XXIX

                                    

                                          
The ball came faster than we all thought. 
I was excited.
This last week has been filled with things I'd never imagined myself doing. I've been taking more self-defence classes and learning how to use a gun has become easier. I've hit my target spot a few times without Tori's help which has honestly felt amazing. 
But now I still have a whole week left until I leave. Which is scary to me. 
Malia, Danica, and I were getting ready together. We asked Anna if she wanted to get ready with us but she has a thing for getting ready alone. 
The dresses we all got were amazing. The annual ball is the one night out of all the events the mafias hold where you don't have to go in your mafias colors.
Mine is red, it's a simple satin red dress with a slit on my right leg running to my high thigh. My hair was in a half-up half-down bun, little red flower pins holding it in place. 
I went with a good makeup look. I had darker eye shadow on and did more to my lips. 
Danica's dress was blue, with a semi-sweetheart neckline with a slit on her right running up to her high thigh. Her hair was down but she had two blue clips holding some hair back giving her a half-up half-down look. 
Malia's dress was black. It had a deep v-neck and a slit that ran to her mid-thigh. Her dark hair was held back in a slick back ponytail. She did some bold eyeshadow too. 
And this ball is a masquerade ball so it meant we had to have masks. Malia and I went with a black mask while Danica opted for a cream coloured mask. 
"Jesus, we look good." Malia said as we finally all stood in front of the large mirror in her living room. 
"I definitely think the colors were the right choice for us." Danica said. 
"Me too." I agreed with her. 
We started to walk towards the door when Tori's voice stopped my steps. A smile crept on my face. 
"We'll meet you downstairs." Malia said with a smile as she walked off with Danica. 
"Ciao bambina." She said as I stopped and turned around to face her. 
"Hi love." I said softly. 
I noticed she wasn't dressed. She was simply in her usual pair of black jeans and a black shirt. She didn't look at all ready to be downstairs. 
"You aren't dressed." I said with a small pout as her arms slid around me. 
"I'm simply not going." She said and I looked at her confused. 
She was hosting.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Yeah. I'm simply not going. I don't usually go." She said 
"But Tori you're hosting it?"
"That I am." 
"So how can you not show up to your own event?"
"It's easy, I stay up here waiting for you. Getting some work done in the meantime." She smirked. 
I rolled my eyes at her statement. It's simply ridiculous. How do you not go to your own event. Surely you can't invite more than 300 people and not make a single appearance.
"Bambina, those eyes." She said sternly. 
"I can't believe you're not coming." I said sliding my hands up her arms. "So all the dances are going to be with strangers." I said.