I was staring at myself in a mirror in a bathroom, and I did not even recognise myself. The dress that Charlie and Daniel had given me was beautiful. It was known as a “little black dress” according to Daniel, but the colour was of a darker black than what it usually is.

“Are you ready Maina?” Charlie called from the other-side of the door.

“Y-Y-Yes! Nearly!” I replied instinctively. I was so nervous that I couldn’t bring myself to go outside and face Charlie.

This dress is nice, but it’s a bit too small for me…it’s figure hugging! I’m too embarrassed!

“Maina? Are you OK?” Charlie asked after he knocked on the door. His knocking caused me to jump in fright, but I pushed my hand against the door to keep him out.

“I-I-I’m fine!”

“Are you sure? You don’t sound it.”

“Just…just give me a minute!” I turned around and sat on an upturned basket. I began to take deep breaths and fan my face in an attempt to calm myself down.

My redness…it won’t go away!

I heard some sort of jingly sound and Charlie said, “tell them to call me back” but Daniel replied with “It’s Nina”.

“Maina, I’ll be back in a sec, OK?” Charlie replied, his footsteps growing fainter.

“Does the dress fit?” Daniel asked as he rapped on the door lightly.

“Y-Yes, thank you.” I replied. I looked in the mirror and saw that my redness had faded enough so that Charlie wouldn’t recognise something was wrong.

It didn’t match how I felt though.

I realised that I couldn’t hide in this room forever so I flicked my hair back and took one last look in the mirror before opening the door. However, the look on Daniel’s face made me want to shut it again.

“W-W-What’s the matter?” I replied embarrassed.

“Nothing…believe me…you look really nice, and I don’t say that often.” Daniel replied before he grinned widely. I couldn’t help but smile back and feel happy.

“Dan, listen Lisa said you…have to…”

Charlie stopped mid-sentence as soon as he entered the room, as I looked up at him I saw he was looking straight at me.

W-Why is he looking at me like that?! It’s making my insides curl up!

“Wow…Maina, you look beautiful.”

My heart completely melted at those words. I was sure I had invented a new shade of red, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t help but smile brightly.

“T-Thank…you.” I replied, unable to look him in the eye. I felt like I was going to turn into jelly.

“Pfft, you’re more than welcome.” Charlie replied sweetly before flashing a smile.

Oh my god, my heart is going to jump out of my chest!

“Ready to go?” Charlie asked Daniel, who gave a “thumbs-up” before flicking his spikes upwards almost pointlessly. Charlie walked over to us and grabbed Daniel’s wrist before holding my hand gently.

“Hey, not so tight Maina.” Charlie laughed before wincing slightly.

I looked down to see that my hand was gripping his like a vice.

I wasn’t even aware I’d done that!

“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” I pleaded. I felt horrible at realising I hade done this to him.

“It’s alright Maina, you don’t have to apologise.” Charlie replied before closing his eyes. I blinked but then was taken aback at how dark and cold the room had become.

“W-W-W-Why is it so cold in here?” I exclaimed, shivering slightly at the huge decrease in temperature.

“Maina, I teleported us to the party.” Charlie replied. I looked around to see nothing but dark, and red both in front and behind me. As I turned to the side, I could see people walking around.

“Well…I say the party, but what I meant was next to it.” Charlie replied as he began to walk with Daniel and me both following him. When we left the alley, my eyes widened at how different everything was. The houses of this world were huge and made of a different material, the roads and streets could make lights magically appear and there were large numbers of a weird type of box with 4 wheels.

“You OK? I’m betting you’re feeling pretty overwhelmed at how different everything is right?” Charlie asked before standing next to me.

“It’s all so bright…”

“Hey, that’s still the same right?” Charlie said while gesturing to the sky with his head. I looked up and saw the sky was littered with sparkling stars, all of them looking down on us with a peculiar brightness. The moon was completely full, and it’s luminescence provided me with a second feeling of security. I nodded and Charlie then turned and started walking. Daniel started to walk but collided shoulders with someone, who turned and gave him a look that he didn’t like.

“What are you looking at?” Daniel said, causing the other guy to stop and turn around.

“What, you got a problem?”

“Oh that is it.” Daniel replied as he rolled up his sleeves.

