GETTING READY FOR THE BONFIRE

As we enter the packhouse a blur of motion catches my eye. I squint to get a better look and see Mia sprinting towards us, her ponytails bouncing with each step. As she nears us, she skids to a halt, gasping for breath. "Alivia!" she pants, her eyes darting between Jess and me. "Where did you go?" I notice the curious expression on her face as she takes in the shopping bags in our hands.

"We went shopping!" Jess exclaims, holding up her bag for emphasis.

Mia's eyes widen with delight. "No way! Can I see what you bought?" she asks, practically bouncing with excitement.

I nod, feeling a sense of relief that Mia seems to be in good spirits. "Sure, let's go to my room and we can show you" I say leading the way.

As Jess, Mia, and I strolled down the packhouse, a cacophony of sound greeted us. The thud of footsteps on wooden floors, the clink of plates and cutlery being laid out, and the chatter of excited voices echoed off the walls. I couldn't help but watch as the pack members bustled around, their faces alight with anticipation for the upcoming Bonfire. Some were busy arranging logs into a neat pile, while others hurried back and forth with armfuls of blankets and pillows. The scent of freshly cut wood wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of the pack members' laughter and chatter. It was all so lively and vibrant, and I couldn't wait to join in the festivities.

We enter the room and the sound of the shopping bags hitting the bed echoes through the space. I glance over and see Jess and Mia quickly sorting through the bags, rustling through the clothes and accessories. Mia's eyes light up with excitement, and she eagerly reaches for one of the bags. "Can I see?" she asks.

Jess hands her the bag, and Mia rummages through it, pulling out a flowy blue dress. "Wow, this is so pretty!" she exclaims, admiring the dress.

"I know, right?" Jess says, feeling a sense of pride in her fashion choices.

Jess pulls out another bag and hands it to Mia. "And we got something for you too," she says with a grin.

Mia's eyes light up with anticipation as she takes the bag from Jess. She eagerly digs through it, pulling out a soft pink dress with delicate floral patterns "It's so pretty!" she says holding the dress against her and twirling around.

"I'm glad you like it," I say, feeling happy that we were able to find something for Mia too.

Mia grins at us. "Thank you! You're the best!" she says, giving us each a hug.

As we finish sorting through our purchases, Jess checks the clock “Oh no, we only have an hour until the bonfire starts!"

Mia looks up from her drawing her eyes wide with excitement. "Can we start getting ready now?" she asks eagerly.

Jess nods, already pulling out her blue dress. I follow suit, grabbing my own clothes and heading towards the bathroom to change.

After a quick bath and change of clothes, I pause for a moment, taking in my reflection. The green dress hugs my curves in all the right places, and the flowy skirt swishes around my legs. I decide to wear my hair down, allowing the soft waves to cascade over my shoulders.

I return to the room to find Jess and Mia in various stages of getting ready. Mia is perched on a stool in front of the mirror, getting her hair braided into two neat French braids by Jess.
Jess and Mia turn to look at me. "Wow, Liv, you look stunning!" Jess exclaims, a wide smile on her face.

Mia's jumps off the chair and rushes over to me, her eyes widen as she takes in my outfit. "You look like a princess!" she says, her face lighting up with excitement.

Mia's words catch me off guard, and I feel a jolt of mixed emotions. On one hand, I feel a flutter of excitement at the compliment and the positive attention my outfit is receiving. But at the same time, I can't shake off the anxiety that comes with it. I left the princess life behind me for a reason, and I don't want to draw too much attention to myself.

Jess starts doing her makeup and smiles at me through the mirror "See, I told you that dress looks beautiful on you," she says.

I look down at my dress and ask Jess, "Is this dress not a bit much?"

Jess puts down her makeup brush and walks over to me. "No way, you look amazing. Don't doubt yourself," she says, giving me a reassuring smile.

I take a deep breath and nod, feeling a little more confident. "Thanks, Jess,"

The sound of rustling fabric filled the room as we all made our final adjustments. I glanced over at Jess, admiring the way her blue dress flowed elegantly with each step. Mia twirled in her pink floral dress, the sound of her sparkling sandals tapping against the floor. I took a deep breath, feeling the smooth fabric of my green dress that Jess had picked out for me. Our faces lit up with excitement before heading out to the pack garden.

We make our way out of the packhouse and towards the bonfire. The cool night air brushes against my skin, and I breathe in the scent of freshly cut wood. Jess, Mia, and I walk hand in hand, our laughter and chatter mingling with the sounds of the pack members' excitement. The pack members are already gathering around the fire, their faces lit up with anticipation for the night's festivities. I can hear the sound of music playing in the distance, and I can't help but feel a sense of excitement at the thought of dancing and letting loose with my friends. As we join the crowd, I look around at the faces of the pack members, and I know that this is going to be a night to remember.