I quickly took a shower and grabbed my pajamas and laptop putting them into my back pack just to make my mom think. I was really going to Nadine's for the sleepover that never existed.

"Bye mom, see you tomorrow morning" I said as I left the house. My mom made a cake for me to congratulate me for completing high school today. She insisted I invite Nadine but I told her she's busy. My parents and Elsie had complained about Nadine's scarcity but I always tell them she was busy. I was planning to ask her to forgive me after the party.

"Alright honey, tell Nad we missed her." she said hugging me. If only she knew where I was going.
I was nervous on my way to Bernice's house. She's living in the house with her big sister. I've been to her house once and I met her sister, Sylvia. She's friendly and just like her little sister.
I wasn't nervous because I was going to meet Sylvia. I was nervous because I was doing something I wasn't comfortable with. First, I'd ditch my best friend, lied to my mom about her, going somewhere I didn't tell my mom about, I'd deceived and disobeyed my big sister and mostly going somewhere my parents will never approve of and what they've been teaching the public against.

I knew very well that most people in our neighborhood and in our church look up to Elsie and I especially me. They use me to advice their kids and other people. My parents boast about me for their friends and their coworkers. My dad sometimes use me to set examples when he is preaching. They always use me because most people don't know Elsie. She did not live with us most of her life. She stayed in the States with her aunt.
I was scared and uncomfortable as I rang Bernice's door bell. I kept peeping through the night to see if I was close to being caught. It felt like someone is watching me.
I rang the doorbell again and Sylvia opened the door with a huge grin.
"Hey graduate," she teased as she opened the door wider for me.
"Berny's been waiting for you. I was just designing her crazy face." Sylvia said as we walked up the stairs to Bernice's room.

"Hey you are finally here. Thought you'll stand me up. Like I will squeeze hell out of you" she said as she hugged me. She was wearing a blue no arm dress which drew every part of her. It reached her mid thigh and had small shiny disks decorating  the waist of her dress. She looked slightly different and more prettier in make up. Her lips were shiny and glossy with light lip gloss. Her eyebrow was shaped and neatly waxed. Her artificial eyelashes are very long and thick. Hey eye was beautifully shaped with the eyeliner. Her face was perfectly smooth and she had fixed artificial black polished nails.

"Hello Steph, we have only an hour to spare. Please let's dress you then you can continue gazing" Bernice said waving her hand in front of me as Sylvia laughed.
"I'm a professional." She smiled as Bernice put on a black high heel shoe.

"Oh my gosh, Stephanie, I won't be noticed beside you. Next to you, I'm ugly." Bernice gushed as Sylvia had finished making me up. I've never wore any make up heavy as this. I only use lip gloss, eye liner, mascara and pancake, that's if we have a very important occasion.
Bernice practically dragged me to the huge dressing mirror.
At first I was looking for myself behind or beside the lady looking at me in the mirror. I have no idea I am so  beautiful. I looked so pretty, I didn't know what to do, I only smiled and turned to the professional makeup artist.
She was smiling, obviously impressed with her work as Bernice continued gushing. My red dress was so tight and short. It was a bare back dress with no arm. It reached my mid thigh. It has small red roses and heart shaped patterns in it. Bernice handed me a black high heel shoes with red leather at the edge.
I can't believe how strikingly beautiful I looked.
I thank God we were not walking. Sylvia's going to drive us. I wasn't comfortable still. I kept imagining things like 'what if my dad, crushes into our car by accident and saw me?', ' what if our car got wrecked and I die.','what if Nadine goes to our house?','what if I get drunk and felt sick?','what if...........

"So here we are" Bernice chirped and came to open my door before I could.
There was hip-hop music booming from a big house inf front of us. The house was so big and beautiful. It has glass doors and windows. It was painted white and blue. The gate was widely opened inviting party goers.
"Is this some kind of sorority?" I asked as Bernice and I walked through the opened gate as the music became louder.
"Oh ma Gad! Dan's here!" Bernice squealed practically dragging me through the house into the huge living room. Dan is here?! I'm Dan's biggest fan. I love his music. They are so inspiring and I love the keys and the flow. I mean his dance steps and voice is just so amazing. We ran to the room. It wasn't so crowded. Just our classmates and a few strangers. The room was dim with blue light only.

"Where's he? He's not on stage." I asked Bernice anxiously. I can't wait to see Dan. I'm so happy I came to this party.
"Let's go ask Ely. He was the one that said it." Bernice said a bit disappointed for not seeing Dan on stage.
We went further into the room and one of Dan's music started playing. I grinned wildly. That song is one of my favorites. Ely and Josh were standing with a girl I've never seen before. They wore a ripped jeans and a leather jacket holding cups in their hands.

"Hey you liar, where's Dan?" Bernice said nudging Ely in the rib.
"Hey, beauty." he said looking at Bernice.
"Whoa!" He gushed as he looked at me. He looked me over with 'o' shaped mouth and owl eyes.
"Is that Steph?" Josh asked looking at me with the same expression as Ely.
"You look damn hot girl." Ely said throwing his arm around me.
"So you won't answer me. Is that right?" Bernice said sarcastically. "Oh yeah, Dan's around. He's coming on stage soon." Ely answered with arm still around me.
"You bitch, weren't you thought how to answer your phone?" I heard Priscilla's voice. I turned to see her. She was wearing a short pink floral dress that reached her mid thigh. The sleeves were so fancy, all covered in red rose designs. Her chest and part of the bust was bare. She wore a pink and white designed shoe. It was like a high heel and reached her legs. The waist of her dress was lace, transparent. She had on her head a pink hat with a flappy brim. Her makeup was heavy and pretty. Her lips were coated in blood red gloss. In the whole room, she's the only richest person aside Dan if he's really here. And her dress is the most fanciest. No wonder, she's still Priscie, the diva.
"Stephie?!" she gushed rushing to my side.
"You look too gorgeous, girl." she hugged me.
"It's like we have Beauty, from Beauty and the Beast in our midst." Jane said.
"I'll get you a drink." Ely smiled.