Aurora's scintillating powder blue iris's captured her.

"Wow," She exhaled, enamored with her reflection.

It was seven in the night and the costume was complete, a blue and form-fitting 1950's sheath dress accentuating the dips and curves of her body deliciously. She looked leggy and sophisticated, like a vintage seductress. Of the scanty dresses Arlan bought for her when she first was kidnapped, this one actually served its purpose for her 1950's costume.

As Aurora tucked a stray pin-up curl, still hot from the rollers Elise had used, from her eyelashes, the glassy reflection of her in the floor-length mirror mirrored her actions.

Her sensual crimson lipstick demanded attention from the eye, her lips like two bloomed, creamy petals of a rose. Elise had placed a light foundation against Aurora's fair skin, with cotton candy rouge high on her cheekbones and a prominent arch to her eyebrows. Even for fun, a black dotted beauty mark playfully sat above her lip.

An adrenaline-filled anticipation seeped through the core of Aurora as she craved everyone's reactions - particularly Beck's. Aurora recalled his flushed cheeks and ajar lips when she revealed her pajamas to him and Hadley at Victoria's Secret. She hoped this would be even more of a killer in terms of his reaction. Out of a brief moment of curiosity, she even slightly twisted to view her bum, which was complimentarily lifted and looking shapely. She twisted back, giggling and feeling a bit superficial and silly.

Prancing down the stairs, Aurora observed Nate at the bottom of the steps in the kitchen. He was engrossed in his phone, but fastly peered up at the sound of her steps.

"Finally," Nate groaned, tipping his head back. Cackling, with a rub to his eyes, he lightly mused in a grumble, "Man, I forget how long girls take to get ready."

"Where's your costume?" Aurora frowned upon surveying his outfit. Dormant on the last step, she held a hand to her hip.

Nate was simply in a gray flannel and acid washed jeans, his everyday wear.

"Oh, uh..." Nate gaped down at himself. Then, he ruffled up his long hair a bit, looking back to her. "There, I'm a nineties junkie."

Aurora giggled slightly, walking down the last step and entering the kitchen, smoothing down her dress. He whistled lowly.

"Someone's trying to impress her husband," Nate joked.

A rampant spread of taffy pink blush scorched Aurora's face as she elbowed Nate, embarrassed. He cackled and dodged her attempts.

"He's not my husband," Aurora mumbled embarrassingly, trying to evade any evidence that she was trying to impress Beck. She didn't want to make it blatantly obvious. "He's probably gonna be sucking Peyton's face all night," She deflected, taking the heat off herself.

"Ah, yes, Peyton, the bitch..." Nate rubbed his hands together softly, pursed lips and nodding. He paused. "Wait, where's Elise?"

"Oh," Aurora's brow furrowed as shrugged. "I don't know. She finished my makeup and hair and then went to do hers. I think she should be done soon."

"I'm coming," They heard a timid voice chirp, causing the two to turn down the staircase.

Descending footsteps caught their attention, and out of the shadows, Elise appeared in the light, her small heels clicking on each step until she appeared before them.

"Holy,"-Nate had started to whisper.

Elise's long, raven red locks flowed elegantly long to her hips, like a curtain of satin red wine. Her body looked like a black velvet cake in its skin hugging bodycon dress, slim legs tantalizing and teasing, arms in elbow-high white gloves. Her face was adorned with flattering makeup on her cheekbones and lips. The maid was no longer in her usual conservative, 1500's looking maids outfit- she now looked like a real woman. Unbeknownst to Nate, she hid a lustrous and sensual womanly body under her maid costume. Nate's wheels of lust began turning on high speed, along with something else.

"I am from the 20's," Elise said shyly, head tipping low and covered by her hair.

"Wow," Nate's mouth fell open as he spoke aloud, his forehead crinkled together as he gawked at her.

Elise peered up under her hair and beamed timidly at the two as Nate blatantly fawned and drank in her seductive appearance.

"Is it...okay?" Elise's hands wrung together nervously, laughing under her breath as she peered to her two friends for approval.

Nate opened his mouth and stuttered like a fool. "W-well, I mean, I think", -

"It's great! Let's get a move on it kiddos!" Aurora cut Nate off, tugging Elise's hand forward. Elise gasped softly and tripped a bit before catching her balance. Aurora and Nate sauntered towards the door, Elise shyly trailing a few steps behind.

"Jesus fuck," Nate hissed in a murmur to Aurora, "if I'd known this was what she'd look like,"-

"Yeah, don't want you to finish that sentence," Aurora cut him off in a whisper with a pat to his shoulder. Nate shut up, nodded, and they left the estate for Nate's car.

A crisped, earthy Autumn aroma blended with a frosted chill perfumed the November air, tingling the noses when they stepped outside. Aurora greedily inhaled lungfulls, the spice of nature's natural Fall smell enticed her.

