Kennis looked across at the other girls crowded round the mirror each of them trying to catch a glimpse of their reflection and marvelled that they were all friends. 

Jeneh the youngest of the group at just fifteen stood shifting nervously from foot to foot and every now and again she tugged at the hem of her skirt as if she could make it seem longer, her actions betraying her nervousness. 

Kennis thought back to the night they'd picked Jeneh up as she wandered alone on the disserted streets, she'd been life threateningly ill with pneumonia and spent the first couple of months in the Elite's infirmary recuperating. 

Although Jeneh was painfully shy she was actually very funny when she got to know you and as Kennis was her roommate it was her that knew Jeneh best although the younger girls continuous need for companionship sometimes irritated her. 

Kennis thought Jeneh looked very mature for her age dressed in the clothes Livia had loaned her.  Her dark almost black shoulder-length hair set off the outfit perfectly. 

On her top half she wore a cropped vintage camisole in gold satin the top of which was edged with a wide band of black lace.  She also wore a tinted blast wash denim mini skirt with three pockets and a zip and button fly fastening.  Black ballet pumps completed the outfit. 

The labels said Kookai, Ted Baker and Office and this had made Jeneh feel quite fashionable, for once, as she had peered at them when she had dressed. 

"Will you relax and stop fidgeting?  You look great".  Livia told her as she jostled to get a position closer to the mirror so that she apply the finishing touches to her makeup an electric blue swirl coming from the corner of each of her wide-set, long lashed, dark eyes. 

Her long dark hair was elaborately braided at the front of her head but left loose at the back falling onto her shoulders which were barely covered by a batwing top in the same electric blue as her eye makeup, a black rara mini skimmed the tops of her naked thighs on her feet she wore black suedette slouch boots.  Other than that her outfit was devoid of the various accessories she used on a daily basis to jazz up the boring black clothes that were the uniform of the Elite. 

She did a tiny pirouette and then flopped down onto Kennis's bed to give the other girls a chance to look at themselves in the mirror.

Ish smiled at the other girls antics although she appeared vain on the surface and was extremely flirtatious Livia was intelligent and street wise and also very good at her job organising leisure and entertainment for the members of the Elite. 

Sometimes Ish thought it was hard to believe that Livia was yet to turn sixteen; there again a girl using her looks to her advantage wasn't exactly against the law was it? 

Looks being something that the meticulous Asian girl was intending to make the most of tonight.  Her hair was scraped off of her face and twisted up so that only the ends were left loose standing to attention like porcupines quills sticking out of the top of her scalp.  A ring of black kohl pencil and lashings of black mascara enhanced her eyes but the only other makeup she wore was a coating of berry red lip-gloss.

She smoothed down her tight sleeveless cropped turtleneck and checked that the keyhole detail wasn't exposing too much cleavage.  She quickly inspected her black belted techno trousers and pointed toe black stiletto boots for any specks of dirt before retreating to sit on the bed with Livia and Jeneh thus leaving Kennis free to inspect her own appearance in the full-length mirror. 

Kennis smiled at herself reassured by her reflection free of its usual overalls.  On her feet she wore ballet pumps much the same as those Livia had leant to Jeneh only hers were dusky pink and matched the jersey boob-tube she wore.  She hastily retied the side seam fastening into a double bow for security and adjusted the waistband on the black hanky hemmed skirt so that it gave her calves a more flattering silhouette. 

"Ok guy's, that's it, I'm ready".  She informed them.

She waited for her friends to leave the room before switching off the light then closing the door firmly behind her as she joined the three of them out in the corridor.

They made there way down the stairs and out of the double doors into the chilly night air. 

Jeneh looked up at the stars thinking that they looked just like the diamonds glittering on a background of navy velvet that she had once seen in a carefully lit jeweller's shop window.  "It's a nice night isn't it?"  She commented to nobody in particular.

"It's a bit on the nippy side though".  Kennis responded as she wrapped her arms about her torso in a vain effort to keep warm.

"You wouldn't want to wear a coat though, it would spoil your image".  Livia commented being her usual vain self.

"So Liv whose going to be keeping you warm on the walk back tonight?"  Ish questioned her.

"Layth, I think that it's got to be Layth".  Livia replied referring to Ed's tall, elegant companion whom she thought resembled one of the elves from Lord of the Rings with his shoulder-length white blonde hair and cold icy blue eyes.

"Jesus, talk about man of mystery.  That boy is one cold cucumber".  Kennis replied.  "Any way, I thought you had a thing for Dan?"

"I do, I do, how could anyone not? he's gorgeous". The others giggled at Livia's reply her passion for Dan was no secret among the group of friends.   "What about you Kennis are you still carrying that torch for Jeremy or have you transferred your affections to Robin?"

Kennis shook her head "You know Jeremy is the only guy for me.  Robin and I are just friends".

"I've heard that one before".  Ish scoffed.

"Sooo Jeneh who do you fancy?" Livia teased.

"Ummm I don't know, Layth's pretty cool".  Jeneh replied turning crimson with embarrassment.

"Jesus, Layth eats girls like you for breakfast".  Livia commented much to Jeneh's dismay.

Kennis quickly changed the subject.  "So Ish, is tonight the night you give in to the amorous Aussie's advances?" She asked referring to Chase.

"If Doctor Love thinks his lucks in then he's going to be sorely disappointed".  Ish laughed.

"So what's with the outfit then?"  Kennis inquired.

"There's nothing wrong with a little teasing". 

Kennis raised one eyebrow in amazement "So your aim's purely to drive the guy wild, look but don't touch?"

"Hmmm, something like that".  Ish smiled smugly.

The four girls quietened down, each of them eagerly anticipating the night ahead as they approached the armadillo shaped auditorium, which served as the Elite's nightclub one night a week.