IX. The Ball

Hannah and Barbara stood in the hallway in purple and red dresses as Diana locked the door. As they started down the hallway, Diana left the safety and security of their room. Now as they walked to the ballroom, Diana prepared herself. Anyone could see her and have a reaction to her outfit. Diana steeled herself for that with her confidence mask squarely on her face. She was surprised that Hannah hooked on to her right arm and Barbara took her left.

"There! Since you're such a charming prince, you'll need to escort two lovely ladies to the ball this evening." Hannah stated playfully. Leaning on Diana's arm.

"Yep. You can loosen up Diana. We got your back, anyone says anything we'll settle it." Barbara said.

"Yes. Okay." Diana said. "Let's go."

As they passed through the halls, groups of students saw them. Most stopped and stared because Diana was a popular figure at Luna Nova. Diana focused on getting to the ball, but was relaxing little by little because of Hannah and Barbara's joking demeanors. As they approached the ballroom more Luna Nova students in fancy dresses clustered together. Some were clearly there with their friends but others had dates with black or dark blue suits and tuxedos.

Diana was starting to feel the weight of so many people staring at her but having her two best friends at her side helped her to see it a different way. That all those people were taken aback by her change in attire. At Luna Nova, Diana had always worn her school uniform and rarely anything else. As they walked along with other students, two big double doors came into view. They were almost there. Diana felt ready, the suit wasn't just a piece of clothing anymore it was an extension of herself. It wasn't armor to protect herself from the world, it was to express herself.

Hannah and Barbara let go of Diana, staying behind for a couple minutes to meet up with their dates, but Diana decided to keep going. The double doors opened and Diana found herself in an expansive, brightly lit room. She made her way through a crowd of black and blue suited Ableton students, who were all surprised to see the attire she was wearing. The group started to part down the middle to let Diana pass, creating climatic entrance.

Through a sea of black and blue, Diana emerged with her distinctive white and green suit. The rest of the people in the ballroom stopped and stared at her. Diana could feel sweat on her back and neck but chose to ignore it. She then saw a familiar face in her iconic, pushed back hairdo and black tuxedo. Amanda ran up to Diana almost knocking her over.

"Hey! Look at you, Diana Cavendish! Hahahaha don't we look like a couple of lady killers. Listen, Akko's over there with Andrew Mcsnoozefest. What's your plan to win her back?" Amanda asked thumbing behind her to the punch table.

Akko and Andrew were over there with Frank and Lotte making small talk as couples do. Diana felt a ting of pain, she wanted to be Akko's date. Andrew with his stupid smile made Diana even more determined. When Amanda again prompted her for an answer, Diana still wasn't sure.

"I need to find the right opportunity to converse with Akko." Diana said.

That wasn't the answer that Amanda wanted to hear and she looked at Diana annoyed.

"That's you're plan?! Wait for the off chance that Andrew may leave Akko for a split second, then swoop in?" Amanda sighed and crossed her arms.

"Look if that's the plan, you'll need my help. What?" Amanda said as Diana gave her skeptical look.

"I'll find a way to distract him and buy you sometime. But once I give you an opening you have to go for it. Andrew will catch on quickly so I won't be able to make it happen again." Amanda explained as her and Diana looked on at Akko and Andrew.

She knew that this wasn't going to be easy. On top of all that Aunt Daryl was somewhere in the mass of ball attendees. Like a tiger, waiting to pounce, but Diana refused to let that stop her.

"Alright since you have offered your assistance I'll take it. I'm going to circle the room and once we make it to the refreshment table, I'll have you distract Andrew." Diana declared.

Both started taking the long way over to the table, in order to greet other people and approach both Akko and Andrew with caution.

"Fine. Just this once I'll follow your lead, but don't get used to it! I got a reputation to maintain." Amanda smiled.

Diana smiled back as they passed Ursula and Croix.

"Seems like that's the one thing we both have in common." Diana said.

Both Urusla and Croix were standing by the wall, chaperoning the ball. Urusla had a fabulous black dress on while Croix had dark purple and blue tuxedo with styled hair. They both were drinking fancy "mocktails" as they talked softly to each other. As Diana and Amanda passed they both stopped and stared.

"Well, I'll be…" Urusla exclaimed. "Diana and Amanda, friends. Wow, Diana looks dashing."

Croix on the other hand had stopped drinking. She looked suspiciously at her glass.

"Hey! I thought these were mocktails. How much hooch is in these things!" Croix yelled out to the other staff of the school.

Diana and Amanda neared the refreshment table as Amanda's team and Sucy greeted them. Constance was wearing a small dark blue dress and Jasminka was wearing a puffy purple dress. Constance looked at both girls up and down and gave them both a big thumbs up. Jasminka after stuffing a cookie in her mouth clapped excitedly at both witches.

"You both look good enough to eat!" Jasminka exclaimed happily.

"Thanks Jasminka, it means a lot." Amanda said used to all this.

Sucy was wearing her classic attire that she had worn to Andrew's party. Sucy looked over at the group and decided to grace them with her presence. Sucy approached and smirked at Diana with her classic Sucy grin. Diana felt a tinge of annoyance and squared up to Sucy.

"And just what is so amusing Marbarvan?" Diana challenged.

Sucy shrugged her shoulders. "Ehehe. Amanda I guess you win. I didn't think she would actually do it. I owe you an invisibility potion."

Diana at this looked at Amanda with growing anger. Amanda looked sheepishly.

"Look, I thought they could help. Especially, Sucy she's got a lot of tricks up her sleeve." Amanda defended.

Diana decided to let it go and keep her focus on Akko and her end goal.

"Have they been briefed on my situation?" Diana asked pointedly.

"Yeah!" Sucy said, smirking. "Swooping Akko off her feet under Andrew's nose, daring plan. More importantly, Lotte and I have decided that we approve of you wooing Akko. So you have own blessing to go after our little idiot."

"Ah… I'm glad to have your approval." Diana said slightly annoyed. She didn't need anyone's permission.

"Okay, okay enough of all the small talk! I'll distract Andrew and give Lotte the signal to move Frank between Andrew and Akko. The rest of you, when Andrew tries to make his way to Akko, block him. Diana, you walk up to Akko and try to place as many people between you two and Andrew as possible. Then, serniate her into your arms. Think you can handle that?" Amanda explained, delegating and hijacking Diana's plan.

"Of course. I didn't come this far to leave empty-handed." Diana said determined.

Amanda slapped her on the back.

"That's what I like to hear! Keep that up and Akko is as good as yours." Amanda said confidently.

"Yeah, Akko already admires you." Sucy said gesturing toward Akko. "All you have to do is tell her you like her. She'll be probably be thrilled."

"Okay, ready everyone? Alright, let's do this!" Amanda said. After pushing back her hair she started towards Andrew, calling over to him.

The rest of the group looked at Diana. Sucy nudged Diana forward.

"So was that all just talk? Go fight for her." Sucy said.

Diana steadied herself and took her first steps toward Akko.