"Here Fix-it, I got you some lunch for your hard work. I make the best roast beef sandwiches if I say so myself."

Felix didn't even listen. All he could think about is how he blew it with Tamora the other night. He pulled out the dog tags he sang out of the trashcan from a couple of weeks ago.

"Felix!"

He shook out of it. "Yes, Gene?"

"Did you hear me? I made you some lunch for a job well done."

"Thanks, Gene but I'm not that hungry."

"You look very preoccupied. What on your mind?"

"Oh you know, just trying to figure out what to be this year at your annual Halloween party. What do you recommend?"

"Actually, I'm turning it up a notch this year. I decide instead of having a plain old Halloween party. Why not a masquerade?"

"Masquerade?"

"Ya you know when everybody wears masks and nobody knows it's you. It's so mysterious yet sexy. It will be a very fun and interesting night. What do you think?"

"It's your party." Felix shrugs his shoulder and went back to fixing Gene's TV.

"Oh, by the way, tell your beautiful 'roommate' that she is also invited to the party." Gene then walks out of the room so Felix could finish his job.

Felix then pulled his cell phone out to call Tamora. "Please pick up! Please pick up!"

"Hello?" Tamora answered.

"Hey, Tamora! How are you today?"

"I'm alright. Just got done teaching my gym class, now I'm on my way to the diner. How's my house coming along?"

"Funny story about that, I actually got an emergency call from the major and had to come over right away. But Ralph is over there delivering the wood has we speak."

"What's the emergency call?"

"His TV wasn't working."

Tamora rolled her eyes. "Well, I have to get going. The lunch rush is out the door."

"Oh ya of course. Well, I actually called to say that major Gene invited us to his Masquerade party this Saturday night and I was wondering if you want to go with me...has a date?"

"I'll think about it. No promises. See you tonight." She hangs up quickly.

Felix then facepalms himself. "She hates me!"


Tamora walks into the diner which was clearly empty.

"Why did you line to him about the lunch rush?" V ask while counting tips.

"I don't know, I just didn't want to talk to him right now. He asks me to be his date for Gene stupid party."

"You don't sound thrilled about it!"

"Well, he still has a crazy Ex that calls him all the time. And it kinda hurt when he talk to her during our date the other night."

"Wait! You two went on a date?"

"Well, sort of. I gave him a telescope for a thank you present and then we were in a moment then his phone rang and he flats out answers it right in front of me. It turns out to be his EX girlfriend and he still in contact with her."

"Trust me! That ex of his is the definition of crazy. But I get it, you're upset with him but it doesn't mean blow him off."

Tamora didn't say anything.

"Look, how about we close early tonight and I'll help you find a costume for the masquerade."

"I'm not into dressing up and especially for a masquerade."

"Fine! Blow Felix off and a promising night. I'm just trying to help." V went back to counting the tips.

Tamora watches her count the money and reminded her about when Felix help her sell that ring for an amazing deal. "Okay say I do go, what are you going to make me wear?"

"I don't know but I have a couple of ideas."

Tamora blew air. "Alright. I'll at least try some dress on and see but I'm not making any promises that I'm going to this stupid party." After they closed early that night, they made their way to a costume store.

"What exactly is a masquerade?" Tamora asks while looking some masks.

"It's a formal party. Girls wear dresses and guys wear suits then you wear a mask. It's almost like a ball but with a pinch of mystery into it."

"Why do we have to wear masks?"

"So you can hide your face so the world can't find you." V putting on a mask, winking at her. Tamara totally oblivious to the reference. "I can tell you don't watch much TV." V putting the mask back on the shelf.

"I just don't see the point of it." Tamora sitting down while holding an elegant red mask.

"The point is that it's fun." V then put the mask on her and tied it around her head. "Put a mask on and forget the world around. Then look in the mirror and realize who you are with a mask on. You can be whoever you want to be." They both look in the mirror with the red mask on Tamora. "All that matters is that you are beautiful."

Tamora looks deep into the mirror with the Red mask still on her face. It covers mostly her eyes and part of her nose. "I think red is your color." V said while putting a rose on her ear. "It's a keeper." Tamora smile.


