Holy crapoli!!! How many times can I say that I love you guys? Like a thousand? A million?

How about a million and one?

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! (and just as a side note, do you guys mind that I'm putting my responses at the bottom? I love answering you all but with the new way FF has it set up it's kind of overwhelming. Just let me know!)

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I needed to learn to trust Dougie Poynter. I needed to learn that no matter what kind of crazy, impractical thing he said, he was probably telling the truth. I should've already known that it's nearly impossible for Dougie Poynter to lie.

So when he said that he "stunned all the ladies with his dance moves," I definitely should've taken him more seriously.

I laughed out loud as Dougie tried to do the Charlie Brown dance, nearly taking out a group of people behind him. He laughed as well, giving up his attempt and going back to his previous crazy hip-swinging movement.

I could see Harry and Izzy through the crowd, on the edge of the dance floor with their arms around one another. I smiled to myself, watching as Harry leaned down to whisper something in her ear. She laughed loudly, shaking her head at whatever he'd said.

My eyes continued flickering around, trying to spot Tom and Gio. They were on the opposite side of the room, spinning and laughing in time with the music. Tom was such an adorable dancer, and Gio was quite graceful. They seemed to know each others' moves before they were even made.

A small part in the back of my brain contently noted that Danny Jones hadn't ruined my evening yet. I wouldn't be able to recognize him even when he arrived. We could easily ignore each other with our hidden masks, pretending that the other was just an unknown stranger.

The night was getting better and better.

Suddenly the music changed into more traditional classic slow dance. Immediately, couples grouped around Dougie and I, smiling at one another and dancing in time with the music. Dougie clasped my hands, a small dorky smile evident on his face as he quieted his more eccentric dancing.

"So are you having a good time, Ella?" He asked, spinning me in a small circle as we moved.

"Yeah, I am. I had no idea these parties were actually fun," I shrugged, recalling all the times Harry had complained about them.

"This one is quite nice compared to some of the past ones. Maybe that's because I actually have someone to spend it with now, though," Dougie said thoughtfully, smiling down at me again.

I bit my lip, a bit unsure about his statement. I suddenly remembered Izzy's observation from our day shopping together. Dougie Poynter didn't fancy me, did he? It didn't make sense!

Yet the way he held my right hand gently in his own, and his other wrapped gracefully around my waist contradicted my feelings. I wished for a moment that I could see his face, just to make sure that I was imagining things. This was nothing more than friendly dancing... right?

"Hey, you okay?" Dougie asked, his worried eyes scanning my face through his dark mask. I coughed, fanning my face a bit with my own hand and trying to come up with an excuse for my awkward silence.

"Um... yeah, just thirsty," I explained, coughing slightly to play up my lie.

"Oh, you want something to drink?"

"Sure,"

"I'll be right back," He smiled, dropping my hands lightly and weaseling his way through the crowd. I stood awkwardly for a moment, glancing around at the couples surrounding me before the music began to pick up again, nearly doubling in tempo.

I watched and swayed slightly as the couples around me separated and began dancing to the faster paced music. Part of me wanted to go find Dougie so that I wasn't standing awkwardly alone on the dance floor, but the other part of me knew that I would most likely get lost. My best option was to just remain where he'd left me.

A slight tap flittered across my shoulder, tickling my bare skin and turning me around. I expected to see Dougie holding our drinks with a large smile on his face but I soon realized that I was mistaken. A tall man stood behind me, looking down at me through a large black mask and a shy smile showing over his visible lips. I smiled back politely, waiting for him to speak.

"You seem much too pretty to be here all alone," The man's deep voice commented as the music blasted on.

"I'm not. I'm waiting for my friend to come back with drinks," I replied, unable to hide the blush rising in my cheeks as the mysterious man moved closer. Under any other circumstance I would've moved away, slightly afraid of his unknown advancement, but I felt no fear as he stood before me, no less then a few inches away from my small form.

"Just a friend, then?" He inquired, taking my hand and spinning me in a small circle as the music blared on.

I could do one of two things. Deny the man by saying Dougie was more then a friend, though we both knew it wasn't true, or I could accept him and see where things led. The little girl in me wanted to experience this mysterious new development. I could have my own little fairy tale...

"Yeah, just a friend," I agreed as we began dancing, butterflies erupting in my stomach as he grinned happily down at me.