"So these people," Elise implored sheepishly, her heels clacking on the pavement as they approached Nate's car, "They are nice? I haven't hung out with people in a long time...I'm nervous."

"They wouldn't do anything but make you feel welcomed and comfortable," Aurora promised. "And we'll be right there with you the entire time."

"O-okay," Elise nodded.

As the two girls approached the right side of the car, Nate quickly stepped in between them and smiled dashingly at Elise.

"Here," He opened the passenger side door for her.

A darling cherry blush splashed Elise's cheekbones as she grinned, took his hand and stepped inside. Aurora resisted a shake of her head and giggled softly to herself. She would have to sit in the back seat for once, but she'd do it for Nate and his little crush on Elise.

Nate softly shut Elise's door as Aurora piled into the back and Nate in the driver's seat. When the engine turned on and the seat rumbled beneath them all, Elise gasped with a jolt.

"W-woah...it has been a while since I've been in a car," She giggled in amusement.

"You okay?" Nate questioned sincerely, gingerly placing a hand on her arm.

Elise peered down to the hand, blushing more intensely, and peered back to Nate through her lashes.

"Yes, Nate, thank you," She smiled softly.

Elise had always called him Nathaniel, so for him to hear her sweet little voice say 'Nate' now had him blushing. He quickly turned away to pull the car in reverse so no one would see, though Aurora definitely saw and would tease him about it later.

"A-are you sure your friends don't mind I'm coming?" Elise asked again, her anxiety peaking.

"Trust me, they'll be ecstatic there's another ginger in the room, it's a ginger thing," Nate insisted.

"Really?" Elise tilted her head.

"Really."

As Nate entered the campus parking lot, a large projector aired a retro cinema film screen with a circle countdown, counting down before saying "Welcome to the Fall Back".

As the crew parked, they hopped out of the car, where a giant orange banner stretching across the parking lot front read 'The Annual Fall Back".

Warm, caramelized kettle corn, buttery glazed apples and smoldering campfire smoke suffused the night time air. 'Gatsby'-like music thrummed from surround sound speakers. The Fall Back played music by working through the decades in order, starting with the twenties, to get everyone fully immersed in the nostalgic experience.

"Hey!" Nate waved over when he spotted Beck, Hadley and Peyton across the bustling parking lot. The three looked from their phones to spot Nate, Aurora and Elise.

"Hey!" Beck called in excitement when Hadley cut him off-

"OH MY GOD, ANOTHER GINGER!" She sprinted towards the group, and Aurora was pealing in laughter at Nate's accuracy.

"Tell me that's your real hair color," Hadley marveled at Elise's hair, who shyly looked to Nate and giggled slightly.

"I-it is, yeah, I'm Elise," She timidly introduced herself.

"Hadley," She grinned widely, "And I'll have you know, luv, mine is too," She winked.

'Oh God, she already had shots in the car' Aurora thought to herself upon hearing Hadley's notorious drunk British accent.

As Hadley chatted Elise up, with Elise constantly glancing to Nate for reassurance and comfort, Aurora approached Beck. She grinned shyly, knowing her appearance probably 'wowed' him, and took in his costume. As promised, he was dressed for the eighties, in a neon green T-shirt, oversized denim jacket, and curled perm-like hair. Aurora was amused by his looks, but was going to let him compliment her first. His mouth opened ajar slightly and her insides started fluttering with warm butterflies for what would be his compliment.

"Hey, kiddo!" He instead said, bringing her in and ruffling her hair with the other hand. "Thought you guys'd never show up!"

Aurora felt a tangible drop of disappointment hit her stomach and forced laughter. His cologne burned her nose delightfully as she subtly inhaled through his chest, hugging him, and the two parted ways.

"Aurora, cute, we both chose the fifties," Peyton grinned with a tilt of her head.

Peyton's black hair was pinned up in a sleek bun, wearing hot pants shorts, a pearl necklace and a cream colored bullet bra. It was quite a bold choice to wear just a bra and Aurora gulped, trying not to spiral into what Beck thought of it.

But of course Peyton chose the fifties, she had asked Beck what Aurora was going as and immediately chose the same, so as to one-up her.

"Yeah, uh, Beck suggested it, so..." Aurora voice trailed off.

Peyton flashed a smirk. "Did he?" She taunted softly, trailing off.

"I didn't know a bra constituted as a costume," Aurora blurted before her mind consciously caught up to her moving mouth. Her anger was seeping through deeper now.

Peyton's chocolate pooled irises darkened black upon the comment, her face aggrieved. Beck's face looked startled, and Aurora instantaneously regretted herself, a slew of curses running through her mind. How could she blow her cool like that? She was supposed to play the 'I don't care, I'm not phased by this bitch' card.

