Girls Just Want To Have Fun

"Thank you so much for sending off my daughter back home," says Mrs Maxwell, Olivia's mother.

"You're certainly welcomed. Besides, I'm very thankful that your daughter has been very helpful in contributing ideas for the theme of her party," mother says with full of glee.

"I think my daughter had given you a walkthrough of the themes that we could do for her party," Mrs Maxwell says as she looks at me.

I nod.

"Oh yes, Olivia has been very helpful."

Olivia's face reddens as he mother places an arm around her shoulders.

"Have a seat and I shall bring the catalogues over here," Mrs Maxwell ushers us to sit at the living room with Olivia.

"Such beautiful interior design, Olivia," mother says with a grin on her face.

Olivia nods and says, "Thank you, Mrs Stoddard."

Mother waves a hand and says, "You can just call me by my maiden name."

"Alright, Mrs Collins," Olivia says.

My cellphone beeps, indicating that I have a new message.

I search inside my schoolbag and pull out the electronic device. I flip it open and stare at the screen. A message from Barnabas. I roll my eyes as I flip it close and stuff it back inside my schoolbag.

"Is it from Winston?" mother asks.

I lie, "Oh no it's not, mum. It's just some stupid ad."

Mrs Maxwell walks into the living room with two files in her hands.

"These are samples of what we had done so far and you could give suggestions for the theme, if you would like," she says as she places the two files on the coffee table in front of us.

The woman sits next to her daughter, which is the couch opposite me and my mother.

My mother and I pick up a file each and we browse them with enthusiasm. Mrs Maxwell really is a good event organiser. There are many photographs of parties, events and meetings. She even organised lavish weddings.

"We don't do catering but we could suggest a few good ones that I know of. Some of them are even my close partners," Mrs Maxwell says proudly.

"Which one do you seem to like so far, Carolyn?" mother asks as she places the file back on the table.

I look up from the file and say, "I seem to be stuck between masquerade and glam rock."

"What about masquerade and glam rock? Would it be quite a combination?" mother asks Mrs Maxwell.

"Carolyn really has good choices but from my point of view, masquerade is really glamorous and sophisticated but glam rock is a mixture of casual and you know, glamour," Olivia says thoughtfully.

"I was thinking the same as you, Olivia," Mrs Maxwell says as she looks through the files.

A butler enters the living room with a silver tray. He places the tray on the table and immediately places the cups, saucers and the tea pot. He picks up the teapot and pours a clear orangey brown liquid into our cups respectively.

"Thank you," I say to the butler and he grins.

"I will try to talk to my crew and ask if they could do a preview of the layout in the computer. I'll get back to you by next week," Mrs Maxwell says with a huge grin on her face.

"I'll pass them to you in school," Olivia says.

"Thanks," I say.

"When Carolyn is satisfied with the theme, when can I pay?" mother asks.

Mrs Maxwell stirs her tea and says, "I'll give you a discount but you don't need to pay immediately."

"Why, thank you," mother says with a grin.

Mrs Maxwell wraps an arm around Olivia and says, "I'm sure these girls have planned way ahead of us."

Olivia looks at her mother and smiles.

"Well, Olivia. Wouldn't you like to help out Carolyn with her dresses over the weekends? She would need some inspiration," Mrs Maxwell adds.

"Sure," Olivia says as she smiles at me.

"That would be awesome," I say as I smile.

^%^%^%^%^

My plans for my perfect sweet sixteen are working really well and I cannot wait for the actual day. Things seem to be according to my plan and I am thrilled about them.

"Oh my god, Kiyoko! This dress really suits you!" Olivia says as Kiyoko struts in a golden kimono.

"You really look like a Japanese princess," I state.

"Thanks, girls," Kiyoko says as she looks at herself in front of the mirror of the dressing table in her room.

Olivia walks over to the other side of Kiyoko's room to have a look at Kiyoko's closet. She rummages through the closet and takes out a long strapless dress.

"This is so cool," Olivia says as she places the dress over her body and checks out herself in front of the mirror at the dressing table.

"You should try it on," I suggest.

"Could I try this on, Kiyoko?" Olivia asks.

"Go ahead," the Japanese girl replies.

I pick up a tiara from the dressing table and gently slide it on top of Kiyoko's head, securing it in her hair.

"You look beautiful," I say, feeling partially jealous of her.

The girl looks at me and says, "I can't wear this dress. You are the queen of the night."

I sneer at her.

"Oh come on! After looking at the previews by Olivia's mum, I'm so going for glam rock! This dress is glamorous but probably not much of a rocker babe but still, I made it clear that you could dress glamorously or be a high class rocker or be both at the same time," I say, trying to reassure her that she should wear the dress for my party.

