I was so excited for this party. I’ve always wanted to go to a masquerade ball, ever since I was thirteen, but I had never gotten to it, not until now.

I was shaking from how nervous I was. The elevator finally DING!-ed on the first floor, and I took a shaky step toward the staircase. I wanted to skip down it, but I was afraid I’d trip over my dress. I’m so clumsy when it comes to high heels.
A lot of people were already there. Some were just standing around, while some were swaying slightly to the music.
Awh, hell nawh. I wanted everyone to have fun. This would simply not do. I walked up to the DJ and asked him to break out some funky tunes.
“You got it,”
“Oh, and hey, you guys have a disco ball, right?” He nodded. “Yeah, do me a favor, and bust that shit out, ‘kay?”
He laughed and yelled at some dude named Robbie to let the ball drop.
I laughed at the shocked faces on some of them. I was standing in one of the raised alcoves, looking down over the party. Everything looked so beautiful from the view I had. There was a golden hue around the hall, coming from the lights from the candles set up everywhere. I had a little bit of silver confetti fall from the roof, making it look as if it was snowing in the hall. The hall was huge, but from the aura I set, it made everything look so intimate. I was just scanning the crowd, looking at how everyone was reacting to the upbeat music and disco ball when I heard someone sneak up from behind me.
“Hey, pretty girl,” a male voice came from behind me. I spun around real quick to meet a guy in a tuxedo with a black mask on.
“Oh, uh, hey. I was actually just, uh, just leaving.” I stuttered. I didn’t feel very comfortable around this stranger. I didn’t know who he was, although, his voice did sound familiar. Where is John when I need him? I asked myself.
I walked around the stranger, who now had a disappointed look on his face. It was weird, but I suddenly felt sad for disappointing him. I walked away anyways, trying to find someone I recognized. There were a lot of people there. It looked like everyone showed up. The only problem was that I didn’t know what any of them were wearing. It kind of added to the thrill.
I spotted Alyssa & Tessa’s dresses and made a beeline towards where they were standing.
“Finally, familiar faces!” I said, pulling them into hugs dramatically. They both giggled and pulled away from me. “You guys look amazing.”
“Us? Amazing? Please, Daisy. You look like you’re the Asian Cinderella, or something!” Tessa said, and I blushed, gushing at her compliments.
“Thank you,” I smiled. “Oh, hey. Do you guys know what John’s wearing?”
Alyssa smiled mischievously, and shook her head. “Nope!” she said, popping the ‘p.’
“Heffer,” I said, jokingly and she laughed. “Fine. Go dance. I’m gonna go find Eric. That fool probably doesn’t even know how to get his damn mask on.”
They both laughed. I skirted around the edges of the hall, trying to find that fool, when I heard a “Psst!” come out from one of the pillars. “Dais!”
It was Eric.
“Why are you hiding behind a pillar?” I asked him.
“I didn’t want to walk out without my mask on. I have no idea how to put it back on. Help?” he asked, holding out his mask for me. I rolled my eyes. Foo’ can’t do anything without me.
I tied the mask around his face, and fixed it so that it would show his eyes better. Looking down, I finally noticed what he was wearing.
“Eric James Halvorsen!” I yelled. “What the fuck?”
“What?” he asked, raising his shoulders at me.
“You’re only wearing a white button up shirt and black pants! It’s a masquerade ball, Eric. Not one of those simple parties I usually have!”
“Geez, sorry I didn’t get the memo,” he said with widened eyes, backing away from me. “Oh, by the way, will you tell me what ‘Lyss is wearing?”
I narrowed my eyes to slits and put my hands on my hips, glaring at him for a good, long minute before sighing. “She’s over there, by the girl in the short black dress. She’s wearing the pink corset.” I said, pointing him towards his dream girl.
“Thanks,” he said, pulling off his mask.
“Hey! What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled at him, for the second time that night.
“Well, she already thinks I’m a creep. I don’t want to freak her out anymore,” he reasoned, and I scoffed as he walked off confidently in her direction.
“Fine.” I grumbled, stepping onto the dance floor. Walking across the hall to the open bar, my foot caught on air, and I tripped, but instead of doing a face plant, I felt myself being caught by a strong pair of arms. Looking down at me was a pair of very familiar green eyes.
“Hey,” I said softly, looking up into his beautiful eyes.
“Hey there, pretty girl,” he repeated. It dawned on me that I knew this voice.
“John?” I gasped. I took in his appearance as he set me upright with widened eyes.
“I take it you like the tuxedo? I thought it was a bit much,” he said sheepishly.
“No, no, no. I think you look…” I trailed off.
“Breathtaking.” he finished for me, not taking his eyes off of me as he lead me further onto the dance floor.
“You sure think highly of yourself, but yes, breathtaking,” I said, smiling at him cheekily.
“I was talking about you,” he said with a soft smile on his face, and I blushed.
“How’d you know it was me?” I asked quietly, enjoying the slow song the DJ had put on. It was Rachael Yamagata’s “Be Your Love.”
“Let’s just say a little birdie tipped me off before the ball.” he said.
“It was ‘Lyss, wasn’t it.” I said accusingly, and he nodded with a sheepish grin. “That heffer,” I laughed and he laughed with me.
John twirled me around in a circle, and I laughed with an air of joy and breathlessness. He pulled me back to him, and I crashed into his chest, enjoying the warmth of his arms.
“This is nice,” I said, looking up at him through my lashes and he smiled, nodding at me.
I noticed him eying my lips, so I stood up on my tip-toes, giving him the hint to lean down. Just as our lips were about to meet, I heard screaming a little bit away from us.
