Chapter 3
Serena walked back into the lobby of the dining commons. After sliding her ID card to unlock the door, she walked through the adjoining corridor and up the 4 flights of stairs to her dorm room.
Her room was a perfect reflection of her: happy, and surrounded by friends. Lining the shelves on the wall next to her bed were dozens of pictures of her high school and college friends. All over the walls were posters of cats, and figure skaters like Michelle Kwan
and the famous pair of Gordeeva and Grinkov. All over the ceiling of the room were glow in the dark stars, although they didn't glow so well at night because of the street lamp outside the window. On her bed was a quilt that her mother made her, as well as the many stuffed animals that Serena had brought with her from home. On the outside wall of
her room was a window that ran almost the entire length of the wall. In front of this wall was the fridge that the school provided, and on top of it was the TV that Serena had brought with her. Off to the left of the TV in a corner was the one this Serena always left on: her computer. AOL IM was still on, as it had been when she left, telling all her friends that she was out. But when Serena walked into her room, all she could think about was turning on some music and letting her mind go blank for a while. She walked over to her computer, and turned on Winamp so that it would randomly select songs on its own. As she collapsed onto her bed, a familiar melody began to play, and Serena unconsciously began to sing along:
On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone I walk with him til morning
Without him, I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
and he has found me.
'How many times did I sing this when I was thinking about Andrew in high school,' Serena thought. 'For three years, I was totally in love with one of my good friends, and yet he never felt anything but friendship. Do I really want to even come close to going through that again?'
In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river.
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight.
And all I see is him and me forever and forever.
'Get a grip, Serena. Eponine's imagining all of this, remember? It's an illusion that's only alive in her mind, that's IT! Love between her and Marius is just an illusion. An illusion...that's all love is.'
And I know, it's only in my mind.
That I'm talking to myself and not to him.
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say, there's a way for us!
You know why love between Eponine and Marius can only ever be an illusion? Because she never told him how she felt! Not until she was dying anyways! At least she admitted her love for him to herself, though. That's more than you can say, Serena.
I love him, but when the night is over
He is gone. The river's just a river.
Without him, the world around me changes
The trees are bare, and everywhere,
The streets are full of strangers.
'There isn't anything that I need to admit! I do not have feelings for Darien. Even if I did, the last time I let myself get carried away in some silly crush, my heart ended up smashed into a million pieces! I am finally over Andrew! I finally found a way to put the pieces of my heart back together, and I don't feel a hollowness inside me anymore! What, praytell, is so wrong about not wanting to risk that on someone who is so obviously out of my league?'
I love him, but everyday I'm learning.
All my life, I've only been pretending.
Without me, his world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known!
'And anyways, it's not like Darien would ever notice me like that anyways. Yeah, we're friends, and there have been times where he's been genuinely concerned about m. But, I'd be fooling myself if I ever thought that a senior would be interested in a mere freshman as anything more than a friend.'
I love him
I love him
I love him
But only on my own.
'The other difference between me and Eponine?'
There isn't one. You do love Darien.
'That is where you're wrong. Eponine did truly love Marius. I am not "in love" with Darien Shields. I love him as a friend, and nothing more.'
Serena got up from her bed and walked over to her computer. Finally sick of the debating that this self-reflection always seems to start, she decided she was going to go see if Seiya and Mina had instant messaged her again.
Seiya630: having dinner a little late, are we?
MoonPrncess: automatic response: I'm getting dinner down at the
commons, leave a message!
Seiya630 signed off at 8:53pm.
sigh "Well, that's one conversation I don't have to worry about turning confrontational on me. The last thing I need tonight is another fight with him. Now what's up with Mina?"
Vbabe713: Sere! Where are you!?
MoonPrncess: automatic response: I'm getting dinner at the
commons, leave a message!
MoonPrncess: I'm right here, Mina. What's up? Corinne's actually letting you use her
computer?
Vbabe713:: That's what's so awesome! She doesn't have to let me use it anymore! I
finally got my own computer!!!!
MoonPrncess: That's SO cool, Mina!! It'll be so much easier to talk to each other now!!
