The Valentine House/The Party.

Well, that's about it. You're tired of waiting around. Now's the time to get dressed and head out into the crowd! Like any teenager, you need to relax once in a while or the stress of everyday life will get to you.

Ash does your makeup and hair, with the help of an overenthusiastic Tandy, who stops by when you're about halfway done. The metallic teal eyeshadow, you think, is a nice touch, and the cobra headdress really sets off the outfit. Although you're not the type who usually cares about fashion, you like what you see when you look in Ash's bedroom mirror. In fact, you bust up laughing. "Cleopatra, eat your heart out." Your friends hoot, then crack up as well. It feels like one of the sleepovers you had as kids. Assessing your reflection briefly one more time, you nod in approval. You're drop-dead gorgeous!

Ash and Tandy are also lovely this evening. The cheerleader is going as Marilyn Monroe. Her blond hair is styled just perfectly so, and her figure is lethal in the silky cream-colored gown she chose. Pearls dangle from her neck, and soft satin gloves cover her arms to the elbows. Ash's costume isn't very elaborate, but the simplicity adds a classic touch to it. You wouldn't change a thing. Her small but shapely figure is wrapped in black velvet that shows hints of crimson which peek out here and there. Her lipstick is blood-red and her skin powdered pale as death, in keeping with the tiny fangs which protrude from the places where her canine teeth would normally be seen. Her silky ebony hair is drawn back on either side.

All three of you are dressed to kill, and you all know it. Tandy is grinning wickedly. She remarks a bit on her anticipated reactions from the guys, and you dissolve into your usual banter until Mrs. Valentine calls up the stairs to warn you that it's getting late.


The sounds of music and loud conversation could be heard even from the street as you walked up the long driveway to Will's house. Mansion, actually. You're glad you didn't wear high heels like Tandy, or your ankles would be killing you!

The Harris estate is a tastefully decorated place, but with no frills. You like that; it's not pretentious or stuffy. Uncle Ray greets you with a hug at the door, and you must stifle a comment about his eyes popping out of his head. He's never seen you in such foreign, exotic, opulent attire before.

"Awoooooooooooooo!" a howl rings from the rafters as you three girls step into the main hall. There are kids scattered throughout this room and the den, stretching upward along the curved, richly carpeted stairs and reaching into the second floor landing.

After a moment or two you pinpoint the source of the howling. It's Will, of course, and you shake your head with rueful humor, wondering if your guy friends will ever grow up. Will slides down the banister and approaches, clasping his hands to his heart. "Whoa, baby! Sensory overload! Where's my inhaler? WHERE'S MY INHALER? I'm gasping for breath here. YeoW!"

He's dressed (appropriately, you muse) as a wolf. After a short pause, you hear clanking, and a silver-clad knight turns around nearby, sauntering close and tipping up his visor to get a gander at will. Amusement curves the lines of your face again as you spy him.

The knight is Daryn. He scrutinizes the shaggy costume and lifts a brow sardonically. "Aren't you taking those sideburns of yours a bit too far here?"

Will eyes him in turn. "Aren't *you* taking this abstinence thing of yours a bit too far here?"

Daryn folds his arms, apparently to throw off any self-conciousness he might be developing. "What's that? You trying to tell me something, Lassie?"

The football player sneers. "Well, ya know, that's awfully large as chastity belts go, Dar."

"Oh--oh, very funny. I wonder how you became such an expert on such matters. I happen to be dressed like this because I admire some of the ideals of Medieval society. You know, honor and charity and chivalry... all that jazz. Hey, you've heard that old saying... you are what you wear." Daryn sneers back.

Will starts to get worked up. "Just what's THAT supposed to mean?!"

Daryn opens his mouth to come back with the obvious retort--"You're a dog"--but Ash steps in between them now, her face earnest. Always the peacemaker, she glances from one to the other, smiling. "Whoa, let's keep the testosterone level in this room to a minimum, okay boys?" More softly, she adds, "Trust me, this isn't the time."

At any rate, Daryn's for sure out of the fight. Will could knock him over with a feather--no because of any great difference in size or skill, but because now the reasonably attractive geek has set his gaze on Ash for the first time tonight. His jaw now permanently resides on the floor.

You suppress a chuckle. Adorable.

The party is just about in full swing. It looks like the kids in the den are going to start up a cheesy, corny game or two. It'll probably be fun. But you don't see Spenser anywhere. Hmmm...


You can go a lot of ways from here. Do you want to forget about everything and join the crowd, or go look for your old friend Spenser?

Are you kidding me? Go off alone? Get real! I'm gonna boogie like there's no tomorrow.

I've got a bad feeling about this. I'll look for Spenser upstairs on the landing. Perhaps he's up there and I didn't see him.

Oh, I'll search for Spense all right... in that nice, well-lit kitchen with that group of kids who are raiding it. Maybe he's among them.