So a week has passed already, meaning its Friday and meaning one thing...

Its mom’s work dinner tonight.... meaning I have to wear a stupid dress, in which I’m dreading.

You know when you want the time to go quickly because you’re excited about something? Yeah, but then time decides to go agonisingly slow and you get inpatient not wanting to wait.....and then when something that you don’t want to happen and you try to prolong the time as much as you can? But it just goes by like the speed of light and you have no chance?....yeah well that’s how I feel now, as the hours of the day seem to fly by even thou I’m dreading every next hour....it’s just so typically

You want something to come quickly, and it doesn’t. You don’t want something to come quickly...and it does!

I huff out a breathe, glazing at the clock for like the tenth time in a minute, to see that it’s only half an hour until school ends...until I have to go home...

I quietly whimper to myself, seriously not looking forward to this...

Oh and guess what class I’m in last period on Friday......

Yup, Art...again.

I sigh resting my head in my hand that’s resting on the table, and watch Charlie who’s sat next to me paint over her drawing of a rose in paint, and it’s pretty impressive to be honest..

“It’s rude to stare you know..” Charlie’s lips tug up into a smirk as she traces the pencil lines perfectly and speaks without looking up from it...

“So?” I lift an brow, a light smirk coming to my face as I make it obvious that I’m actually staring at her working...

Chuckling she dips her brush into the paint “If you’re not careful....I might just...” she trails of and I should have seen it coming “Ooops!” She squeaks out with fake innocence and grinning...

My eyes widen and I gasp...”Charlie!”...but can’t help but let out a giggle..feeling the wetness of the red paint she’s just smudged across my cheek..

“Oops...my brush slipped...” She grins slyly, mischief gleaming in her blue eyes..

I roll my eyes at her lame excuse and sit up on the stool before sliding of it “I hate you...” I give her a mock glare as I walk past, but not being able to keep the light smirk of my face, showing I’m not actually mad...I’ve had worse places for paint to be splashed on me before...

Charlie grins “Love you too!” She chimes after me as I walk away, over towards the sink the opposite side of the classroom with a slight chuckle to myself...

Well at least she gave me something to laugh about and for a split second forget about the dreadful thing tonight...

With that thought in mind, a frown comes to my face again...jeeze...talk about mixed emotions..

Reaching the sink I turn on the tap and look up into the small mirror with specks of paint flicked across it and a quiet bubble of laughter escapes my mouth...

A thick red streak of paint from the centre of my nose running across my cheekbone and stops with a flick.....Oh Charlie...

Smirking to myself I shake my head and place my hand under the running water.

Cupping up a small amount of water into the palm of my hand, I bring it up to my face and splash onto my cheek, rubbing to get rid of the paint...but it just smears into a blob at the moment...

I sigh and look around the sink for something to use to whip the paint off...

“Red looks good on you...” A deep chuckle comes from behind me, causing me to jump slightly as I didn’t realise anyone was there...but then a scowl comes to my face as I know who it is..

“Shut up..” I mumble my eyes finally finding a piece of cloth and I wet it before raising it to my cheek and rub at the red paint..

He chuckles again and reaches right beside me, placing some paint stained containers in the sink “What happened? Got into a fight with a paint brush?” He chuckles a smirk showing in his voice...

I roll my eyes not answering and continue to look through the mirror as I whip my cheek clean from red paint...

Seeing Noah out the corner of my eye lean against the sink, his arms crossed and his body tilted in my direction....I must admit...it feels a little distracting as I can sense and see him there right in the corner of my eye...

I let out a sigh as I realise he’s not going anywhere “What do you want?” I ask frowning slightly as I get rid of the last remain of red paint on my skin...

I can sense his smirk in his voice as he speaks “Why do you presume I want something?”

Rolling my eyes I rinse out the cloth, turning of the tap and placing it on the side “Oh I dunno...maybe because you’re just standing there looking suspicious..” I turn my body to face him, giving him a pointed look...but when I see his amused one, I roll my eyes

“You know what...whatever....bye” I turn around and walk away from the sink, weaving back through the tables and back to my place beside Charlie, not in the mood to deal with Noah’s attempts at ‘amusing’ conversation...as I’m already annoyed as it is without him adding to it, with over thinking about tonight..