Vbabe713:: Oh, I know! It's bad enough that we live so far apart now, since I moved
away! At least now we should have more time to talk online! Sooo...what's
up with you!?
MoonPrncess: Not a whole lot. I just got back from having dinner with Darien and
Molly. I told Darien that we're planning a surprise party for Molly, and
he's going to come over after we get back from the club. We
actually got to talk a little tonight, too. I think we're actually starting to
become friends!
Vbabe713:: Wow, that IS an accomplishment! I'm shocked!
MoonPrncess: You're not the only one! He actually apologized for always teasing me
so much. OK, I have to admit that I do overreact on occasion. I
apologized for that too. He does seem like a genuinely nice guy, he just
keeps to himself a lot.
Vbabe713:: Well, I'm glad you guys seems to be getting along better. It's a nice change :)
MoonPrncess: Yeah, it is...Yikes!! Is it 10 already!? I need to get to work on my
homework for my early class. I'll ttyl, Mina!
Vbabe713:: Bye!
MoonPrncess: automatic response: Hell must have frozen over or
something, because I'm actually doing homework!
Serena was so engrossed in what she was writing, that she didn't notice when Molly walked in the room about ten minutes later.
"Sereeena! Earth to Serena!"
"Huh, what? Oh! Hi, Molly!"
"Hi! What are you doin, girl? I called your name like 3 times!
"Oh..nothing, molly, just an essay for my early class tomorrow."
"Ahh....fun stuff!"
"Hardly...."
Serena then turned back to her essay for a few more minutes before turning back to Molly. It was time to put Operation: Birthday Surprise into action.
"Hey Molly? I've been thinking. We should go out for your birthday! I mean, you're turning eighteen! What better reason to celebrate?!"
"I don't know, Serena...I have class at 9 the next morning...," Molly trailed off. She really did want to go out and do something that night, but she also knew that Serena had a tendency to go overboard. The last thing she wanted was Serena making a huge deal out of her birdthay. She'd be perfectly happy just going out with a few friends and then crashing when she got back to the dorm. Knowing Serena, Molly highly doubted she'd be going to sleep as soon as she got back.
"Oh, come on, Molly! You've been to Players before! This time you're actually old enough to be there without having to worry about anyone asking any silly age questions! It'd be sooo much fun!"
"OK, yeah, Players was cool the first time I have to admit," Molly conceded.
They had gone to the club the week before with some other girls from the dorm. Everyone had had a blast, but this guy that Molly had been dancing with wouldn't leave her alone. He kept asking for her full name and her phone number and dorm room and stuff. Molly had been a little freaked out.
"But, Serena, what if that freaky guy is there again?"
"Molly, chances are he won't be. BUT, if he is? We'll all just stick together and keep you away from him, K?"
"Well...I guess it'd be OK," Molly said, knowing full well that if the girls found guys they wanted to dance with, they'd book it quickly.
"I only have on request, Sere. If they start that bikini contest stuff that went on for an hour last week, we leave, k? And if they don't start that again, I'm still not staying past one."
"That's peferct, Molly!"
'Perfect! It's just enough time for everyone here to decorate the dorm room!' Serena thought to herself. "Ohh! I can't wait! Tuesday night is going to be such a blast!
* * *
Darien took the elevator up to his floor. The apartment complex was one of the nicest in Tokyo! Darien walked into his apartment, turned on some music, and flopped down on his couch. His apartment was pretty much what you'd expect if you knew Darien. The stark white walls all around, accented with black leather chairs and black furniture. It was impeccably clean, yet somehow impersonal. It looked like one of those apartments for show only, not a home for someone. As Darien flopped onto the couch, a familiar melody
floated to his ears:
"On my own…"
'How true," Darien thought. 'I look around this place, and it seems like a stranger lives here. Compared to Amara and Michelle's place, it really seems...I don't know..lacking in personality. It's not like I try to be so closed off or anything, but it's hard to make friends.
Yeah, there's Amara and Michelle, but I don't really think Amara likes me much. I don't know…it just seems like they both just kind of put up with me. And yeah, I guess there's Serena now…she's so bright and cheerful. It's no wonder she has so many friends! This party she's throwing for Molly is definitely her creation. As much as I tease her, she is such a good-hearted person…'
Maybe she's just what you need, Darien…
'What?! The last thing I need is a relationship!'
