SATURDAY, FEB. 8th

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

I groaned and lazily tried to hit the snooze button.

"Go back to bed; it's Saturday," I slurred. I accomplished my goal of silencing the infernal thing and turned over again to fall asleep. Apparently, that wasn't allowed.

"Sammy-kins! We all have a formal dinner to go to! I figured that you wouldn't know anybody, so even though I don't like your friends, I invited them! Come on! Get up!" My mother called from outside my room.

"Mom! It's Saturday! And it's a dinner! Can't I stay asleep?" I inquired wearily.

"No, you cannot! You need to get ready! Come on! Get up!" She repeated cheerily.

"Okay! Okay! I'm up! I'm up!" I groaned. I forcefully rolled on to the floor. I rolled my eyes and glanced towards Romance Central in expectation. I wasn't disappointed.

A purple mini locker stood next to the vase with a post-it note on the front. A dark poetry book rested at the base of the vase, and the vase had been placed on top of a heart-shaped doily. Yet another rose leaned against the ring of leaves inside the vase.

I smiled and moved to open the locker.

"Samantha! It doesn't sound like you're getting ready!" My mom shouted.

"I have all day! Let me wake first, woman!" I yelled back. I smirked and detached the post-it note from the locker.

'Hey, Sammy!

Since you don't have a locker in your house, I decided to set this up for you on the weekend! I'm sorry that it's such a light purple. I could find any darker ones. Enjoy!

Love,

SAM.'

I breathed a laugh and opened the miniature locker door. I grabbed the wrapped package on the top shelf and gently tore the paper.

"New headphones!" I grinned at the gift. I had been needing some for a while, and these had adorable, little black skulls on the ear buds.

I crossed my room to my nightstand and attached the headphones to my cell phone. Then I moved to get ready for the dinner. I knew that I wasn't going to be allowed out of my room until the limo arrived. These things happened often enough that Danny and I had created a backup plan. There was a mini fridge hidden in my bathroom that was filled with sodas and vegan meals that didn't need to be cooked.

So for my breakfast, I treated myself to a diet Pepsi, an apple, and an orange. Then I brushed my teeth quickly and flossed. I laid out an evening gown for tonight and started the shower. While the water heated, I grabbed a black towel from the storage area in the back of my closet. I took an hour-long shower and spent a while drying my hair. I washed my face three times with different soaps, brushed my hair and straightened it, brushed my teeth and flossed again, and pinned my hair back in a messy bun and headband.

I took a break to eat lunch, because yes, it had taken me a good three hours to do all of that, but my mom wouldn't have accepted any less so don't judge me. So I ate a fruit salad and drank an orange soda and some water. Then I had to brush my teeth again. Which, was pretty annoying. And I flossed. Also annoying.

I cleaned up my bathroom for a little while. Then I did my makeup. I put on deodorant and painted my nails. I straightened my hair again. Afterwards, I took a short break to pick out my accessories. Next, I curled my hair and did it up in a fancy bun-like hairdo. I put on body spray and lathered on some fragrant lotion. Then I checked my makeup and redid it. I carefully changed into my evening gown and the associated accessories. I sprayed a bit more perfume and pulled on my high heels.

By then, it 6:00pm, or, dinner time. My bedroom door magically opened (it was really just my dad letting me out) just as I grabbed my coat and handbag. I exited the room in a regal fashion and made my way downstairs where Tucker and Danny waited in suited and slicked-back hair.

"Woah," Tucker breathed.

"S-Sam! You look...whoa! Like really...whoa!" Danny complimented...I think.

"Um, thanks. Should we be going?" I directed the question to my mom.

"I think it's about that time, yes," she confirmed. We all left the house and sat in the limo.

"It's a limo," Tucker gasped.

"Sam, you get to ride in a limo to these things?" Danny asked.

"Yeah, it's not a big deal," I waved them off.

"Not a big-! Dude! You get to ride in a LIMO," Tucker emphasized.

"Trust me, it's not hard to get motion sickness," I declared.

"Sammy-kins, I'm sure the ride will be fine. You can take some tums now if you want," my mother offered.

"I'm fine." How wrong I was. As soon as the car started moving, I lurched forward with every turn, and Danny had to hold me in place.

"I should have taken the tums," I murmured nervously.

"Don't sweat it. And what I meant to say earlier, was that you look breath-taking," Danny whispered in my ear. I blushed happily.

It wasn't long before we had arrived at the Grand Hall Hotel for the dinner. Limos and sports cars dropped people in extravagant outfits on to a long carpet to the door. Danny and Tucker were uncomfortable at first, but they eased into the swing of things as they watched people exiting their vehicles.

Danny got out first, and he offered me his arm. I rolled my eyes, but I took it anyway, resting my hand carefully atop his. Tucker and my parents followed us in, with my parents linking arms in a similar fashion. Danny found our seats, which were surprisingly next to each other. He pulled out my seat for me, and I felt like a princess sitting down. He seated himself next to me, and the dinner started shortly after. We chatted quietly while was ate, and a few teasing jokes later, Danny was calling me Princess. We laughed and ate, because the food was really tasteful. Then the dinner ended around 11:00pm, and we went home.

I undid my hair and washed off all of the fragrances and makeup with a shower. I changed into my pajamas and stared happily up at the ceiling. I was starting to think that maybe I wouldn't mind getting up again tomorrow. Maybe.