“Whoawhoawhoa I don’t think so.” Charlie said as he ran in front of Daniel and began gently pushing him back.

“Who does he think he is?!” Daniel replied angrily, trying to push Charlie out of the way in order to get to the guy who was rude to him. I just followed them as Charlie forced Daniel further and further away until he was calm enough to be able to walk himself.

“You OK now?” Charlie stated forcefully, in order to stop Daniel from going back to continue his argument.

“Yeah…what a dickhead.” Daniel replied as he flicked his hair up and walked through some gates. I looked up and saw a grand manor that was filled with plenty of those 4-wheeled boxes, and lots of people were walking up a pathway in formal dress. The house itself had many windows, each one illuminated akin to a star.

“Is…is this the party?” I asked entranced.

“Yeah, I know, it’s pretty big right? Unfortunately it’s not mine.” Charlie replied while smirking. “Come on, Elle will kill me if I show up late.”

We carried on walking up the pathway to the manor when something possessed me to link my left arm with Charlie’s right. He didn’t pull away and my stomach continued to somersault through hoops. By the time we got to the door, a man in a black outfit not to dissimilar to Charlie’s stopped us.

“Name please.”

“Charlie Brian, and one.” Charlie replied.

“Your name is on the VIP list, present your invitation please.”

I turned to Charlie with a happy face but his expression removed mine completely.

“Oh shit…” Charlie stated as he searched his pockets.

Did…did he forget it?

“Hey…uh…I sorta forgot it…can you let me us anyway? You know I’m on the VIP list.” Charlie asked while trying to keep a straight face.

“Sorry sir, no can do.”

“Aw, come on! I can get Elle to identify me if you want.”

“Ms. Rose is currently busy tending to guests.”

“But…but I’m a guest! A VIP guest!” Charlie said as he pulled the clipboard down and tapped his name on the VIP section several times in frustration. I managed to spot 3 other names on there, namely Daniel Brian, Lisa Knight and “J”.

“She is attending to guests who have handed in their invites.”

“Oh, you mean these?” Daniel replied as he pulled out two pieces of cardboard from his top pocket and handed them to the man. He pulled out a pen and drew what I thought were two lines through names.

“You may enter.”

As Daniel calmly walked inside, Charlie ran up to him and pulled on his arm.

“Where the hell were you?! And why didn’t you tell me you had my invite?!” Charlie scathed.

“Well, I was talking to someone. And I picked up your invite from your bedside table as I got changed. What’s the problem?” Daniel replied before looking up at the ceiling.

“…Nothing.” Charlie replied while sighing.

“HEY!”

I turned to see a girl skipping up to us energetically. She was wearing a similar dress to me except it was all in red. Her strawberry blond hair, and brown eyes was something I had seen before.

“You guys made it! Hi Danny!” the girl smiled as she jumped up and kissed Daniel on the forehead.

“Jeez, who’s the bigger kid here Lisa, you or me?” Daniel replied, looking uncomfortable with this very public display of affection.

“Silly! Of course it’s me! Although not in every department no?” Lisa replied while laughing. “You’re looking unusually sharp Charlie.”

“What do you mean unusually?” Charlie replied sarcastically.

“I’m joking! You know I love you really!” Lisa replied before turning to me. “Ooh! Who’s your friend? She looks really sexy!” I began to say my name but her behaviour had thrown me completely.

“Her name is Maina.” Daniel replied. He pulled his arm upwards but looked stunned when he was met with resistance. I looked and saw that Lisa had interlocked her fingers with his without her knowing.

“Maina? That’s a lovely name! How do you do Maina?” Lisa said hyperactively as she curtseyed.

Wow, she’s really friendly!

“I’m fine thank you Lisa. It’s nice to meet you!”

“It’s nice to meet you too! Oh! Who does your hair? It’s lovely! And that pendant really works for you! The dress totally works with your hair and your eyes! Your eyes are striking!”

She had given me so many compliments that I had no idea where to begin!

“Eh? Well…thank you! Bu-”

“Wow, that dress looks like the one I bought the other day, but it’s better than mine! Yours shows off your curves! And your shoes look the same too! We should like, hang out!”

