The soft chime of the boutique's door signaled our arrival as Amari, Bennie, and I stepped into the room. As I left school, Amari made a last-minute decision to join me to go to the boutique. She joined me not because she wanted to go shopping with her sister to have some bonding time. She followed me because she thought I was lying about Bennie. When she saw Bennie, she was surprised. "Wow" Amari said when she saw her "So, you're real? Emerald actually has a friend?" Bennie laughed at her words. I don't blame either of them. To say I was nervous was an understatement. The pack ball was just hours away. I had a mixture of emotions running through me. I was torn somewhere in between fear and excitement. I was excited because I'd never been to a ball or an elite party before. It's

