** Chapter 7 - *Gulps* Homecoming. Mason. Friends. Time to freak out and run away **:

I woke up early the next morning, in order to finish my homework, hoping that I wouldn't have any left to do the next day. Time passed quickly, to my surprise, and it was soon time to dress up for homecoming.

"Honey, here are your maids, they're going to help you to get ready, okay?" My mom asked.

"Sure." I put my books and binders in my bag, and cleaned up till they arrived. It didn't take them long. There were two of them, they were almost the same height with the same color hair, eye color and skin color. I guessed that they were twins, but I didn't ask.

"Hi. I'm Karen and this is my sister Vanessa." Karen pointed out.

"Hi." I replied back quietly.

"Okay, so let's get started with your hair first, then." They led me to my bathroom and set me on a stool, facing my back toward the mirror.

First, they put strawberry shampoo in my hair and then massaged my hair carefully. It felt really good. Next, they put conditioner in my hair and it smelled strangely of strawberry, too. Funny, I didn't know they had strawberry-scent conditioner. They slowly massaged through my hair again, and then quickly washed it out. One of the maids brought a towel and she toweled through my hair.

"Okay, on to the set of rollers." I think Vanessa spoke this time.

At once they started pulling at my damp hair and slowly rolling it into the rollers.

"She sure does have a lot of hair." One of the maids said.

"I know. But no need to worry, we have enough rollers to do their magic." The other one said. I sighed. I hated curling my hair, it never worked and I looked ugly. What's more is that my head hurt because of those rollers - were they even necessary? No, I didn't think so.

Once they were done, they brought a range of all the products and set it up on the counter and started. Karen first put mascara on the eyelashes - which felt like they were about to grow five more inches than they actually were - and then Vanessa put a thin line of eyeliner. They stopped.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"What color is your dress?" Karen asked.

"Um... Red..." I said.

"Okay, that's good. So where is it?" She asked, while Vanessa continued to smear eyeliner on my eye, looking through the hallway and into my bedroom.

"In my room... Well in my closet." I said and watched her go into my room to bring my dress.

She soon came back. "Wear it." She ordered. "Unless you want us to help you with that." She asked.

"No, no. It's fine. I'll do it." They walked swiftly out of the bathroom and left me with my dress. I closed the door and stripped down my jeans and took off my shirt. Stupid dress. I put my arms through the holes and looked down at myself. The dress looked really pretty, to my astonishment. But other than that, nothing else did. I opened the door and the maids were standing right outside it, and came inside.

Vanessa started putting a dark shade of red lipstick on my lips and I tried my best to not move. Then they quickly pulled out the rollers and to my surprise, my hair tumbled down in curls. Their hands moved really fast - just like when Bella was going to prom with Edward and Alice and Rosalie took out the rollers - and from one side, they pulled my hair up and pinned it tightly with a pin. For the rest of the hair, they combed it really lightly, so that it wouldn't mess up the curls and pulled me up.

"The shoes?" Vanessa asked. I was too shocked to speak. How could my hair be curly! But I found my voice and spoke.

"Under my bed." And Vanessa ran to my bedroom and got the shoes. They were, of course, bright red, and were shimmering, just like my dress.

"Let's go to your bedroom." I let them take me and went to sit on my bed.

They pulled out a dark red nail polish, from their bag, and quickly painted it on my nails. It only took them two minutes and then another two minutes for it to dry so that they could help me put my shoes on. Then Vanessa quickly got up and pulled me along with her. She brought me to my parent's bedroom - which I don't usually go into because I have no need to go in there, and then presented me in front of the long, oval-ish shaped, shining mirror.

"Here, look, and tell me what you see." Vanessa said. I heard footsteps, again, and saw that Karen had come to stand by Vanessa's side.

I looked at the mirror, looking at the reflection of the girl... I thought was me but I couldn't even recognize the girl - her light brown hair, which had somehow turned to a chestnut color, cascades of it curled gracefully down her shoulders, her hazel eyes bright and excited, and her round face was somehow changed to be an oval shape, her cheekbones pink, mostly because she was blushing but also because of the blush that was put on her.

"See? I told you that you're ready!" Karen said excitedly. But I couldn't speak just yet. I continued to scan over the beautiful girl that was reflected on the mirror.

