Behind The Mask

Seventeen

"Italian meatballs?"

"Check."

"Pizza?"

"Check."

"Other food?"

"Yes, darling."

"Shut up Dallas. Don't call me darling when I'm stressed."

"Yes, darrrling!" Laura shouts from the top of the stairs.

"Shut up mom!" Gwen yells back.

All Laura does is laugh. Before Gwen can reply with a string of cuss words, Dallas hugs her from behind and takes the clipboard out of her hand. "Sweetheart, let me handle the clipboard. You need to go change."

Gwen looks down at her baggy sweatpants and bleach-stained tank top. "Yeah..." she sighs. "Maybe you're right. For once."

Dallas laughs and starts pushing her up the stairs. "Dal!" Gwen squeals. "I can do it myself! Stop!"

"Hands off Dallas!" Laura says from inside her room.

He grins and backs away with his hands in the air. "Alright, alright. I just wanna see this dress you've been keeping a secret!"

"You'll see it soon. Now go check off things! This night needs to be perfect." Gwen scolds. She dashes up the stairs and slams her door behind her.

"Oh yeah." Dallas chuckles to himself. "She's stressed."

30 minutes later Gwen comes racing down the stairs. "Come'on people! Party starts in two minutes and Ava's family is always on time! Is everything ready? Dallas, why didn't you tell me I was taking too long?"

"Uh... Uh... Be- Because a guy should... Uh.. never.. say to his girlfriend?" Dallas stutters. Gwen whips around to glare at him and stops short.

"What're you staring at?" she asks as color rushes to her cheeks.

"You." he replies. He takes her hand, wraps it in his, and kisses the back of it. "You look absolutely beautiful."

Gwen looks down at her knee-length, purple halter dress and fingers the gem belt around her waist. "Thank you." she says. Then, she pecks him on the lips and drags him into the entry hall. "Now let's go get this party started! Oh, and, don't worry. I'm still in the ambush. This is gonna be the best Christmas party ever!"

Dallas follows her with a sheepish grin, suddenly nervous. He's never been a party person. But if Gwen's around, he'll do just about anything.

"Max! You look so handsome!" Gwen gushes. She wraps him up in a bear hug.

"Tank you! You look weakly pwetty too Gwen!" Max replies, with an adorable crooked grin in place.

"You're welcome! And thank you." she says. Then, Gwen stands up and links her arm through Dallas'. "Alright. Thank you guys so much for helping out this together. Now let's get this party started!"

Right on cue, the doorbell rings. Max squeals, "I'll get it!" and runs to the door.

Over the next ten minutes, guests flood through the front door. Soon, the guys arrive- all dressed up in jeans and T-shirts- to break the ice. But before they can say anything beside a few, "Hey"s, Max runs in and tugs on Gwen's skirt.

"Gwen! I have to pee! Can you watch the door for me?" he whispers. Unfortunately, Max's whispers are the approximation of a hoarse yell. So everyone heard him.

Gwen swallows a giggle. "Of course Max. Go ahead."

And then he dashes up the stairs.

Everyone chuckles and migrates into the main party room. Laura cranks up the music and fixes the hem of her red, sleeved cocktail dress before mixing into the crowd.