gently and held it up to get a better look.
"... Oh, my gosh... it's actually perfect..." Andie whispered. "Jess, how...?"
"We've been friends for years, honey, I think by now I know your tastes and what you'll look good in," Jessica grinned. "And what would a perfect dress be without... the perfect shoes?"
She opened the other box and produced a pair of white sparkling shoes.
"Jess... this is too much..."
"It's not to get a smile on your face," Isabelle said.
Andie looked at them all, and realized they weren't doing it because their fun would be ruined. They were doing it because they wanted to take her mind of everything.
"You guys are the best," she said.
"I know, we are kind of awesome," Jessica shrugged with a grin.
Andie got to her feet.
"Hey, by the way, what were you going to do if you hadn't gotten me to change my mind?" she asked.
"Oh, there was a perfect green dress I would have swapped it for." Jessica smiled.
The girls laughed heartily.
The gymnasium was already filling up when they arrived. Andie slipped on the white and silver Venetian mask Jessica had given her with the dress, and climbed out.
"Andie?"
Andie looked around. Eric was standing nearby, looking at her. Her first thought was that he looked very handsome in his James Bond suit, a black mask in his hand. She shoved the thought out of her mind irritably.
"Oh... Hey, Eric..." she said.
"You look good," he commented.
"... Thanks. You too."she said.
"Is Bane waiting for you inside?" he asked.
Andie hesitated, before finally deciding on the truth.
"I don't think so..." she said. "But I'm still not going with you."
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Listen..." Andie began. "I'm sorry about the other day... I was upset and I took it out on you..."
"No, you were right. It was insensitive of me. I'm sorry, too."
Andie gave him a small smile.
"So, did you find a date for the dance?" she inquired.
"Yeah," he said, "I came with my sister."
Andie forced a laugh, though she wasn't sure if she should or not.
"Andie, hey!"
Andie recognized Jessica by the entrance.
"Oh. I had better go. Have fun," she said.
"Sure, you too."
Andie went to join Jessica.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing important," Andie said, though she was grateful the lighting covered the slight flush in her face.
"Okay. Anyway, you look amazing, Andie!"
"Thanks, so do you."
"Oh, I know I do, don't I always?" Jessica grinned and took her arm, lifting her mask to her face. "Come on."
Couples and single people were already inside dancing to a popular rock song. Several heart-shaped banners brightened the walls, red, pink and white balloons ornamented the pillars on either side of the long buffet table to the far right. Andie looked around, trying and failing to recognize anybody with all the masks on. At least she knew the person next to her, since it was Jessica.
"Oh, there's my date," Jessica said and waved before walking off. "I'll see you later!"
"Jess, wait!" Andie whispered, trying to catch her arm, but it was too late.
She sighed and looked around. She meant to move to the side so she didn't get knocked over... when someone bumped hard into her, sending her crashing to the floor. Or they would have if someone hadn't caught her in time. Andie felt someone help her to her feet, and she turned around to look at them. Before her was a boy dressed in a deep greyish blue. The light was just bright enough that she could see that. His mask was the same color, his dark hair falling over the edges. All she could see was the deep color of his eyes. A color she was sure she knew... before she could try and figure out who it was, however, the stranger held out his hand as a new song began.
Andie blinked, but couldn't sense anything threatening from him, so she took his hand and let him pull her forwards among the other dancers. Her heart thumping wildly, she put her hand on the stranger's waist and let him lead her. She wasn't sure why, but he looked familiar. She thought it was because of the eyes, which were a startling blue, but then, maybe she was wrong. Blue eyes weren't that rare. And besides, they might have been contact lenses, for all she knew. But she couldn't help being intrigued. He was a surprisingly good dancer, whoever he was. He wasn't tall enough to be Eric, which was a relief. She had enough going on without him trying to woo her again. As the song ended, they stopped. Andie looked at the stranger, feeling like she knew him, without being able to identify him.
"... Who are you?" she asked.
Instead of answering, the stranger reached up and touched her face. Andie froze, unsure what to do, her eyes wide. And before she could react, he leaned forwards and kissed her.