"So, I'm thinking of wearing like a yellow gown…"

"I don't know, I think you'd look cute in like a knee length white thing."

"Are we still on for finishing touches at your place?"

"Sure, Granny doesn't mind."

"I'm thinking of a deep maroon for my lips."

"Nah, Snowy, stick to your blood red."

The conversation while waiting in line for food at lunch time wasn't exactly interesting Emma that much. Ruby and Snowy were discussing the upcoming school ball, which apparently everyone was talking about. Emma wasn't a big fan of dances, and she wasn't too fond of dresses, either. She only ever wore dresses on celebrations, like weddings and ceremonies.

"So, Emma, we were thinking a lengthy, red dress for you?" said Ruby, interrupting Emma's thoughts. "Something that really shows off those curves."

"Sorry, Rubes, but I have plans for Friday night," stated Emma, hoping they wouldn't see through the lie.

"Plans?" asked Snowy. "Like what?"

"Oh, you know…" mumbled Emma. "…Stuff."

Ruby gave Snowy a look, before turning back to the red-faced blonde. "Look, Em," she began. "This is the biggest party of the whole year. Bigger than prom, bigger than graduation, bigger than anything…"

"Bit extreme," muttered Snowy, earning a glare from the brunette. Snowy mouthed a quick apology.

"Anyway," continued Ruby. "If you're not there, then… you're down in the gutter, sweetie. Besides… we've already picked out a cute dress."

Emma thought about it for a moment. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It was a Masquerade ball, after all. If she wore a mask, nobody would know it was her- except Ruby and Snowy, of course. The idea of being somebody completely different for the night somewhat excited her. "All right, then," Emma agreed, with a smile.

Ruby practically squealed. "You are going to love this dress I have picked out for you," she beamed.

I hope so, thought Emma.

Eventually, the line moved down, and the girls received their lunch. They each had a plate full of lasagna, but Ruby also had a whopping slice of cake on the side. Emma hoped that she wasn't taking her break from her diet as an eat-whatever-the-hell-you-want phase.

As the trio sat down at a table, Snowy also noticed Ruby's dessert choice. "God, Ruby, are you sure you can eat all that?"

"Shush, chocolate helps me think," scowled Ruby, before taking a rather large spoonful of icing and chucking it in her mouth. "So," she continued, mouth full. "Are we doing a color scheme this year?"

"Red and white?" suggested Snowy.

"Perfect," smiled Ruby, taking another spoonful. "As we do every year- it never gets old."

Emma didn't really know what she could add to the conversation, so she just kept nodding her head in agreement every so often.

"Are we going bright or subtle?" asked Ruby. "I think that subtle will really suit our lipstick shade, but then again, bright will make us stand out from the crowd."

"Dark red is really in right now," said Snowy. "And I think Emma will look absolutely stunning in a crimson gown."

"No, we want to see Emma's curves! Something slim will show off her gorgeous body."

Emma noted how the conversation was now headed in her direction. "Uh, yeah, sure," she said. Agreeing was easier than arguing.

"We don't need any of that big, one-thousand layer type dresses anyway, do we?" noted Ruby. "Talk about old fashioned."

"I know," agreed Snowy.

Emma, however, disagreed. Sure, the layered dresses were old fashioned, but wasn't that the whole point of a Masquerade ball?

Ruby took yet another spoonful of her cake, and then made a wincing face. "Ugh, did someone take a whole truck of sugar, and then dump it onto this muck?" She pushed the plate away, and rose from her seat. "I'm getting an apple," she added, before leaving.

Glancing down at Ruby's untouched lasagna, Snowy smirked. "Do you think she's gonna eat that?"

"I guess n-,"

Before she could even complete her answer, Snowy had grabbed the tray, and was now wolfing down the remains. "I do this to annoy her; I don't really care if she misses it or not."

Emma laughed, before taking a large sip from her water.

Although her smile faded when she saw who was marching ahead.

"You couldn't keep away, could you?"

At first, Emma suspected that she was talking to her. But Kathryn's eyes were glued to Snowy.

"I-" Snowy began to speak, but she didn't get a chance to finish, because in an instant, she was drowned in a pool of milk.

Kathryn Stewart dropped the carton on the floor. "I'm not done with you yet, bitch," were the last words she said, before she raced out of the canteen.

Snowy was too shocked to speak. As was everybody else in the canteen. Including Emma.

Placing a shaky hand to her forehead, Snowy tried to hide her blushing cheeks. Emma was the first and only person to help her get the liquid out from her hair. Even after how much Emma tried, Snowy was still going to have to scrub the fluid from her scalp.

A few seconds later, Ruby ran into the canteen. "What the hell happened?" she asked, even though she knew it was a pointless question.

