"I feel like I'm still in a dream state," Gwen gushed from on Courtney's bed. Gwen was hugging one of Courtney's stuffed animals to her chest. Her pale cheeks still blushing.

Courtney was looking through her closet, dressed in leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Her brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun on her head

"I knew Trent was going to ask you to the ball. We all told you he liked you," Courtney said, as she pushed another blouse out of the way. 

"I just couldn't believe it, I guess," Gwen said. With a shrug. 

There was a knock at the door, and it opened to reveal Skye. She smiled and walked into Courtney's dorm room. Closing the door behind her. She had a small black bag with her. 

"I had to get out of my room," Skye sighed "I'm pretty sure Zoey and Mike were about to have sex," she shivered a little and hopped up on the bed next to Gwen. 

"Where's Bridge?" Gwen asked, Courtney slowly smiled

"She's on a date with Geoff," she cooed. The girls gasped

"I knew it!" Gwen said "I knew they liked each other,"

Skye laughed and tilted her head to the side as she looked at Courtney

"I think I'm sensing something with Courtney here.." she said, nudging Gwen. 

Courtney looked at them, confused "With me?"

"You're glowing. And that smile hasn't left your face all day," Skye said

"Are you pregnant?" Gwen teased. 

It was meant to be a joke, but the question made Courtney tense all over. She accidently dropped the sweater she was holding. She swallowed hard and laughed it off

"Who the hell would I be having sex with anyways?" Courtney asked, as she bent down and picked up the sweater

"Duncan," both girls said together, with laughs. Courtney blushed and sputtered

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said "There's nothing going on between me and-"

"Duncan told us he asked you to the ball, and you said yes," Gwen said, raising a knowing brow. Courtney sighed and slumped her shoulders

"That idiot," she mumbled, but smiled "Yeah, he asked me last night."

"Woah," Skye said "Are you telling me that we all have dates to the ball?" 

Gwen thought about it "Huh.. I guess so,"

"This ball is going to be so awesome," Gwen said. 

"We gotta get our dresses," Courtney said. 

There was another knock on the door, and Courtney opened it. Expecting it to be another one of her friends. But it was someone she had never seen before. He was tall, with tan skin and dark hair that went down past his ears. Green eyes. He was incredibly handsome. 

"Can I help you?" Courtney asked, after swallowing hard. 

The guy smirked, showing his perfect white teeth "Hola, ladies," he said. His Spanish accent strong. "I came here to invite you to a party I'm throwing at the Donatello,"

Courtney blinked a little "Wait, but that's the upper classmen dorm," she said. Remembering Jess lived there. 

He smirked again, and nodded "Why yes, it is."

"How'd you score that?' Gwen asked, walking over. 

"I have my ways. The party is tomorrow night. Be there by 9," 

And with that, he was gone. Courtney watched as he disappeared down the hallway. Something about him seemed very.. Familiar. She had seen those eyes before. 

Courtney slowly closed her door, and looked back at the girls. Skye's eyes were wide

"I can't believe Alejandro Burromeurto just invited us to one of his parties," she breathed. 

That's when it clicked, he was Adrian's brother Jess had told her about. 

"I can," Courtney said "My sister is dating his older brother,"

"Of course she is," Gwen said "Ms. Perfect is dating Mr. Perfect," 

"Wow, everyone really does know my sister." Courtney said. The girls nodded. 

"Guess we have plans tomorrow night," Skye said "I'm gonna text Jace,"

"And I'll call Trent," Gwen said. 

"We aren't just some unknown freshmen anymore, girls. By tomorrow everyone is gonna know us," Courtney said, holding her head high. 

Skye's phone dinged, and she checked it. She got off of Courtney's bed

"I gotta use the bathroom," she said, and quickly left. Taking her black bag with her. 

The girls thought nothing of it "Do you think Heather is going?" Gwen asked.

Courtney sighed "Probably. Adrian said something about them having a fling," she said. "With Alejandro,"

"I suddenly don't want to go anymore.." Gwen grumbled. Courtney looked at her

"Oh come on Gwen! It's the party of the year. We can't miss it. We're probably the only freshmen who got invited," 

Gwen sighed a little "Fine..." she slowly got off of the bed "I gotta pee. Be right back,"

"Okay," Courtney said as she went back to organizing her closet.

Gwen left her room and headed down the hallway to the girl's bathroom. She opened the door, and walked in a little. But froze at what she saw.

Skye was unzipping her black bag, and pulled out what looked like a syringe. 

Gwen quickly hid behind the large wall, blocking Skye's sight of her. Gwen leaned her head around the corner, and watched as Skye took out a small tube from her bag. Filling the syringe, she lifted her sweater up and stuck the needle into her stomach. 

