On the afternoon of the party I connected my iPod to my traveling speakers and cranked up the music. Usher's song, 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love' blasted through the speakers and I danced and sang along as I took a shower. Using my Wonderstruck body wash and lotion set. I slipped on a simple tank top and sweats when I was done. I blow dried my bangs up and to the side, curling them at the bottom a bit. My forehead was in full view, which was what Arthur wanted, "You will not walk around with your bangs covering half of your face."

I rolled my eyes at the memory; at least my hair is brushed.

A knock at the door stirred me out from the bathroom, "Coming." Matthew was at the door, "What's up?"

Matthew held out a black valet box, "Francis wanted me to give you this."

I took the box and opened the lid to find small diamond pendent earrings and a matching necklace. "Please tell me these are not real."

Matthew inhaled a nervous breath, "They're real."

I closed the box and handed it back, "I can't accept these."

"Too late they're yours," he power walked back to his room.

"Mattie!" I called out but he ignored me and after a moment I cried out, "I'm not wearing these!" I slammed my door and mumbled curses as I walked back to the bathroom. I tossed the box on the work desk and unpacked my makeup bag. I pulled out my dress from the closet and unzipped it out of its gray bag. I started to compare my eye shadows with the dress, but none of my colors seem to fit with the light violet. Some colors were too dark and others had too much glitter. Arthur suggested (more like commanded) that I wore something natural. I will admit I'm not a makeup wiz that was always Jamie's area of specialties.

I checked the clock and it was three pm. I did the math in my head, it was six am in Summerland, so that means Jamie was right now getting ready for school. I called her phone quick and she picked up after the first ring, "Hey Amy how's Europe?"

"Very pretty and very old," I said, "Listen Jamie do you have some time? I need your help."

Jamie and I logged into our skype accounts and I placed my phone on the bathroom sink as her face appeared on the screen."Whatcha need?" she asked.

I held up my makeup bag, "I need to figure out which eye shadow will work with my dress. Its light violet and I need to go natural or Arthur will have my head, red queen style."

She thought for a moment, "Put on the dress."

"What? Jamie we don't have time for this."

"We'll make time. Come on put on the dress, it will help me visualize."

I gave her a look, "You just want to see me in that dress, don't you."

She grinned, "Guilty as charged, now go put it on!" She was practically jumping when I left the view of the screen.

I changed out of my clothes, into a backless bra and slid myself into the gown. I walked back into the bathroom to a stunned Jamie. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped but swiftly formed into a smile. "Oh. My. God! Look at you! Give me a turn!"

I rolled my eyes but I did what I was told.

"Oh my god, it's finally happened. You're a woman now," she wiped away a fake tear for dramatic effect.

"Oh shut up," I said playfully.

"Okay serious time," her face became determined, "do you have some light purple eye shadow?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Hush! I know what I'm doing. Do you have eye shadow that can match with your skin tone?"

"Uhh, I don't think so."

"Do you have white?"

"Yeah."

"Then use that, with glitter."

"Are you sure that's okay?"

"Of course, glitter is a girl's best friend."

"Uhhhhh, I don't think my relationship with glitter has gone that far."

With Jamie's help I was able to apply light white shadow on the beginning of my lids and showed me how to fade it into the light violet shade at the end. I used the violet to outline the corners to give myself a bit of the cat-eye look. The glitter was surprising smooth and spread from the white to the violet with ease. Then she instructed me to cloak my eye lashes with mascara till they were as dark as night. Finally she said to use a light sun-kissed colored blush on my cheekbones and to wear pink lip gloss.

"And you're done," she exclaimed, "and also, you are gorgeous!"

I felt my cheeks heat, "Thanks Jamie."

"You're not done yet! Send me some pictures!"

I smiled, "Okay."

We ended our call with goodbyes, and I began to click away photos of me in my gown. Once I sent them to Jamie, she texted back, 'Please tell me you won't wear that ring necklace?!'

I looked down to my chest and Grandpa's ring was set right on the sweetheart neckline of my dress. I texted back, 'What? It's fine.'

'Nooooooooooooo! It's a fashion disaster, take it off!'

I rolled my eyes, 'you're being a drama queen-chill.'

'I'm sure Mr. Fancy Pants England will tell ya the same.'

'I don't think he would ever use the saying 'fashion disaster'

'Please! Amy-take it off-wear something nice-like a pendent!'

My eyes instantly fell on the black box and I shook my head, 'NEVER!'

'Fine, but don't say I didn't warn ya-gtg-bye.'

I replied a farewell as my eyes fell to Grandpa's ring. I sat myself at the corner of the bed and caressed the silver hawk ring with my fingers. As I sat there my eyes wondered the room till they fell on the TV's black screen. For a split second I thought the reflection was of another person till I realized it was me. Then the thought quickly agreed; it was of a different person.

If someone told me a month ago I would be wearing expensive gowns with matching diamond jewelry and taking trips to Europe the next day, I would've told that person to lay off the weed.

