Alas, there are no male Æs to be had, and the ball has started. Wait a second... *grins impishly at Alex*

Don’t. Even. Think about it.

*puts on a raven black feathery trimmed gown with indigo highlights* What do you think?

*sigh* Fine. But I’m bringing my book.

Fine by me. But you’re not wearing that, are you?

Yup. Jeans and a nice hoodie is perfectly fine for a pillow fight.

Um... sure. 

*both enter the ball very late* 

At least we made it out without-oof! 

-Elli. Ugh.

Elli, this is an Æ ball, not for CAPTCHAs.

iiii capt aeee !!!!

Fine, but you better be quiet. *spots a quiet corner by the punch* Perfect. *steals a pillow from the fight and curls up in the corner*

Considering I have no one to dance with, I will dance as a free woman!! *takes the dance floor*

awno onyx here buut onyx isss cpta iwil find some onee else wait isss that .... whip crem !!!! *scampers after the refreshments table*

Hailey~

I walk into the room, looking around for anyone I know. That wouldn't really be anyone. Harper and Ace both look nervous. I don't know why, it's only a ball. They've been to them before. I'm tempted to go over to the pillow war zone, but it looks pretty hectic over there. Instead, I make my way over to the dessert table, where there's a small crown of AEs gathered. I nod hello and pour myself some punch.

Harper~

I walk next to Hailey, hoping I don't look too nervous. Talking to other people isn't really my thing. I'm hoping to make some new friends here. I look around for Lights Out, but it doesn't look like he's here yet. He seems very nice. Ace spots Ocean and walks over to her. I'm glad they came together. He's crazy about her. She's super nice. We were talking on another thread about books. She's got great taste. I realize I'm standing awkwardly by the wall. So much for interacting with my peers. Hailey's gone over to the dessert table, but it doesn't look like she's talking to anyone, just standing in surly silence. Typical Hailey. I sigh, then walk over to join her. I smile shyly and take a cookie from a plate.

"So," I say, surprised at myself. I wouldn't have thought I'd be the one breaking the silence. "How's the ball going?"

Ace~

Leading the way, I push open the doors into the ballroom. I immediately feel self conscious, seeing all the AEs in there. I was confident just a minute ago. I try to arrange my face so it wouldn't show how nervous I was. I don't know if it worked or not. I glance around the room. My gaze lands on Ocean, and I beam, nervousness almost forgotten. She beams in return, and I cross the ballroom to her. I take her hand. I can feel myself blushing, but I don't mind. She's blushing too. I reach into the pocket of my suit, looking for the index cards Quill gave me before we left. Ocean looks at me, her head cocked in confusion. I blush deeper.

"Oh, um," I say. "From Quill. She said I'd need them." I quickly scan the top card. It's mostly instructions from Quill about what to say, what not to say, things like that. The music begins playing gently, and I put my hand on Ocean's shoulder. I lower the index card.

"Would you like to dance?" I ask. She nods, and I lead her to the dance floor. Other couples are already dancing. It's a slow song, so I put one hand on her waist and take her hand in the other. I smile uncertainly. "Confession," I say. "I don't exactly know how to dance." Ocean laughs kindly.

"That's okay," she says. "Let's just make it up." I smile, and twirl her around in time to the music. 

Eris~

I scan the room for Cu, turning her daffodil corsage in my chilly fingers. The room is filling rapidly with AEs, some of whom have already begun dancing, in nervous pairs and in large, exhuberant groups. My stomach feels like it's being constricted. What if Cu asks me to dance? What if she doesn't? I can't honestly decide which would be worse. My hand trembles a little. It's not even a real date, you idiot, now calm down. You're gonna be fine. I take a few deep breaths. Yes, this is going to be fine. But I don't want Cu to know how scared I am, so, just in case she's watching, I walk as confidently as possible to the drinks table. My hip twinges a little but I refuse to slow down. I refuse to let my stupid leg get in the way tonight. Tonight is going to be good. 