I didn't notice that as we danced, we moved away from the spot Dougie had left me. I felt guilty for deserting the young bassist without any warning, but my thoughts were totally consumed by the mysterious man. There was a slight thrill about not knowing exactly who he was, or where he worked, or even what his name was. All I knew was that as we danced I began to feel safer and safer, more alive then I'd felt in my entire vacation. The butterflies that had been born in my stomach flew through my entire body, electrifying my senses as our bodies touched.

I don't know how long we danced or when we decided it was finally enough, but it was a mutual decision to move off the dance floor and towards the deserted left wall of the room. The mysterious man led me by the hand, leaning gently against the wall and handing me a drink from a nearby table.

"You are by far the most fun I've had on the dance floor in a serious amount of time," I laughed, accepting the drink and sipping the bubbly liquid lightly.

"So no regrets about leaving your friend, then?" He asked me, sipping his own stolen drink as well.

"Definitely no regrets," I assured him, the moderate amount of alcohol in my system speaking for itself. The man smiled, patting his chest proudly.

He was wearing a dark suit, nearly all of it black. His shirt was fitted tightly, highlighting his fit body and shining under the mystical lights in the room. His tie had darts of silver and gold sewn into it, bringing a small bit of color into his wardrobe in a very subtle way.

I suddenly became very interested in this man. It was my vacation; I was allowed to have some fun! Why not with a mysterious, probably famous, man at a Masquerade Ball? I couldn't deny the attraction that I felt towards him – it was nearly impossible. I had to restrain my hands in my lap as we talked.

"I like your necklace," he commented, his smooth hands reaching forward automatically, stopping a moment before touching the silver necklace on my chest. His eyes glanced through my mask into my own as though asking for permission and forgiveness for acting so instinctual. I nodded for him to continue.

His hands brushed against my skin, rising goose bumps and eliciting shivers down my spine. I prayed that he hadn't noticed my inability to control my reactions as he sat so close to me, his hands centimeters away from my skin.

His thumb smoothed over the necklace as his eyes scanned the pendant. "That's really cool," He commented, gently placing it back onto my skin as his hands brushed my collarbone. I gulped, biting my lip lightly as his hand drew back, his eyes holding mine.

"Thanks," I replied, slightly upset that his hand had gone. The thrill that I felt from this man couldn't be healthy. To calm myself I continued sipping my champagne, trying to sort through my ridiculous emotions.

Suddenly the D.J. stopped a song mid-way through, speaking into his microphone for the first time that evening. He caught the attention of both me and my mysterious friend as he spoke loudly to the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen! One more minute till midnight!" He called, his hands pumping the air enthusiastically. I grinned, childish excitement pulsing through me as New Year approached. It would soon be a fresh start to a new age. Things would be moving forward, changing, growing...

A hand lightly grasped my shoulder, pulling my mind away from my thoughts. My eyes saw the familiar smooth hand lying on my skin, causing the same goosebumps and shivers to run through me. I glanced up at the mysterious man, my eyes holding his as he grinned shyly down at me.

"30... 29... 28..." The crowd chanted, excitement boiling throughout the room.

Our eyes continued to hold as mutual thoughts were telepathically spoken through both of our minds. The magical, cliché thing for us to do would be to kiss on the New Year. I'd done it a few times in my past and there was always a flare of excitement.

"15... 14... 13..."

Our faces began bending towards one another, tilting in opposite directions and pulling together like two opposite ends of a magnet. My mind was screaming, full of so many different thoughts yet completely and utterly blank at the same time. The mysterious man smelled so good, luring me in with his sultry scent.

"5... 4... 3..." He began whispering as our lips were centimeters apart, his warm breath clouding my mind numbly.

"2... 1!"

We slid together, our lips finally meeting as though they'd been separated all too along. It was as though an electric current had finally been connected and held us together with some kind of fiery electricity. I gasped, completely shocked as my stomach flipped and my skin melted into him. His own breath sucked in, encouraging and reassuring me that I wasn't the only one who could feel the foreign shock.

My arms wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer to me. I needed him closer – needed that electrifying feeling to amplify and swallow me whole. His hands clasped my face, holding me firmly to his lips as our kiss deepened.

I couldn't keep my hands still. They needed to move and to feel everything around me. My fingers knotted in his hair, getting tangled in his curly locks. I felt the ribbon of his mask, tied in a bow behind his head. I could untie it... I needed to see his face... Our masks were getting in the way...

As my fingers worked with the little bow, he pulled back slightly and smiled, breathing heavily. My face was no more than two centimeters away from his as I finally managed to loosen the bow, his mask slowly sliding off and gliding silently to the floor, landing between our bodies in an unheard clamor.

