The Dress Shop, Day of the O'Shea's Party

[Cytherea]

Cassandra walked into the elevator with Matthew and they went up. She held onto the bars inside the elevator and clutched them so hard her knuckles grew white.

Oh, I detest elevators.

They finally reached the 100th floor, and got out. Cassandra felt a little dizzy, but followed Matthew. He was about to unlock a door when Cassandra grabbed his arm, tightly.

"Matty, is your sister nice?"

[Lithium]

"Matty, is your sister nice?"

Matthew nodded as he studied Cassandra. "Yes. She's much nicer than I am. She wouldn't have lost her temper with that girl in the shop. By the way, are you by any chance afraid of heights or elevators?"

He opened the door and a voice within shouted. "Matty! You're home!"

A short girl threw herself at Matthew and wrapped her arms around him. "Where have you been? I've been so worried. You didn't come home last night and then––"

"I found someone to help. She's coming with us to the O'Shea's party."

"What's this about you and some girl from Subterrea, Matty?" An Asian girl walked out of one of the bedrooms, a pair of orange glasses over her eyes, with tiny blue words projected onto the lenses. Her eyes scanned the information. "It says here that you were caught on your "secret" date with a girl by the name of Cassandra––"

She stopped and ripped her glasses off as she looked at Cassandra. "Oh. I see."

"Cassandra, this is Cheiko." Matthew gestured to the Asian girl. "And this is my sister Missy." He let go of Missy, who turned to Cassandra.

"It's nice to meet you, Cassandra. I am glad my brother has found someone outside of the family he can actually get along with."

[Cytherea]

"It's nice to meet you, Cassandra. I am glad my brother has found someone outside of the family he can actually get along with."

"Ah, nice to meet you too." Cassandra said, smiling. "And you too, Cheiko. I'm... sorry to intrude here..."

[Lithium]

Missy smiled warmly. "Oh, no! You're not intruding! Don't worry. As the old saying goes, "My house is your house."

"We'd better start getting ready," Cheiko said, eying Cassandra jealously.

"That's right. Will you need to borrow a dress? Do you want Cheiko or I to help with your hair or make-up? Anything you need, just give us a call, okay?"

[Cytherea]

Missy smiled warmly. "Oh, no! You're not intruding! Don't worry. As the old saying goes, "My house is your house."

Cassandra felt at ease and smiled, a real smile.

"Thank you."

"We'd better start getting ready," Cheiko said, eying Cassandra jealously.

"That's right. Will you need to borrow a dress? Do you want Cheiko or I to help with your hair or make-up? Anything you need, just give us a call, okay?"

"Oh, I already have a dress." Cassandra said. She looked up at Matty and smiled a happy smile at him. "And I don't know how to do makeup. I've never worn it before." She said, turning back to the two girls.

[Lithium]

Missy smiled widely. "Oh! I love doing people's make-up! Will you let me? Get into your dress first then... no. You should probably shower first. Even if you feel clean, you should probably shower before getting into a nice dress. Do you want to shower here? You can use mine."

She looked over at Matthew, who was setting down their shopping bags on the kitchen table.

"I've been wondering how to use the spare bedroom for a while. You can have it for now, unless you'd rather sleep in my or Cheiko's room. Although, I figured it would be nice to have your own. There's a closet and a chest of drawers. Tomorrow, we can run out and get you some more things. Just a girl's shopping trip, if you don't mind."

Matthew looked skyward. "Thank God I have been blessed with a generous income, or we'd never be able to keep up with Missy's spending."

Missy blushed. "I'm sorry! I can't help it. And it's not like it's everyday I get to help people with going shopping."

[Cytherea]

"I'd love to shower." Cassandra said. "And I don't mind you doing my makeup, if you really want to."

"I've been wondering how to use the spare bedroom for a while. You can have it for now, unless you'd rather sleep in my or Cheiko's room. Although, I figured it would be nice to have your own. There's a closet and a chest of drawers. Tomorrow, we can run out and get you some more things. Just a girl's shopping trip, if you don't mind."

Matthew looked skyward. "Thank God I have been blessed with a generous income, or we'd never be able to keep up with Missy's spending."

