That Friday, Denise was running around the house like a madman. 'Where is my brush?'

'It's here!' Vanessa shouted from the living room. Denise ran to her, and Vanessa gave her the brush. Denise ran back to her room, and shouted a thank you. Vanessa shook her head, a slightly amused look on her face. Denise ran back in the room: 'The orange or the pink dress?'

Vanessa looked up: 'Pink.'

Denise ran back again. A bit later, she screamed: 'Should I wear make-up?'

'Only if you want to!' Vanessa shouted back.

'Denise, you look stunning!' Lin said. Vanessa looked at Denise. She wore the pink dress, she had straightened her hair, and she had put a pink rose in it. 'Wow baby girl, you really do!' Vanessa exclaimed.

'Notcha baby girl,' Denise said, sticking out her tongue.

The bell rang.

'I'll go get it!' Denise screamed.

Denise opened the door. 'Hey babe,' Nick said, 'You look gorgeous tonight.'

'You do too,' Denise said, and let him in.

'And you must be Denise's parents,' Nick said, 'Nice to meet you. I'm Nick.'

Denise pulled a face at the mention of parents, but she didn't say anything about it.

'Hi Nick,' Lin said, 'I'm Lin. And that beautiful lady over there is Vanessa. I'm lucky to call her my wife.'

'Hi Nick, nice to meet you,' Vanessa said.

'So you'll bring her home?' Lin asked.

'Yes sir,' Nick said, 'I'll make sure she'll be fine, and after the party I'll bring her straight back to home. You can trust me.'

'Well then,' Lin said, 'Have fun Denise! I'll see you around midnight then.'

'You didn't sit with me and my friends any time this week,' Nick said while they were walking to Justin's apartment, 'why not?'

Denise sighed: 'I had other things to do.'

'Yeah,' Nick said, 'sitting with the geek.'

'She is my friend, and nót a geek!' Denise said angrily.

'Wow sorry,' Nick said. Then he sighed: 'I'm just upset because I missed you.'

Denise immediately calmed down: 'I'm sorry. But I'm here now!' She kissed him on the cheek.

'We're here,' Nick said. He swinged the door open: 'Come in, my pretty lady.'

Denise giggled, and walked in. The living room was dark, and loud music was playing. A disgusting smell of teenage sweat and alcohol came to Denise. Nick pulled her in: 'Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends!' Nick looked around, and soon dragged Denise over to a group of boys.

'Denise, these are Max, Justin, and Will. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Denise.'

'Whoah,' the boy introduced as Will said, 'She's hot for a black girl. Great catch Nick!'

'What did you say?!' Denise asked angrily.

'Haha,' Max laughed, 'It's a hard one, Nick. She's got some bite!'

'Hey, be nice!' a voice from behind her said. Denise quickly turned around. It was a boy with fuzzy brown hair and brown eyes who said it.

'And that's Davey,' Nick said, 'my other friend.'

'I'm not Davey!' the boy said, then he turned around to Denise: 'Hey Denise. Nice to meet you. I'm David, but my friends call me Dave. Except for Nick. He calls me Davey, which I hate!'

'Nice to meet you, Dave,' Denise said.

'Do you want a drink, Denise?' Nick asked.

In the quiet kitchen, Nick rummaged through the cabinet. 'What do you want? There's beer!'

'Uhm actually I don't drink,' Denise said.

'Aw cute,' Nick said. He filled a glass with coke, and gave it to Denise. 'I wanted to apologise for my friends. They're jerks.'

'They're racists,' Denise said.

Nick nodded, and filled a glass with beer. Halfway through, he stopped. 'You don't mind if I drink, do you?'

'It's okay,' Denise said.

'Okay thanks,' Nick said.

'Now if you don't mind me, I'm going to say hi to mý friends,' Denise said. Nick nodded: 'See you in a few minutes than.'

Denise snuck into the crowded living room. She found Odessa standing alone in a corner.

'Hey 'Dessa!' Denise said.

Odessa looked up, and started smiling: 'Denise!'

'How are you?' Denise asked.

Odessa shrugged: 'I don't like parties. I only go because mom says I have to socialise.'

Denise nodded: 'Maybe you should talk to someone. People would like you better if they knew who you are.'

Odessa grabbed Denise and whispered: 'Heathers are watching us at 8 o'clock.'