The dress, the color red, settled on my figure perfectly, the hemline just above my knees, it was a halter style dress, with red sequins embedded over the whole dress. It made it sparkle in lights, which illuminated on to the wall and made the sequins dance.

I breathed in. "Thank you." And then looked out the window in response to the purr of the engine. A black Lincoln was standing along my driveway. "He's here." I heard a familiar voice and looked back to see my mom right behind me. I jumped up and hugged her tightly. "You look beautiful." She said.

I shrugged, unable to speak because of the circumstances, but finally spoke. I looked at her and spoke quietly. "Thanks. It's nothing." She shook her head, and turned me around to face her room's door. I looked at her and was about to ask where she was taking me, but she had already took my hand and was leading me down the stairs. I could feel that I was about to fall down, my stiletto heels, held on only by thick satin ribbons that crossed over my foot and tied in a wide bow behind my ankle. I tightened my grip on my mom's arm and wondered. How was I ever going to walk straight in these - let alone dance? Before I had reached the bottom of the stairs, I heard a knock on the door. My heart thumped unevenly at the thought of Mason. My mom beat me to the door and opened it. They started talking and I didn't move. I was too... Shy, I guess you could say that word. I looked at myself again and sighed. Whatever, I could never be pretty. But when I looked up, Mason was standing a lot closer to me than I would have imagined. He was looking at me with a sort of admiration and astonishment. I looked back at him, too, with the same expression as he had. He had a black tuxedo on, which was so handsome-looking, a contrast to his skin color. He looked so... Handsome. Then, he lightly took my hand and pulled me to him, leaving no space between us. His face was two inches away from mine and I could see depths through his beautiful eyes. Finally, he broke our stance - but to put his hands around my waist.

We quickly gave each other flowers and went through with the never-ending pictures that were taken by my mom. Mason's hand trailed up to my shoulder then down to my waist, which carried almost all of my weight to the car - because it would have been impossible for me to walk all by myself - and we sat inside. He helped me sit inside and quickly came to the driver's seat. He took my hand and drove with his other hand. I let him gently rub his fingers on mine - it felt really nice. Then he twined his hands in mine.

"You look absurdly beautiful, you know." He said.

I laughed. Beautiful wasn't part of me. Nobody ever called me that. Ever. "You're just joking around." I said and blushed, feeling my cheeks warm up every second.

"No, no. I'm not. I promise." I was staring ahead, not looking at him. What we were talking about was totally irrelevant. "Annabel." His fingers moved to my chin and gripped it tight. "Look at me, please?" The touch tingled at my chin, leaving it warmer than the rest of my body's temperature.

I was surprised. Why did he just ask me that? But I turned my head, unwillingly. "What?" I asked.

He looked at my face again.

"Um... I think you would... Should watch the road..." I trailed off.

He looked startled. "Yeah. Sure. You're right. Wouldn't want to get in an accident or something..." His hands slid down to my fingers again and didn't move it the whole time.

Mason parked really close to the entrance of California's Pizza Kitchen so that I wouldn't have to walk to far.

"Do you want me to help you again?" He asked, somewhat hopefully.

"Um, no it's okay. Thanks." I wished that was true. But it wasn't. I started to walk forward but then my feet started wobbling and I felt like I was going to fall straight on my face. Thankfully, Mason caught me when I almost hit the ground.

"I'll hold on to you." He said and smiled. He looked absolutely stunning right now. I couldn't believe that he's actually... Mine... Kind of, right now - ish.

We soon got inside and Mason and I went to a table far from the crowd. I guess he wanted privacy as much as I had wanted - just to be with him.

I sat on one side of the table and he the other. I wished that he would sit by me, but... I refused to think about that too much. I looked at him and saw him watching the wall - the sequins on my dress reflected from the brilliantly glowing lights above were illuminated on the wall, making it seem like a dance of some sort.

"So, what do you want to eat?" He asked.

"Um..." I quickly scanned the menu and choose the first thing on it. "Salad."

"That's it?" He asked.

"Mhm." I didn't want to eat too much before dancing... In fact, dancing was the last thing I wanted to do. With these heels on, all I would be doing is just stand, leaning on the wall, on the floor and watching other people dance.

