While I ignored my constantly-buzzing phone with messages flooding in from the needy Loke, I searched through my over-sized closet for anything wearable to a "party." Though I haven't ever been to one...

The notifications eventually became unbearable as I applied my make-up in front of my mirror, so I marched across to my phone on my pink comforter on my bed.

I scrolled through the messages, mostly consisting of requests for snacks for the party and for me to "accompany him to the grand ball tonight, my princess."

I opened up Talkster and spammed him with middle-finger emojis, but he replied with a equal amount of sad puppies.

"I'll go with you if you quit spamming me" I messaged.

"Great! I'll be there in half an hour!" -Loke

I put down my phone and rushed over to the door where I called for Virgo.

She returned with her hands in front of her and bowed. "You called, my Princess?"

"Yeah.. Do you have any dresses I can borrow? I'm going to a party— some shoes, actually, will be nice, too."

Virgo bowed once more and said, "I understand. I shall return in a moment."

I took the opportunity to flop on my bed and search through the chat of the club, the latest message being Erza's selfie of her in a stunning purple dress with rose patterns, and her red hair in a bun.

I wrote, "Wow, Erza! You look super pretty!"

"Hot DAMN girl! I gotta beat you in the challenge of sexiness!" -Cana

"Or you can just dress up for the party..." -Levy

"Let's all post our pictures! It'll be fun!" -Mira

Cana, only seconds later, sent a picture of her in a "dress", it being a cropped top and a long, wrapped around skirt.

"What's up with your hair?" -Lisanna

"And your eyeshadow?" -Levy

"Is that material see-through?" -Lucy

"This is what men really want!" -Cana

"'Fraid not, my friend" Sent Levy, with a picture of her in a gorgeous orange, short dress with her hair in a matching bandana with light pink flowers in her light blue hair.

"Nice, but I don't know how to send pictures on my laptop, so you're gonna have to see me in person in my INCREDIBLE pink dress in PERSON, so be prepared* -Lisanna

"I don't know what to wear..." -Lucy

Just then, Virgo knocked on my door, and burst through not a millisecond after. "Princess, this was in thy mother's closet, and I think thou will look- as the modern children say- fabulous... in it," she said in a halted speech pattern.

She held up a long, burgundy dress with a v-neckline and thin straps.

My eyes widened. My modest, humble mother wore something like that? I was somewhat surprised, but it caught my interest. I've worn things sort of... daring, if you could call that, before, but it being my deceased mother's made me uncomfortable.

"This is Princess's first party, is it not?" Asked Virgo. "Layla-sama would be proud."

"It's... hers?" I barely got out of me.

Virgo simply nodded.

I stared at the dress, taking in its color, and felt a warmth spread over me, like Mom.. wanted to have me wear it, since it was my first outing.. Like she would be with me. Or, you know, something... less cheesy.

I took the dress from Virgo, who assisted putting it on and did my hair. Nothing much, but a side ponytail with a matching burgundy ribbon, and with a curling iron, made my hair wavy.

She picked out black, heeled sandals to go alone with it, and in a nick of time, I was ready.

"The spitting image of Layla-sama. Thou look-eth like a picture, Princess," said Virgo.

She left, and waiting for Loke, I picked up my phone to join the chat once again.

"*guys its just a party with food and video games not a victorian ball wtf" -Natsu

And a bunch of pictures of the members' fancy clothing.

"Uh, nope! I'm taking ya'll to a joint very well known for kids who need to get out of the stupid, virgin shells of yours" -Cana

"Please don't be a strip club.." -Lisanna

"Please be a strip club.." -Loke

"Cana, may I remind you that some of the people in this chat are minors and will be caught easily if sent to a sketchy place like of what you're thinking" -Erza

"how the hell did you type that fast?" -Gray

"I'm gonna get you guys to an underground dance club!" -Cana

"May I ask why you know of an underground dance club?" -Lucy

"I ain't poor, you know, so I can hire "underground party-places guys," (my dad) just like that. Anyway, Lucy, you're back! Show us a pic of those glorious things! ...and your dress, or whatever. LOL" -Cana

"*I'll keep my dignity until we get to the club" -Lucy

"Did you just ask my sweetie-pie to flash and send a picture?" -Loke

"SHOULDN'T YOU BE DRIVING, MY DEAREST MISSING LINK???" I sent, along with the middle-fingers.

