The Elementals #1 by Kiki XoXo (best books to read for knowledge .TXT) 📕

"I wouldn't be to happy." I he says, and I laugh.

" Are you kidding? I'm getting out of the house, and going to a party." I reply, and notice his eyes change for a second.  "What exactly is all going to happen at the party? You're the one that's been to parties before." I ask, intrigued.

"Hmm, a bunch of drunk teenagers, and the crowning of the royals, beer pong, strip poker." He creates a list. Crowning of the royals? I ask him what he means. "Oh, right.  Everyone at the party votes on who they think looks the best, and it's one boy and girl. They're crowned prince and princess. They have to dance and all that, like homecoming or prom." He says. Wow, I've always wanted to see one of those! Now, I'm even more excited.  "Lyra, just promise me one thing." He says seriously.

"Yes?" I ask, now I'm worried.

"Listen to what people say to you carefully. Don't agree to anything you don't want to." He says, oh god is he telling me to watch out for drunk boys?

"No worries Sean." I sigh, as he pulls up to the house. Running out of th car, I head right to my room. Nothing. No dress. Oh man, it was to good to be true. Leaving my room, I head to the kitchen I'm gonna eat my pain away.  Harris bought me a cupcake, and a bag of skittle! I grab them from the kitchen table and go back to my room.  I can't resist skittles, and a cupcake to cry with sounds good.  Why would I cry? I mean, I was mena to them, so why shouldn't they have been mean back?  My phone starts buzzing, and I answer Sophie's call.

"We found the cutest dresses," She shouts into the phone, without a hello.  Suddenly my day brightens. "But none of them are in your size, you're to danr skinny!" She adds. The rain clouds storm back in.  I almost hang up on her.

"It's okay. I'm su-. . .  Soph, I'm gonna call you back." I get sidetracked, Flora and Chaston just arrived by stone traveling. It's what they're each holding that really catches me. Hanging up, I look back forth between them. They have enough make-up and hair stuff that a fashion would need!

" Are we early?" Chaston asks, holding up the curlling iron.  I shake my head, the dress though, I want to see the dress. I can't. It's zipped shut in a bag protecter thing. Getting down to business they shove me down the hall the to bathroom. Amazingly Sean never popped his out of his room to see what was going on. Shoving me into the shower, tthe start plugging in the curler and some other hair untensil I've never seen. Oh boy, I pet through my hair. Praying it will make it through the night. Washing my body, and puttint the special products in my hair they gave me I take a five minute shower. Once I finish I wrap up in the towel and they get right to drying my hair. I don't think I even sit this still when actually hairstylist do my hair! It's intense watching the two of them work. Like a team, they know exacly what the other has planned. Maybe they talked about what they would do before they came. 

Pushing me back to my room, is when the real stlying begins. Turns out the had another curler plugged in ready to actually curl my hair, the one in the bathroom where just hair dryer of a different kind as Chaston tells me. I still havent seen my dress, which is driving me insane.  They start argueing about whether I need a corset of not. Chaston thinks I'm skinny enough, and Flora just wants to make my butt look bigger. In the end, one in which I'm thankful for, I don't have to wear the corset, and I get to see a bit of my dress.  I see the color blue. Blue looks good on me!

"No peeking!" Flora scolds, turning my back around. They had to look at the blue color one more time to make sure they knew what blue to use for my make-up. Aren't I getting a mask though? So eye make-up doesn't need to be so flashy, or what ever the word would be. They insist though, saying I wont alwats want to have the mask to my face They turn me away from my mirror, saying the rest will have to be a surprise. Another hour I sit, statue still while they do their work. Fixing my eye brows a little, more to my hair. I can't wait, to see. Then they have my shut my eyes, for putting on the dress, and make-up so I really can't see anything. Yes, I kept my eyes shut the whole time. I didn't want to ruin there surprise. Finally they both move away and everything goes silent.  They must be done!  they each help me stant up, I didn't need them to, but they did. Then flip me so I'm facing my mirrior, and the count down.