Gwen noticed how Skye didn't even flinch, she just remained calm as she pulled the needle out of her skin and threw it in the trash, covering it with some paper towels. Skye put her shirt down and washed her hands. 

Gwen quickly moved into one of the stalls and closed the door before Skye could notice she was in there. Skye grabbed her black bag and left the restroom like nothing had ever happened. 

Gwen waited a few minutes before slowly coming out of the bathroom, she looked at where Skye had stood and swallowed hard. Wondering what the hell she had just witnessed.

"Well this sucks. Now we gotta go to the party alone," Bridgette sighed, as Courtney sat and her sat down next to each other at their table in the Hamilton. 

"Of course our guys would pick tonight to go tux shopping," Courtney said, rolling her eyes in annoyance. 

"At least we'll have each other, right?" Gwen mumbled, eating her soup. 

"You're so optimistic," Courtney said. With sarcasm in her voice. 

"We're all going still, right?' Skye asked as she sat down next to Gwen. Who visibly paled a little and looked down at her soup. 

"You good there, Gwen?" Skye teased, gently nudging her friend's shoulder. Gwen gave Skye a nervous smile

"Never better," she squeaked out. Skye raised a brow.

"Oh look!" Gwen said, trying to change the subject "There's Izzy and Zoey, hey guys,"

Zoey and Izzy waved at her as they sat down as well. Izzy looked completely love struck.

"Woah, hey crazy girl. You alive in there?" Courtney asked, waving a hand in front of the girls face. Izzy blinked and shook her head

"Dj just asked her to the ball," Zoey gushed. Everyone made surprised, happy noises for the girl. 

"I didn't know you liked Dj," Bridgette said, leaning towards her. Izzy blushed further

"He smells nice," she said. Everyone laughed at her pathetic love struck expression. 

"Where's the other half of our gang?" Izzy asked, biting into an apple.

"They're all in Geoff and Duncan's room. They met up there before they go out later to get tuxes," Gwen explained. She was giving looks at Skye out of the corner of her eye, but the blonde didn't notice.

"I already miss my Geoffy," Bridgette whined. Courtney scoffed 

"You guys literally just started dating officially like.. Yesterday," she said. Bridgette shrugged.

"So are we going to get ready in my room?" Skye asked, looking at her friends. The girls all nodded.

"Great," Gwen said, swallowing hard.

"Okay, text me Geoffykins!" Bridgette said as the guys all got ready to leave. 

"I will Bridgeypoo," Geoff cooed back.

"Oh my fucking God," Duncan groaned "You two are giving me a headache,"

"Geoff, dude... You'll literally see her in a few hours," Jace said. 

"Lets go," Trent said, grabbing his keys. 

"Don't be stupid boys and do stupid boy things," Zoey said, as Mike put his jacket on.

"Okay hit up every strip club in town. Got it," Duncan said. 

Courtney whacked him upside the head. 

"And you girls be safe tonight." Jace said, eyeing them. 

"Okay, get black out drunk. Got it," Courtney teased, mocking Duncan. Who rolled his eyes. 

"We mean it, if you girls get into any trouble. we're all one call away," Trent said. 

"Now I'm getting a headache," Gwen grumbled. The girls waved to the guys as they all left, leaving them all alone in Courtney's room. 

"Okay, we have minus 2 hours until the party. Lets go get ready," Izzy said, Skye smiled and led the girls down the hall to her dorm room. Zoey unlocked their shared room and opened the door. Everyone filed into the room.

"Might as well have fun while we're at it," Zoey said, turning on her speaker. 

Avril Lavigne's 'What The Hell' started to play. 

Gwen smiled as she sat down on the bed, and Courtney started to braid her short hair. Bridgette and Skye were laughing as they tried to decide what make up they wanted to wear tonight. Zoey and Izzy were looking through the clothes they had brought , trying to decide what they wanted to wear. 

A while later, the girls were finally ready. They all looked at each other and smiled, examining their work. 

Gwen ha chosen a pair of black jeans with a rose design going up the leg, a black strappy crop top, and high heeled black leather boots.

Courtney had gone with a simple outfit. With dark green jeans, a denim shirt, and white low top converses.

Bridgette had picked out a pair of black high-waisted shorts, an off the shoulder blue blouse, and a pair of brown strappy sandles

Zoey had chosen a daring bright red top, to match her hair. Dark blue skinny jeans, and knee high brown boots.

Skye pulled together an outfit from her closet. A light gray sweater, with a tan thick scarf and a maroon skirt. She wore black tights, and high heeled black ankle boots. She had curled her blonde hair.

Izzy had let Courtney pick her outfit. Courtney had chosen a pair of blue white washed jean shorts, a simple white t-shirt, and an army green jacket. Izzy had her long curly red hair pulled back in a ponytail, letting some curls hang around her face. She wore a pair of white ballet flats.