"Aren't you two the cutest?" -Levy

I shut my phone off, put it on silent, and shoved it into my clutch purse. I closed my eyes and sighed. "Geez, it's not even official and they're acting like we're a married couple..." Of course, this wasn't the case, I found out a very long while later, how friends actually act around married couples.

Not wanting to ruin the wonderful effort Virgo put into my hair and makeup, I didn't do anything but sit on my bed until Loke arrived at the front door, wearing a much different suit than before, unbuttoned at the front and intentionally untucked, with pants clashing with the tie he wore.

"Greetings, my sweet darling," he said, hands in his pockets.

I raised my eyebrows. "Check you out. You look like an eight year old who got lost in the formal wear collection at WallMart."

"I took reference from a very underrated men's clothing magazine, written by a women who says fellow females prefer the messy, mischievous look for going out to mysterious places," he explained. "And you, my lovely lotus, look like the hottest belle of the ball." He took my hand and placed a swift kiss upon my knuckles.

I quickly retracted my hand and chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah.. let's get to the place Cana suggested before they all get wasted without us."

Half-gawking at the over-the-top sports car Loke drove, unnaturally clean and held the slight scent of perfume, I entered the front passenger seat as Loke typed in the address Cana sent him, and was off through a street I didn't even knew existed.

"So what do you think this 'dance bar' she's talkin' of is all about?" He said, breaking a long silence filled with a low-volume rock playlist going on in the background.

I shrugged. "For some reason I picture it as a tap dance class.." I said without thinking.

Loke chuckled, but didn't say anything, making it seem like he agreed with me. He kept making awkward attempts to break the silence, but, being as I am, broke it off with some sarcastic remark I was sure to pay for later.

Only a half an hour later, we arrived at the place. I didn't really know how we ended up trusting Cana's words and following her directions to a place we knew would spark undeniable regret, but, alas, here Loke and I stood, in an alley between two convenience stores at the end of Strawberry Street.

"Damn," I said, with a smirk. "It sure would be nice to live here, despite whatever disastrous secret we're about uncover in this pleasant street."

"We need'a wait for the others," said Loke, leaning up against the alley wall.

Just then, as I was telling Loke he leaned up against a wad of gum, a retro car, the type you'd find in 60's movies pulled up on the side of the street. Out stepped a woman, dressed so much differently than I usually seen her in. She flipped her chestnut brown, wavy hair and put her hands on her hips and grinned.

I gawked at Cana, taking in the polar opposite of what her Academy image is, which is a maxi-length, grey skirt with a dropping neckline of a polo. But this look seemed to match her personality completely; a dark, lacy bra with a little white sweater tied at the bottom, with low, brown jeans cuffed at the end with a small pink belt, and leather, heeled boots.

"What's up, Mr. and Mrs.?" Smirked Cana. "You guys are so flirtatious online, but in real life, damn you guys are distant." She took a couple of steps towards Loke and I, and looked close at us. "I was expecting something a bit more exciting to 'accidentally' walk into. How disappointing.."

I scowled as Loke faked a bashful expression. "Oh dear!" He cried. "I'm so embarrassed... You found us out, Cana-sama! We were just about to go around the corner of the building and—" I interrupted him with a fist to his face.

Levy and the Strauss family pulled up to the side of the street all packed in one red van.

"Hello, party people!" Lisanna cheered as she exited, followed by Levy, who ran and hugged me, her (at least) 250 pounds of pure muscle brother, Elfman, and the famous onee-san-fujioshi character herself, Mirajane, exiting with care to not scuff her silver shoes, matching perfectly with her long, yellow dress.

"Awww, Cana," she said. "You changed. I wanted to see you like how you were in the picture."

"That was waay too tight to dance in. I considered cutting away more fabric for less movement restriction, but my dad complained that either the police would catch me, or a 'scumbag would take away my precious, oh-so-cute daughter away from,' and I quote, 'the best father in the world who's specialty is squashing scumbag's pervy faces in.'" Cana slowly brought her hand to her face.

"I wanna meet your dad," said Levy.

"I think you already have," replied Cana in a rather exhausted tone. "Usually in from 9o'clock classes to 15:00, professor Gildarts.."

We stood in shocked silence just as Natsu's car pulled up, parked next to the others, distributing Gray, Erza, and the birthday boy.

"I guess that's everyone who wanted to come.." said Natsu.