"You have been staring at that telescope since you got home. I'm beginning to worry about you." Ralph finishing the dishes while Felix is sitting at the table. "Are you going to say anything or just be wired?"

Felix then slammed his head on the table and stayed there. "Don't you get it, Ralph. I blew it! She has hardly talked to be the past couple of days. I really blew it."

"You're giving up too quickly. Come on, keep your head up. Did you ask her to the party?"

Felix picks his face up which had a big red spot on his forehead. "Yes."

"And..."

"She said she'll think about it which means no." He slammed his forehead on the table again.

Ralph blew air. "Give her time." He then glacé at the clock. "Speaking of time, I'm surprised she isn't home yet. It's almost ten."

Felix also looks up at the clock then started to panic. "You don't think she flat out left does you?"

"Come on, you know she wouldn't do that."

Felix then dash up the stairs to see if her stuff was still there.

"Hey, Ralph!" Tamora came through the front door with a couple of shopping bags.

"There you are! Felix and I were beginning to wonder where you were. Shopping I see?"

"V took me out shopping for the Gene party Saturday night. Where Fix-it?"

"He ran upstairs to make sure you didn't run away. He thinks he drove you away.

She smiled. "Well, I'll go show him that I'm still here. Night Ralph."

"Good night Tamora."

Tamora made her way to the top of the stairs and lean against the doorway to her room. She playfully watches Felix searching her stuff. She clears her throat.

Felix then turns bright red. "Hi, Tamora!" He guilty waved.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"Ummmm making sure that you were still here because I was freaking out that you may be left."

"Well, I'm still here. I appreciate that you were worried about me but I'm fine." She walks in the room and put her shopping bags on her dresser.

"Sorry, I look through your room. I'll leave you been then." Felix starting to walk out of her room.

"Felix!" He froze right in place like a soldier. "What happen to your forehead?"

He turns to look at her. "Oh, it's from work today. Ran right into a door left a pretty bad bruise." He grinned.

"I know a fresh bruise when I see one. I saw you bang your head on the table when I was walking up to the front door."

You are such a little liar. Come on, let's get some ice on that." Tamora and Felix walk down the stairs.

She grabs an ice pack and holds it against Felix's head. They both sat on barstools. "How's it looking?" Felix asks with sympathy.

"It's not bad. Definitely bruised, though. You're lucky you didn't get a concussion or crack your skull open. Why did you slam your head into the table anyways?"

"To be completely honest, I did it because I'm a total idiot. I regret answering my phone the other night when we were star gazing. I'm so sorry I did that. It was rude and I completely regret it." Felix still looking down. He was scared to look at Tamora.

Tamora slowly smiled, realizing that Felix actually regrets what he did. "He really does care about me." She said to herself. "I accept your apology."

Felix quickly looks up at her. "You do?"

"Well if we're gonna go to the party together Saturday night. We have to forgive each other."

"Good point. It would be awkward at the party..." Felix's eye grows wider, realizing what he just said. "Did you just say we're going to the party Saturday? Together?"

"Well, you did ask me to be your date."

"I guess I did." They both smiled at each other.

"Hopefully your bruise will be healed by Saturday." Taking the ice pack off and putting back in the freezer.

"Your answer made it feeling a whole lot better. May I ask the color of your dress? So I know what I need to wear? So we can match." Felix kindly asks while standing on the barstool.

"Close your eyes and I'll show." He close his eye has he was told then Tamora went down and kiss him on his cheek. Felix's eyes sprung open. "How red your face is right now, is how red my dress is. Good night short stack." She winks at him then walk up the stairs.

"Night!" Felix trying to find his balance on the stool he was still standing on. Ralph then walk into the kitchen and check the fridge. "Looks like you two made up." Felix nodded slowly. "What did you say to her?"

"That I'm a complete idiot and she apparently likes that. All I know is that I have a date for Saturday night and I have a ton of shopping to do."

"They don't call you Fix it Felix for nothing brother." Ralph hold out his fist and the two fist bump.