"Are you going to perform during the party?" Kiyoko asks as she looks away from the mirror.

I roll my eyes and say, "Obviously."

"What songs?" she asks excitedly.

"That would be a surprise," I say.

"Hey girls! What do you think?" Olivia says as she struts in Kiyoko's strapless dress.

"Red carpet material," Kiyoko says excitedly.

"I have to agree with that," I say as I giggle.

Kiyoko pulls my hand and directs me to her closet.

"Get something you like and try it on! We're having some fun now! Besides, this is a sleepover! We could try on new dresses at the shops tomorrow," she says kindly.

"Sure," I say as I look at her closet.

The whole Friday night is about trying out Kiyoko's dresses, checking out dresses in magazines and on the internet. I really have so much fun with the girls. I feel like a normal teenage girl again.

Apart from that, we eat ice-creams while watching movies in Kiyoko's room and also gossip like any other group of girls would do during a sleepover. It makes me feel like I am living a normal life without having to keep a strange family secret. It also makes me wish to have a normal family life again.

"World class caterer," Olivia says as she points at the screen of Kiyoko's laptop.

"They serve many types of cuisine," Kiyoko states as she scrolls down the webpage.

"The food looks good, I guess," I say as I look at the screen.

Olivia looks at me and asks, "Want to get some booze?"

"I'd definitely want some at my party but my mum wouldn't allow," I say sourly.

"How sad," Kiyoko says.

"Because your parents allow you girls to drink whenever you want to?" I ask.

Olivia stares at me incredulously and says, "Of course not, stupid. I smuggle some wine bottles in my room. Like my parents would actually count every single wine bottle in the kitchen."

Kiyoko wraps an arm around my shoulders and says, "I drink sake once awhile without getting caught. My parents would go ballistic if they knew about it."

"Speaking of booze," Kiyoko says as she gets off of her bed and walks over to the closet, "I have actually smuggled some Asahi beer into my closet."

"The devil you are!" Olivia says.

The Japanese girl returns with three cans of Asahi beer.

"Cheers," Olivia says.

"In Japan, we say kampai!" she says as she sips her beer.

I level the can to my mouth and take a sip. It tastes like any other beer but I seem to like the flavour.

"Well, cheers for Carolyn's upcoming sweet sixteen!" Olivia says and we give a toast.

Finally I can feel myself being a normal teenage girl again.

^%^%^%^%^

"Oh my god, Carolyn. That boy was so checking you out," Olivia says as we walk to another store.

The girls and I are shopping at the biggest mall in Collinsport and we are currently buying clothes and accessories. I haven't found a dress that I want to wear for my sweet sixteen. Olivia bought herself a new dress for my party and Kiyoko has decided to wear her kimono.

"Like I care," I say as I roll my eyes dismissively.

"Aren't you getting yourself a date for your sweet sixteen?" Kiyoko suggests.

I stare at her incredulously.

"Why do I need one? It's a birthday party! Not a frickin' prom night!"

Olivia turns her head away from Kiyoko and says, "Obviously."

"We all know that Kiyoko has a boyfriend but she doesn't have to feel so sorry for us single ones," I say sarcastically.

"Whatever," Kiyoko snaps at me and Olivia starts laughing.

"We really should make an appointment with the salon and the manicure people," Olivia suggests.

I laugh at her.

"You sound like my PA. Don't expect me to give you commission," I say.

"Laugh it all out Carolyn," Olivia says and the three of us burst into laughter.

We head to the manicure and pedicure shop to fix an appointment for my nail treatments before my sweet sixteen before resting our legs and getting Chinese food for lunch.

"The egg rolls here are superb," Olivia says as she sips the Chinese tea.

"We should thank Kiyoko. She brought us here," I say as I nod at Kiyoko.

"Anyway," Olivia says as she diverts her attention back to me, "have you asked your mum which car you're going to get for your birthday?"

"A Ford Bentley," I say proudly.

The both of them stare at me with their eyes widened.

"You don't have to act surprise," I say with an odd expression displayed on my face.

"We're going to be the first ones to hop in your ride," Olivia says.

"Of course," I say monotonously.

"Have you actually checked it out with the car dealer?" Olivia asks curiously.

Kiyoko eyes my every movement like I am her experimental subject.

"Just recently," I say as I sip my Chinese tea.

The both of them follow suit and a sudden thought of Barnabas strikes my mind. I had been very busy with the girls lately that I have not actually had a proper conversation with him or even spend time playing guitar with him. It feels awkward all of a sudden that I have not properly interacted with him for the past few days.

I simply ignore those thoughts and carry on my conversation with the girls. This is my only chance to feel like a normal teenage girl again.