I had to keep my jaw from dropping at the sight of boys my age with stellar suits and ties, hands in pockets, hair combed, ect., since my face was already blushing pink. I was later to write down in my newly-purchased diary: First of many Stupid-Teenage Moments.

"Damn, you guys clean up nice," said Cana. "Sorry, Lisanna, but I think pinky's mine now."

"'Pinky,'" sighed Natsu. "First insult of the age of twenty-one.."

"Like hell! Earlier I've called you Flam-"

"You don't count, Elsa," said Natsu, interrupting Gray.

"Well, I guess we should enter now?" Said Erza, breaking the two quarreling boys apart.

"Actually..." mumbled Levy , pointing to a newly parked car, which driver's door just opened. Out emerged the tall man with long, spiked black hair and piercings I knew from the club, exited, wearing a suit studded with metallic beads. He looked around, back facing us, for where we were.

"He's my plus one," she whispered to me before she waved and shouted, "Gajeel! We're over here!"

Gajeel whipped around and blushed in embarrassment at the sight of the tiny girl calling out to him.

Once Gajeel reached us, Cana begged for us to hurry it along, since we've just been "chit-chatting needlessly while our precious party-time is ticking away!" She led us to the back of the long alley, and opened a door I didn't notice was there, since it was painted to look like the dark, old bricks that made up the walls. Sketchy, I thought, but we followed Cana anyway, down through a short hall, then through three flights of stairs.

"Uh..." said Erza, as she entered. "This is a nightclub..."

Indeed it was, though it was a small one, and almost empty at that. Couples scattered the place, sitting on various couches, making out, or talking. Others were dancing to the rather soft music. The bartender looked bored, not having many people to serve, and kept scrubbing spotless shot glasses. He looked like our age, maybe a bit older, and seemed to know Cana, since when his eyes found her, leading the group inside, they lit up like Christmas trees.

"Cana-chan!" He yelled across the club.

Cana grinned. "Bacchus! Whassup, my man!"

She ran over, and gave the man a friendly high-five.

"You brought your friends! Lemme guess—" He said, pointing at Natsu. "You're the birthday kid, Natsu. Cana-chan told be about you. She comes to this joint a lot, though I have no idea why. Ol' Quatro Cerberus lost its charm a while ago, but she still comes around, quite a lot, talks about you from time to time." The way Bacchus spoke was very particular. His tone was kind of sarcastic, and his voice was low, but squeaky. It reminded me of Cana herself, in fact.

"That's 'cause my dad knows about this place," replied Cana. "'Used to date a girl who dated a guy who knew the manager- long story. Anyways," she went on, sitting on a bar stool, and looking up into Bacchus's face. "You guys really know how to party, only if you have the right people... And the right situation."

He grinned. "Little miss Alberona, are you challenging me to a drinking competition? Again? We both know what happened last time."

Cana put on her best seductive face. "What? Too chicken? Or... how should I say? Too much like a.." She glanced at Elfman. "A puppy?"

Bacchus's eyebrow twitched. "Classic Cana-chan.. bringing up the failed experiences to waver an enemy." He slammed his hand on the bar and moved his face inches from Cana's. "You're on."

You may expect the rest of the group (or just Natsu) to say something during this intense conversation, but we were all just standing there in awe. There was an undeniable, strange atmosphere around the pair, making us all stay silent to try to figure out what it was.

Bacchus took various bottles and shot glasses, and brought them all to a small table in the center of a half-moon shaped array of tables with benches. On his way back to the bar, he clasped Natsu's shoulder. "Consider this show a present from me," he said with a pleasant smile.

"Who wants to bet this table was made for this duo's drinking contests?" Said Gray, finally.

Most of us only replied with dry laughter as we continued to stare at the set-up. Cana went off to a room to angle lights at the table and turn on music that she seemed to enjoy. Most of it was just rap and hardcore metal.

"Everyone listen up!" Announced Bacchus through a microphone. All of the guests looked toward him with excitement in their eyes. "You know what time it is. It's time for a Cana vs. Bacchus—"

"DRINKING CONTEST!" Shouted everyone in the club, making their way to the tables as quick as they could.

A huge, burly man placed himself on a stool right next to the centric table, and Bacchus shoved sheets of paper into his muscle-packed arms, along with the microphone, which gave off feedback.

The group and I stood around awkwardly, until Erza led us to a table, close to the "action." Turns out this was one of the most exciting things I have ever experienced, not only for the contest itself, but what you, my dear reader, will find to be interesting, after.