"One . . . Two . . . Three!"  They cheer. Opening my eyes, I almost cry. Peacock themed, I'm ina peacock themed masquerade gown. It's beautful. Ilsand blue colorinng, with green and sparkles. The dress strike me as familiar. I used to babysit one of Harris's friends daughters. She always watched a movie, a barbie one. Barbie and the Ilsand Princess . The dress Ro is in at the ball! Just like that. Accept instead of pink it's green, and the back has the crown of peacock feathers, that move like an actual tail, it looks amazing. Intracite designs, and color pallets! Looking at my hair and Make-up I'm taken back. I look nothing like me, I mean I do but.  wow! My eyes have the same blue and green, so when I blink of looks somewhat like ruffling bird feathers, and my white hair is done up in a curly bun. Then they hand me my mask, that straps around my head. Putting that on the look it complete. The mask it's self is silver, with a green rim, and lne beatiful blue peacock feather is attached, making it all tie in together. The silver, matches the sparkles pulling them out more. Holy cow, I wonder what Sophie and Melanie will think when they see me.

"Will you guys be stopping by?" I ask. After I'm  done starring at myself.

"We didn't plan on it." Chaston says, and I help them clean up there things.

"Oh you must!"I say, " I mean, even for a couple minutes." I tell them. I'm unsrue why I'm saying this, they wont know anyone but me, and if Sean see's them.

"Maybe.. If we come you'll know." Flora replies, Grabbing Chaston. Then they are gone. Glancing at the clock, I let out a breath. Then theres a knock on the door. Peeling off my mask, I open it an inch. Sean is waiting in a tux, and a black Zarrow mask.  He turns, and his jaw drops. He hasn't even seen my dress yet just my face. He stands up and away from the door. Gesturing that it is time to go. Opening my door all the way, I step out and he stares at me.

"That dress re-" He begins. I don't know what to tell him? If he asks where I got it? I don't know!

"Like it? It was sitting on my bed, Harris must've got it for me!" I say twirling, and he nods. Then we leave, without saying anything to Harris. Hoping into the back, he sighs gearing up the car. Once  we arrive at Tatum's I take a couple deep breaths. I'm at a party!  "Thanks Sean." I say he nods walking off into the crowd.  I text Sophie and Grace, and Sophie replies tell me to meet her inside by the staircase. I go inside and see one of the dresses she  explained to me over the phone. I hop over to her.  "Sophie?" I ask, and th girl turns to me.

"Yes? . . ." She is silent a minute, "Oh my god! Lyra? You look amazing! Where did you get that dress from, and your hair and make up!" She is in awe.

"Lets just say I'll be thanking Harris. You look amazing!" I say replacing my mask. " Have you seen Melanie?" I ask her, and she nods. but her face darkens and her eyes worry. she lifts her mask so I can read and see her face perfectly.

"It was weird, we were out shopping for dresses when she got a call. Then she just up and left, then I came here. I seen her talking with Tatum, and couple other people from school. She had on a really nice 1800's ball gown and mask."   She was with Tatum? Oh, well maybe I was reading different signs. Although she never ever talk to or about Tatum. Maybe she was a closet liker? We walk around, ignoring the offer of sleeping with boys, and drinking. No alcohol for me. We walk outside, through a little garden. No rabid dogs are in sight.  I laugh.  Although those dogs were aparently computerized! Talk about technology! Coming back to the real world I realize I've lost Sophie. I try and spot her bright pink dress in a mess of colors. Nope, I don't see her anywhere.

Walking around trying to find her, I get more and more stares.  What is there problem? Yeah, it's Lyra, boohoo get over it. I consider taking off my mask, maybe they don't know it's me . . . but my hair should be a dead ringer. Passing by the staircase for the third time, I figure Sophie must've got ick and left.  What else would have happened? Then I consider going up stairs, and looking in the bedrooms. Sophie isn't really like that, but maybe. I make my way up grabbing my skirt in one hand so I don't step on it, smiling to myself because it's something I've always wanted to do! Peeking into the bedrooms, with my eyes closed I ask for Sophie. Nope, not upstairs.  Descending the stairs, I can't hepl but smile . . . it's not everyday a girl like me feels like princess! I head back outside, it way to hot inside. Bumping into someone I imediately turn and apoligize. The greens eyes, distract me a second.

"Oh, Flora!" I say, and she smiles. "You look beautiful!" I say, and she does. Black ball gown and mask, it eally brings out her eyes.  "Where is Chaston?" I ask, and Flora pulls me to the side explaining how Mrs. and Mr. Holt AKA the king and queen hate it when Chaston and Sebastien leave Spridge. Sebastien? Must be the prince, or did I know that already? I don't recall hearing his name. I didn't see him yesterday in Spridge,