Arctic Love

Chapter 6: Happy Birthday

We sat Claire down in front of our mirror and looked at her. We started with curling Claire's hair and doing her makeup. We made sure the she looked flawless and her skin looked like perfection. Then we chose her dress. We chose a beautiful baby cocktail dress. It Had small sparkle details across the top and a chiffon shirt.

"You're gorgeous!" Maddy said walking around Claire.

"One second," Beth said looking at Claire once more as is something was missing. " you're shoes! What are you going wear?!" She said running to the closet and throwing open the doors.

Beth and I followed her and started to look through all the shoes we had to pick from. Considering most of us were the same size we shared shoes.

"They should be blue," Beth said holding up a pair of blue shoes with a small be on the toe.

"No they should be black," Maddy said holding up a pair of laced black heels.

"You guys are so wrong," I said "they should be white," I said holding up a beautiful white pair of heels.

"They're perfect!" Claire said standing up.

"I know," I said flipping my hair dramatically.

"Elena, you're a fashion queen," Claire said taking the shoes and trying them on.

We now had half an hour before the party and the rest of us had to get ready. I put on my tight black lace dress. It has sleeves that go half way down my arms and I matched it with a pair of white shoes. I decided that black shoes and a black dress would be a little depressing.

Maddy put on her dress and shoes. She has a green dress that she got for Christmas last year. She puts on her black shoes and sits on her bed with Claire to wait for us to all be finished.
Beth puts in a simple pair of earrings and turns to me.

"Ready?" Beth asked heading towards the door.

I give her a slight nod and stood up. We stood by the door and waited for Claire and Maddy. Claire looked amazing, Maddy looked beautiful and Beth looked perfect.

There was a knock at the door and I opened it. It was Ben waiting to take me to the party. He was wearing grey pants and a light blue button-down shirt. He rolled the sleeves of the shirt up to his elbows to look more casual.

"Ready to go m'lady?" He asked theatrically as he crooked out his arm.

I have him a small grin and took his arm. We walked down the corridor with Maddy, Claire, and Beth behind us. Claire stood in the middle so she would purposely be the center of attention. The music is so loud I missed Ben asking me why Claire was so dressed up. He nudged my ribs and I turned to see his annoyed expression.

"What?" I yelled

Ben laughed and shook his head.

"I'll ask you later" he yelled before we walked into the common room.

The common room was full of people dressed nicely. The girls were all in casual dresses and the boys were in pants and nice shirts. The common room was decorated with silver and green ribbons around the pillars and hanging from the ceiling. The couches were pushed out of the way to made room for drinking games, which Ben was quite skilled at to my surprise.

Everyone looked at us as we walked into the common room, just as we planed. Ben broke off from me and told me he would see me later. I turned to look at Claire who is dazzling under the lights perfectly. I turn and look at the crowd as everyone looks at Claire, and to my delight Blaise is in the front row.

Claire smiles at Blaise hoping to get one in return and he does. Blaise walks right up to Claire speechless.

"Claire, you look amazing," Blaise said

I saw Claire blush and look at the floor.

"Thank you," Claire said holding back her butterflies in her stomach.

I know Claire is happy and I can leave her with Blaise to talk. I walk over to the punch bowl and pour myself a drink.

"Wow, don't drink that," Ben said, running over to me and snatching my cup. "It's very strong," he said putting the cup down on the table.

"Oh, thanks," I say looking down at the punch.

Ben hands me a cup and looks at the crowd of people.

"We're gonna sing happy birthday to Olly in a few minutes," Ben says trying to talk over the music

"Okay, I'll be there," I say taking a sip of my drink.

It's very fruitful and sweet and I can't taste any alcohol. I know that just because I can't taste it doesn't mean it's not there.

I hear the music slowly start to get quieter and Ben gives me a look to tell me "it's time"

We walk to the front of the common room and stand in a small elevated part of the common room and look at the crowd. All the attention is on us as Ben grabs a microphone and starts to talk.

"Hey everyone, I hope you're having a good time," he says confidentially.

There a roar from the crowd and everyone raises their glass.

"I'll let you get back to the party but first I want to shout out a huge happy birthday to my good friend Olly!" He says pointing at Olly as a big spotlight hits him.

Everyone claps and four people carry out a massive cake that reads Happy Birthday Olly on it in Icing. Olly seems to have a mixed expression of joy and embarrassment but he's smiles.

Ben starts to sing happy birthday and the whole room joins in.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Olly, happy birthday to you.

The whole room erupts with clapping as Olly blows out the sixteen candles.
The cake is taken to the back to be cut and the music is turned up again.

Then out of nowhere, I see Draco storming out of the crowd followed by Pansy.

"Draco wait!" She called to him trying to catch up.

"No Pansy, I'm done" he yelled back without stopping.

"Draco please." She pleaded as she ran after him.

"No pansy, you've been unfaithful for too long," he said turning on his heel and towering over her.

"Draco it's not what it looks like," she said touching his arm.

Draco pulled away from her and I understood what was happening. Pansy had cheated on Draco and he found out. I feel so bad for him like I should say something. I feel the same way towards Draco that I would if Maddy or Claire were sad.

"Go back and snog James!" Draco yelled "I'm sure he'd love it," Draco said turning on his heel and storming out of the common room.

I felt so bad for him and I don't know why but I find myself following Draco out of the common room and trying to find him.