Gem: I nervously trace my shoes across the floor. We are the first to arrive and, while LilyPad and Amber are setting up, (no idea where Sapphire is) I take the opportunity to do some last minute practice. I curtsy to the imaginary Jamie. No, no, nobody curtsies anymore! I'll just follow his lead.

Sapphire: I am hiding in the girls toilets, that's what I'm doing! I can't do this. I just can't! LilyPad reassured me that my nervousness would vanish when I start to dance, but I'm not so sure. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night. Just then, someone opens the bathroom door!

Amber: Done! I've just put the last punch bowl on the table. But I feel like Im missing something... Then it hits me. I don't know how to dance! I've been totally chilled about this ball all week; so chilled I forgot about the most important thing! I drop the platter of party food and rush to the middle of the dance floor. "Gem, help me!" Just then, someone opens the ballroom door. Our first guests!

Tahki~

I push open the doors to the ballroom, which is spacious, and has two large tables bearing platters of delicious-looking food and fruit punch. Yum. 

And, much to my surprise, we're the first guests. I nip over to the tables of food- from my experience, ballrooms usually have good food. And it appears that this is true, for a great number of foods are laid out, all of them appetizing.

Cilantro~

As soon as we get there, my stomach decides to plummet down, and my heart speeds up. I'm nervous. Nervous. Even at the quick rate it's going at, each beat seems to be spelling out nervous. N-E-R-V-O-U-S-N-E-R-V-O-U-S-N-E-R-V-O-U-S. I head for the bathroom- maybe splashing water on my face will help me, well, not puke my guts out.

When I grab the door knob, I can hear a faint murmuring. I walk in, and I see Sapphire leaning against a wall, muttering to herself. She looks up, startled, as I enter.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

"Yeah," She sighs. "I'm nervous. I mean, LilyPad said that when I started dancing, all my nervous butterflies would go away, but I'm seriously unsure about that. So my plan is to hide here for all eternity."

"Same here. I asked Ace to the dance, but I don't know- I mean, what was I thinking? I wish I was, like, a turtle or something! Then I could hide forever!" I say. "But I guess then I would miss out on all the fun of the dance. Maybe people are supposed to feel nervous about these things, so we enjoy them more later?" Sapphire looks up just a little bit. "Or maybe AEs are just designed to puke their guts out at social events," I add.

Robin-

I enter the ballroom right behind a couple AEs I don't really know, I think I'll try to get to know everyone better at this ball. Including Amber, who's standing in the middle of the dance floor looking lost. I decide to go over and see what's bothering him while I wait for Key.

Hailey- I follow Ace as we walk into the ballroom. It's enourmous! Ace stops and looks around awkwardly. Time for that later- I make a beeline straight for the food. Mmm... After shoving chocolate in my face for a minute, I decide to practice my dancing. Ace sniggers as I attempt to disco. I stick my tongue out at him.

"Like you could do better," I say. He rolls his eyes and goes back to standing around awkwardly.

Ace- I walk into the ballroom, then look for Cilantro. Is she here yet? Hailey goes for the food. Of course. I'm too nervous to eat. My first AE ball... the butterflies in my stomach practice their conga line, which isn't helping. I make a mental checklist. I know how to dance: check. I'm not throwing up in a bathroom: check. Hailey isn't destroying anything (yet): check. I see Hailey trying to dance, and I can't help laughing. She looks so ridiculous. I see Robin and Amber across the room, and I walk over to them. Which is better: standing awkwardly and waiting, or standing awkwardly with other people and waiting? 

Silk~

I enter the ballroom by myself, since I don't know any of the AEs very well, but it doesn't matter. That's the reason I'm coming to this thing, because I want AE friends, paticularily a boyfriend. For some reason no one responded to my request for a blind date. But I'm guessing that that was too obvious a move. I'll try to play it cool.

I smooth the skirt of my purple gown out and walk over to a group of AEs I don't recognize. For some reason they are just standing around saying nothing. I know it's akward before these things start, but wouldn't it help if someone said something?

"Hi," I say, and wait for a answer.