Who said anything about a relationship? You have to learn how to interact with people sometime. Just let Serena in..don't shut her out.
'Maybe…My days are so much nicer after I see her…it's like she has this light inside her that you just can't block out. I've already opened up more with her than I thought I would, and we haven't known each other that long. I know that I don't want her light to disappear
from my life, though…'
The week goes by and Darien and Serena haven't seen each other since that night at the commons. Now it's November 14th. Everyone's classes are out for the day, and Operation: Birthday Surprise is in it's final stages.
"Okay, everyone, we have to make sure everything's all set for later! I'm staying here tonight to set everything up, and I don't want anything to go wrong," said Rei. "So let's start the checklist…Cake?"
"All ready to be picked up," said Susan.
"Flowers?"
"Ordered and ready for pickup," Ann replied.
"Balloons?"
"Ready to go in our room," said Amara and Michelle.
"Confetti?"
"It's in my desk drawer for you, Rei."
"Thanks, Serena. Oh! Did you get Molly's keys yet?"
"Not yet…"
interrupting "Serena!!! What are you waiting for!? It's almost time for you all to start getting ready to go out!"
"Chill out, Rei! She left her keys on the corner of her desk. I'll grab them when she goes to get dressed. I'm going back there now anyways. We'll meet you guys In 45 minutes, okay?"
"Kay, Serena. Just make sure you're actually on time for once!" Rei yelled after her.
Serena walked down the dimly lit hall back to her room, to find Molly sitting at her computer.
"Hey, Molly, come on! It's 8:45! We gotta start getting dressed!"
"Serena, I just don't know about this. I've got a 9am class tomorrow!"
"Oh, come on, Moll! You know…you need to relax a little bit! It's not like we're going to be out all night! Please?" pleaded Serena.
"Oh, okay. But remember, I'm not staying past one."
"Perfect! Now, let's get dressed!!"
As Serena and Molly went to their respective closets, Serena discretely grabbed Molly's keys from her desk. Then her attention went back to the task at hand: getting ready for Players. She decided she wanted at least a little of her hair up and away from her face. So she decided to curl all of her hair, and put half of it back in a comb. Since she wasn't so wonderful at curling her own hair, she asked Ann for some help putting in the hot curlers. Considering how ridiculously long Serena's hair is, Ann decided not to try and curl all of it. Instead, she only curled what was going to be in the comb. The effect would be that half of Serena's knee length hair would be up in a comb, curled, while the rest of it fell
loosely down her back. As the hot curlers were cooling, Serena finished getting dressed. She was wearing the sorority staple, black polyester-like pants, a long with a high cut maroon tank top. A half hour after she'd started, she was done and ready to take out the curlers.
"Wow, Serena, your hair looks really cool like that!" exclaimed Ann as she put the newly formed curls in the comb.
"Thanks, Ann! And thanks for helping me! Hey, Molly? You ready yet?"
"Yeah, Sere, just give me one minute!"
Molly stepped out from behind the closet doors to reveal a very different Molly than the one everyone knew. She was earing a knee-length,clingy black skirt, with a low cut hunter green shirt. Her makeup was more pronounced too. The green eyeshadow and sparkles made he startling blue eyes stand out even more than normal. Her normally frizzy, curly,
shoulder-length hair was slick with gel, forming the most beautiful ringlets around her face.
"Wow! Molly!! You look amazing! I think it's time to party! Let's go round everyone up!"
Rei, Amara and Michelle stayed behind to get the surprise ready, but they were definitely waiting to take pictures of everyone first! Ann, all decked out in leather pants, high-heeled boots, a black tank top and bandana, took Molly's key from Serena and gave it to Rei. Susan was in the same kind of outfit as Serena, but she was wearing different colors. As usual, Susan was the one trying to get everyone out the door!
"Come on, guys, enough of the pictures!! It's time to get out of here, before we run out of time for the fun stuff! Bye guys…see ya soon!"