My heart stopped beating.

Every fiber of my being screamed in horror as the mysterious man before me suddenly wasn't as mysterious any more. His curly brunette locks fell into his curious, blue eyes. His once smiling mouth looked at me in confusion as my face, that must've looked terrified. I unwound my hands from his neck, trying to pull out of his grip as my reality set in.

I totally wasn't in a fairy tale.

His hands were locked around my waist as his face demanded some kind of explanation. He was saying things to me, asking questions but my world seemed to be on mute. I couldn't – or wouldn't – hear a thing he had to say as I nearly ripped myself from his grasp. The moment I was free I darted in the direction of the stairs, sickened and horrified with what I had done.

Sound suddenly came back to me as I parted from Danny Jones. I could hear him calling from behind me, telling me to stop and wait. I couldn't stop. I couldn't wait. Not for him. It was him.

The party continued on around me. People were in celebration for the new year. My mind was numb and blank as I hid inside the woman's bathroom, Danny's confused calls sounding loudly from outside, trying to find where I'd gone.

I untied my mask, watching it fall into the white porcine sink. My reflection showed my horrified face and the tears building up in my eyes. How could this be possible? How had my wonderful, fairy tale night turned into such a disaster?

What on earth was I supposed to do?

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And a very big GRACIAS to my lovely beta reader, CrushedCoppelia. (lol, I typed BATE first. I was like... "No... she's not bate.") Haha.

ArtemisPhantom – I would feel AMAZINGLY guilty if you busted from the anticipation! Lmao, which is why I got this up as quickly as possible. The Ella/Dougie thing will eventually work itself out, though I'm not going to promise an easy ride lol.

Alexis Gage – A lot of people have been saying that about the couples! I hope I'm not confusing things too much now... Though, I love Dougie too much to even FICTIONALLY hurt him lmao. How pathetic am I?!? Thank you for the lovely review, as always =]

Holly360 – Whew! I thought I was going crazy for a second. I've seen the name "holly" before so I was like "oh gosh, what if I'm making a fool of myself!" lol, so thank you! I think it's safe to tell you that it'll end up as a Danny/Ella pairing, though there will definitely be some tough situations before hand. A little drama is good! Thank you, btw!

Zabster95 – Can I just say that I kind of love your username? I don't know what the reference is for 'Zabster' but it's very fun to say lol. Anywhooooo! Thank you for the review! It's lovely to hear from new readers (or old readers just speaking up! Either way it's great!) I know I'm sometimes making Danny out as the bad guy, but what can I say? He's got the attitude sometimes =]

TigerLilly1221 – lmao I hate you too! In a very adoring way! (haha, your comment just made me laugh out loud. I couldn't resist =]) Nah, I love you! And I'm sorry that Ella's getting jiggy with the wonderful Dougie Poynter when we all know she belongs with Danny. She'll figure it out eventually, I promise =]

McFlYiNgHiGh – Here's the chapter!!! Did this one... help move things along? =] Maybe it'll confirm a few of your theories, and maybe it wont lol. Another Danny P.O.V is on it's way, too!

Alysmiley (YOU'VE GOT TWO!) – Being geeky is absolutely wonderful, love. I mean, Star Trek will probably be my favorite movie this year lmao. Wicked that your write in spanish on here! Wish I could understand it... I've got some german understanding but that's as far as my foreign languages go =[ lol. Thank you for the review! Stay tuuunnneeeddd!!!

AND!! My mom had a lovelyish mothers day. She's a nurse and one of her patients died, but us kids helped her out, just like we're supposed to! Thanks for the other review =]

Twisted Emotion (YOU'VE GOT TWO, TOO =]) - Oh just wait. The Dougie/Ella thing will play quite a big role in the future. But don't worry, lovely, I can safely assure you that it will have a formidable ending. I hope that's the correct word... hm...

And!!! I realized after I posted that chapter that there WAS a masquerade ball in Just My Luck! Guess that's why I was able to post it in this category =] I love how the only connection any of the writing has here is McFly lol. And thank you! The cancer event has gone now and my team did pretty well. All the money goes directly to research which I always thought was nice. Thank you!!!!!! =]

imaginationandme – Oh don't worry about thinking ahead. It's always good! There will definitely be tension between the three, I promise you that. Ooh now I'M getting excited lmao. Thank you for your review! They're alwayyyyssss appreciated. =]