Cass~ Ohhhh, I'm so excited!! I race through the doors, and all of the AE's stop and stare. My fluttery blue gown is flying all around me, and I try to smooth it down. I had chosen to have The Floofiest Dress Ever, and I was going to wear it proud, no matter how much Trevor teased. The dress's spagehti straps felt like they were slightly straining with all of the weight from my numerous ruffles, and I teetered on my three inch heels for a moment before I brushed back my hair and proclaimed loudly,  "Where is the cake?"

Blaiyre~ There she goes again. Cass, queen of the party. I sneak in behind her and scoot over to a corner where there are only a few AE's. I feel all of thier eyes on me as I sit down in one of the plush chairs. Even though I won't admit it, I am a little nervous. I watch as Cass moves over to the dessert table, and then I straighten up and look around. I attempt a casual wave as I say, "Hi. How's it going?"

Trevor~ I clasp and unclasp the clufflinks on my sleeves again. Then I walk slowly into the ballroom. I know that Zoey will be there. I'm so worried at what she'll say. I left her in the library. Again. Even though I had a plausible excuse, it still doesn't justify the fact that I left her right in the middle of our 2-person dance. After Cass's announcement, I saw Blaiyre head over to a group of AE's. That should be good for her. She needs to get more aquainted with the other AE's since she hasen't really had a proper intro thread.

I adjust my green and orange tie, then force myself to look around. All of the AE's are clustered into groups around the room. Oh, boy. There's Zoey, talking to Satin's AE. Even from here, I can see Zoey's dress, and she looks...beutiful. Her hair is done up in a simple twist, her gown is magnificent and her wings are slightly out-streatched.

I swallow hard, then make my way over there. When I'm a few feet away, Zoey looks up from her conversation. I smile shyly, and say, "Uh, hi. You look...wow. Your dress is...wow. Ummmm." I sigh, knowing that I'm butchering it. "I'm sorry that I left you in the library. Again. And I hope to make it up to you tonight. And, even if you don't forgive me, at least know that I'm sorry."

I don't have time to do all my AEs right now, so I'll just do Key.

Also, just so you know, Myles, before you came onto the CB key had a crush on Amber - that might help you understand this post better. But then she stopped liking him rather abruptly. 

I hope I didn't control anyone too much! 

I step through the big doors into the ball room. It is very fine and lovely, as are all the AEs in it. I feel almost under dressed in my lacy red gown. It isn't flowy and only has a little lace on the hems, at the bottom, my sleeves and around the neck. I look walk in slowly, looking around for AEs I know. I see Cilantro and wave, continuing across the edge of the dance floor. Suddenly I stop dead in my tracks. A few feet away, I see Robin...but he's standing beside the last person I want to see. Amber. Luckily they have their backs to me. I start to turn, but the third person they are standing with, who I see to be Silk, suddenly sees me looking at them and waves. 

"Key!" 

My heart stops. Amber turns first. He sees me, but doesn't seem to recognize me. I absently rub my left arm with my right. Then Robin turns. He's blushing, but he smiles. 'Oh thank you, Robin.' I think, feeling great relief for someone I know well. 

"Come on over, Key!" Robin invites, still smiling. 

I take one step forward. My feet feel like led, and I'm sure that I won't be able to make it there. Slowly...so slowly...I take another. Than another. 

As I get closer a look of concern crosses Robin's face. "Are you okay, Key?" 

I blush down to the tips of my toes. 'Oh fine.' I think sarcastically. 'It's just I can no longer show my face anywhere near Amber's without looking like a total idiot and getting teased from my siblings. Why was I such a fool?! How could I have ever liked him and made such a fool of myself?!' "I'm fine." I lied, trying to smile and not looking at Amber. 

Silk~

Key and Robin walk off together looking akward. I wish I knew what was going on with all the AE drama, then I wouldn't be so confused. I sigh and walk off to the refreshment table. 

"Hey," I hear someone say. I turn around and see a boy AE I don't recognize. "What happened to your sleeves ,?" 

I look down at the tight bodice of my gown. I feel my face color as I instantly regret my decision to wear a strapless dress. I consider several replies, but then remind myself of how I am trying not to be as rude. I turn back to the punch bowl and try hard to ignore him.