As the partying group left the dorm, Rei took the keys Ann had given her, and opened Serena and Molly's room.
"Amara, Michelle..can you get the balloons from your room and bring them over here? I'm going to pick up the flowers and the cake."
While Rei was gone, Amara and Michelle moved almost 50 balloons into the room. Some, they taped to the ceiling, some to the closet doors. Most of them, however, were scattered across the floor and over the beds. That took them about a half hour, and as they were finishing, Rei came back with the flowers. One dozen variously clolored roses, and a balloon with "Happy 18th birthday" tied around the vase.
"Hey Rei, where's the cake?" asked Amara.
"They said it wasn't ready yet!" grumbling "Susan said it was ready! But, anyways, they told me to come back in a little while. So I'm going to start decorating here, and then go and get it."
Rei's first task in decorating was the confetti. She had multi-colored stars, randomly shaped strips of confetti, and even confetti in the shape of music notes! She scattered each kind of confetti over any surface she could. There was confetti all over the floor, the mirror area, Molly's computer desk, bookshelves, and even Molly's bed! She thought about putting some under Molly's covers, but Amara and Michelle stopped and talked some sense into her first! It was almost 11 when the room was finally finished. One hour left before Molly was supposed to be home from Players. Of course, they'd all planned on leaving early from Players from the very beginning. Serena, Ann and Susan all knew full
well that the bikini contest was starting at midnight, and so that's when they agreed that they'd leave to come home. The only thing left on the checklist to take care of was the cake. All 3 girls went to pick up the cake, all hoping it was actually ready this time! When they got to the store, it was just as they had ordered it. They made sure to pick up
some more icing, so that they could decorate it themselves. By the time they got back, it was 11:30. Amara, the artistic one of the group, took it upon herself to decorate the cake. She outlined the small cake with the red icing, and then went back to write the message: "It's a ferret!" in reference to one of Molly's stuffed cats that everyone teased her about. Now all they had to do was wait for the party people to return!
While those three were getting the party all set up, Molly, Serena, Susan, and Ann were having a blast at Players!
Serena walked back into the lobby of the dining commons. After sliding her ID card to unlock the door, she walked through the adjoining corridor and up the 4 flights of stairs to her dorm room.
Her room was a perfect reflection of her: happy, and surrounded by friends. Lining the shelves on the wall next to her bed were dozens of pictures of her high school and college friends. All over the walls were posters of cats, and figure skaters like Michelle Kwan
and the famous pair of Gordeeva and Grinkov. All over the ceiling of the room were glow in the dark stars, although they didn't glow so well at night because of the street lamp outside the window. On her bed was a quilt that her mother made her, as well as the many stuffed animals that Serena had brought with her from home. On the outside wall of
her room was a window that ran almost the entire length of the wall. In front of this wall was the fridge that the school provided, and on top of it was the TV that Serena had brought with her. Off to the left of the TV in a corner was the one this Serena always left on: her computer. AOL IM was still on, as it had been when she left, telling all her friends that she was out. But when Serena walked into her room, all she could think about was turning on some music and letting her mind go blank for a while. She walked over to her computer, and turned on Winamp so that it would randomly select songs on its own. As she collapsed onto her bed, a familiar melody began to play, and Serena unconsciously began to sing along:
On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone I walk with him til morning
Without him, I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
and he has found me.
'How many times did I sing this when I was thinking about Andrew in high school,' Serena thought. 'For three years, I was totally in love with one of my good friends, and yet he never felt anything but friendship. Do I really want to even come close to going through that again?'
In the rain, the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river.
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight.
And all I see is him and me forever and forever.
'Get a grip, Serena. Eponine's imagining all of this, remember? It's an illusion that's only alive in her mind, that's IT! Love between her and Marius is just an illusion. An illusion...that's all love is.'
And I know, it's only in my mind.
That I'm talking to myself and not to him.
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say, there's a way for us!
You know why love between Eponine and Marius can only ever be an illusion? Because she never told him how she felt! Not until she was dying anyways! At least she admitted her love for him to herself, though. That's more than you can say, Serena.
