Disclaimer: I own nothing, save salvation, the clothes on my back, and memories.

"Hey Mina!"

"Oh, hey Rena! What's up?"

"Not much, other than what I'm sure you already know. You heard about my little escapade at lunch today, right?"

"Oh, that! Don't worry about Beryl, Sere. She's a major skank and she's been trying to get a hold on Darien for years, but it never works. She's of no concern."

"Thanks for the reassurance Mina, but how can I avoid any kind of drama with her?"

"Now THAT is impossible," Mina drawled. "Beryl is an absolute drama queen. You can't divert it. I guarantee you she'll find a way to cause trouble. I mean, unrelenting she is not; eventually, she'll give up. But you've got to give her a month. Then she waves a white flag and just backs down. It always happens."

"A month? Formal is one week away. You don't think…"

"Now that you mention it, she might try to pull something. You're going to have to keep an eye on her, but we'll all help you out so we can all have a great time." Mina winked at me.

I smiled and hugged her. "Have I ever told you I love you?"

"Dozens of times," Mina smiled. "And you'll love me even more after I tell you this."

"Spill."

"We are all going dress shopping tomorrow and you, of course, are coming with us!" She gushed. "And Alex can come, too."

"Oh, I'm so excited!" I clapped with joy.

"I know, me too! Oh, I so want an orange dress. And sparkly! What do you have in mind?"

"Pink and puffy! It's just me."

"I can't wait! So I've gotta get going. I'll see you tomorrow, and don't forget to tell Al!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Mina winked and threw her signature 'V is for Victory' sign as she ran out the door.

I smiled and looked at the clock. It was time I got going, so I walked back to where Darien was sitting.

"Dar, I need to get going. Dinner will be served soon."

"Okay, c'mon and I'll walk you home."

I nodded and on the way out I interrupted Alex and Mitch to tell Al about tomorrow. She agreed and Darien and I said good bye, leaving the two newfound love birds to their biddings.

"I'll be dropping you off soon, instead of walking you," Darien said breaking the silence on our walk. "I've saved up enough money for a car and my grandpa's going to help me out a little."

"Oh, that's awesome Dar!" I said excitedly. "What are you getting?"

"I'm thinking the Ford Mustang…it's me isn't it?"

"I think so. Sporty, boyish, sleek, sexy…yup, definitely you," I said smiling.

"Sleek and sexy right back at ya babe," Darien said with a wink.

I giggled. "Dar, you're so silly. So what color are you thinking?"

"Well, what do you think I'll look good in?"

"Red or black, for sure; very boyish and sexy."

"Just like me, huh?" He chuckled. "Then black it is."

"Sexy! So are you ready for Winter Formal?"

"Well, Drew and I got some nice suits lined up, but we wanted to match our shirts and ties to your dresses."

"Oh, that's great! We're going dress shopping tomorrow. We're all going to look so cute!"

"Yeah, but there's no denying the fact that we'll be the most dashing pair of all," he said with a wink. I giggle. "So what are you thinking of wearing?"

"Um, gee, I don't know…maybe a dress?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Well, duh, I meant what kind! You know like, colors so I know what I should wear."

"Oh, well I'm hoping to find a pink dress. It's my favorite color! But since it's prom season, I'll have to do with what I can find."

"Pink, hm? I think I can pull that off. I hope you find the dress you're looking for."

He smiled and took my hand in his. We walked the rest of the way in silence and he left me at the curb, as usual, but watched as I made my way home as a precaution. Then he blew a kiss and turned to walk home.

-Saturday Morning-

9:30 AM at the Tsukino Residence

'You tell me that you're sorry, didn't think I'd turn around, and say... It's too late to apologize, it's too late. I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late. I'd take another chance, take a fall take a shot for you. And I need you like-'

"Hello?" I answered groggily.

"Wake up and get that tushy of yours out of bed and in decent clothes. My mother and I will be picking you up at precisely 10:15 AM. Be ready!"

A dial tone resounded in my ear. "Death upon you and your household," I said sleepily to no one in the room but to Mina in my head. (Had to throw in a little Romeo & Juliet : )

I slid out from under the covers, grabbed some clothes which I threw on my bed, then went downstairs for a quick breakfast. I went back to my room, got dressed, and got right back in bed. I didn't care if my clothes got wrinkled. SLEEP.

