Are you mad?

Harri's POV

I look myself up and down in the mirror. I had to give credit to Jazz, she had done a good job. She might have used every conceivable makeup product and taken three hours, but she had transformed me from my plain existence to The Queen Of Hearts. Well, Jazz and the costume that I was ashamed to admit how much of my birthday money I'd spent buying.

I had decided against using the red wig instead choosing to curl and pin my black strands. I used a cover stick to hide the blonde regrowth that I was still yet to cover, a sprayed practically an entire can of hairspray to get it hold and made a mental note to avoid any open flames.

As I readjusted my crown I heard Jazz's bedroom door open. Looking up I see her seductively saunter across the room just like Olivia Newton-John did in the final scene of Grease. Her legs looked amazing in the faux leather pants, and the red stilettos made her look ten feet tall. I can barely walk in flats, god knows how she managed to make heels look so graceful.

"Woah, Jazz. You're the one that I want!" I sing in tune to movie's theme song.

"Tell me more, tell me more," she sings in reply. Swinging her hips from side to side.

"Seriously you look incredible. Maybe even better than the original Sandy."

She stands next to me and looks at herself in the full-length mirror. "You think Theo will like it?"

"Uh yeah!" I answer, surprised that she would even be worried about that.

We make our way downstairs just as the doorbell rings. "Want me to open it?" I ask. She nods but doesn't speak, visibly nervous. Which is something I never thought I would see from Jazz.

I walk around to the door and open it. I see Theo standing there and for the first time ever I finally see what girls could see in him, in a non-creepy sisterly kind of way.

He has combed his blond hair over and while the colour may not be true to character the style certainly is.  He is wearing skin-tight black jeans folded at the cuff retro style, showing off his white socks and leather shoes, a close-fitting black v-neck T-shirt which is low enough so the top of the chest muscles are visible and black leather jacket.

I smile at him, both happy and relieved to see that he made an effort for Jazz. "looking dashing, Brother."

"Oh, Harri. Was that a compliment?" he asks in surprise.

"Don't get used to it. It will only happen once," I reply cheekily.

He grins before looking me up and down. "You don't look so bad yourself, Queen heartbreaker."

"Hardly, but thanks. Now, are you coming in?" I say moving out of the doorway gesturing for him to enter.

He tentatively steps inside, his hands squeezed into the pocket and what little room is left in his jeans. Seriously, he's nervous too? Am I an alternate universe?

"Where is Jazz?" he mumbles.

"You rang?" Jazz calls as she rounds the corner, using one arm to swing on the door frame like a scene from Singing in the rain.

I watch Theo's eyes meet Jazz's. His mouth opens and closes, without a sound passing his lips. If I didn't know better, I would say my brother was lost for words.

"Ok, you two. Are we ready?" I ask breaking the silence.

"Sandy, you're up the front with me. Queenie you're at the back with Rob." my brothers instructs as he leads Jazz down the drive, placing a guiding hand on the centre of her back like a gentleman.

"Rob?" I question knowing that Rob is from the Lacrosse team.

"Yes, Harri. I thought you could use a partner," he says as we reach the car.

"I don't want a partner. I'm quite happy on my own," I sulk getting into the car the car, not caring if Rob heard me or not.

"Play nice, heartbreaker," Theo warns as he starts the engine.

"Someone's heads gonna roll for this," I answer bitterly, channelling my character.

I smile politely at Rob. I mean he's cute enough but I will not be "his partner". I meant what I said, I was happy enough on my own. I was mentally prepared to spend the night sitting in the corner on my own. I was not mentally prepared for Rob.

The drive there was awkward not just because of Rob, but because my crown was far too tall and meant that I had to tilt my head to the left just to fit my head inside the cabin of the car. By the time we got to the venue my neck was cramped and I was in a crappy mood.

I sent Theo, Jazz and Rob, who was dressed as the Joker, ahead while I took a walk around to the side of the building around near the pond. I figured I could use a little fresh air to calm myself down before I went inside and Theo knew better than to argue with me.

I  message SJ, "Well, I'm here and it sucks."

I take a seat on the bench overlooking the wetlands. It was already dark but I could just make out a family of ducks swimming across the top of the water.

"I'm sure it doesn't, just give it time," he replies as I take a few more deep breaths.

"Well I haven't even gone in yet but I know it's going too." I type as the cool air hits my lungs.

"You're going to have a good night. Trust me."

I stand to make my way inside. "You better be right!"

"I'm always right, H."

I walk up the stairs and make my way towards Jazz, Theo, Rob and a group of people dressed as Storm Troopers, who I figure are the rest of the Lacross Team. They're all deeply engaged in conversation about some sporting thing that I don't fully understand or care about. I consider dragging Jazz with me to the bar for an orange juice but as predicted, Sandy and Danny aka Jazz and Theo are joined at the hip. He even has his arm around her neck. I try and resist the urge to vomit in my mouth.

Instead, I make my way over to the bar by myself and sit down on one of the stools to wallow in my own self-pity.

"Have I gone mad or has this Queen stolen my heart?" a deep voice says as someone takes the seat next to me.

I swivel the bar stool to my right and look at the person who interrupted the plans I was making for a stealthy exit. I don't recognise him, or at least I don't think I do. Not that I can really tell anyway since he is dressed as the Mad Hatter, face makeup and all.