Charlie looks up at me as I sit back down and she flashes a cheeky smirk “Paint free I see..” She chuckles and a light smile comes to my face

“Yeah..” I say fiddling with a brush “no thanks to you...” I smirk jokingly and Charlie grins to herself as she concentrates on traces her rose drawing...

I smile lightly, lifting my head and my gaze as it drifts around the room, and stopping at something......something I never really noticed before...not since it was brought up.

Over the other side of the room, where typically the ‘popular’ people are sat around a bunch of tables, laughing and joking...my eyes catch a certain movement...

A certain bright blonde is standing too closely beside a brown haired boy, her hand placed on his shoulder and standing in a posed position with her hair over one shoulder and legs on show, as she twirls a strand of her hair in her free hand as she laughs a obnoxious laugh at something someone said, trying to join in...

Don’t you find it funny that you don’t really notice things until they are mentioned....and then all of a sudden, it seems like that’s all that you notice?

Yeah...and that’s just what it’s been like all week....since Monday...I have noticed similar things like this happening.

Noah and Melanie. And yet Noah said ‘there was nothing going on’....I don’t quite believe it all...because just by spotting these simply yet big actions that Melanie does....it seems obvious...

Something is going on...

And for some unknown reason...that causes a knot to form in my stomach...

~~~

“Go! Go...go get ready!” my mom shoos me up the stairs towards my room in a rush..

I grumble to myself, dragging my feet all the way up the stairs, still trying to prolong this time..but you know what? It’s no use....the hours just fly by and before I know it...I have an hour ready...which to me seems far too long, but according to my mom it’s plenty as she’s told me to get a shower first..

Trudging to my room I go straight to the bathroom, locking the door and grabbing a towel before stripping and stepping into the shower...

Ahh....now this is a way to waste time...

I take my time in the shower, washing my hair – a little too slowly on purpose, and doing everything else...but still...somehow it seems I’ve only spent like twenty minutes.....Grrr! it’s too quick!

Stepping out the shower I wrap a towel around myself and around my dripping hair before padding back into my room...

“Ahh....finally!”

I let out a startled squeak jumping slightly and snap my head towards my bed where I two very family faces ...

“What are you doing here?” I tighten my towel around myself subconsciously and feeling uncomfortable as I stare at Charlie and Abby sat on my bed with smiles on their faces...why the heck are they here?!

Charlie grins jumping up from my bed “Well I know we said we’ll see you next week..but we lied! I’m sorry, but your mom wanted to surprise you” she grins clasping her hands together and rocking back on her feet “So tada! Here we are! To help you get ready as your mom thought you’re prefer if you had us with you...” She grins tilting her head to the side...

I let out a small sigh still clutching the towel around me “Right...” I shake my head thinking this is typical mom “Course she did...”

Charlie grins and claps her hands excitedly “Well come on then! Let’s see the dress!”

I hold back a groan....

Oh god, kill me now...

~~

“Come on Lexi! Pleeease you gotta at least have some on...” Charlie pleads with me.

I shake my head stubbornly “No” I narrow my eyes “I’m wearing a dress, my hair’s done...isn’t that enough? Why on earth do I have to wear that...” I shake my head covering up a shudder and eye the dangerous looking stick in her hand nervously...

Sighing Charlie places it down glancing up at Abby who’s stood behind me....and they share a look...

I scowl, glancing at the mirror. I’m only wearing eyeliner, a thinner layer much to my disliking as Charlie insisted it looked better...and only I’m wearing eyeliner at the moment....but Charlie wants to add some pink fricken lipstick!...and I draw the line at that...

“I know...” Abby speaks moving around from behind me to the top of the dresser where a lot of makeup is sprawled out over – not mine, it belongs to them..

“Here..” She says picking up something “Use lip gloss instead...it’s only a light colour and not that bright...” She passes it to Charlie as I eye it...

