This chapter isn't that long, but I still hope you enjoy it! Remember to review when you've finished reading (I have cookies...)
Nero stared into the full-length mirror and briefly adjusted his bow-tie, he'd been persuaded by several members of the teaching staff to abandon his usual cravat in favour of a more "party-like" look.
He had to admit, it did look quite nice on him, coupled with his immaculate suit, someone had anonymously sent him a massive tie with a picture of Rudolph on the bottom in a startling red background, he'd promptly incinerated it though the temptation to send it to Francisco had been great.
Nero brushed a few stray specks of dust off his black sleeves and pushed a hand through his smoothly brushed hair, 'Well then, let's get this party started,' he remarked to his reflection.
Now that was a sentence he'd never expected to say.
The Contessa ran a hand through her hair and stared in the mirror in some fascination, it had been many years since she had worn her hair this way, and she had to admit, it made her look like a different, and much younger, woman.
She smiled a little and smoothed down the folds in her elegant dress. If she was lucky made Nero would ask her to dance.
The Professor paced up and down his cluttered room, occasionally pausing to navigate unidentifiable objects and piles of books, HIVEmind's wire-framed face hovered over a white tablet by his computer desk watching his creator walking back and forth.
'You know,' Pike was saying, 'I've never been so nervous in my life!' He stopped for a moment and stared at himself in the small, and somewhat grubby mirror which hung from a precarious angle on his wall, 'I look like an idiot,' he sighed eventually.
HIVEmind shook his head slowly, 'If you don't want to go, then don't,' the A.I. sighed, 'But Nero is about to start so if you are going then I suggest you get a move on.'
Pike turned to glance HIVEmind, slightly astonished at how humanoid he was becoming.
'Very well, I'll go,' he said eventually, 'but I still think I look like an idiot.'
HIVEmind merely rolled his eyes.
Otto and Wing were both in their room, Wing was in the bathroom staring at himself in the mirror, 'So, how do I look?' he asked turning to his friend who was watching from the door, 'Pretty good,' remarked Otto, 'Though I still think you should have ordered that Santa Claus costume…'
Wing looked exasperated.
'So what do you think about me then?' asked Otto tugging at his suit, 'I mean…' he trailed off, 'D'you think Laura will like it?' he asked uncomfortably.
Wing looked his friend up and down and smiled, 'I think so,' he said.
Otto straightened his tie, 'Right then,' he said with a slightly nervous smile, 'let's go or we'll be late.'
Music pulsed from the large central cavern, usually used for school-wide meetings, which, in a way, this was. A multitude of Christmas lights, disco lights and even a few disco balls hung from the ceiling, even more Christmas lights were also strung around the cavern walls.
In the centre of the room a large space was cleared for students to dance in with tables and chairs pushed up against the wall for those who were either eating or didn't feel like dancing.
Several other rooms were also in use, one contained the food and bar and another had been designed so it was like a Christmas grotto, Otto's snowmachine had been installed there and occasionally let out bursts of snow to lightly dust the floor.
As Wing and Otto stepped into the cavern even Wing couldn't help but look impressed, 'I have to say Otto, you have excelled yourself here,' he said slowly gazing around.
Otto grinned massively, 'I know.'
Wing rolled his eyes before turning around, 'Where are the girls?' he asked.
'Not to sure,' replied his friend also sweeping his gaze around the room.
'Oh look, here are our knights in not-quite shinning armour,' said a familiar voice to the two teens' right.
Both turned and stared. Shelby and Laura were stood to the side smiling their welcome at their friends.
'Wow,' managed Otto, 'You look urrmm..' he trailed off still stunned at the girls' appearance, and one girl in particular, he was so used to seeing them in the dull and nondescript HIVE jumpsuits it came as a surprised to see them looking so…radiant.
'You both look wonderful,' smiled Wing his eyes fixed on Shelby who grinned back.
She was wearing a shimmering, full-length, sleeveless blue dress with her blonde hair piled neatly on top of her head, Nero had wearily agreed to letting the girls wear some make-up for the party and she had applied a little mascara to her eyes along with light-blue eye shadow which accented the colour of her eyes.
'Shall we?' asked Wing, gallantly holding out his arm which Shelby happily took and together they walked off into the midst of the rest of the students leaving Otto and Laura together.
'You look great,' mumbled Otto flushing.
'Thanks Otto,' she smiled, 'I have Shelby to thank for this,' she added gesturing at her dress.
'She chose well,' Otto said with a slight smile.
Laura was clad in long green dress which brought out the colour of her eyes, like Shelby's it was sleeveless and full-length but unlike her friends it billowed out at the bottom trailing a little way behind her. Her hair had been bundled up behind her with a few strand allowed to fall down and frame her face.
Otto cleared his throat feeling another wave of embarrassment as he realised he'd been standing there gawping a little at his friend, 'So, would you like to get a drink or something,' he asked.
She smiled again, 'Thanks Otto,' and together they walked off hand in hand to the party.
Not a very long chapter but I promise the next one will be :D
In the next chapter: Raven and the Contessa will make and appearance (yay!)