"You're defs mad," I reply as I swivel back around to the front. "Nice costume though," I add without looking back in his direction.

"Thanks," the voice replies. "So did you come here alone?" he asks.

I don't want to seem rude but this guy clearly is not getting the picture that I don't want to talk. I mummble, "kinda, not really,' and hope that this brings an end to the conversation.

It doesn't.

"Sounds like you're not in Wonderland?"

"You could say that," I answer as I take out my phone as message SJ.

"You promised I would enjoy this- you lied."

"I didn't lie. Are you making an effort?" he replies immediately.

"Yes!"

"Are you really?"

"Well no. I'm sitting at the bar. Some guy is talking to me but I'm not really in the mood to chat."

"You're talking to me though..." he writes, calling me out.

"Well, it's different. I like you." I type. Amazed at how easily the words come to me now when a few weeks ago I would have panicked at the idea.

"And you don't like him?"

"He's okay, I guess. He does have great hair tho," I write in reference to the guy's natural dark curls which appear to have been teased to fit the costume.

'Should I be jealous?"

I smile at the thought of someone being jealous of someone talking to me. It's something I have never really experienced. "Haha hardly. No one here is looking at me."

"How could they not be? I bet you look beautiful with your hair pinned back out of your face."

I glance over my shoulder discreetly to see that the Mad Hatter is now on his phone.

"Well, he certainly isn't. He's on his phone, probably talking to some floozy," I type still clearly in a crabby mood.

"Haha, floozy. What are you, 80? and who said she is a floozy? He could be texting his Grandma for all you know."

"Sorry, I should try and be more positive."

"Yes, you should. Now stop texting me and talk to him."

"Well, that didn't take long. A few weeks ago you tell me you like me and now you're  trying to palm me off to some Mad Hatter?"

I text in jest, but part of me is a little annoyed that he doesn't want to talk to me and that he is actively encouraging me to talk to other guys. I mean we're hardly dating, but I just would have thought, or more so hoped, that he might want to keep me to himself.

"Believe me the last thing I want to do is palm you off. Trust me. I just want you to have a good night. <3"

"Why should I trust you?"

"I told you, I would make it worth your while. Now stop texting me and start a conversation with the guy."

"How will you make it worth my while?"

"Harri!"

"SJ!" I reply, still not wanting the conversation to end.

"I am going to stop replying now. Go talk to him! (But don't fall for him, lol) xxx."

I skim read the message and almost miss the three little crosses at the end. When I do, I am pretty sure I let out an audible gasp. I throw my hand over my mouth and hope that the music is loud enough so that the Mad Hatter didn't hear me. I sneak another glance at him and see that he is still staring at his phone with a smile from ear to ear. I hope I got away with it.

"Fine, I'll do it. Talk later xx." I add two little crosses of my own and put down my phone.

I swivel back around to my right and open my mouth to speak but am interrupted by the Mad Hatter, "so what does someone have to write in a text to make a girl squeal like that?" he asks with a laugh.

Shittake he heard me. Panicking I look everywhere but directly at him. "Errr..." is all I manage to get out before he puts his phone down, forcing me to look directly at him.

"Let me guess... boyfriend?' he asks casually sipping a glass of water.

I stare back at him, momentarily lost in the stunning green depths of his eyes. "Umm, yeah? no? I don't know..." I reply trailing off.

"Ah, I see. That awkward early stage, right? Where no one knows where they stand."

"Something like that," I mutter as I continue to stare back at him. Every cell in my body tells me to look away but I can't. I feel drawn to him. Like I know him."

He shifts awkwardly back and forth in his seat, "would you like it to be more?"

"Yes. No. Why are you asking me about this?" I say defensively while blushing yet still maintaining eye contact.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he questions with a knowing smirk. Through his impeccably applied makeup, I see two very distinct dimples. One on each cheek.

"Do I know you?" I ask before I can rethink the question.

He smiles again, "well my Queen, I am quite sure that we have never met before."

"Oh, sorry. You just seem really familiar" I reply finally managing to take my eyes off him.

"I didn't say we didn't know each other, just that we have never met before."

I look back up at him, my eyebrows crossed in confusion, "you really are mad, aren't you?"

"For you!" he chuckles taking a sip from his glass of water.

I almost fall off my seat, "what?"

"I told you not to fall for him and what do you go and do?" he says catching me before I make a right fool of myself.

"What?" I ask again, still in a state of confusion.

He guides me back up until I am sitting steadily on the stool and continues, "I told you to talk to the guy not to fall for him, you floozy!"

"Floozy?"I look to him and then to my phone and then back to him. He is flashing some of the whitest straightest teeth I think I have ever seen in my life.

"Yes Harri, floozy," he whispers in my ear. He is slow close that his breath is warm on my ear.

"Holy mother of shiitake! SJ is that you?"

"Told you I would make it worth your while," SJ replies, pulling me into the best hug I've ever had in my life. I snuggle my head into his neck and breath in his cologne, being careful not to smudge my make up.

"Good thing I trusted you," I chuckle with a snort.

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Author's note:

You guys, would not believe the fenneling smile I have on my face right now!!  That was so much fun to write. I just hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Was there first meeting everything you hoped for? DId it make you smile? Were you screaming at Harri to realise who she was talking too?

I'll be writing the next chapter shortly- and don't worry it's continuation of this and is almost entirely Serri (SJ and Harri).

- Trudz