Bette grabbed red and black dress. They helped her slip into the dress and tied the knot in the back. The dressed exposed her smooth chocolate skin. Giving her a few squirts of perfume, they rushed her out the door. Heads turned as Carmen made her way with Bette and Tina through the crowd. Everyone was dressed up pretty formal tonight. Dana and Alice greeted them. Carmen’s eyes searched desperately for Shane in the crowd but no luck she wasn’t there.

Carmen: I want to go home guys.

Alice: Oh no missy, you’re not. We worked too hard for this.

Kit came over with outstretched arms and hugged her giving her a tight squeeze.

Kit: You look amazing!

She twirled Carmen around and the dress flowed in the air. Her big way curls bounced on her shoulder and back. They all sat and chatted. Bette gave Alice a questioning look saying where is Shane. Alice stared back not knowing the heck that stare was for.

Alice: Pst, Dana, Bette’s checking me out.

Dana looked at Bette and shrugged her shoulders. Bette sighed until she saw roses walking through the door. She quietly slipped away to stop Shane.

Bette: Go through the back straight to the stage. She’ll see you.

Shane: What about my flowers.

Bette: I’ll have her turn off the lights on the stage and you can hide it near the piano. At the end just present it to her or something.

Shane: Ok. Bette, thank you guys so much.

Bette: Well you two deserve it.

Shane: Bette. I’m nervous.

Bette: Shane! This is no time to be nervous.

They whispered and argued.

Shane: I forgot the lyrics.

Bette rolled her eyes. Carmen saw Bette fighting with flowers. She turned to Tina.

Carmen: Is Bette feeling okay? She’s arguing with flowers.

Tina looked over in horror that Shane’s plans might be exposed.

Tina: She’s fine. She does that a lot. So hey where’d your dad go?

Tina drew Carmen’s attention away from Bette. Kit went on stage when Bette signaled her.

Kit: Tonight, we invited a friend of mine to come and sing for us. She amazed me when she said she could play the piano cause girl, she did not look it. She looked more of a piano smasher.