Counter~

Eris strides determinedly toward food, still messing with the corsage I made. She didn't want me to help her originally, but after ruining six different ones she agreed that corsage making is not one of her strengths. I was patient enough to put it together, but made her help clean up afterwards. Most of the mess was her fault, anyway. I sigh, watching her fiddle with the petals. I hope she doesn't break this one, too. 

Ocean~

As Ace spins me around, I laugh merrily. When he catches me again, I can see that he is hiding elation. I smile sweetly at him. Then, when I thought all was okay, and that I wouldn't allow myself to fall for him completely just yet, he says four simple words.

"You look beautiful, Ocean." He whispers nervously. It is all I can do to simply reply.

"Thank you, Ace. You look very nice tonight as well." He beams even more brightly.

~~ 

I can't believe this has been going on for a week! WHY AM I NOT ALREADY THERE? I'm gonna wear a long modern styled dress with tropical flowers on it!

I am coming too. 

WHAT? Why?

You'll never know. Mua ha ha.

I'll wear a black tunic, black leggings and a masqurade mask.

Why a mask?

Why not?

Max~~

As Blaiyre cuts herself a slice of cake, I scan the ballroom. Nymph is talking to..Devin. Ahh, yes. Devin. I sigh. It’s not that I don’t like Devin, it’s just that...well...I like LIKE Nymph. I drag my eyes away from them, and back to Raven, who now sits alone in the corner. She’s  watching Hugh dancing with a small smile. Her looks no hair flows down her back, like waterfall of black, and her black dress shimmers in the light. I hadn’t noticed before, but there are specks of silver in her dress. I turn back to Blaiyre as she takes her first bite of the cake. “How do you like it?” I ask. 

Raven~~

I watch Hugh walk away with Callie. I smile as I watch them dance. There is a bit of sadness in my smile, because now I am alone...again. Nobody to talk to, and make me feel like maybe..maybe I’m not a complete freak. But now all that comfort is gone. Of course I’m happy for Hugh, how could I call myself his friend if I wasn’t? But, I still wish he could have stayed...I stand up, not sure I can, even in the least crowded place, handle the people, Not without somebody I know. I head toward the women’s bathroom, where I will likely hide for the rest of the night. But first I have to cross the large crowded dancefloor. I decide to head off in the direction of Hugh and Callie. One step. Two steps. Three steps...

Silvern~~

I emerge from the PILLOW WAR ZONE, feeling bored. I head toward where I know Max will be. The dessert table. When I arrive, there is another figure to, I recognize it as Blaiyre, Vyolettes Æ. I am silent as I walk toward them. They seem to be talking. I stop behind Blaiyre and reach out to grab a snickerdoodle cookie. My favorite. Blaiyre turns around fast, seemingly startled. Maybe I should have announced myself.  

 Cú Chulainn~

"You idiots made me late for my dance with Eris!" I shriek, darting into the building. I feel awful - it took me long enough to find something "nice"  to wear (according to St., anyway), and it took Dev even longer, not to mention I had to save both my hair, clothes, and Eris's corsage from his escapades in the car. Now we're late, and Eris will probably be mad. Or, worse, maybe she gave up on me and tried to find another partner?

It'll be fine, I assure myself. Plenty of AEs are coming in late.

I throw open the front doors and don't stop running until I'm right in front of the entrance to the ballroom. There I pause to catch my breath and compose myself before walking into the ballroom as impressively as I can.

I glance around. There are too many AEs here! Some dancing, some chatting, some reading, one seems to be yelling at a tennis ball? I can't imagine how I'll find Eris in this mess.

I go over to the refreshments table, hoping they have something to drink. One should always hydrate after a run. To my surprise, there's Eris!

A relieved grin spreads over my face. "Hi!" I say, holding out the hand where I've been holding her poppies. "I have your corsage."

----

Feather~

As soon as the car stops, Cú's off running down the steps. I roll my eyes. The few seconds she saves by running aren't that important. Then again, I'm not in her situation. If I was late for a date with Hobbes . . . honestly, I'd be running too.

But Hobbes isn't here, as far as I know. Thank goodness I brought my bottomless bag. I make my way inside, where music's blaring and people threaten to step on my toes everywhere I turn. Is there any such thing as a quiet corner during a dance?

