"Val, where are we going?" Bella moaned, trying to hide how impatient she was getting.
"We're almost there now." said Val, trying not to laugh at her Vulcan friend's disgruntled expression. They walked in silence for a moment or two, before Val suddenly squealed "We're here!" Bella looked up at the large, square building in front of them. It was the new branch of her favorite store. "So we can get new outfits for that big party tonight." Val explained, answering her friend's questioning glance. Bella smiled. She loved parties. The lights, the music, the way people's eyes followed her from the minute she walked in the door. She knew she was distinctive looking, maybe even beautiful. She was nearly six feet tall, thin yet curvy with long straight black hair and large brown eyes. Her Vulcan blood also gave her pointed ears and upswept eyebrows.
She and Val drifted into the store. She snapped back to earth, however, when they reached the clothes. Now she had work to do. She and Val pawed through the racks of clothes, talking and occasionally exclaiming over a find. "Bella, look at this." said Val holding up a purple baby doll top. Bella grinned at her friend.
"Nice." she said. "You should definitely wear that tonight."
Val grinned back. "I'm going to go try this on." she said happily. Bella grinned again and went back to work.
* * * * * *
Three hours later, two girls dressed to kill left their dorm room. Bella was pleased with the dress she'd found. It was short, black and had large geometric cutouts that showed triangles of her white skin. And it went great with her red stilettos. Val had her new top and her blue skinny jeans, her blonde hair in a high ponytail. She chose to wear her black converse allstarz. They walked slowly, enjoying the warm summer night. They chatted and occasionally made each other laugh. They took so long in getting there, that the party was in full swing when they arrived. Bella spotted her twin sister, Aria, over by the dance floor, surrounded by admirers. "I'm going to go get drinks." said Val, turning towards the bar. "I'll be back in a minute."
Bella watched her go for a second, and then turned to talk to her sister. "Hi." she said.
"Hi." said Aria, turning to look at her.
"Have you heard anything from Lyssa?" Bella asked.
"No. Have you?" Aria replied.
"No." said Bella. The two sister's exchanged a darkly signifigent look, before Aria's attention was claimed by one of her admirers. Distracted, she turned to talk to him. Bella sighed and turned away. Then she saw him. He was Vulcan, there was no mistaking those ears, but there was something different about him, something almost... human. He was young too, maybe even as young as her. He was standing by the bar, watching the people on the dance floor detachedly. His face was beautiful, like a Botticelli angel. She grinned confidently and strode across the floor towards him.
* * * * * *
Spock stood beside the bar, wondering why on earth he was here. Captain Pike had insisted he come, but he'd long since disappeared. Spock didn't like parties. He'd always felt awkward and out of place, always standing off to one side.
He leaned back against the bar, thinking about the last party he'd been to, when a soft "Hello." interrupted his train of thought.
He looked up. Standing in front of him was a young Vulcan female. It was obviously her who had spoken. "Hello." he said quietly. "Is there something with which you require my assistance?"
She grinned. "No, i just wanted to talk to you." She brushed back her waist length black hair to reveal delicate pointed ears. "I'm Bella, by the way." She said, smiling.
"Spock." he said, inclining his head slightly.
She smiled wider. "So, are you enjoying the party?" she asked, waving a hand towards the dance floor.
"Not particularly." he said.
She chuckled. "Most of the Vulcan's I've met here have said the same." she said.
"I am not like most Vulcan's." he said with a slight smile.
"Oh?" she said, smirking slightly while raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." he said, his smile growing slightly more pronounced. "I am half-human."
She smiled. "Really? Me too." she said. "Which of your parents is human?"
"My mother." he replied.
She nodded. "My father... was human." She grinned. "Do you live on Vulcan?" she asked.
"Yes." he said. "Do you?"
She shook her head. "My family lived on Vulcan until i was eight and then we came here, to earth." He frowned slightly.
"Why did you leave?" he asked curiosity in his brilliant, obsidian eyes.
She frowned slightly, too. "I... don't really remember." she said. "It all happened so fast."
He nodded. "Are your parents in Starfleet?" he asked.
A sudden sadness came over her lovely face. "No." she said quietly. "No, they're dead."
There was silence for a moment and then... "I'm sorry." said Spock. She nodded. An awkward silence fell. She saw him move closer and she realized she had tears in her eyes. "Don't cry." he said softly. And then he was kissing her and she was kissing him back and it was peaceful oblivion.
She opened her eyes and with the cutest smirk on her face said "What was that for?"
"You are absurd." he said. They went outside under the full moon and talked. They talked about everything under the sun and then kissed some more. As the party ended, he bid her goodbye.
"I'll see you later." she said.
"I know you will." he whispered in her ear. She gave him her dorm room number. And then she was gone. Spock made his way back to his room, his head spinning the whole way.
* * * * * *
Bella made her way back to her room, lost in thought. She'd found someone, someone she would want to stay with. Maybe forever. The one. She wasn't sure what to do, but she was sure of one thing; she was in love with Spock.