Denise turned around, and indeed, Fé, Rose and Meyrin were watching. They all three were standing in the same position, contrapposto and arms crossed. Denise giggled: 'They really think they're playing in a Broadway show.'

Odessa laughed too: 'Well actually, Heathers is an Off-Broadway show.'

'Whatever!' Denise said, 'But hey Odessa, I should go. Nick is waiting for me.'

Odessa nodded, and Denise walked away.

Later, Denise was dancing. Odessa tapped on her shoulder. 'Denise? I want to leave! It's so crowded and the music is so loud!'

'Come on,' Denise said, 'I know a calm place,' She grabbed Odessa's hand and brought her to the kitchen.

'Pfew,' Odessa said, 'That's better! Man, I really got stressed in there.'

'I see,' Denise said, 'Do you want a drink?'

'Yes please,' Odessa answered.

'Coke or Fanta?'

'Coke please,' Odessa answered. Denise filled two glasses with coke, and gave one to Odessa. 'So, how's life?'

About half an hour later, Nick came into the kitchen. 'Denise! I have been looking for you everywhere!'

'Odessa was a bit stressed, so I helped her,' Denise said.

'But you're on a date with me, not her!' Nick whined.

Denise smelled alcohol: 'Nick, you're drunk.'

Nick shook his head: 'I only drank one glass of beer. I had figured that you wouldn't like it if I got drunk on our first date.'

'Well I appreciate that,' Denise said, 'And I'm all yours now.'

'Well then, let's dance!' Nick said, running to the dance floor.

Denise laughed, and followed him.

Denise and Nick were having some quite good times. After they had become tired of all the dancing, they sat down with a fanta and chatted. Odessa walked towards them, but was stopped by Rose.

'Where are you going, girl?' she asked.

'To my friend,' Odessa said.

'A friend?!' Fé exclaimed, 'She's got a friend! How adorable.'

'She's not your friend,' Rose said, a sweet smile on her face, 'As soon as she's had enough of you, she'll let you down without the slightest of doubt!'

Odessa turned to Denise: would it be true?

'That's not true!' she said, but it sounded more insecure than she wanted to.

Fé laughed evilly: 'Well of course it is true, dearest. She'll let you down in no time.'

Odessa felt a hand on her shoulder. 'Leave her alone.' Denise said confidently. Denise turned to Odessa, looking deep into her eyes: 'I'd never let you down again.'

Odessa saw nothing but honesty in those eyes. She slightly nodded: 'I believe you.'

'Again!' Fé mocked, 'Seems like Denise isn't as innocent as she claims to be! She'll let you down just like she let down us!'

'Shut up!' Meyrin said. Everyone looked at her surprised. No one had expected the little girl that followed Fé everywhere to ever stand up to or even disagree with Fé. But here she was, standing there with a fierce anger in her eyes.

'Denise never let us down in any way!' she continued, 'She just became friends with Odessa and told us to stop bullying. She never claimed that she didn't want to be friends with us anymore. You were the ones that threw her out right after! If that's how you treat your friends, I'd prefer not to be one! I talked to Odessa, and she really is a nice girl! If you'd give her a chance, you'd notice that too!'

Everyone stared at Meyrin in death silence.

'I agree with the Japanese girl,' Dave suddenly said, 'I know it's literally none of my business - I don't even know you - but I agree with the Japanese girl.'

Meyrin smiled at him. The brown-haired boy smiled back: 'I'm Dave, by the way.'

Meyrin blushed: 'I'm Meyrin.'

'Well, nice to meet you, Meyrin,' Dave smiled, making Meyrin blush even more.

While all this was going on, Fé got angrier and angrier. She had always been the queen of the school, but now it was four against two, that was something she'd never experienced before. And now even Meyrin had turned against her! She couldn't take it anymore. So she stood frozen, until it became too much, and she exploded. She slapped Meyrin in face, and ran away crying.

'Fé!' Rose cried out, and ran after her.

Denise pulled a protecting arm around Meyrin. Dave looked at her worriedly: 'Are you okay?'

She slightly nodded, more in shock than in pain.

Over an hour later, Nick was walking Denise home.

'What a night!' Denise sighed, 'I'm still kind of in shock by all that happened with Meyrin and Fé... But I'm glad that we still have had some nice moments together,' she said, slipping her hand into his.

'So am I,' he said. He turned around and softly kissed her on her lips. He broke the kiss, his eyes asking: may I? She smiled, and softly kissed him back.