And then, a sudden ironical and dry cackle split from Peyton's mouth. Her loud laughter echoed, her breath in clouds in the chilled air. She was...entertained? Aurora felt a tinge disturbed at her reaction, confused. Peyton was pretending to be mused by Aurora's comment, it irked Aurora.

"Well, you both look great! Who's trying to go in and get some food?" Beck deflected awkwardly. He beckoned the crowd to catch the attention of the others with Nate.

The crew passed under the welcoming 'Fall Back' sign to enter the party. A ticket-master administered them all ten tickets for food and games, and from there, they all weaved through the thick of the crowd. Blinking Orange, black, yellow and right lights lit up the party in true Fall coloring, the smell of alcohol so pungent you could get drunk just from breathing.

Already inebriated college kids aided in the cacophony of loud cheering and conversation before everyone's ears as 1920's music roared overhead. Couples giggled as they played cornhole games, in matching 1920's black and white costumes, or tried to whack-a-mole to win stuffed animals. Girls in eighties rocker costumes took shots, random people in seventies bell bottom flared pants and bandanas made out like it was a hotel room, friends made silly faces at the photo booth, and the usual stoners, in their sixties costumes, gathered around the crackling bonfire to get high.

"You okay?" Nate implored gently to Elise, touching her arm.

Elise's wide, nervous eyes turned to him. His acknowledgment of her comfort touched her, she appreciated his concern. A soft smile slowly spread to her face, the gesture angelic in Nate's eyes. Even with the dense smell of bitter alcohol polluting the air, he could smell her lavender and whipped vanilla body butter, it was intoxicating.

She nodded at Nate to confirm her comfort, with a small smile. He returned one.

"Check this out," Hadley yelled above the noise and gripped Aurora's wrist, making Aurora turn to her best friend.

Hadley cheekily smirked and rattled a Fireball pumpkin pie Whiskey nip in Aurora's face. "'Tis the season," She winked.

Aurora eyed the small nip wearily, she had never taken a shot before. With a 'what the hell' eyebrow raise, she mentally prepared herself, taking the shot from Hadley. With a pinch to her noise, she threw her head back and downed it. When it was all down, a ferocious, wheezing cough left Aurora's throat. This was no pumpkin pie she was used to, the acidic whiskey burned the walls of her throat. Aurora shook head like a wet dog, making noises of disgust.

"That was my first shot," Aurora admitted, her voice compromised from the pain in the throat.

"And certainly not your last!" Hadley grinned with a praising pat to Aurora's shoulder. She then looked over it and at Elise.

"Elise, you want a nip?" Hadley offered and Elise's eyes widened. Quickly, Hadley clarified, "It's a shot. I know im gay but I'm not that forward," Hadley narrowed her eyes, holding the shot forward.

Elise's face fell into relief as she giggled softly, and Hadley got to wondering just how naive Elise really was. With some hesitancy, Elise took the shot, and downed it, coughing just as much as Aurora did.

"So, man, you ever been to this?" Beck implored of Nate while swinging his arm around Nate's tense shoulders.

Nate, whos hands were in his pockets, looked up in surprise and slight awkwardness.

"Uh, no," Nate rubbed his neck. "I don't usually come to many events here."

"Ah, well, welcome to booze and boo's," Beck mapped out with his hands, winking at Nate with a wolfish grin. "You see man, November's the best for events, girls looking to get cozied up... although," He peered over at Elise over Nate's shoulder before smirking at him. "I see you already have yourself a little flame."

Nate looked over his shoulder to see Elise giggling with a hand to her mouth, looking more comfortable with the other two girls now. Unbeknownst to him, all girls had already taken three shots by now.

"How'd you get a foxy redhead like that?"

I didn't get her, though, Nate thought. Sure, he was attracted to her, but also fearful as hell at even trying to date anyone since his ex. He wasn't sure he was ready. Still, he perused his mind for a feasible lie on how they met.

"We met a summer camp," He blurted, wrangling his hands together awkwardly. He wasn't a great liar. "She worked as a cleaner."

"Oooh," Beck's brows wiggled suggestively. "Kinda like a sexy maid."

Nate's eyes widened and he coughed from an uncomfortable angle in his throat.

"Sort of..." He trailed off, looking ahead as the group kept walking through the event.

Meanwhile, with the girls, Hadley smirked.

"I've got this, too," She pulled out a bottle of rum, opening it. The girls all snickered in amusement as she took a swig, and she passed the bottle around, everyone knocking some more alcohol back.

"Well...are you gonna make a move?" Beck asked Nate, the two a bit further ahead of the girls, with Peyton seemingly on her cell phone by Beck's side.

Nate had an exasperated sigh as he stammered a bit.

"I don't know, man...I don't know how much that would work out. I haven't even dated in a while, and we don't know that much about each other. I don't wanna make her too nervous, she's even more reserved than I am, sort of skittish, like a rabbit,"-