"Okay." We waited for the waiter to come and he spoke, again.

"You look really pretty." I rolled my eyes and he chuckled. "I'm serious." He repeated. "I couldn't see you the way I wanted - in the car. But now... I can." I looked to my left and changed the subject.

"I didn't know you were going to pick me up... At my house... I mean." What was I saying? I didn't know? Of course I did! Or did I?

"You didn't? Oh, sorry." He apologized immediately.

"It's okay. I was happy to see you anyway." I replied. Talking about the way I felt about him was even easier than before.

He leaned in closer and I automatically did, too. We were five inches apart and I felt like closing that in again. "Annabel..." He trailed off.

"What?" I asked, did I say something wrong?

"I have to tell you something."

"Sure."

"I know this sounds really cheesy and all, but I really like you. Not just a little crush... But I really like you." He said and looked right into my eyes.

"I feel the same way about you, too, Mason." I sighed. Except I loved him. Not just like...

"Since when?" He asked, suddenly curious.

"What?" He seriously must think that I was mentally retarded.

"Since when do you like me?"

"Do you really want to know?" I asked teasingly.

"Yes. I do." He said, seriously.

"Well, then... I liked you since..." And I trailed off, and started over again. "You would have to guess, then. I'm not telling until you guess it right." I smirked at him.

"That's not fair."

"Is to."

"Fine." He looked at me straight in my eyes, again, and didn't take his eyes off. "Since... The time... I sat by you? In English... Remember?" Of course I remembered. The first time he had touched me...

I must have looked horrified because he quickly spoke. "I was kidding..." He smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes.

"You won't ever guess it right." I whispered.

"I would."

"No, you won't. I'll just tell you. The first time I saw you." I looked up to see his expression and saw that he was surprised.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I told you, you won't ever guess it right." I mumbled and looked down. Then all of a sudden I felt arms around me - I didn't even hear him move.

"I really like you." He whispered in my ear.

"Since when?" And we both laughed.

"Since forever." He said seriously.

"Ha ha. Sure." I said teasingly.

The waiter arrived, thankfully because I was afraid I might die from starvation - right before homecoming. That would have been good news to deliver. Wow I must be going insane after all. Mason and I ate in silence for a while and then he started another topic.

"So you don't mind being with me? All alone." I could tell he was teasing, even though I didn't look up to see his face.

"Of course not. Why would you think that?" I smiled.

"Well... Because I might... I don't know." He admitted.

I laughed. "Anyways, I saw you looking at the Metallica poster on the school bulletin board the other day..."

"You spying on me?" He chuckled.

"Well... Yeah. I am." I grinned and saw him grinning back.

"Have to say... I like that." And he winked. He actually winked at me. Who does that? No one. At all. Right? I mean, no one.

"Are you done?" He asked, looking at my finished plate.

"Yep. Are you?" I asked, looking down his his finished plate, too.

"Yeah. Here, I'll just pay..." And he called the waiter. Pay? For me? Did I even bring my money with me? No... I didn't. Crap.

"How much do you have to pay?" I asked, curiously. Would I have to pay him back?

"Um... $32.68. And don't you dare get your money out and pay for this." He said sternly.

"Uh... Well... Would you let me..."

"No paying back later either. Now, let's go to homecoming or else we'll be late."

He didn't even let me argue. Yeesh. Pushy, pushy, pushy.

He helped me, once again, even with my strenuous protests - I didn't want to seem like I couldn't walk. But that was exactly the case. He drove really fast this time and we got to the school in less than ten minutes. Once again, he helped me out; this time I let him and he put his hands around my waist. He pulled me against his body and this time my heart was fluttering really fast. His face came really close to mine and I could feel this breath - still minty fresh after eating - brush over my face. In a matter of seconds I felt a slight pressure against my lips - a feather light touch. Mason's hands around my waist tightened and with it, his lips became urgent. Thank God I'd worn water-proof lipstick, which meant it wasn't going to come off so easily, because the way we were kissing now, my lipstick would have probably smeared Mason's face. My breathing gradually increased toward hyperventilation and so was Mason's. His lips just slipped through my lips once but he pulled back quickly. He looked at me and kissed me once, twice, thrice... Eight times. I could feel his warmth in me; everywhere around me, inside and out. I was tingling all over and this time I pulled away. I needed air. This was too much for my head. Mason. Just. Kissed. Me. No freaking way! I was about to faint... He pulled me back against him again and kissed me one last time. Then he suddenly pulled me away, and then moved me gently back, whispering in my ear. "I'll always be with you. Forever." He said and embraced me in his arms.

