𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏

A Brief Intermission

Francis reaches up to the bottom of his mask and lifts it up to reveal his face after keeping it hidden for nearly thirty whole minutes before bringing a cold water bottle to his lips and chugging the water from the bottle. After a moment, he finishes the bottle of water off and lets out a sigh of relief.

"Ah... that hit the spot." Francis says before screwing the cap back on the now empty bottle. By now, the music in the house had fallen silent as most of the party goers were still outside in the backyard. However, the faint sound of voices of party goers conversing as they refilled their drinks or ate snacks reverberated through the home. Francis, Drake, and Sullivan sat at the top of the staircase in the foyer of the home, away from the rest of the congregation.

"Dude, how did it feel being out there?" Sullivan then asks while holding a second water bottle in his hands.

Francis let out another sigh, reclining his back against the steps. "It was unbelievable. I felt so... free." Francis answers as he glances up towards the ceiling.

"See? What did I tell you, man?" Drake chuckles while gently bumping Francis' knee with his fist.

"You were totally right, man." Francis then said as he adverts his attention back down to his friends. "Once I got out there and my feet started moving, it was like the whole world faded away and it was only about the dancing." Francis says.

"By the way, we've been meaning to ask you..." Drake then says as he handed off the second water bottle off to Francis. "What is up with the whole fox mask thing?"

Francis cracks open the bottle and brings the bottle up to his lips. "It was Party Pat's idea." He answers before he starts to chug the water.

"Well, we already figured that part out." Sullivan then says. "What we mean is why he asked you to do it in the first place."

Francis continued to chug the water. After a few moments, he finishes off the second bottle and brings it down from his lips, letting out another breathy sigh of relief. "He thought it'd create more excitement at the contest because of those videos of me... I'm guessing he got the idea when he saw my entry name on the signup sheet. He told me that if I went out there while hiding my face, it'd make people more excited if they couldn't see what I looked like."

"Jesus. Party Pat sure knows how to make these parties unforgettable." Sullivan says with a chuckle and glances over to Drake.

"Damn straight. Everyone went nuts after you stepped out there in that mask." Drake says, gently shaking Francis' knee.

"You are gonna be a legend after tonight if you can win this thing, Fran." Sullivan says.

"Well, I have to beat out three more people for that to happen." Francis chuckles.

"It's like you became a whole new person as soon as you put on that mask. I like this kick ass side of you, man." Drake says, crossing his arms and leans back against the railing of the staircase.

"Heh, thanks dude. I'm starting to like it too." Francis says.

"If you win this thing, you gotta share your first drink with us to celebrate." Sullivan says before rising up to his feet on the staircase.

Francis pondered to himself for a moment. "You know, I just might take you up on that."

"Fuck yeah." Drake says as he rose up to his feet as well. "And don't worry, we know it'd be your first, so we won't make you anything that will kill you."

"Sounds like a plan." Francis says before gazing back up to his two friends and pulling the mask back down over his face. Sullivan and Drake extend their hands down to Francis before Francis then grips their wrists and hoists himself back onto his feet.