Despite the girl's refusal of having a Saturday that week, it came by and it came fast. Abby walked around the apartment that she shared with Sasha, trying not to chew on her freshly painted fingernails. She went into the kitchen, then to her bedroom, laundry room, back to the kitchen, living room…

“If you don’t stop going around in your big circle, I swear I will have to hurt you. And do you make it a point to walk in front of the TV? Rude much,” Sasha said from her reclining position on the couch.

“Sorry. I can’t help it if I’m nervous. In like three hours we’ll have to start getting ready, and if I get all of my nervous energy out now, there’s a slight chance I’ll be okay tonight.”

“Abby, babe, you’re gonna be fine. Everything is going to be fine. Just take deep breaths, and try to relax. Think about something else, go take a long hot shower or something.”

“How are you completely calm about this?”

“I may be calm now, but there’s a good chance I’ll be like you later on. Now go so I can finish my movie.”

*****

Brian walked in through his garage into his house. He had just finished playing hoops in his long driveway by himself and was dripping sweat. Grabbing a towel from his bathroom, he wiped the sweat on his brow away just as a knock on the door came. He ran downstairs rather fast and opened the front door to find his best friend standing there dressed up in a dark green suit. In between breaths, “Hey Nick. What are you all dressed up for?”

Nick gave Brian a surprised look, “You forgot? Bri, we have that charity ball. Why aren't you ready?”

Brian stepped back, “Oops. I guess I have to take a shower, huh?”

Nick walked inside and closed the door behind him, “Not unless you want to repel all the girls. Go now. Hurry. You know Kevin will be here soon and he'll chew your ass off.”

“Yeah, yeah. Wait for me, okay?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

*****

Abby studied herself in the mirror, not really liking what she saw, but that was nothing new. She sighed, straightening the white silk fabric over her hips. It was a simple dress, with spaghetti straps, flowing all the way down to her ankles and a slit on the right side up to her knee. She turned, still looking in the mirror and fixed a few strands of loose hair in the back. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.

Sasha walked into Abby’s bedroom after putting on her makeup. She was wearing a long, light dress that fell across the ankles. A slit ran up the right side up to mid thigh and was held up with two thin straps while the back was open. The front hung low but only have a hint of cleavage, and she was holding a black wrap to go across her shoulders.

“You look good,” both girls said at the same time, followed by “thank you.”

“You ready?” Sasha asked.

Abby sighed, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

*****

Brian came down the stairs, tying his tie along the way. His hair was still a little wet, his curls making that apparent. He was dressed in a plain navy blue suit, with a white oxford shirt underneath his jacket. “How much time do we have?” Brian asked, rushing into the kitchen.

Nick stood from his spot on the couch fiddling with his glasses, “About twenty minutes until we have to meet up with the other fellas.”

Brian fixed a glass of water and chugged it down. He sat the glass back on the counter before going to work on his tie again. “This stupid thing isn’t cooperating.”

“Why do you think I wear colarless shirts? Come on, you can work on it in the car. I’m glad you’re going.” Brian stopped and looked at Nick with questioning eyes. “I mean, since you haven’t really done… much since… you know, I’m just glad you’re doing okay now.” Well, that didn’t come out right.

“Thanks Nick.” Nick smiled and nodded as the two stepped out into the cold winter air, both wanting this to be a good, fast moving night.