I love him, but when the night is over
He is gone. The river's just a river.
Without him, the world around me changes
The trees are bare, and everywhere,
The streets are full of strangers.
'There isn't anything that I need to admit! I do not have feelings for Darien. Even if I did, the last time I let myself get carried away in some silly crush, my heart ended up smashed into a million pieces! I am finally over Andrew! I finally found a way to put the pieces of my heart back together, and I don't feel a hollowness inside me anymore! What, praytell, is so wrong about not wanting to risk that on someone who is so obviously out of my league?'
I love him, but everyday I'm learning.
All my life, I've only been pretending.
Without me, his world will go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known!
'And anyways, it's not like Darien would ever notice me like that anyways. Yeah, we're friends, and there have been times where he's been genuinely concerned about m. But, I'd be fooling myself if I ever thought that a senior would be interested in a mere freshman as anything more than a friend.'
I love him
I love him
I love him
But only on my own.
'The other difference between me and Eponine?'
There isn't one. You do love Darien.
'That is where you're wrong. Eponine did truly love Marius. I am not "in love" with Darien Shields. I love him as a friend, and nothing more.'
Serena got up from her bed and walked over to her computer. Finally sick of the debating that this self-reflection always seems to start, she decided she was going to go see if Seiya and Mina had instant messaged her again.
Seiya630: having dinner a little late, are we?
MoonPrncess: automatic response: I'm getting dinner down at the
commons, leave a message!
Seiya630 signed off at 8:53pm.
sigh "Well, that's one conversation I don't have to worry about turning confrontational on me. The last thing I need tonight is another fight with him. Now what's up with Mina?"
Vbabe713: Sere! Where are you!?
MoonPrncess: automatic response: I'm getting dinner at the
commons, leave a message!
MoonPrncess: I'm right here, Mina. What's up? Corinne's actually letting you use her
computer?
Vbabe713:: That's what's so awesome! She doesn't have to let me use it anymore! I
finally got my own computer!!!!
MoonPrncess: That's SO cool, Mina!! It'll be so much easier to talk to each other now!!
Vbabe713:: Oh, I know! It's bad enough that we live so far apart now, since I moved
away! At least now we should have more time to talk online! Sooo...what's
up with you!?
MoonPrncess: Not a whole lot. I just got back from having dinner with Darien and
Molly. I told Darien that we're planning a surprise party for Molly, and
he's going to come over after we get back from the club. We
actually got to talk a little tonight, too. I think we're actually starting to
become friends!
Vbabe713:: Wow, that IS an accomplishment! I'm shocked!
MoonPrncess: You're not the only one! He actually apologized for always teasing me
so much. OK, I have to admit that I do overreact on occasion. I
apologized for that too. He does seem like a genuinely nice guy, he just
keeps to himself a lot.
Vbabe713:: Well, I'm glad you guys seems to be getting along better. It's a nice change :)
MoonPrncess: Yeah, it is...Yikes!! Is it 10 already!? I need to get to work on my
homework for my early class. I'll ttyl, Mina!
Vbabe713:: Bye!
MoonPrncess: automatic response: Hell must have frozen over or
something, because I'm actually doing homework!
Serena was so engrossed in what she was writing, that she didn't notice when Molly walked in the room about ten minutes later.
"Sereeena! Earth to Serena!"
"Huh, what? Oh! Hi, Molly!"
"Hi! What are you doin, girl? I called your name like 3 times!
"Oh..nothing, molly, just an essay for my early class tomorrow."
"Ahh....fun stuff!"
"Hardly...."
Serena then turned back to her essay for a few more minutes before turning back to Molly. It was time to put Operation: Birthday Surprise into action.
"Hey Molly? I've been thinking. We should go out for your birthday! I mean, you're turning eighteen! What better reason to celebrate?!"
"I don't know, Serena...I have class at 9 the next morning...," Molly trailed off. She really did want to go out and do something that night, but she also knew that Serena had a tendency to go overboard. The last thing she wanted was Serena making a huge deal out of her birdthay. She'd be perfectly happy just going out with a few friends and then crashing when she got back to the dorm. Knowing Serena, Molly highly doubted she'd be going to sleep as soon as she got back.
