A/N: Thank you monkeyface1 for taking the time to review most of the chapters as you were going along reading!

Thanks guys for pointing out the grammar, I'm one of those people who hates reading back their work! But I'm working on it. Most of the time, I'm just rushing to get the chapter out to you!

Chapter 9 - Masquerade

"I feel like an idiot!" Ted whined for the hundredth time tonight.

"Suck it up man, we're all dressed up," Luke told him.

"Yes. But I'm the only one dressed as a pilgrim."I held back the need to laugh.

"Well we can't help it if everything else at the fancy dress store was taken!"Ben said, laughing as he forced Ted out of the car.

After Ben's idea to crash Riverdale's party, we had headed over to the fancy dress store, only to grab the last few outfits. Everyone as Riverdale had apparently already been to the store. Fortunately for me, I didn't get stuck with a pilgrim costume like Ted. My outfit fit tonight's theme perfectly. According to the shop keeper, the only reason that it was left was due to its high price tag, and since that wasn't a problem for me, I ended up with the Prince Charming costume, fully complete with a navy blue mask that covered half my face.

Once we had finally convinced Ted that everyone inside would be dressed up and nobody would notice him, we walked into "The Garage", a nightclub, which I assumed was new since I remember the building being an ice skating rink. Nobody gave us a second glance as we stood in the line waiting to go in, probably since everyone was decked out in masks and nobody could recognise us.

"Here you go," The guy at the door said, handing us each a dark blue wristband, "Keep them on throughout the night. Enjoy your evening."

I put my wristband on and walked through a pair of glass double doors, and on the other side was an archway filled with flowers and lights. The archway was at the top of a long glass staircase, and from here I had a good view of the whole venue. It was pretty cool, and it reminded me of a club I used to go to back in New York. The club was made up of different levels, connected by random staircases; right in the centre was the main dance floor. It was currently filled with students, none of which I recognised. No sign of Timmy and the Riverdale lot yet.

"What now?" Ted asked

"We enjoy the party , until the fireworks start," Ben answered.

X x x x

Juliet POV

I zipped up the dress I was wearing. I could already hear the makings of a party. The music has started and I could hear a crowd growing. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a white strapless dress, with lots of layers and sequins on the bodice. I put on my plain white mask , which completed my outfit, and set out to join all my classmates.

As I stepped out of the room, I heard a whistle behind me. "Well don't you look hot?"

I turned around to see Paul leaning against the glass doors that led to the party.

I stepped to open the door to go in , trying to avoid him the best I could.

"Really? You can't avoid your date all night!" he said. I cannot believe he actually thought I was going to play along to being his date.

"You aren't my date Paul!" I said, I putting my hands on my waist in an attempt to look fierce.

"Oh , I beg to differ doll," he said , putting his arm around me, " If you remember , your mother was there when you agreed, and I don't really want to tell your parents you went back on your promise."

For the second time tonight, I could not believe this guy. He would go as far as to tell my parents I want co-operating.

"You can't keep using that against me!...and don't call me doll!"

"You're right. I can't. Juliet , you know as well as I do that we are betrothed—"

"It's not the middle ages Paul" I said with a very unladylike snort, "We aren't 'betrothed' to do anything!"

"Well whatever you want to call it, our parents are looking to us to be the future of our companies, and to bring our businesses together, and you know however much you put up a fight, we will be going to Yale together, and you never know what could happen next, personally I see marriage on the table, why fight the love baby?"

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right about everything apart from the marriage part. It was what our parents wanted. But if I could help it, it wouldn't even get as far as Yale.

"Ahh, don't you two look just darling!" I knew that voice.

"Mrs Capulet! How lovely to see you again!" Paul said turning on his charm.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" I said, shocked to be seeing her.

"Well I'm chaperoning dear," she said calmly.

"Can I speak to you?" I said walking out of Pauls recently adapted embrace, without an answer, pulling her to the side, leaving Paul standing there.

"There are no chaperones tonight."I stated, wondering what an earth she could be doing here, since it wasn't as if she had ever taken an extra interest into my extracurricular activities in the past.

"Ok. I confess," She said, "I came along to make sure you and Paul found each other."

"Mother!" I exclaimed, not hiding my irritation

"Don't 'Mother' me, Juliet, he is a lovely boy! You are just acting like a child! Step up to your responsibilities, because I don't want to tell your father you're the reason why Montague enterprises will get picked over us to join Pauls fathers business, because trust me Juliet I will!"

I am amazed that she stooped so low, to come here just to make sure I kept to my word of going to the dance with Paul, and then she tells me our company needs this! For a second I wondered if I was actually being childish, just because I didn't want to 'take one for the team'.

My mother took my silence as acceptance. "Good, I'm glad you see things my way," she said, guiding me back to Paul.

"Sorry Paul, to keep you waiting," she nudged me toward him, who was more than happy to replace him arm around me, and move closer.

"Come on doll."

"Ok, have fun kids," She said as she left through the exit.

We walked through the double doors, and down the long staircase. I could see Nala making her way towards us, with her date.

"Awww, you two look so sweet!" Nala said, looking between us both. What was it with everyone?

"Nala, you look delicious as usual" Paul said with a casual nod. Nala visible melted at his words, despite her date standing right beside her.

"Thanks Pauly, you're so sweet," Pauly?

Nala's date introduced himself, clearly unsettled by his dates liking to Paul. While they introduced themselves, Nala mouthed to me, 'You're so lucky' As far as I was concerned, she could have him because I wasn't feeling lucky at all.

"Come on Juliet, let's dance! We'll catch up with you guys later," Paul said , pulling me toward the dance floor. Unfortunately for me it was a slow song, so I had no choice but to move closer to him. It felt uncomfortable to be in his arms and he was holding me too tight. He leaned toward me, bending his head down. Was he seriously going to try to kiss me? To avoid anything, I stepped out of line and 'accidently' stepped on his foot. He pulled his head up sharply.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, sorry Paul," I said.

This was going to be a long night.

Ahh you thought they were going to meet didn't you? I promise they will in the next one! What do you think of Paul? Good guy or bad guy? Do we like him?

Review!

-R