I woke up to the sound of the doorbell and looked at the clock. That psycho had actually been serious; it was 10:15 on the dot. I stood up and did my hair quickly, ran my hands over my clothes to straighten them and ran down stairs.

"Wow! Actually on time, Sere, I'm impressed!" Mina said as my mom let her in. "Ready to go?"

I nodded, waved good-bye to my mom and headed to Mina's car. Her mom was in the driver's seat waiting. "Hi, Serena," she greeted with a smile."

"Hi, Mrs. Lawrence!"

She beamed. "So, who's next Mimi?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Mimi?"

"Shut up, Rena. Lita's next, mommy."

We picked up Lita and Rei next, then Ami, and finally, Alex. Mrs. Lawrence took us to Group USA, and we all ran to the store while she looked for a parking spot.

There were dresses, literally, everywhere, and of every kind: prom dresses, cocktail dresses, wedding dresses; really, everything!

"OH MY GOSH! Look at this one!"

We all started going insane over dresses instantly. Mina grabbed three dresses-one pale yellow off the shoulder gown, one gold empire waist dress, and one peach sweetheart ball gown. Rei grabbed just one dress in two different sizes. She insisted the dress gave off a 'positive aura' and the spirits were ordering her to obey its call. It was just her color, fire red, with a strapless neckline. Lita found two dresses-one bright green satin floor length A-line dress and another less conventional dress: an adorable knee-length mint green strapless dress with a puffy bubblegum skirt. It also had black accents with a ribbon tied about the waist of the dress and some black tulle sticking out underneath the hem. Alex stuck to the basic little black dress. She grabbed three-one knee-length halter dress, one strapless mid-thigh, and a spaghetti strap dress that was mid-calf. Ami and I weren't really wowed by anything so we grabbed to plain looking satin dresses, hers blue and halter, mine pink and strapless.

We all went to the fitting rooms with our finds, and the girls let Ami and I end our miseries by letting us try on first. We both hated the dresses we'd grabbed, as expected, and the girls promised to help us find our perfect gowns. The four of them went to their fitting rooms as

Ami and I anxiously waited as judges, and the first to emerge was Lita. Without her even asking, the two of us expressed our opinions by cringing at the bright green horror before us simultaneously. The cringing was followed by gagging, which was then followed by both of us sticking our fingers down our throats, which then led to-

"Okay, okay, I get it! You don't like it, neither do I, I'll go change!"

We both beamed and gave her two thumbs up.

Just as Lita walked into her room Mina stepped out.

"Aw, Lita, you suck! You didn't let me see!"

"Rena and Ami almost hurled. Descriptive enough for ya?"

Mina cringed and we nodded, cringing as well.

"It made me want to induce vomiting," Ami whispered.

"I heard that!" Lita yelled.

We all giggled as Mina spoke up. "So, what do you guys think?"

Mina's dress came to our attention as we squinted, closely examining it. It was the pale yellow number, and except for some beads here and there that were sown in the shapes of flowers, it was pretty plain, and it matched with Mina's hair too much.

Ami and I pursed our lips and gave it two thumbs down.

"But why? I like it!"

"It's too plain."

"Yeah, and your hair doesn't stand out against it," I piped in as Ami nodded.

"I agree."

We all turned and gawked as Rei stood before the three of us in her beautiful red dress. She looked absolutely radiant, gorgeous, breath taking. We all just stood there, mouths agape. The gown was a strapless two-piece, with a floor-length mermaid skirt. Rhinestones formed a bold stripe across the top of the dress, and there was another thin line of them across the hem.

"It's absolutely stunning!" Ami shouted.

"Definitely," I exclaimed.

Mina still stood, a bit of drool dotting the corner of her mouth.

Alex ran out half dressed and gasped and Lita nearly fell over when she opened her door to peek.

"I told you all it was the one," Rei said haughtily as she sauntered back into the fitting room to change.

So the three remaining ladies went back to changing. Alex emerged a few minutes later wearing the mid-thigh strapless dress.

Ami and I shook our heads in disapproval and Rei joined as she walked out with her dress in hand.

