details. She filled the rooms with beautiful flowers, she had the ballroom floors polished, and decorated with impeccable taste.
Everyone that was invited showed up almost at the same time. It was pretty amusing to watch the variety of fashions and all the different hairdos. Gabrielle, Eva, and Arielle welcomed everyone and made small talk with each person who arrived before letting them go and mingle on their own.
After a while, people started to gather on the dance floor, and everyone seemed to have a grand time. Tall, lean, good-looking Jack Wallace, who had been Eva’s favorite guy for two years now, walked up to where they were sitting. He had a warm smile on his face and to Eva’s delight he asked her to dance.
She seemed eager to be in his arms, and Arielle was pleased to see the old Eva back without the gloomy, troubled look in her eyes. When the music stopped Jack kept Eva in his arms, whispering in her ear until the next song started. It was at the end of the second song that they watched them walk away holding hands and looking at each other in complete and utter bliss. Eva looked back and sent a quick playful look to her best friends. Then she lifted her hand and waved at them just before Jack pulled her through the balcony doors.
Stony silence fell between Gabrielle and Arielle, trying to figure out what was happening out on the balcony. “What in bloody hell was that?” Gabby exclaimed, and abruptly they both exploded into laughter.
Gabrielle danced with Stefan Broderick, whom Arielle had always thought was the best looking guy in school. If he had asked her out, she would have been delighted to accept, but she had a strong feeling that he didn’t like her very much.
Stefan had come to their school during the beginning of secondary school, and he had smiled at Arielle every day when they crossed paths. She was sure that one of those days he would have asked her out, but then suddenly he started going out of his way to avoid her. She tried not to let it bother her, but the feeling was strange and bitterness settled in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t like to be rejected. However, Andrew Boyer was one of her dearest friends in school, so when he asked her to dance she was delighted. When the song was over she thanked him and walked away to welcome some more friends who had just walked in.
“What a great party!” Arielle heard Stefan’s voice very close behind her and to her surprise he was talking to her. He was standing practically next to her and as the next song started, he moved even closer without taking his eyes off of her. Just as he was about to speak, Andrew grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the dance floor. She was completely startled.
“You promised this dance to me,” he said, putting his arm around her waist and ignoring Stefan.
Arielle laughed because she liked Andrew so much as a friend. But she would have preferred to dance with Stefan and find out why he disliked her so much. She was deep in thought about this when she realized Andrew was talking again.
“I’m so happy to be here,” he was saying. “This is a great party! I know that I can’t dance very well, so if you want to sit down, I’ll understand.” They both laughed and embraced joyfully.
She was sad to hear that University of Brighton had not been Andrew’s choice, and that he was going away to another university.
By the time the party was coming to an end, Arielle had danced with several boys and she was almost ready for the party to be over. She saw Gabrielle talking with James Drew, one of the guys she had gone out on a couple of dates with during their school year, but nothing earthshaking. The music had stopped and people were leaving the party slowly, hugging, laughing, and showing what a great time they’d had. The party was a complete success, and Arielle had her wonderful mother to thank for that.
“Thank you, Arielle, I had a wonderful time,” Andrew said, heading for the door. “Oh,