Yay! I just finished it! So, because I'm awesome, you get TWO chapters today! Other updates might be a bit slower, but seeing as I have the day off, and won't be doing anything until later, I'll try to get more chapters done! Also, a quick shoutout to evilneevil, who has been very wonderful reviewing for me! Thank you lovely :) Anyways, if you haven't figured who the mystery man is, it is pretty obvious in this one ;) Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Danny's POV

I slid my mask on over my hair and face easily, feeling somewhat foolish but rather excited at the same time. I could be anybody in this mask, and no one will ever know, I realized.

"Doug?" I called down the hall of my flat. "Dude, hold on! My hair is almost perfect!" he called back from my bathroom. I rolled my eyes. "Mate, everyone is probably already there! Hurry up!" I heard him huff, and finally heard his footsteps. "Do I look alright?" he asked, and I knew he was actually worried. I laughed. "Doug, you look fine, mate. Let's go then if you're finally done primping." He scowled. "I dunno how I feel about this whole matching tuxes thing, Dan," he said for the millionth time. I shrugged. "It doesn't really bother me, and Tom thought it would look good for publicity and whatnot," I replied as we were walking out the door, unbothered. We had gone over this a million times, and I was over it.

Tom had insisted we wear matching tuxes. However, we didn't all want to wear just a plain tux, nor did we want to wear the same colors, so Harry (who was the only one who had a date) suggested we matched our dates' dresses, but keep the same general idea. So we all had our vests and masks custom made with different color pinstripes. Harry's was blue to match Izzy, Tom decided to take his little sister Carrie, so he got purple put in his, and since Doug and I didn't have dates we picked our own. He got bright green put in his, and I thought gold and black have always looked sharp, so that is what I chose. The end result was that we were all the same but different.

It was a pretty cool idea.

Anyways, Tom decided to rent a limo for him, Carrie, and some friend she had invited to go, and Harry wanted to take Izzy by himself, so that left Doug and I to fend for ourselves.

As usual.

The trip to the venue was rather long, but once we got there, it was amazing. I had never seen anything like it. This could be really fun, I mused.

Dougie and I both started looking about immediately as we walked in. There were high ceilings and huge chandeliers. It was pretty cool. People were everywhere, on the dance floor, in the lobby, at the bar. Absolutely everywhere, all in masks.

I heard Dougie groan next to me. "Damn! We should've decided to meet somewhere!" he said, exasperated. I chuckled. "It'll be fine, Doug, don't sweat it. We'll find them soon enough. I bet you anything they're up there," I said, pointing at the high balconies. Dougie nodded. "I think you might be right. That is exactly where Tom would want to sit. Let's go look."

We walked upstairs and saw Carrie's curly hair almost immediately, then a couple that looked like Harry and Izzy next to her. As soon as they saw us they started waving frantically. Dougie breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god!" he said dramatically, like we were dying of thirst in the desert and had finally found water. I rolled my eyes, and we made our way over to our friends. As we reached them, I realized one of our most important members was missing. "Where's Tom?" I asked, confused. Carrie giggled. "He's out on the dance floor with Emma."

Emma? Oh yes, Carrie's little mate who had never bothered to meet us or show up to one of our shows, although Tom never seemed to be able to shut up about her…

"Oh, Dan, she's so gorgeous," "Oh, Dan, she's so nice," "Oh, Dan, I don't know how to shut up about her."

You get the point.

"She finally decided to show up this time, then?" I said acidly. Carrie narrowed her eyes at me. "Now, Danny, none of that! You don't know her at all!" I shrugged. "Whatever, Care. I think she's a snob for never bothering to come to one of our shows, especially when we gave you free tickets!" Carrie stared at me impassively. "I'm not going to tell you everything about her, Danny, but she's had a rather difficult life, so I'd appreciate it if you stop talking shit about my best mate!" That softened me up a bit; Carrie and I never quarreled. "Alright then, Care. I'm sorry." She shrugged. "S'alright." She grinned suddenly, over the argument already. "So, are you going to look for a hot date out there, then? There are plenty of gorgeous girls here available for you, I'm sure. And even if they weren't available, I'm positive they'd make sure to be when they see you, Dan!" she giggled. I smiled at her. "Thanks, Carrie. Yeah, I think I will go looking for a bird to dance with," I said, standing up and taking a quick swig of my champagne.

"Coming, Doug?" I asked the young bassist, who was in deep conversation with Harry and Izzy. Something about lizards.

He waved me off. "Later, Dan." I nodded, walking down the balcony stairs to the dance floor. As I walked, I kept my eyes peeled for my beauty. There were too many good looking girls on the floor to choose from!

I had just started to make my way towards a tall blonde in a tight emerald green dress when I saw her.

She was in a long ball gown type of dress. It was dark red and strapless with black lace and such on it. She turned slightly and I saw that the front of the dress was short, and evolved into the longer dress that I had seen the back of. She was tanned, dark haired, curvy and gorgeous. Her dark mask fit her face perfectly, and she was easily the most interesting person in the room just from her attire only.