The burly man read aloud what was on the papers in a powerful, deep voice through the microphone, "First drink: three shots of the Fireball of Old."

Gajeel and Levy chuckled at the title. The rest stared intently at Cana and Bacchus downing each dink after another. Bacchus finished a drink before Cana had finished her last.

"Well, Alborona, I thought that you'd give it your all," grinned Bacchus.

"Please, my friend, if I've learned anything the three months I haven't seen you, it was to pace myself," she said, with just as much of a smirk.

Ten more of the "Deadly Blizzard," which seemed like a mixture of vodka, whiskey, and whatever disgusting mixtures they thrown in seemed to make Cana a bit red in the face, Bacchus redder, but they still were sitting straight up.

"Damn.. I can't even take one drink of plain alcohol..." I mumbled.

They went on, both holding strong, the music and cheering pounding into my ears, the smell of sweat and certain beverages seeping in, and the all around atmosphere made me feel... exhilarated. In a good way— rather, in a really good way. I was here, with my friends, in a completely unknown place with suspicious characters surrounding us as we watched our comrade down certain liquid would make me feel uncomfortable usually, but instead I stood up and cheered after my friend like all the other crazy, drunken maniacs. Even though I haven't had a drop myself, the environment in the underground area made me like I was floating and excited.

The feeling left as quickly as it began, for both Bacchus and Cana took their last drink, and fell, straight to the polish, wooden floors, and the entire atmosphere took a dramatic change.

Elfman caught the girl in his arms, who quickly resisted.

"Leff—me go!" She shouted. "I've got more to doo.." she tried to stand, but wobbled back.

Bacchus, laying helplessly on the floor, stared at the girl with glazed eyes, but even as unfocused as they were, I could spot a glint of pity in them. "Gib it up, Cawa-chan, we're finsh..ed.." he murmured.

Cana balanced herself, and placed herself back on the table, snatched Gray's beer from him, and took a sip.

"I cawn still go..."

Levy took the beer from her as the announcer titled Cana as the winner. Erza stabilized her with the help of Mira, and me and Lisanna followed them to the bathroom.

Mira forcefully splashed water in Cana's face as Levy returned with a glass of fresh water. I stood awkwardly while Erza stroked the brunette head of the poor drunk.

"I have a feeling that this isn't a normal Friday binge... for her.." I said.

Levy and Lisanna turned to me with an understanding look. "It's not," said Lisanna.

Mira sighed. "I think you should hear it from Cana herself, only if she wants to talk about it."

Cana gripped the sides of the sink, letting the mirror reflect her angry, yet melancholy expression. "Lemme back out there," she said, her voice still wobbly, but stabler than it was before.

Ezra sighed. "I think Bacchus understands that you-"

"I SAID LET ME GO!" She yelled, her voice breaking. I saw in the mirror that tears were forming in her eyes.

Her knees buckled, causing Mira and Levy to run to her, catch her, and bring her to the nearest toilet for her to throw up in.

The entire room seemed to fill with an aura that was far from pleasant or fun.

Lisanna offered to tell the boys that there wasn't any real emergency, so she was the first to escape the awkward atmosphere of the bathroom.

I went to comfort Cana, who was now bundled in Erza's coat, sitting on a chair Levy got from the tables outside.

Cana frowned at the silence of the room. "C'mon... someone say something. I know that this situation's pretty bad, but you can talk, y'know.."

"Okay," I said, standing in front of her. "Can you tell me why you seem like you're breaking like a porcelain china doll?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Whadd'ya mean?"

I sighed. "You're acting really strange. The yelling, the distant stares before the match—"

"I get it. I was acting weird.. I'll tell you the whole story. I think I've told the others a while back.. sometime.. but now's the time for you."

Curious, I sat down on my coat on the floor.

"You know Macao Conbolt-sensei?"

I nodded. "The physics professor?"

"I took his classes since the high school years, and I would have never have gotten to the place I am without him. I went through a lot of stress before entering collage, moving in with my dad after he discovered who I was, situations concerning that after that.. I'd rather not talk about.." Tears welled up in Cana's brown eyes. "And Macao-sensei helped me. He talked to me, and gave me after-school tutoring when I really started to fall apart.. and... I fell in love with him."

My eyes grew wide as I saw Cana's face practically warp expressions.