“Lisa, come on…let’s get a drink. I know you wanted to challenge me on downing coke glasses. Come on, over this way.” Daniel placed his hand on Lisa’s shoulder and proceeded to lead her away. He turned back to look at us before deeply sighing in relief.

“Wow, that was a close one.” Charlie replied before nervously laughing.

“I feel sorta bad. All those things she said were based on her clothing.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. Daniel will get the brunt of it.” Charlie replied before laughing.  “Come on, you want to go into the main hall type thing?” I nodded happily and walked with him through the manor. The walls were intricately and beautifully decorated. We walked towards the main hall when Charlie stopped and tapped someone a girl wearing an odd patterned green dress and short brown hair. It was adorned with some sort of green flower I didn’t recognise.

“What kind of dress is that?” Charlie said teasingly.

The girl sighed and turned around with a wine glass in her hands. She smiled before setting it down on a table and scoffing.

“Don’t you like it?”

“Nina, I’m not sure what the pattern is meant to be.” Charlie replied. “I’m guessing it’s Irish related…it sort of looks like a four-leaf clover.”

“Shamrock. You like?” Nina replied while curtseying.

“Not bad. Was it expensive?” Charlie said while surveying her dress. This made me feel very uncomfortable.

“Not too much…”

“Nina, you look fantastic in that dress. The shamrock in your hair is a nice touch too.” Charlie said. I saw that Nina was not used to these sorts of compliments and blushed slightly.

“Now I know you’re lying…I don’t look nice in these sorts of things…”

“No! You look really nice!” I said reassuringly. Everyone looked at me with stunned expressions after what I said sunk in. The silence made me feel I had done something wrong.

“Well…thanks. You look pretty awesome too. By the way, I don’t think we’ve actually met.” Nina said as she gave Charlie a harsh glare.

“Nina, Maina. Maina, Nina.” Charlie said before sighing.

“A pleasure to meet you Maina.” Nina replied while smiling.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too!” I replied cheerily.

Wow…Charlie has introduced me to so many nice people.

“Oh yeah! Elle’s been looking for you. Something about why “J” hasn’t shown up.” Nina said while looking around.

“What? “J”? Who the hell is…Oh, OK, I get it. I don’t know…I thought Elle’s dad forbid him to attend?” Charlie replied while folding his arms.

“Yeah, Elle put his name on the guest list under “J”, but he hasn’t showed up yet.”

“He’s probably on his way right now. You know he likes to make stylish entrances.”

“Yeah, but the thing is if her dad’s representatives catch him, he’s in for it.” Nina replied while picking up her wine glass and gulping it down.

“Where is Elle by the way?”

“Attending to guest apparently, but I haven’t seen her in a while.” Nina sighed as she twirled the glass in her hand. “Hey, I’m going to get another one. You want?”

“Nah, I’m OK.”

“Maina?”

“Oh, no thank you.” I replied courteously.

“She has more manners than you.” Nina replied before walking off. As she got to the door she turned around and smiled before disappearing from our sight.

“Some things never change…” Charlie muttered before turning around and sitting down in one of the chairs.

“You OK?” I asked. I felt something was bothering Charlie and I wanted to know what it was.

“I’m fine. It’s just I didn’t even want to be here, yet here I am.” Charlie replied while looking somewhat fed-up. “Still, I guess I should make the most of it.” Charlie then broke into a smile, causing all my worries to wash away.

“You should as well…it’s not every day you get to party in a whole new world.” Charlie said. I broke out into a smile and gave him a hug. Charlie’s body stiffened upon contact, but he hugged me back.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing…I’m perfectly fine. Charlie…can we talk?” I asked nervously. My heart was racing without respite, and it felt that if I didn't say it now I'd die.

“Yeah sure. What about?” Charlie replied.

“I…I…”

This is it!

“Charlie!”

I turned my head at this voice for it wasn’t mine, or anyone else that Charlie had introduced me to. I saw a girl in a long white dress walking towards us. Her dress had a pink sash-like design and a white rose was attached along the sash. White and pink roses adorned her milk chocolate hair, and as she got closer I saw that a rose design was actually patterned into the dress itself. I looked at Charlie but was crushed to see the same look on his face he had given me when he saw me in my dress for the first time.

“Kari…”