But there I was, dressed in a designer gown with my hair forced to the side and my hand wrapped around the only thing that represented the place I came from.

I sighed and I closed my eyes, this was to protect my family, I told myself. The only reason I was here was to show the nations that they were needed, and that America survived because I was growing. Once they saw me and I played along with stroking their egos I could leave and return back to Summerland. Back to my home, back to the place where I can be Amy.

But first, I need to play the part they wanted.

I took off the necklace hastily and placed a kiss on the silver ring, "sorry Gramps."

I set the ring on the desk and my eyes fell on the black box. Before I could talk myself out of it, I replaced the studs from my ears with the diamond pendent earrings and hooked the necklace so its pendent landed in the center of my collar bone.

I found myself in the reflection of the window, guilt quickly formed a lump in my throat. I reached out to Grandpa's ring.

"Amy," Arthur's voice called out from the door, stopping my hand from making contact. "We need to get going."

I spared another guilty glance towards the ring before I forced myself to swallow the lump and grabbed my shawl to wrap it around my shoulders. "Coming," I answered as I slipped on my silver flats and opened the door.

All three nations wore black pressed tuxedos; Arthur wore a black bow tie as Matthew chose to wear a black tie. Francis decided to wear no tie and popped out his white collar from the black blazer suit. Matthew spoke first, "Wow Amy you look beautiful."

I nodded, "Thank you, you guys don't look half bad yourselves," I forced on a smile.

Arthur nodded in approval, "You look acceptable."

"Acceptable." Francis gave him a look, "Arthur how can you down play it so easily? Amy practically radiates beauty; she'll have all eyes on her tonight."

"I guess I should get the bat ready," I said as a joke.

They all gave me worried looks, "Why would you need a bat?" Matthew asked almost scared.

I forgot, they're not part of my family's inside jokes. "When Melissa or I were ever dressed up for a special occasion, my dad would always say, 'you're going to need a bat to hold off the boys.' It doesn't really mean we get a bat," I explained.

"Oh," Arthur sighed in a relief, "We should get going."

"How early does this party start?" I asked as I took Matthew's arm to escort me.

"It starts at six," Matthew answered.

"Then why are we showing up two hours early?"

"So you can make your grand entrance when the party is at full swing," Francis proclaimed dramatically.

"Is that really necessary?"

"Yes," Arthur answered, "Also traffic is horrible, we need to have an early start if we want make it before everyone else."

The car ride was over an hour and half long. I passed the time listening to music as I stared out the window. I watched as the sun set lower in the horizon and the light blue sky turned into darker shade of blue. The personal driver that was sent to us by Austria drove us outside of Vienna to the country side of the city.

It was about five forty when I spotted Austria's house. Did I say house? I meant mansion!

The building was painted white with three floors and large windows scattered all over the surface of the house. Balconies were placed in random locations on the third floor, a large main one was in front and some smaller ones were on its sides. The whole house was lit up and as we got closer I was able to spot the gardens more in detail. There was a large fountain in the front and rose bushes were placed around the house's bottom floor. Patches of flowers spread from the sides of the house to the back. Matthew informed me that was where Austria's maze was held. The entire obstacle was ten feet tall, football field long and made with dozens of different types of bush flowers.

"It's spring, so most of the flowers should be in bloom," Matthew said, "you should get a chance to see them."

I nodded and inhaled another nervous breath, my hand automatic reached for Grandpa's ring but it only found the diamond pendent. A flood of panic swept through me till I quickly remembered I left it behind.

Guilt washed away the panic and I was left with a sinking feeling.

The driver pulled the car around the back of the house, which allowed me to see the actually size of Austria's home. "How big is this place?"

"Well I don't have the exact number but this house could room every nation and still have more rooms left to spare. Bedrooms are mostly on the second and third floors, with their own bathrooms in each room. The library is on the second and the ballroom is on the first. Of course the kitchen and pallor rooms all over the first floor but there is one on the second. That's where you will be hiding till I call you out." Arthur explained.

I gave him a look, "One guy lives in this house," a shook my head, "that's a waste."

"He's had this house for over five hundred years," Arthur proclaimed, "and through the years nations have stayed here along with the royal family, but again times change and most of us have to deal with fact that we all end up alone somewhere along the way."

Everyone was silent; Arthur sure knew how to darken the mood.

The driver stopped and Arthur narrowed his eyes at me, "Your phone and music player please," he held out his hand to me.

I sighed; I was too stressed to fight with him. I handed him my electronics, he slid them into the inside packet of his blazer suit and smiled, "Now then time to make your debut."

We had entered through the large gourmet kitchen and Arthur, Francis, and Matthew lead me through the back hallways up a stair case. If I thought the outside was fancy, the inside was just as elegant. It was filled with paintings on the walls, with sculptures and colorful vases at every corner.

I followed till they pushed open a door into a pallor room filled with graceful furniture and flower filled vases.