"Not long after realizing my feelings, I confessed to him.. about two years ago from now, but he rejected me. Of course, that was the only practical response, since I'm a lot younger, have problems of my own- and him being my professor and all... but back then, I was a lot less stable. I went to the bar my dad always talks about, since him and I had always loved drinking, and became good friends with the bartender in a short time. I was still heartbroken, though, and turned to Bacchus, my only listening ear. He gave me a challenge to a drinking contest, which became sort of... monthly, around the bar. After a huge fight with Macao-sensei at school, since I have been avoiding him, and my grades dropped immensely, I immediately turned to Bacchus, and we began drinking. One thing led to another... I..."

She sniffed and took a drink of water. "I woke up the next morning at his house, and realized we... we did stuff.. Only weeks later I fell hard, head-over-heels for the guy. I think he knows, yet we both won't say anything, and the drinking contests never help me forget about the fact."

"And all this happened...?" I said.

"Three months ago, like I said. I haven't had a contest since then until now, and have been taking it easy..- but..-"

She started crying again, sobbing uncontrollably with tears staining Erza's coat.

"It all overflowed," I said, leaning forward to the girl to hug her. I didn't see a hyper-but-cool drunkard who never seemed to see the negative in life, but I saw just a girl, struck by love and a very difficult situation she has gotten in.

"Does he know about your feelings, like, officially?" I asked, retracting myself to face her.

Cana wiped her tears away with her sweater sleeve. "No..." she said with a sob. "But I bet he found out, 'cause-se I was so pathetic lately.."

I frowned and angled myself to face her. "You're not pathetic, Cana. When I look at you, I see the awesome party-girl who always seemed to be with me when the times get tough. There's no way in hell that Bacchus hasn't seen that part of you and doesn't love you for it. I've seen the way he looks at you, and there's a real big that you have hope for being with the one you love."

Cana looked up into my eyes and smiled. "Thanks, Lucy, but I think I've made up my mind..." she took a deep breath and looked back down. "I don't want to do a confession or some cheesy proclamation of love you read in manga or something... I don't want a fairy tale ending, and stuff... I actually.." She hugged her knees. "I don't want to even try to date him.. he-.. I just want things to go back to the way they were. Even if he loves me back, I can't help but think that will change something. I fell in love with both him and the time we spent together every other week, and I want nothing more than what I fell in love with.."

I got up and, for some reason unknown to me, I chuckled. "I have no idea what love is, honestly.. I've been raised with hardly any from my one, depressed parent since I was nine, only having an emotionless replacement for my mother as a caretaker.. The only reference I have is fictional stories written by people who probably haven't experienced it themselves.. I say whatever your heart tells you to do," I kneeled down to Cana's level. "Than do that.. or whatever.."

All this emotional conversation made me forget of the audience of girls we seemed to have. All of the other members were tearing up or blowing their noses on paper hand towels, touched by the scene.

"I didn't now these things happened in real life," said Levy, wiping her eyes.

Erza, looking a bit shaky herself, which was obviously uncommon, said, "I'm glad you shared your feelings with us, Lucy and Cana. I bet the boys are worried about us, so we must get a move-on."

Mira held the door as we exited, as the boy's eyes widened at the sight of a red-faced, stuffy-nosed Cana finger-combing her hair out of embarrassment.

"Geez guys.. everybody has a break down once in a while, so quit staring.." Cana said, blushing at the boys.

"Yeah, but," said Natsu. "It's definitely not everyday you see Cana have a breakdown.. I mean.. you're-" Gray elbowed him in the ribs to make him, "Shut up, dork." (And I quote)

Bacchus shot up from his seat behind the bar, and rushed over to confront Cana, who led him away behind the bar to talk.

"This was quite the hectic party," spoke up Lisanna while Cana conversed with Bacchus. "Who wants to chill at Natsu's for a bit, and start over?"

I glanced at the pair talking, and felt it best if we all left them alone.

I trotted over when the time felt natural, and tapped on Cana's shoulder.

"I hate to interrupt, but the rest of us are going to Natsu's place. If you wanna come after-"

"Sure, Lucy," she said with a cheerful grin. "I'll head out in just a moment."

I awkwardly smiled and nodded to Bacchus, to say goodbye, and returned to the group.

"Shall we?" I said, gesturing to the group.

Levy grabbed my hands and Natsu cheered, "Let the party go on!"

DEFINITELY To Be Continued