Kennedy and Gabi were fighting.
“You jerk!” Gabi said, slapping him in the shoulder. It didn’t look that effective, though.   
“Gabi—”
“No! I don’t want to hear it. If you didn’t want to stay together, you should’ve just said so! I can’t believe that’s the real reason you were so eager to go on Warped Tour!” The waterworks started to come, so I made me way over to Gabi. I looked back at John, but he gave me an understanding look.
“I’m sorry, Gab. You’re right, I should’ve just talked to you about it.” Kennedy said, pulling her in for a hug. A crowd was starting to form, so I hushed everyone away. They didn’t deserve to get gawked at, not when Gabi was in this state. Kennedy seemed to notice that everyone was watching, so he lead her over to candlelit corner, still holding her.
I pulled my attention away from the two as Alyssa, Tessa, and Rachael ran up to me.
“Hey, is she okay?” Alyssa asked. I shook my head.
“She’s over there, bawling her eyes out on his shoulder. I had so much faith in them.” I said sadly.
“What happened?” Tessa asked, concerned.
“I have no clue,” I shrugged.
“Oh man. You know what this calls for? Sleepover. Big time. And since tomorrow’s Halloween, we should have a scary movie marathon. Anything to get her mind off of it until she’s ready to talk.” Rachael suggested. We all nodded.
“I’ll have it at my place. One of you three is going to have to rent the movies though. I’m no good at choosing scary movies.”
“Leave that to me,” Rachael said, clapping her hands together like she had a master plan.
“I’ll bring the grub,” Tessa suggested.
“And I’ll bring the beauty products,” Alyssa said. “No sleepover is complete without beauty products.” We all nodded.
“I’ll set up the burning bin outside on the balcony.” I said, and they all looked at me weird. “What? She’s gonna want to burn all of his shit.”
“Oh,”
“Right,”
“Yeah,” they all said at the same time and I rolled my eyes.
“I’m gonna go pull her off of his chest. She shouldn’t be crying on his shoulder.” Rachael said and walked off to find her.
“This makes me wanna go find my boyfriend. Speaking of…” Tessa said, walking off and I laughed.
“Well, guess it’s just you and me, Dais.” Alyssa said.
“Actually, John and I have a kiss we need to get back to, buuuut. If you want someone to hold you, Halvo’s looking mighty fine over there,” I said and pointed to him, sitting by the bar with Justin.
Eric caught Alyssa’s eye, and made his way over, just as John pulled me back into his arms.
“Hey,” I said, hugging him tight.
He replied by squeezing me tighter to him. We swayed to Keane’s “She Has No Time” for a bit before I spoke up again. “I can’t believe they broke up, it’s so sad.” My voice was muffled through the material of his jacket.
“It is,” he said, running his fingers through the curls of my hair. I let myself relax against his chest. I felt so peaceful that I could’ve fallen asleep, right then and there, but the material of my mask reminded me that I was still at a masquerade ball.
I looked up at John, and as our eyes met, we both leaned towards each other, but we were both pulled from our kiss, again.
This time, it was because of Kennedy and Jared. “Daisy, come check this out.” Jared poked my shoulder, shaking from laughter. John and I pulled apart from each other. I grabbed his hand, and followed the two of them. I was getting a bit impatient at the two of them as they lead me through the crowds and crowds of people, but I stopped, dead in my tracks at the sight in front of me.
Pat and Garrett had shown up as Zorro and Wolverine, respectively.
“Pat, Garrett, what are you guys wearing?” I seethed.
“Who is this ‘Pat’ character you speak of? I AM ZORRO!” Pat said, pulling out his fake sword and waving it at me. I grabbed it from him and pointed it back at him.
“Garrett?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him, daring him to say something stupid. He didn’t catch the hint.
“Arg, I am Wolverine,” he said in a creepy voice, swiping his claws at me.
“Ugh,” I said, throwing Pat’s sword at the both of them and stormed off.
“Awh, c’mon, kitten. They’re just having a bit of fun,” John said, pulling me to his chest.
“No one ever takes my parties seriously,” I pouted and he laughed.
“Well, I did.” he pointed out, and I looked up at him.
“Yes, and you look mighty fine in that tuxedo of yours,” I winked and he laughed, pulling me up to his face.
“Not as fine as you, kitten,” John nudged my nose with his, and finally, for the first time, our lips met, and it was like fireworks had gone off. His lips were so soft, and tasted like fruit, and I felt like I couldn’t get enough of him. He held onto my waist, while I tugged on his hair, pushing him closer.
“Ha! I knew it!” Alyssa screamed from somewhere in the background and I flipped her off without even pulling away from him. Everything sounded muffled. It was like everything melted away, but him and his lips. I felt like every nerve in me was on fire, but I had to pull away for air. I could hear Alyssa, Tessa, Rachael, and Gabi all cheering in the background, before I realized what song was playing.
I laughed breathlessly and John looked at me curiously.
“Listen,”
“And if it takes all night, I swear, I’ll wait. For you, forever. Sunlight, sunshine, all for you my Daisy…”
He laughed and leaned his masked forehead against mine. The clock chimed twelve, and the music stopped. The DJ stepped up to the mic and said, “Ladies and gentlemen. The moment of truth. Reveal yourselves.”   
I smiled and slowly pulled John’s mask off as he reached behind me to untie mines with a grin on his own face. He leaned down and kissed my nose, and I smiled harder than I had ever smiled.
“Was tonight everything you dreamed it would be?” he asked.
“Not even close…” his face fell a bit. “it was better.” I finished, and he smiled, swooping me into another breathtaking kiss.
Chapter by; Nickie.