Snowy said nothing. She just stood up, wiped the milk out of her eyes, and then walked away.


Twenty minutes later, Ruby and Emma found Snowy, sitting on the floor of the girls' toilets. She was curled up into a ball, just hugging her knees. Drops of milk were still dropping from her face, though she had managed to get most of it out, it was still clear that she desperately needed a shower.

"Are you ok?" asked Ruby. Again, the answer was clear. She admitted to herself that she had been asking stupid questions today.

Silence surrounded the girls. Emma was getting used to the drama of high school, but she didn't think it would ever get this extreme.

"I got you an apple," said Ruby, extending her arm to Snowy. Snowy didn't take it, so Ruby just took it back, and juggled it with her hand. "So, KathyStew was pretty pissed, right? Saw her storming out of there, she didn't look too happy." From the glare she received from Emma, she abruptly realized it was the wrong thing to say, again. She had to stop doing that…

Without warning, Emma's mind went back to the Friday evening. The argument between Kathryn and James. How angry Kathryn had been. How much she had glared at Emma…

Surely, the two events couldn't have been related?

"Did something happen between you and Kathryn, Snow?" questioned Emma. "Or particularly… between you and James Charmers?"

That got Snowy's attention. At the mention of the name Charmers, she snapped up, an anxious look in her eye.

"No…" said Ruby. "You didn't…?"

"What?" asked Snowy.

"Did you…? Oh, no…"

"No!"

"Snowy, come on, that's really low."

"Ruby, I didn-"

"Look, I know you're pretty desperate, but-"

"I DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH JAMES CHARMERS, I'VE BEEN SEEING HIS TWIN BROTHER" she yelled.

That shut Ruby up.

"Y-you what?" Ruby finally stuttered.

Snowy sighed. "I should have told you sooner… Every Saturday, when I've stood you up for the mall… I was seeing David. Not seeing-seeing, until the Saturday before last, when… when he kissed me."

Ruby just glared at her.

Snowy got on her feet. "Look, I'm really sorry. I really, really am. I was just… I was just helping him with his homework, and then…"

"You lied to me for some stupid boy?" snarled Ruby.

"He's not stupid, all right?" Snowy fought back. "He's smart, intelligent…"

"Of course he's stupid, he's a Charmer."

"No, he's not! You always prejudge people, Ruby, and it's not good. You're such a bitch."

"Who the fuck do you think you are, calling me a bitch?"

"At least I'm not some cock-loving slut, who's done every single member of the football team."

"Oh, yeah? At least I'm not some attention-seeking hoe, who fantasizes about boys that don't even know they exist!"

"Guys, guys, stop…" Emma tried to but in, but the girls continued to argue.

"You know what, Ruby? You can shove that apple up your fat ass, because I guarantee that-"

Before Snowy could continue, she was struck in the face by Ruby's manicured, seemingly dainty hand. Seconds later, Snowy had realized what she had said. "Ruby, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Save it," snapped Ruby, swallowing tears down her throat. "Just… Just don't talk to me, all right?" And then she was gone.

Snowy didn't move. She just stood, analyzing what had just happened. Why the hell did she do that? Why did she have to use that f word?

Emma couldn't believe it, either. She knew that Snowy didn't mean what she said; nevertheless, it had still tremendously hurt Ruby's feelings. It was strange, considering the two were the best of friends a little less than half an hour ago. Emma suspected that they had had fights like this before, but not like that. That was something completely over the line. It was like they were volcanos, and all of their emotions had just exploded into one big eruption. Expressing their true views of each other, instead of keeping them locked up inside of them. But the worst thing was that Emma had had to choose. To go after Ruby, or stay with Snowy. Without even realizing, Emma had chosen to stay with Snowy. Anyway, she couldn't just leave her in that state. Abandoning a friend when they had been drowned in milk, and slapped in the face? Now that would be the wrong thing to do.

By tomorrow, they'll be best friends again, anyway, thought Emma. Hopefully.

A/N: Betcha never saw that coming, huh? Well, maybe you did... Unfortunately, I'm not psychic. I didn't have a clue what I was going to write when I opened Word. I only had three words in mind- Lunch, Kathryn, Drama. I was originally going to have Kathryn slap Snowy, like in the show, but I thought, nah, let's drown this bitch in milk! Kidding, don't worry. I was watching the season 2 finale of Pretty Little Liars so that's where the ball idea came from. I thought it would be a good idea for the characters to attend a ball, since it's very fairytale-esque. Besides, I get to chose their costumes! Oh, how fun that will be to write. Cookies for whoever gets why their colour scheme is red and white.

Also, for anyone who wants hints on why Kathryn is mad at Snowy, remember that James*cough*...identical...*cough*...public place..*cough*cough* Thanks for reading, review if you like, adios :)