"Oh, come on, Molly! You've been to Players before! This time you're actually old enough to be there without having to worry about anyone asking any silly age questions! It'd be sooo much fun!"
"OK, yeah, Players was cool the first time I have to admit," Molly conceded.
They had gone to the club the week before with some other girls from the dorm. Everyone had had a blast, but this guy that Molly had been dancing with wouldn't leave her alone. He kept asking for her full name and her phone number and dorm room and stuff. Molly had been a little freaked out.
"But, Serena, what if that freaky guy is there again?"
"Molly, chances are he won't be. BUT, if he is? We'll all just stick together and keep you away from him, K?"
"Well...I guess it'd be OK," Molly said, knowing full well that if the girls found guys they wanted to dance with, they'd book it quickly.
"I only have on request, Sere. If they start that bikini contest stuff that went on for an hour last week, we leave, k? And if they don't start that again, I'm still not staying past one."
"That's peferct, Molly!"
'Perfect! It's just enough time for everyone here to decorate the dorm room!' Serena thought to herself. "Ohh! I can't wait! Tuesday night is going to be such a blast!
* * *
Darien took the elevator up to his floor. The apartment complex was one of the nicest in Tokyo! Darien walked into his apartment, turned on some music, and flopped down on his couch. His apartment was pretty much what you'd expect if you knew Darien. The stark white walls all around, accented with black leather chairs and black furniture. It was impeccably clean, yet somehow impersonal. It looked like one of those apartments for show only, not a home for someone. As Darien flopped onto the couch, a familiar melody
floated to his ears:
"On my own…"
'How true," Darien thought. 'I look around this place, and it seems like a stranger lives here. Compared to Amara and Michelle's place, it really seems...I don't know..lacking in personality. It's not like I try to be so closed off or anything, but it's hard to make friends.
Yeah, there's Amara and Michelle, but I don't really think Amara likes me much. I don't know…it just seems like they both just kind of put up with me. And yeah, I guess there's Serena now…she's so bright and cheerful. It's no wonder she has so many friends! This party she's throwing for Molly is definitely her creation. As much as I tease her, she is such a good-hearted person…'
Maybe she's just what you need, Darien…
'What?! The last thing I need is a relationship!'
Who said anything about a relationship? You have to learn how to interact with people sometime. Just let Serena in..don't shut her out.
'Maybe…My days are so much nicer after I see her…it's like she has this light inside her that you just can't block out. I've already opened up more with her than I thought I would, and we haven't known each other that long. I know that I don't want her light to disappear
from my life, though…'
The week goes by and Darien and Serena haven't seen each other since that night at the commons. Now it's November 14th. Everyone's classes are out for the day, and Operation: Birthday Surprise is in it's final stages.
"Okay, everyone, we have to make sure everything's all set for later! I'm staying here tonight to set everything up, and I don't want anything to go wrong," said Rei. "So let's start the checklist…Cake?"
"All ready to be picked up," said Susan.
"Flowers?"
"Ordered and ready for pickup," Ann replied.
"Balloons?"
"Ready to go in our room," said Amara and Michelle.
"Confetti?"
"It's in my desk drawer for you, Rei."
"Thanks, Serena. Oh! Did you get Molly's keys yet?"
"Not yet…"
interrupting "Serena!!! What are you waiting for!? It's almost time for you all to start getting ready to go out!"
"Chill out, Rei! She left her keys on the corner of her desk. I'll grab them when she goes to get dressed. I'm going back there now anyways. We'll meet you guys In 45 minutes, okay?"
"Kay, Serena. Just make sure you're actually on time for once!" Rei yelled after her.
Serena walked down the dimly lit hall back to her room, to find Molly sitting at her computer.
"Hey, Molly, come on! It's 8:45! We gotta start getting dressed!"
"Serena, I just don't know about this. I've got a 9am class tomorrow!"
"Oh, come on, Moll! You know…you need to relax a little bit! It's not like we're going to be out all night! Please?" pleaded Serena.
"Oh, okay. But remember, I'm not staying past one."
"Perfect! Now, let's get dressed!!"