"Yeah, I feel like a street walker."

She returned to her room as Rei walked away, making a bee line to the register.

And then Lita walked out.

"So?"

Ami and I applauded, jumping up and down giddily, pretending to wipe tears from our eyes.

"We love it!" We said simultaneously, beaming.

Alex and Mina stuck their heads out, and Rei came running giving her a once-over and a thumbs up before running off.

"Perfect," Mina said with a smile.

"Absolutely," Alex added, also beaming.

Lita smiled, running her hands over the super-cute bubblegum skirt. She looked adorable, like a giant cupcake, and the dress showed off her killer legs and tiny waist. It was just as Mina had said, perfect. And speaking of Mina…

"This is the one!"

She walked out wearing the gold empire waist spaghetti strap dress. It had gorgeous beading on the bust, and the satin material flowed straight down to the floor, hugging her curves thanks to the criss-cross back.

"I…It's…very pretty…" Ami stuttered.

"Eh, it's alright," Lita said shrugging.

"We're not convinced, so try on another one?"

Ami and Lita nodded in agreement.

Mina pouted. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's just not perfect," I said, giving her a half-smile.

"Okay, I guess I'll try on the last one."

She sulked back to the dressing room.

Alex came out a few minutes later. "Okay guys, I think this is it!"

She stepped out wearing the mid-calf spaghetti strap dress, looking simple but sultry. There was a tiny slit in the front where the hem made a ruffle all around. It had some beading on the straps, the bust, and along the edges of the ruffles.

I ran over to her. "Oh my gosh! I absolutely love it!"

She beamed. "I knew it!" She checked herself out in the mirror, smoothing down the dress.

"You look great!" Ami gushed.

"Classic," Rei said with a smile as she made her way back from the register.

Alex smiled and walked back into her changing room, leaving only Mina.

"Hurry up, Mina! I want to shop for a dress too, as I'm sure Ami does!" I yelled at her.

"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a bunch!" Finally, she stepped out and smiled. "So, what do you think? I love this one!"

We all gawked at the goddess who stood before us. Mina was the epitome of beauty in this dress. She wore a 2 piece peach sweetheart ball gown. The top was encrusted in beads that were different intensities of peach, and formed diagonal lines. The skirt was a simple floor-length tulle skirt in a pale peach.

"It's breathtaking!"

Ami was the only one who could speak as the rest of us were still completely fascinated.

"Okay, I get it! It's gorgeous, I'm gorgeous in it, I'm taking it! Could you all please close your mouths now?"

We shut our mouths and nodded our heads like a group of Neanderthals as Mina turned to change.

"Yay! Everyone's done! Now we can go shopping, Ami."

She smiled at me and nodded. After all, Ami was a woman of few words.

The girls finished paying for their dresses while Ami and I got a head start looking around. We stopped at a few nearby boutiques but found nothing. When the girls joined us, we searched the whole mall but came up empty-handed again.

"Let's get outta here guys. We can try another mall, there's bound to be tons in major department stores, and there are always fabulous boutiques to shop in!" Mina took out her cell phone as she suggested this. "I'll call my mom and we'll meet her at the car."

"Alright," Ami spoke up, "that sounds good to me. You, Serena?"

"Just wonderful, Ami."

So Mina called her mom, we met in the parking lot and Mrs. Lawrence drove us to another mall and dropped us off before continuing to look for a parking spot.

"So, where first ladies?" Lita asked.

Ami and I looked at each other.

"Hmm…how about Saks, Ames?"

"Saks is just fine, Serena."

And finally, we hit the jackpot! I found a few dresses I liked right when I stepped in. Mina and Rei ohh'd and ahh'd at my selections while Lita and Alex opted to follow Ami around. I grabbed just 3 dresses and ran to the dressing room. I'd taken two pink dresses and a lavender one, just for a change, but my dream dress was truly pink! I tried on one of the pink dresses, but it was so terrible I didn't even bother to walk out. Then I tried on the lavender one, and to my surprise it looked decent.

I stepped outside to find all the girls waiting. They all looked and smiled pleasantly.

"Purple? That's a nice change," Alex said.

All the girls continued to look at me.

"It's pretty Serena," Mina added.