Raising a questionable eyebrow at me I let out a sigh “Fine...” I mutter not being bothered to argue anymore as we are on a time limit as mom told us 3 minutes ago...and plus....lip gloss isn’t that bad right?

I cringe as I feel the small wand press to my bottom lip as the lip gloss is applied....Gah!

“Okay...Lex...this is blusher okay?...” Charlie quirks an amused eyebrow at me as she has the pad in her hand

I roll my eyes and allow her to apply a light layer across my cheeks and then picks up something eles...

“More?” I sigh as she reaches for a different kind of brush before swirling around a light coloured powder

“Yes, eyeshadow...then that’s it so suck it up.” Charlie replies before ordering me to close my eyes and I smirk as I feel the brush sweep over my eyelid...

“Done!” Charlie chimes after finishing touches to the makeup..

I open my eyes “Finally..” I breathe earning a eye roll and I blink my eyes turning to face the mirror...

I tilt my head looking at my reflection and blink my eyes once more...noticing something different...

My eyes...

With not my usual amount of eyeliner...they look – dare I say it – bigger?

And my hair, my hair is completely different, in a style I’ve never done as normally it’s either just left loose or in a messy ponytail...

But now, now it’s more curled and pinned up onto my head to the side and platted around a bun with small curls framing down my face...

“Whooa...” Charlie lets out a low whistle smirking then grins “Look at you!...you look so pretty!”

I clear my throat shifting on the seat “Urm...hmm...” I mumble “Thanks...” I give both girls a small smile showing my thanks as they did this, not me.

Grinning she pulls me from the chair and shoves me towards my closet, directing me to where my dress is hung up, as this is the last thing I have do to, get changed..

Closing my closet door, I slip out of my dressing gown I’m wearing and slip the dress of the hanger, not really paying attention to it as I slip it on, over my underwear obviously, and a strapless bra...

Fitting into the dress, I flatten it out and slip the strap over my shoulder gently as it seems so thin that it could easily snap...

“Come on Lexi!” Charlie shrills from the other side of the closet door

“We wanna see!” Abby chimes in

Blowing out a breathe of air, I turn and open the closet door stepping back out into my bedroom with my eyes glued to the ground, not wanting to see their reaction...

“Wow...” is what I hear as I come into their view.

Biting the inside of my cheek I lift my head to face two of my friends to see both of them staring at me with clear excitement..

“Lexi! You look amazing!” Charlie grins and bounces on the spot slightly

“Amazing.” Abby nods in agreement with a smile...

I glance at the pair nervously, not sure what to think, because for one, I don’t feel comfortable wearing this dress whatsoever, and if I don’t feel comfortably, how can they say I look ‘good’...

I shake my head mentally and give my friends a small smile not saying anything as I don’t know what to say...and make my way over to my full length mirror..

Stepping in front of the mirror with the other two gushing comments to me, but they seem distance as I peer at myself in the full length mirror...

And staring back at me is someone that’s not me, I mean it is me...obviously...but me in body...everything else, it’s not me.

The short light coloured dress is just like how it was when I tried it on in the shop, flowing just over my knees and fitting to my body upwards with the pattern in black spiralling up and over my right shoulder in the thin strap, the other on strapless...this is so not me...

But...but I’ll admit...it looks...good.

I cringe to myself, I did not just think that.

“Okay now shoes!” Charlie grins

I turn around at this “Yeah....they’re over there...” I point to where my black conversers with pink laces are...

Charlie laughs as she sees them “Oh...that’s just so you..” She smirks chuckling and shakes her head amused as Abby goes to pick them up.

Passing them to me, I slip the conversers on and the girls step back grinning as they look me over “And I thought they wouldn’t go...but damn! Lex you can pull that off!...” Charlie chuckles and grins...

I smile weakly glancing back to the mirror to see that the shoes, they do add my own personal style to it...thank god!...

A smile a bit more and tilt my head...that’s what I like...at least this has got some of ‘me’ to it...

