Broken Rules, Mended Hearts

~Mariah's POV~

I look at myself in the mirror, doing a full three-sixty to see all angles. Not bad if I do say so myself. My makeup looks good with the dress. I definitely look ready for a New Year's party, that's for sure.

Am I ready though? I'll have to deal with Daniel the whole time I'm there, and everyone knows he's going to flirt as much as possible.

I walk over to my vanity, picking up my perfume. Elizabeth should be here soon. She said we'd go together. I spray my perfume then look in the mirror again.

It could use some accessories, now that I think about it.

The doorbell rings through the house. Elizabeth, finally. I rush to the door, seeing her through the window.

"Oh my gosh!" She squeals. "You look amazing! Though, it could use some accessories, come on!" With that, she drags me to my room and begins digging through my jewelry.

She picked up a silver necklace and holds it up to my neck. She quickly smiles and sets it back down, grabbing some earrings and a bracelet.

"Put these on," Elizabeth demands.

I follow her orders, quickly putting them on.

"Now, let's address this," she says, waving her hand towards my hair.

"I was just going to have my braid in," I reply quietly.

Elizabeth stares at me, dumbfounded. "I guess it's your hair. I can't tell you what to do with it," she answers with a frown.

With that, I take my time braiding my hair so it doesn't turn out a mess. I start on one side of my head going around so it sits on my shoulder like usual.

I pick up some star clips and such and easily put them in my hair randomly.

"Actually, that looks better than I thought it would," Elizabeth explains.

I smile at her statement. "I'm ready. Let's go."

~~~

I pull up to the house, staring. "This is where Daniel lives?"

Elizabeth nods. "Yep. Wait, you've seriously never gone to one of his parties?"

"I just started at Dreary High this year, remember?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot. My bad," she chuckled. "Let's go inside already! His parties are always great."

"And you want to find Drake already, don't you?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Elizabeth grinned then practically shot out of the car and inside the house.

I shook my head. I've already been abandoned. Great.

I climb out of the car and head up to the door. I take a deep breath before opening it.

Wow, I thought. That's a lot of people.

I quickly step inside, closing the door behind me.

I stand awkwardly before I hear a voice that I recognize beside me.

"You didn't have to get all dressed up for me, cutie."

"Good thing it wasn't for you then," I retorted, turning to look at the person with the voice.

"Well now I wish it was," Daniel frowned. He picked up my braid off my shoulder. "All jokes aside, you look amazing." With that he smiled softly, setting my braid back on my shoulder.

I feel my face begin to get warm. "Do you have any drinks?"

"Oh, yeah. The kitchen's that way." Daniel points through the crowd of people. "Find me if you need anything else."

With that, he disappears into the sea of humans.

~Hey everyone! Sorry for the week delay. I had some stuff going on then I got sick so it took me longer than expected to get this out. I hope to have the next part out mid this week and the one after that come out on Saturday to begin the regular schedule again. No guarantee that'll happen though as I'm semi busy this week. Hope you enjoyed!~