Tara was the first one to return to the bar having changed into the pale pink shirt, darker pink trousers and apron. David smiled, “That looks ok.” He said nodding. “Where’s Vince?” Before Tara could respond, Vince appeared in the doorway. “If you laugh,” he said, “I’m taking it off.” Both Tara and David looked up at him, the silent giggles shaking their shoulders. “Very nice!” Tara said eventually.

The arrival of the DJ broke into the friendly banter and Vince grinned at her. She was in her early twenties with bright pink hair and piercings in her eyebrow, nose and lip.Tarapointed to the stage and the woman flashed her a sexy smile. “You get all the good ones.” He whispered to Tara when the pink haired woman blanked him entirely. She elbowed him in the ribs and he coughed loudly.

As the DJ set up her equipment, Tara scanned through the cocktail book, each page making her smile. She wanted to be prepared for the party and many of the guests often asked for bizarre cocktails. Vince was practicing juggling glasses when Steps version of ‘Tragedy’, burst into the room causing him to drop the glass in his hand. Both Tara and the DJ giggled as he swept up the glass shards and threw them in the bin. The DJ approached Tara behind the bar, “Hey,” she said when Tara looked up, “Can I get a coke?” Tara nodded and fixed the soft drink. “I’m Blaze.” The woman introduced herself with the air of someone used to getting who, and what she wanted, she reminded Tara very much of Vince. “Tara.” She replied as she handed the tall glass over.

As the guests arrived, Tara almost went onto autopilot, her mind wandering back to Willow. The Steps marathon was greeted with cheers from the growing crowd who were finding their dancing feet and performing each routine in perfect synchronisation.

Outside the hotel, Willow stood and watched as large groups on gay men and families entered. She had seen the signs for the Pink Party and David had invited her along, why she wasn’t quite sure. As another group of men, decked out in full drag passed her she felt over dressed. She’d opted for casual, jeans and a tee but compared to the other people she had seen enter she suddenly wondered why the poster didn’t tell her that it was a fancy dress event.