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"Totally!"
She beamed. "Lend's been working on it for like a month. I've been here all day setting up. "
"You were in on it?"
"Psh, of course I was, girl. Who do you think did invites and forced the idiot boys from school to actually dress nice?"
"Carlee, I'm so glad you're my friend," I said, blinking back any hint of tears because I was so not messing up my makeup.
"Me, too. And I'm glad Lend finally manned up and threw a decent party. "
"I'm right here, you know," he said, leaning over my shoulder. "So let's not go too heavy on the manning up talk. "
My stomach growled. "Food?" I asked.
"In the kitchen. Want me to make you a plate?"
"Perfect. " I watched him weave away through the crowd.
"So, are you two going to get married already or what?"
I laughed. "Excuse me?"
Carlee rolled her eyes. "Please. You don't even look at other guys. And I have never seen a guy that crazy about a girl before. You're, like, his entire world. "
I shrugged, smiling. "I can't imagine ever finding someone better than Lend. He just-he knows me. Totally. Everything. And miraculously he still likes me. "
"Likes? Girl, he head-over-heels-freaking-loves you. "
"It's mutual!"
"Find me one like that, okay?"
"He's one of a kind. " Way, way, way more than Carlee would ever know. She just laughed and we danced for a few minutes before I left the middle to watch from the edges and wait for Lend. The Vicious Redhead, my old soccer nemesis, was awkwardly grinding with a tall, skinny kid who was one of the stars of the basketball team, and Carlee was now surrounded by no less than four guys. I was surprised at how many of the kids I recognized under their masks, and how many of them I considered my friends. Maybe I wasn't on the fringes of normal society. Too bad I'd already volunteered for, like, ten clubs. Probably could have thrown an awesome party and called it good.
I scanned for Arianna but didn't see her anywhere. Turning to look out the window, I noticed a small point of light like fire, going in and out.
It took a minute, but I made it through everyone, nodding and grinning to birthday wishes, before bursting out the open front door. A bunch of kids lingered there, talking and laughing on the wraparound porch, but I walked straight off and into the trees that hugged the borders of the yard.
"You know you aren't supposed to be smoking those things," I said.
Arianna swore, surprised, and dropped her cigarette on the ground. "Great, that was my last one. " She ground it out with her foot.
"Come in," I said, taking one of her hands, but she pulled back.
"Nah, not my thing. "
"Arianna, seriously. This dress? The masks? It's incredible, and you did it, and you should be in there with me. "
I could barely see her in the dark, but I think she smiled. "Vicariously living through you is enough for tonight. Tell me it's the best party you've ever seen. "
"This party kicks the masquerade episode's trash. "
"Got that right. "
I took her hand again. "You're telling me you spent all that time on masks and didn't make one for yourself?"
Her voice was soft. "You know I already wear one. "