Cú's found Eris, and she's giving her her corsage. I wonder if she'll mention the help she had? Cú can do a lot of things, but making corsages is not one of them. It was my encyclopedia - and thin fingers - that did most of the work, once her YouTube videos failed.

I turn and start to wander around, deciding to give them some space. Maybe I can find a friendly face here somewhere. 

----

Devil Owl~

That car ride was fun!

I can't say the same for preparing for this dance - Feather got really mad at me, then she tattled, then I got in trouble! How was I supposed to know she had put her laundry into the same load that I dyed purple? My suit needs to look fabulous, after all.

And it does! It's nice and purple now. I tried to fix Cú's shirt in the car with my Magic Marker - reds have such awful shades - but she whacked me with her hurling stick!

But that's all in the past now. I get out of the car last, grabbing my veggie blaster. Feather and Cú are already inside. When I get there, Feather's standing, apparently clueless. Serves her right for taking away my dessert privledges for a week.

I head through the door reading PILLOW WAR ZONE. Too bad I'm not a fan of pillows. With a cackle, I load my veggie blaster. "ARE YOU READY FOR THIS FIGHT TO GET REALLY  INTERESTING?!"

Eris~

"Eris! Hi!" I turn to see Cu running towards me. I've never seen her with her hair up before. "I have your corsage." She hands me a red poppy. Although I knew she was going to make me one, the sight of it makes me feel wildly happy.

"Here's yours," I say, giving her the daffodil. We both struggle silently for a minute in an attempt to put them on by ourselves. "Do you want me to help?" I ask her. She smiles, holding out her wrist.

"Oh! Yes, please." I carefully arrange the flower one last time. I feel weirdly proud of it, considering that I did not make this corsage. We both take a second to admire the effect. "Now let me do yours." She takes my hand and ties the ribbon with thin violinist's fingers, saying, "There, that ok?" I nod. We both stand by the punch bowl, somewhat awkwardly.

Should I ask her to dance now? Is that what we do now? Maybe I should try it.

"Do you-" I hesitate, then finish a bit lamely with: "um, want some punch?" 

"Thanks, that'd be nice." Another pause, then, "I had to run cause I was worried I'd be late. It wasn't my fault, though- Feather and Dev had this big fight just before we left." She grins a little, glancing at me. I laugh.

"What about?" She shrugs, shaking her head.

"Honestly, I'm still not sure. I think Dev dyed a bunch of her stuff purple. It happens more often than you'd think." I glance at the pillow fight area, where Devil Owl is laughing maniacally while dodging punch hurled at him by a tennis ball.

"I can imagine. Your place must be wild." She rolls her eyes at this.

"Yeah, never a dull moment at the Owls'." This pause isn't quite as uncomfortable. Cu shuffles her feet, takes a breath, then looks me full in the eyes. 

"Do you want to dance?" 

Jett:

"And... turn!" I've been walking Coral through the waltz for about ten minutes ad I have to say it's the best fun I've had in ages. She giggles, out of breath and suggests we take a break for a bit. Happy for a chance to get a glass of water, I shuffle toward the snack table. While pouring two glasses, I scan the room for any signs Callie has emerged from the bathroom. I'm shocked when I see her dancing dreamily with none other than Hugh. How she worked up the courage to ask him to dance is what I want to know. I honestly expected to see her sitting alone in the corner for the whole time (I even felt a bit bad for bringing her in the first place). With full glasses, I wander back to the dance floor, my mind back on Coral.

Callie:

I think I'm having the best time ever! Dancing with Hugh is like...I don't even know what. It's amazing! He's so nice as well. I feel like I could just keep dancing for ever and ever. But I notice something out of the corner of my eye. It's that AE I bumped into earlier- Raven. She's watching us with a conflicted, longing sort of look in her eye. Suddenly, a rush of realisation rushes through me. What have I done? I have to talk to Raven after this, whether I like it or not.

Here is a picture of Silvern my friend drew! 

June, you’re not supposed to be here! 

*is shoved out the door* Just ignore the music notes, that was to make it more dynamic! I-