I took my seat on one of the white couches, "So, what do I do?"

"Francis and I will be right down the stairs, through that door," Arthur pointed to the door across the room; it was on the opposite wall from the door we entered from. "When the nations have all gathered, I will make the announcement of your arrival and Matthew will walk you down those stairs."

"When you reach the bottom, make sure to give a curtsy to Austria, just like we practiced and start the first dance with Matthew, which is always the Waltz." Francis added.

I nodded, "gotcha."

"Good," Arthur smiled and turned to the door, "let's go Francis."

Before he followed Arthur, Francis placed his hands on my shoulders and kissed my forehead, "Don't worry, you're be fine," he said in French.

"Oui, merci," I gave a small smile.

Both Francis and Arthur walked out of the room as I heard their voices drift away. I could also pick up on random voices; mostly these voices were excited greetings and restless chatter. I sighed again, breathing in more air by the minute through my nose.

"You okay?" Matthew asked as he took his seat next to me.

I shook my head, "I have no idea what to do. I mean I know what to do for like the first five minutes, but what about the rest? What do I talk about? What do I say to them? What do I do?"

Matthew took my shaking hands and held them in his, "Don't worry Amy, you'll be fine. Just be yourself."

I gave him a look, "Really, be myself?"

"I know it's a lame saying, but it's the best you can do."

I sighed, "But I'm so nervous."

Matthew took a moment, "What do you do when you're nervous to go on stage?"

I lifted a brow at him, and he continued, "Your mom told me you use to perform ballet at the local theater back home."

"That was two years ago," I rolled my eyes.

"What did you do?" he asked again.

"I danced," I answered, "I mean that's what I had to do but," I took a breath, "it calmed me, got rid of all the performance jitters. When I dance it's like I'm at peace."

"Well good thing you'll be dancing," Matthew proclaimed.

"I can't dance the entire time, also I'm going to be dancing with other people-I mean nations. I still have to talk to them; I don't want to say anything stupid."

"You won't," Matthew encouraged.

I gave him disbelieving glance and pulled my hands away. We're quiet till he said, "You still have a choice." I turned to him, "You can walk out that door," he pointed to the door I entered from. "I'll call up the driver and he will take you back to the hotel. There will be a credit card waiting for you, and you can use that card to get on the next flight back to Summerland. But realize one thing, even if you run out that door, the people behind that door," he pointed to the other door, "will follow you."

"No matter where I run, they'll find me huh?" I said with a sad tone.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Everyone, can I have your attention please," Arthur's voice boomed through the bottom floor, vibrating the floor broads below us.

"It's time," Matthew rose from his seat, "Last call."

I took another breath and rose to stand with Matthew, "Running away won't solve anything."

"It has been seventeen long years that I've hid this secret," Arthur's voice continued and Matthew and I stood at the door with my arm hooked around his.

"For that I am sorry, but now she is ready to meet all of you," Arthur's voice rose and I took in one final breath, "I present the successor to America, Ms. Amy Felicita Hawkfeather."

I quirked a brow, "is it really safe to say that? I mean, there are normal people at the party."

"Most of them are part of the military or the government in some way," Matthew answered.

"What?! Seriously? Even people in the orchestra?"

Matthew nodded and opened the door as both of us stepped out to the top of the stair case. Music from the orchestra played out a soft melody as dozens of eyes looked up and I immediately tighten my hold on Matthew.

He patted my hand, "You'll be fine," he smiled.

I nodded and slowly took one step at a time with him by my side. As I walked, I repeated the same words over and over in my head, don't trip, don't trip, don't trip, don't trip.

I took the chance to scan the people; all of the men were dressed in stylish tuxedos with a few wearing bright colorful eastern clothing. Women were dressed in current fashionable gowns all of them long and vibrant. Once I reached the bottom step, the music came to a soft end and I was met with Arthur and Francis on my left. They spared me small smiles. I smiled back and turned my attention to the man in front of me.

He was little taller than Arthur, with dark hair and violet eyes, he wore glasses and had a curl in the parting of his hair. He smiled and bowed to me, "Welcome Ms. America."

Stepped away from Matthew and curtsied to Austria. When I rose back up and I gave him my best actress smile and repeated the sentence Arthur instructed me to say, "It's a pleasure to finally meet all of you." I held out my hand to him.

He took it, gave a light kiss, and called out, "Composer, begin the Waltz."

The composer nodded, tapped his baton on his stance and brought his band to attention. Matthew came to my side when Austria stepped aside. He placed his hand on my lower back as I slid mine on his shoulder and our free hands held on to each other.

"Why does everyone have to stare," I whispered to him.

He shrugged and matched my tone, "You're new; countries love new things."

"I ain't a thing," I hissed.

"Then show them your something more." he smiled. When the music began, we danced and with each step my anxiety eased. My feet became lighter and the faces of the crowd seem to fade as I twirled with Matthew.

But I knew this peace would not last for long.