Missy blushed. "I'm sorry! I can't help it. And it's not like it's everyday I get to help people with going shopping."

"You two seem to have a good sense of fashion." Cassandra said to the girls. "Which is good, because I don't have any."

[Lithium]

"You two seem to have a good sense of fashion," Cassandra said to the girls. "Which is good, because I don't have any."

"Aw, don't berate yourself. I like what you're wearing. It's a nice look for you," Missy answered with a smile. "Anyways, we'd better start getting ready. Oh! And Cheiko, would you mind opening the blind to the windows?"

"Did you just wake up?" Matthew asked.

Missy blushed. "Maybe thirty minutes ago."

He shook his head. "You show Cassandra around and I'll get the blinds."

Missy grabbed Cassandra's hand and pulled her towards one of the open doors, to a turquoise colored room with huge, bright windows. "The shower's just through there. Fresh towels are in the cabinet. You can turn it all on manually, but speaking to the computer is much easier."

Matthew went over to a silver panel on the wall, pushed a button and said, "Lights off, open blinds and crack windows, with air filters."

"Scented or non-scented air filters, Sir?" asked the computer.

"Non-scented, of course."

The lights turned off and the blinds on the windows rose, revealing that the wall in front of him was just one gigantic, continuous window. The sunlight streamed into the room as he grabbed his bag with his new suit and walked to his room.

"Could you iron this for me?" he asked the computer.

"Certainly, Sir."

He took the clothes out of the bag and placed them in a container, which slid into the wall.

"Oh! And could you start my shower? The usual temperature, please."

"Yes, Sir."

[Cytherea]

Cassandra was amazed at the joint. Panels would speak with electronic voices, the walls could change, and the shower could start at your vocal command.

Her family's house was nice, but they still tried to hold onto a bit of the old fashioned things. One of the worst things her parents strongly forebode was cell phones for Cassandra.

But that's all right. Who would I call, anyway?

After a few showers had been taken, Cassandra changed into her dress as instructed. She looked at herself in the mirror.

Why was I born the most beautiful Royale ever to live? Why did it have to be me?

She walked from the bathroom to show Missy, Cheiko, and Matthew her dress. She felt like a stiff model walking out, but forced herself to relax.

They've all been so nice. And I've made good friends these past days. I should just snap out of my daze! Why do I feel so entranced?

"All right, here's the dress. Is it good?" she asked, looking up at them.

[Lithium]

"All right, here's the dress. Is it good?" Cassandra asked, looking up at them.

"Wow, Matty. You sure know how to pick them," Cheiko said. "She's beautiful."

"Yes," Missy agreed. "You are truly beautiful, Cassandra. That dress looks lovely on you!"

Matthew nodded. Wow. She's stunning. And... wow. He felt something growing within him. Something he had been afraid of for a long time, but now he welcomed. His heart rate picked up and he smiled warmly at her, studying her face. What does she think of me?

"Ready to get on to the next phase, Cassandra?" Missy asked. "Do you mind if I call you Cassy? I mean, it's all right if you don't want me to. I was just wondering."

[Cytherea]

"Do you mind if I call you Cassy? I mean, it's all right if you don't want me to. I was just wondering."

Cassandra was about to say absolutely not, when she realized how long Cassandra was to say every time. She nodded and gave a smile.

"Sure, if you want to."

[Lithium]

"Okay! So, Cassy, is it all right if we do your hair and your make-up. Not that you need make-up, but I don't see any harm in putting a bit on to enhance those gorgeous features of yours." Missy flipped back her hair and straightened the skirt of her long pink dress.

[Cytherea]

Missy took her to the bathroom and started applying cosmetics. It felt strange to wear make-up, but she got used to it. Cassandra's hair was already curling into perfect ringlets, and she wondered if Missy was going to put it up or keep it down.

"Do you think if my hair was up it would look better?"

Cassandra didn't know why she wanted to look better, but she felt like she needed to impress someone. She didn't know who, or why, but she just felt the urge.

[Lithium]

Missy looked at Cassandra thoughtfully. "I don't know. I'd probably say... How about up?"

She took a special comb for curly hair and pulled through the hair near her scalp, then brought it together at the back of her head with a bright, jeweled clip. Curls tumbled gracefully down her back from the clip, like it was the mouth of a river of water and the curls were the waves that lapped at the shore lines.