As Serena and Molly went to their respective closets, Serena discretely grabbed Molly's keys from her desk. Then her attention went back to the task at hand: getting ready for Players. She decided she wanted at least a little of her hair up and away from her face. So she decided to curl all of her hair, and put half of it back in a comb. Since she wasn't so wonderful at curling her own hair, she asked Ann for some help putting in the hot curlers. Considering how ridiculously long Serena's hair is, Ann decided not to try and curl all of it. Instead, she only curled what was going to be in the comb. The effect would be that half of Serena's knee length hair would be up in a comb, curled, while the rest of it fell
loosely down her back. As the hot curlers were cooling, Serena finished getting dressed. She was wearing the sorority staple, black polyester-like pants, a long with a high cut maroon tank top. A half hour after she'd started, she was done and ready to take out the curlers.
"Wow, Serena, your hair looks really cool like that!" exclaimed Ann as she put the newly formed curls in the comb.
"Thanks, Ann! And thanks for helping me! Hey, Molly? You ready yet?"
"Yeah, Sere, just give me one minute!"
Molly stepped out from behind the closet doors to reveal a very different Molly than the one everyone knew. She was earing a knee-length,clingy black skirt, with a low cut hunter green shirt. Her makeup was more pronounced too. The green eyeshadow and sparkles made he startling blue eyes stand out even more than normal. Her normally frizzy, curly,
shoulder-length hair was slick with gel, forming the most beautiful ringlets around her face.
"Wow! Molly!! You look amazing! I think it's time to party! Let's go round everyone up!"
Rei, Amara and Michelle stayed behind to get the surprise ready, but they were definitely waiting to take pictures of everyone first! Ann, all decked out in leather pants, high-heeled boots, a black tank top and bandana, took Molly's key from Serena and gave it to Rei. Susan was in the same kind of outfit as Serena, but she was wearing different colors. As usual, Susan was the one trying to get everyone out the door!
"Come on, guys, enough of the pictures!! It's time to get out of here, before we run out of time for the fun stuff! Bye guys…see ya soon!"
As the partying group left the dorm, Rei took the keys Ann had given her, and opened Serena and Molly's room.
"Amara, Michelle..can you get the balloons from your room and bring them over here? I'm going to pick up the flowers and the cake."
While Rei was gone, Amara and Michelle moved almost 50 balloons into the room. Some, they taped to the ceiling, some to the closet doors. Most of them, however, were scattered across the floor and over the beds. That took them about a half hour, and as they were finishing, Rei came back with the flowers. One dozen variously clolored roses, and a balloon with "Happy 18th birthday" tied around the vase.
"Hey Rei, where's the cake?" asked Amara.
"They said it wasn't ready yet!" grumbling "Susan said it was ready! But, anyways, they told me to come back in a little while. So I'm going to start decorating here, and then go and get it."
Rei's first task in decorating was the confetti. She had multi-colored stars, randomly shaped strips of confetti, and even confetti in the shape of music notes! She scattered each kind of confetti over any surface she could. There was confetti all over the floor, the mirror area, Molly's computer desk, bookshelves, and even Molly's bed! She thought about putting some under Molly's covers, but Amara and Michelle stopped and talked some sense into her first! It was almost 11 when the room was finally finished. One hour left before Molly was supposed to be home from Players. Of course, they'd all planned on leaving early from Players from the very beginning. Serena, Ann and Susan all knew full
well that the bikini contest was starting at midnight, and so that's when they agreed that they'd leave to come home. The only thing left on the checklist to take care of was the cake. All 3 girls went to pick up the cake, all hoping it was actually ready this time! When they got to the store, it was just as they had ordered it. They made sure to pick up
some more icing, so that they could decorate it themselves. By the time they got back, it was 11:30. Amara, the artistic one of the group, took it upon herself to decorate the cake. She outlined the small cake with the red icing, and then went back to write the message: "It's a ferret!" in reference to one of Molly's stuffed cats that everyone teased her about. Now all they had to do was wait for the party people to return!
While those three were getting the party all set up, Molly, Serena, Susan, and Ann were having a blast at Players!