"You girls ready?" Courtney asked them. They all shared looks and smiled

"Lets do this," Bridgette said, grabbing Courtney's hand and leading them all down the hall.

"Holy... Crap.." Gwen breathed, as the girls entered the party. Music was blasting through out the giant room. Different colored lights were flashing, lighting up the room in rainbows. People were dancing to the music. Laughing and drinking with their friends. A few upper classmen looked at them strangely, wondering who had invited a group of freshmen girls.

Courtney scanned the crowd, and caught sight of her sister standing by the wall, a red cup in her hand as she spoke to another gorgeous girl. 

"I'm gonna go talk to my sister, you guys have fun," she said. They all gave her nervous glances, as she walked across the party and to her older sister.

"Jess!" Courtney said, over the loud music. Her sister looked over, and smiled big at her as she came over. 

"Hey you!" Jess said "I can't believe you're here!" 

"Your boyfriend's brother invited us," Courtney said. Jess nodded and took a sip from her drink. Jess noticed Courtney's expression and laughed

"Don't worry, it's not alcohol. It's water," she said. Courtney nodded and looked around at the party. 

"So what's this I hear about my sister hanging out with Duncan Evans?" Jess asked. Courtney looked at her, shocked

"How did you hear that?" she asked. Jess gave her sister a look

"Oh please. You're a Taint. Any news about you spreads around here faster than you can blink," Jess said. Courtney sighed and crossed her arms

"Why does anyone care about who I'm seeing?" she asked.

"Oh so you are seeing him?" Jess asked, wiggling her brow. Courtney blushed

"No, not like that!" she said "I mean... Well.. Kinda," she confessed. "He asked me to the Ball,"

Jess gasped and hugged her sister close "I'm so happy for you! He's cute, too!" she laughed. 

Courtney pried away from her sister's grasp "Don't get that excited. I still have no idea what we even are.." she sighed "Every time I think I like him my mind yells at me to stop and I don't know why.." Courtney sighed. Jess nodded

"I know exactly what you mean," Jess whispered.

Skye laughed as she and Zoey danced together to the music. Zoey's red hair flashing in the strobe light. Upper classmen were all around them, some of them smirking at them as they danced. But neither of the girls cared, all they wanted to do was have fun. 

Suddenly, Skye felt a hand reach down and brush against her butt. She stiffened and turned around to glare at a tall upper classmen who was standing right behind her. He smirked 

"Touch me like that again, and you'll leave here with a bloody nose," Skye hissed at him. Zoey quickly pulled her away from the guy and they went towards the drink table. 

Gwen hummed a little to herself as she looked around the party. Her friends had all ditched her to do their own things. She half debated on texting Trent, to come pick her up. Parties just weren't her thing. She walked over to the beverage table and looked around

"Do you have anything... Non-alcoholic?" she asked. Only to earn a laugh from the girl behind the table. 

"Oh you freshies are so cute," she said. Handing Gwen a red cup filled with a clear liquid

"That's vodka, drink it and enjoy yourself," the girl said. Gwen sighed and rolled her eyes, and took the cup. She turned around.

Only to come face to face with Heather.

"Oh god," Heather sneered "Who invited IT to the party?"

Gwen glared at the girl "Need me to beat your ass again?"

"Where's your little musician boyfriend?" Heather asked, tilting her head to the side "Did he finally realize how weird you are and leave?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Gwen mumbled.

"Ohh, so he's still avalible," Heather said. Smirking. Gwen narrowed her eyes, and growled

"You go near Trent, and I can assure you I'll do much worse than pull your hair next time," Gwen warned. Heather rolled her eyes

"Oh please. Like I'd want anyone who is remotely interested in... You," she huffed. Heather grabbed a beer and walked back into the party.

Gwen shook her head, she looked down at the vodka in her cup. She brought the cup to her lips and drank all that was inside it in 3 gulps. She winced at the burn in the back of her throat. She threw the cup away and grabbed another one off of the table. 

Gwen slowly walked back into the party, her drink at her side. She looked around, and blew out a sigh of relief when she found a certain blonde among the crowd. 

Gwen walked over and grabbed Bridgette's shoulder. The blonde turned around surprised, but relaxed when she saw it was Gwen.

"Sorry.. I've been trying to ignore everyone here," Bridgette said. Gwen smirked

"Me too," she sighed "I just had a run in with Heather,"

Bridge gasped "What happened?"

Gwen shrugged and started to explain the situation to Bridgette. 

She was so into telling the story, she didn't even notice someone slip something into her drink. And walk away. 

"She's such a bitch," Bridgette growled, shaking her head. 

"I know, tell me about it," Gwen sighed.

"Are the drinks here good at least?" Bridgette asked.

Gwen slowly brought hers to her mouth, taking a big sip

"Yeah," she laughed "They're great,"