Emily's POV
We were in New York City. It was amazing! I had never been in a city before and just couldn't help staring at everything we came across. Like the streetside vendors selling food and hats and so many other things! I loved all the lights and hustle and bustle of the city. Even if it was waaay too noisy. Hey, I've lived in a cave most of my life, I'm not used to noise. We passed through Times Square and noticed a giant flashing sign that read:
COME TO THE HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE BALL
LOCATED AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
1000 5th AVENUE
October 31st 7:30-midnight
DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK!
Immediately Angel and Nudge made Bambi eyes at Max and she, rather helplessly, gave a pleading look at Fang as if to say, you know I can't say no to the Bambi eyes DO SOMTHING! He just shrugged and gave her a look; it's your call, you're the leader.
I leaned over and whispered to Iggy, "I'll bet you five bucks she's gonna say yes."
He gave me a wry smile and whispered back, "Normally I would but unfortunately I agree completely with you so there's no bet. We'll save that for some other time."
Max got our attention and said, "All right, now listen. The Ball's tonight at seven-thirty so we'll split up and go find costumes. We'll meet at the ball inside whatever room it's going to be in all right? Now scram! See you guys later!"
"I told you she'd give in," I said to Iggy as he walked past. I could hear him laughing as the guys walked towards the nearest costume store.
We went to a dress store first because Angel wanted to be a, well, an angel and Nudge wanted to be a fairy. As soon as we walked into the store Angel ran straight to a pink dress.
"Max, Max, Max isn't it so pretty?"
"Well, I guess. But aren't angels white?"
"I'll be a pink angel."
"Angel, if you put wings with that dress you'll look like a fairy."
"Which is MY costume, by the way," Nudge said pointedly.
Angel pouted but put the dress back and we continued our search. Max went with Angel and I went with Nudge.
About an hour later, (and around twelve trips to the dressing rooms) we came out of the store with a pretty white dress with a white sequined mask, white wings and a halo for Angel, and a black sequined mask with dark blue lace, a turquoise dress, and black and turquoise wings for nudge. There were also these black lacey sleeve things that looked awesome with it. Now, for our costumes...
"I think you should be an ice queen, Max," Nudge said.
"Yeah, I'll go as myself," she said. I snickered and Max smiled at me.
"Well, I think Emily should go a peacock," Angel said with confidence.
"A peacock?! No way! I'd sooner go as a...a black cat or something than a peacock." A peacock. Was she crazy?
"Well, you could get a green dress to match your eyes and we can get a blue feathered mask with peacock feathers on it. After all, it is a masquerade ball."
Huh. Well that did sound kind of cool. I looked at Max.
"Well, I'll go as the ice queen thing if you go as a peacock."
"All right. Deal."
So back to the dress shop we went and came out with two more dresses, two more masks, and other things. Max's dress was absolutely beautiful! It was white silky material with a filmy layer over it that flowed behind her her when she walked. It was sprinkled with silver streaks and also had rhinestones embedded in it too. It was stunning. Her mask was white with rhinestones and Nudge and Angel forced her to get a tiara. Max of course protested firmly but they held their ground. The tiara was silver with little teardrop shaped crystal like things. Max hated it.
My dress was cool to the touch and smooth. It was a very pretty shade of sea green blending in to a darker blue near the bottom. The top was a halter. I got the mask Angel said I should get and all together it looked great. When I came out of the dressing room to find Max, there was this guy around my age who said, "Hey sweet thing. Are you taken?" Needless to say he was on his back before he could say uh-oh. By the time we reached the Metropolitan Museum of Art it was 7:00. We quickly ran into the bathrooms and changed. When we came out there was a whole crowd of people pouring in through the doors. We merged and Max and I each took one of the younger kids' hands so we could stay together.
Inside, the ballroom was spectacular. The decorations were so amazing! The chandeliers were draped in cobwebs and there were hundreds of candles everywhere. The DJ stand was covered in cobwebs and fake skeletons and strings of shrunken heads were in almost every corner. Angel and Nudge were so excited.
"All right," Max said. "We'll wait for the guys at that table. They'll be able to see us."
We sat down for a few minutes when this guy dressed as Dracula with a black and red mask asked Max to dance. She seemed hesitant then asked us, "Do you think Fang would mind?" The Dracula dude tapped her shoulder and lifted a corner of his mask and winked. It was Fang. Max smiled and took his hand.
One down, 3 to go.
Nudge and Angel got up and danced together when a favorite song came on and I was left sitting at the table alone feeling pretty low. Stupid peacock costume. But what to my wondering eyes should appear? But a guy in a wizard costume making his way towards me. Crap. Iggy, where are you, I thought.
"Would you like to dance?" The guy asked.
"Ah, I would but I'm meeting someone here."
"I have a feeling he won't mind," the guy said and took my hand and, unwillingly, led me to the dance floor. Any time would be nice, Iggy.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, time for some loose music," the DJ announced.
The love songs? Already? Where the heck was Iggy! I didn't want to dance with some stranger!
Too late. Just then, the song, Come Away with me, by Norah Jones came on. The wizard guy pulled me in and I put my foot down.
"Look, buddy. I'm here with someone; I really want to dance this dance with-"
"Emily. It's me," he interrupted.
"Iggy?!" I whispered, surprised.
He lifted his mask and I saw his familiar pale blue eyes sparkling with laughter. I lifted my mask too and smiled. Then we danced.
This was truly a magical night.