When The Lights Go Down

Put Your Records On

"Come in," Mary calls in response to the knocking on her door.

Alice pokes her head in. "Hey, are you busy?"

"Just reading." She replies, setting said novel aside and sitting up straight. "What's going on?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about something. Or, actually, I guess I need advice." Alice divulges, sitting beside her on the bed with a huff.

"Is everything alright?" Mary wonders.

"Yeah, it's all fine, it's just... FP asked me to be his date to the Grammys." Mary smiles brightly. "I was already going of course, but if I'm now going as his date, there's probably going to be a certain amount of attention on me, so I've got to dress the part right?"

"He asked you to be his date?" Mary repeats.

"Yeah, and now I don't know what to wear. Do I dress up to the nine's? Do I just wear something nice but not too extravagant so I don't draw attention away from him? What do I do?" Alice begins to ramble, her mind working in over-drive.

Mary laughs and grabs the woman's hand, squeezing gently. "Alice, honey calm down. You're way over-thinking this."

"This is just so big, I mean I've never been to anything like this."

"It's natural to be nervous." Mary assures her. "Why don't we go dress shopping? We'll find you a nice dress for the show, and I can help you with your hair and makeup. You'll be great."

The blonde's eyes gleam. "You'd do that?"

"Of course, plus, it gives me an excuse to go shopping for myself too so it's a win-win."

<>

"I just don't think this is my colour." Alice explains as she stares at herself in the mirror. She's tried on so many dresses, some pulled by her, some by Mary and many pulled by an extremely helpful sales clerk.

The current dress is a floor length, fuchsia pink number, and it was definitely not Alice's pick.

"It's not bad." Mary attempts but Alice gives her a knowing look.

"I look like I'm going to a prom in the eighties."

"Yeah, I guess the feathers on the shoulder don't really help that illusion, huh?"

"I'm starting to think this is hopeless." Alice cries as she steps back into the dressing room to try on yet another gown.

"It's not hopeless. Besides, if you don't find something at this store there's plenty more we can try."

"I've tried on nearly every dress they have, maybe I'm being too picky. The third one I tried wasn't so bad, I liked that one."

"Was that the blue one with the slit in the side?"

"No it was the one you said looked like your bridesmaid's dress."

"Hey I still stand by that." Mary says, taking in the next dress Alice has tried on. "This one's nice."

Alice raises an eyebrow at her. "You're lying."

"No... It's not my favourite but it is nice."

"Onto the next we go."

Mary chuckles quietly to herself as she watches her go back in.

"You seem to be taking this pretty seriously, any particular reason?"

"It's the Grammy's, isn't it meant to be taken seriously?"

"No, I mean going as FP's date, what you're planning to wear, you just seem... I don't know, more fixated on it than I would have expected."

"Well it's a big night for him, and he asked me to be there on his arm, I think I owe it to him to at least look good."

"Are you sure it's not more than that?"

"Meaning what?" Alice wonders, pushing open the curtain of the dressing room and stepping back out in a new gown. "Mary?"

"Sorry, it's just... this dress."

Alice gnaws on her bottom lip nervously. "Bad?"

"No, it's stunning."

It's the truth, it's a perfect blend of everything Alice has liked in the previous dresses. Simple, yet eye catching, a nice colour that isn't overbearing, and just enough little details to keep it unique.

"You think?"

It's a soft yellow colour, and it fits her like a glove, as if it was made with her as the model. The skirt drapes beautifully onto her hip and is pinned by a dainty crystal broach that catches the light perfectly. And the bodice of the dress files into a triangle at the top, fastening around her neck with a matching crystal encrusted collar.

"It's beautiful, really Alice." Mary insists. "What do you think of it?"

"I think I'm glad I didn't settle on number three." Alice laughs. "It really is pretty isn't it?"

"It is. And it'll look damn good at the Grammy's, I'll bet it makes the best dressed list."

"You think?" Alice beams. "Do you think FP will like it? Should I ask him?"

Mary smiles. "Why don't you keep it a surprise? Wow him a little?"

"Thank you," Alice begins. "I think I'd go crazy out here without you, you've done so much for me, I can't ever thank you enough."

"It's my pleasure. Besides, I like having another woman around, someone who I actually get along with that is." Mary replies. "I told you I'd be here for you whenever you need me, if a friendship happens to spark along the way? Well then that's just an added bonus."

<>

"Thank you everyone for coming out tonight," FP addresses the crowd of cheering, adoring fans. "You may have already heard, but I've been nominated for a Grammy, or rather Blank Sheet of Paper has been nominated. That song came at a particularly hard time in my life, it's so quite possibly the most raw thing I've ever released, and to have it be recognized is an unfathomable honour that I'll never quite be able to express my gratitude for enough."

The cheers grow louder and he smiles, chuckling a little out of pure joy. "That all being said, this song isn't just mine, it wouldn't even be a song if it wasn't for Alice here. It would still be a jumble of random words and chords scribbled in a notebook somewhere if fate hadn't of brought her into my life." He looks back at the woman on stage with him and shoots her a smile.

"He's being modest," Alice responds. "And cheesy, very cheesy." The crowd laughs in unison, a sound that warms Alice.

"Maybe so," FP says. "But I mean it. Award or not, I've made a friend for life and an incredible writing partner, all thanks to this song, and that's the best award of all." He smiles at Alice again, seemingly unable to stop himself as he lingers for longer than what some would consider a friendly gesture.

He finally snaps out of his daze and awkwardly clears his throat. "Now, I believe we were in the middle of playing some music for you?" He jokes. "One, two, three, four..."