"And we'll add just a hint of eyeshadow over here. Then some eye liner over there. You won't need blush or foundation or anything... And, there! I'm done!"

Missy back away and allowed Cassandra to get a good look at herself in the mirror. "So... what do you think?"

[Cytherea]

Cassandra was mystified. Never before had she looked like this before. She even shocked herself.

"It looks... it looks wonderful. Thank you." she smiled at Missy. "I would volunteer to help you with your hair, but I would only mess it up. You have really nice hair."

[Lithium]

Missy giggled. "Thanks. I'd better go check on Cheiko. She might need my help. Why don't you go into the kitchen and wait for us–– Oh wait! You need some shoes!"

She turned back to her closet and started going through all of her shoes. "I've got hundreds of pairs. I should have maroon in here somewhere."

Finally, she pulled out a pair of low maroon-colored heels. "These should work. What size do you wear? I've got the adjustable kind."

[Cytherea]

"I think I'm a size 8."

Missy adjusted them so that they fit perfectly and then went to help Cheiko. Cassandra got up and slowly walked from the room. Matty was in the main room, staring out the window. He was already dressed and ready, except she could she from behind that his collar still wasn't straight. She smiled and walked towards him.

"Matty, your collar's still not on straight. May I fix it?"

[Lithium]

Matthew turned around quickly and stopped. "Sure. You can." Then, he scanned her with amazement. "I know I've said this a lot this evening, and I'm pretty sure I'll be saying it a lot in the future, but you look truly incredible."

[Cytherea]

Cassandra was sure she was blushing. She quickly started to straighten his collar.

"Well, you probably get this a lot too, but you don't look bad yourself. Maroon really is a good color for you."

[Lithium]

Matthew shook his head. "No. I'm not often in a position to be told I am not bad looking. I'm normally at the office during times like these, but I've made some arrangements with people I can trust. They're covering for me. I'll have to go in all day tomorrow, though."

Missy walked out of Cheiko's bedroom saying, "We'll need to leave in about five minutes. Matty, would you mind ringing for the hovercraft?"

"It's in the shop."

"Then the car, please."

"All right."

He went over to the metal plate again, pressed the button and said, "Computer, please call for the car and have it waiting out front for us in five minutes time."

"Yes, Master Fletcher."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He turned back to Cassandra. "Now, you'll no doubt be swarmed by the men there. Can I get your word that you'll give me at least two dances? I'll probably ask for more, though." He beamed at her. "I can't believe I get to take such a wonderful girl to a party."

[Cytherea]

He turned back to Cassandra. "Now, you'll no doubt be swarmed by the men there. Can I get your word that you'll give me at least two dances? I'll probably ask for more, though." He beamed at her. "I can't believe I get to take such a wonderful girl to a party."

"I'd love to dance with you any day." Cassandra said truthfully. "But, I don't really know how to dance, so you'll have to help me." she paused for a moment and then looked up at him. "Is it all right if I dance every dance with you?"

[Lithium]

Matthew smiled. "Yes. It's perfectly all right. I guess it would be awkward dancing with strangers. I couldn't do that to you."

"All right!" Cheiko said as Missy and she strode out of her room. "Let's go!"

Matthew opened the front door, went to the elevator and opened it. He stepped inside. "Hold doors until commanded otherwise. Lobby floor."

[Cytherea]

Cassandra forced herself into the elevator.

We're just going down. It's not the end of the world.

They all went inside the big metal box and Matthew told it to go to the lobby. It lurched downward, and she clenched the bars. She noticed Matty glancing at her and she managed a weak smile, but put a finger to her lips to silence him. She smiled at him again.

[Lithium]

Matthew nodded, then the doors to the elevator opened out onto the lobby. He took Cassandra's hand in his and escorted her out to their car.

Missy and Cheiko glanced at them, then at each other and Missy broke into a wide smile.

"I wonder if Matty is finally falling for someone," she whispered to Cheiko as they exited the building.

Cheiko shrugged, keeping her face a dull blank. "I don't know. It's not really my business."

"After you," Matthew opened the door for Cassandra.