"Annie! Annabel! Annieeee! Annie!" I heard my friends calling out to me. I pulled away and craned my neck to find them. Then all of a sudden, they were standing right beside me. I secretly wondered if all of them were vampires. But, of course, I was the most vampiric of all. I smiled in spite of myself.

"Hey." I said quietly.

"Hey." Mason said in the same soft tone. I could tell we were both under a spell right now, completely unaware of our surroundings.

Did my friends see me kiss Mason? I felt myself blush. Great.

"So... Um... Let's go inside?" Giselle asked.

"Wait, wait, let's take a good look at you first." Kristen said.

They all towed us to a street lamp and I looked at them and gasped. They all looked like angels fallen from heaven and here I was, looking like a... A... Zombie! My friends were all standing in a line of sort, so I started from the left. Heidi.

She had put little make - up on, because her skin was better bare without a lot of it and her hair was down, gracefully, just below her shoulder. Her dress, which was black, had a v - neck line straight fitting dress. The silver sequins were intricately placed throughout the neckline. The silver sequin continued throughout the dress for delicately placed triangle patterns on the dress. The dress fit her figure perfectly. She looked like a runway princess.

Next, I saw Giselle. Giselle's hair was just a little curled from the tips of her shiny, blonde hair, which rolled down just below her shoulder. Her dress was green, with delicate spaghetti straps around her neck. The embroidery done on her dress was glistening in the glowing moonlight. Then in the center of the dress was a huge green bow which trailed down to her waist. The hemline was just below her knees. Her dress also settled on her figure perfectly. I tore my eyes away from her dress and looked at her face. She was blushing. She also didn't put a lot of make - up on. Just a brush of mascara, eyeliner, blush, and lipstick. The lipstick was a really light pink - just enough to bring out her stunning beauty.

After that, I saw Beatrice and Kristen. They both had the almost the same color dress and had their hair down, which gently went down to their shoulders. Beatrice's dress was the color royal blue. This dress had thick spaghetti straps that hung on to her shoulders perfectly. There was a wide, thick bow the wrapped around her waist. The hemline was just above her knees, and the dress flared out around her body. Next to Beatrice stood Kristen, with a dress so pretty that I could only stare. It was a sort of turquoise underneath the actual dress and it was a light shade of black - if there was a light shade of black, which I'm pretty sure there wasn't. Both of them brushed on a little make - up, which made them look absolutely surreal.

Shawna looked really different from when I saw her - except her hair, which was in a bun. Her dress - brown - also had delicate spaghetti straps, with a large satin bow, just like Giselle's except it was brown, which trailed down from her waist. There were pockadots - silver, gold, black - scattered all over the dress and it slightly become more scattered when it reached the hem of her dress. Her face, with just a dab of blush and eyeliner and lipstick looked glorious.

Lastly, Audra, with her dark hair curly piled on top of her head, stood, looking back at me. Her dress had a v - neck shape to it, just like Heidi's, which gently trailed down to her knees, like water just streaming down the lake. Audra didn't put on any make - up and yet she till looked utterly alluring.

All I could do was stare at these angels from heaven like an idiot.

The squealing is what took me out of my reverie. My friends were squealing. Oh, no. Please no.

"You look so pretty!"

"Like an angel!"

"I love your dress!"

And the compliments kept coming until I spoke, the first time after all the squealing.

"Can we go inside, now?" I asked nervously. I didn't like being on spot. But to my relief, everybody agreed. Dear God, please help me. I can't even dance for my life. And I stumbled my way to the school, while Mason held all my weight.

"It's okay, we'll pounce on you later." Giselle came by me and chuckled when I rolled my eyes.

"We'll see." I winked at her and she left me alone to be with Mason, while we made our way through the crowded hallway.