Her dance partner had just walked away from her, leaving her alone on the dance floor. I couldn't believe he'd leave her by herself; she was such a beautiful girl, and even with the mask covering her face, I could tell. She was smiling absently to herself.

I started to walk towards her when I stopped myself. She obviously liked that guy, that much was obvious. But enough to say no to me? I thought. Carrie's words rang through my head suddenly: "And even if they weren't available, I'm positive they'd make sure to be when they see you." Was she right? Would this girl leave her date for me?The only way to know was to ask.

I gathered up all of the courage that I possess, and made my way to her. I hesitated one more time, before finally reaching out to tap her shoulder. That tiny little contact sent a shiver down my spine. Frankly, it scared me. I had never felt anything like it in my life.

She turned, still smiling, and I knew she thought it was that other guy coming back to her. Her smiled faltered slightly as she saw that it was in fact not him. I gave her a moment to asses me, and as she finished she looked up at me expectantly, her eyebrows slightly raised. "Hello," I said politely. "Hi," she replied warily, and I could tell she was unsure of what to do and say. She waited for me to continue. I hurriedly tried to think of something that didn't sound too lame, but also honest. "Well, I saw you standing there, and I thought you were much too beautiful a girl to be without a dance partner. I was hoping you would honor me with a dance." I cringed inside a little. It was totally lame! I had never used the word 'honor' in normal conversation. When talking about the Queen, yes, but not while trying to pick up a girl!

I smiled at the beautiful girl, hoping I didn't look like a total creep. "W-well," she stumbled over her words. "I'm kind of with someone…." She paused and looked over her shoulder, probably looking for the guy that she had been with. "That doesn't sound too committed," I said arrogantly. I saw the color rise up to her cheeks. It looked beautiful with her light coppery skin.

"Well, we're not exactly together, but-" I cut off her explanation, knowing too well where it was going. "But you want to be?" I asked, my heart sinking a little. She paused, biting her lip as she thought. That one little action made me want her more than ever.

I need to dance with this girl, to know her more, I thought unexpectedly. I had never wanted to know someone so much in my entire life. There was no explanation why I wanted, needed to know her. I felt some internal pull towards her. Once again, it was something I had never felt in my life. I had always considered myself a sort of know it all when it came to girls. It was always too easy to charm a girl into sleeping with me and disappearing the next day.

This girl was different. I actually wanted to see where things could go with her. I wanted to see her laugh, and know what made her interesting.

I was in so much trouble.

"Well, kind of," she confessed, bringing me out of my silent reverie. I nodded, my suspicions confirmed.

"Of course. The most beautiful girl in the room is taken, or wants to be. Sheesh." I said this more to myself than to her, not really realizing I was speaking aloud. I ran my hand through my hair, something I tended to do when nervous or frustrated. I glanced down at her, and noticed she was looking at her feet, biting that lip again….I had to try one more time. She had to be mine.

Using every single tool I had ever used in my entire life to capture a woman, I asked as seductively as I could, "Are you sure I can't have just one dance?" I held my hand out, trying to be as gentlemanly as possible. Her eyes snapped up, meeting mine.

Her full lips parted slightly as she exhaled one quick, sharp breath.

Her straight white teeth pulled at that bottom lip another time, taunting me. Why was that so damn hot?

She turned away from me then, looking around us again, but not as urgently as before. Her date or whatever had gone completely AWOL. I saw the war she was waging with herself. I wanted to be the winner of that war. She turned back to me, her hand lifted in the air, hesitating. Her eyes flicked up to mine before she finally submitted and put her small hand in mine.

One of Dougie's favorite things to do to me is to rub his sock-clad feet on Tom's shag carpet, then run and shock me with the static charge he'd built up.

When this beautiful woman touched me, it felt like that, times 5 million, but in the best way. The charge went through my whole body, making me shiver and gasp. No one had ever made me feel like that.

I had to be closer to her. I needed to keep feeling like this.

I swept her into my arms, twirling her around the dance floor. The charge never stopped zinging throughout my body.

The songs changed, and Kissing A Fool by George Michaels was playing, except it was the Michael Buble version. Without even realizing what I was doing, I pulled her into my arms, singing some of the lyrics softly in her ear.

She looked up at me, amazed. I felt myself blushing. Where the hell did that come from? I never did things like randomly singing to people I didn't know.

Well, on second thought, I guess I do that almost every day of my life.

"Sorry," I murmured, not looking her in the eye. "I'm not sure what came over me. I love this song, though." She smiled shyly up at me. "I do too." I felt my chest swell, and pulled her close to me again, twirling her around and dipping her. It took all I had not to kiss her right then and there.

"What is your name?" I asked her abruptly. She shook her head, a wicked grin on her face. "I'm not quite ready to reveal my identity yet."

I grinned at her cheekiness. I burned to know who she was, but it was also fun not knowing.

"Alright, I can deal with that. For now," I warned, still smiling at her. She laughed, a throaty and raw sound. A sound that couldn't be faked. I wanted to hear more of it.

This girl was doing things to me, making me feel like I've never felt before.

To be quite honest it scared the living shit out of me.