There’s a knock on the door all of a sudden getting my attention and I turn to it just in time to see Daisy’s head pocking through...

She smiles brightly and steps in “Hey girls, Lex, your mom says it’s time- Oh wow...” She trails off as she sets eyes on me...

“Lexi....wow, honey you look stunning..” She smiles crossing the room towards me “That dress! My gosh it’s perfect..” She grins pulling me into her arms for a hug and turns her head towards the girls

“You two did a brilliant job” She smiles widely “Well done, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you Lex wear a dress before...” She pulls back still smiling widely as looks down at me “Stunning...” She smiles meeting my eyes again..

I swallow and shift my footing, not used to these sorts of compliments but give Daisy a small smile and look to what she’s wearing.

A beautiful red dress that comes below her knees, and her bump is slightly visible as a gold thin belt is wrapped around her middle, showing there’s something there...

I smile at Daisy – a proper smile “You look great Dais..”

Daisy chuckles and smiles at me “Not as good as you...” She grins and guides me towards the door “Well come on girls, it’s time to go..” She grins, and Charlie and Abby follow us out my room and walking down the corridor...not bothering with a clutch bag, as well...I don’t think I needed one...

Heading down the stairs, my ears pick up voices from below and a twist in my stomach forms, feeling anxious for some reason about getting to the bottom of these steps...

I follow Daisy down, watching each step and fiddle nervously with my hands as I walk, Charlie and Abby giggling about something behind me as they follow too....

“Whooa...here they come...” I hear someone say as we approach the last lot of stairs and I lick my dry lips as I head down...

Keeping my eyes strained on the stairs in front of me, I don’t look up to meet any faces of my brothers as we descend the stairs, in view of them all...

I hear a few joking wolf whistles from some of them, directed towards Daisy and I hear her laugh, smiling properly and no doubt that Charles has hit Evan and Chris over the heads as they were the ones to whistle..

And seconds later, I feel eyes on me as I come into full view and I swear everything goes quiet...

Oh god....I knew I look stupid, this dress is so not me! I couldn’t pull it off even if I wanted to...

“Oh my god....Lex....”

I raise my head as I reach the last few steps and hearing someone almost whisper that....

All thirteen pairs of eyes are all on me and I instantly dunk my head again, feeling warmth creep up onto my cheeks...

“Lexi..!” My mother’s voice chimes as I step off the last step and she comes rushing over to me “Lexi...you look beautiful...” She smiles down at me, cupping my cheeks making me look at her and I see her eyes glazing over..

“Mom..” I whine pulling out of her grip, not wanting her to get all emotional on me and I step back still keeping my eyes down....

“My, my...is that our little Lexi wearing a dress?”

I raise my head again and scowl at Evan and his teasing tone as he smirks at me chuckling softly...

I roll my eyes at his comment and keep my head up, one good thing out of that is that he got other’s talking and not just staring at me...

Now it’s my turn to look at my brothers, all wearing posh, formal suits and looking smart, with actual combed and styled hair....it’s a different way I’m used to seeing my brothers...

Spotting my younger siblings, I can’t help but smile as I see how adorable they look, especially Tom, wearing a smart black suit and is fiddling with his tie....he really is adorable in that.

“Okay guys!..let’s go!” Mom calls rounding us all up and ushing us out the front door, with herself dressed in an equally stunning black dress, I hardly ever see my mom dressed up, but now I do...I smile because my mom’s beautiful...

All out into off the front door, I thank and say goodbye to Charlie and Abby as they are the ones to help me get ready, before they head home telling me to have a great time...ha, yeah I’m sure I will. Note the sarcasm.

Already having taxi’s out front waiting for us, we bundle into them, all squeezing into each one...and mom happens to be in the one I get into too....

Smiling mom speaks “You really do look beautiful Lexi...” She smiles at me “and I’m so happy you guys are all coming with me..” She beams “You’re finally get to meet my boss, and see what my jobs like..” She carries on grinning as the taxi driver pulls away