Then Lita slapped her on the arm. "Lying kiss up, Sere I'll be honest with you. This isn't bad, but pink looks much better on you…"

The dress was strapless and ankle-length, and had some really pretty silver lace details on the bodice that stood out from the lavender shade. The bottom half was tulle, but just a bit puffy.

"I agree with Lita, pink is much better," Rei added.

I beamed. "Well, I wanted pink anyways…"

They all laughed.

I went back into the dressing room and as I began to change, I heard gasps coming from outside. I poked my head out to see a lovely Ami standing in a gorgeous blue gown. The dress was a 2 piece pale blue trumpet silhouette, with an off-the-shoulder corset top and a mermaid cut skirt. The corset had gorgeous details. Blue metallic thread twisted like vines all over it and it was dotted with beads in different shades of blue and silver. The light blue shade actually picked up the colors of Ami's blue hair and eyes.

No one said a word, so I was first to speak.

"Ami, that's the one," I said with a wink.

She smiled a smile grander than any I'd seen before. "Thanks, Sere."

The girls were still speechless and could only manage to nod in agreement.

Ami walked back to her dressing room, as did I. I finished putting on the last dress and came out in it, even though I knew it wasn't the one. It was a pink strapless A-line dress that had a piece of black lace wrapped about the bodice, from below the bust line to the hips. Just as I came out of my dressing room, Ami stepped out of hers.

She looked at me and was honest right away.

"Sere, it's nice, but it's not your dress. You don't completely own it. It's not the right one." She smiled and winked at me then walked to the cashier.

"She's right," I said.

"Me three," Mina piped in.

"I think that goes for all of us!" Alex said as Lita nodded.

"Alright then, I'm going back out there."

I turned, changed into my regular clothes quickly and set out to the store again. I had to find the dress. I was set on it.

And then, as I marched out of the fitting area, it caught my eye. Now, this was the one. It was almost as if it was waiting for me.

It was a pale pink sweetheart corset gown with a puffy tulle skirt. Vertical lines of pearls ran along the boning of the corset top, and more were scattered throughout the skirt. It was absolutely perfect.

I shoved the dresses I'd tried on at Mina and went towards the dress without a word. Whether it was one of a kind or just the last left, I didn't know, but there was only one dress like it and it was in my size. I ran to the dressing room with it, not caring whether or not I was followed. I stripped down, slipped on the skirt then the corset, and turned to look at myself.

"THIS IS IT!" I screamed as I jumped up and down in joy.

"Well then, don't keep the rest of us waiting!"

I stepped out to find Ami and the rest of the girls waiting for me outside. They all gasped.

"Serena, you look gorgeous!" Lita yelled.

Rei winked at me. "Perfection."

"You look positively fabulous if I do say so myself!" Mina gushed.

"Sexy!" Alex yelled.

"Well, Serena, you'll certainly make Darien melt in that!"

Everyone's eyes widened as we all turned to face none other than…

"AMI!" we all yelled simultaneously.

Everyone burst out laughing as Ami blushed beet red, and I could hardly control myself as I went back to change. Though I couldn't help but hope that Ami was right…

We all cheered once I paid for my dress, and Mrs. Lawrence dropped us all off.

It was a long day, but at least it had a happy ending.

So the girls went home

And were perfectly pleased

They'd found gorgeous dresses

That fit with ease.

Their dance would be perfect

Or so they thought

For it would be more dramalicious

Than not.

Beryl had a plan

That was waiting to hatch,

One to cause trouble

And make Darien her match.

I can't believe it either! A year an a half ago I last updated.

I've changed so much, both as a writer and a person, which is why I've had trouble with this story. The fact that I was writing on an experience I had been going through when I first published this story doesn't help either.

But this story has a pretty big fan base, and it is you reviewers who have encouraged me so much to keep writing, so I must give you what you want!

I hope you liked this chappie, just 2 more to go, and I hope you found that last little rhyme charming. There's no telling how long I'll be to update this. I'm working very hard on my other story "Exchange for Romance, Please?" That's my baby. :D It also will be updated very soon. I'm quite ahead on my writing for that story.

So check out my other stories if you'd like and good readings to you all!

Happy New Year and May God bless each and all!

Jeremiah 29:11