Nico sat in the back seat of Emily's car, watching Nate practically bursting at the seams, excited to go to their destination. Nico rolled her eyes, tugged at the end of her dress, and sighed. 

"I am so excited! I heard everyone will be there, and I mean everyone." Nate excitedly said. 

Emily giggled at Nate's childish actions and thought that nothing would put Nate in a lousy mood, not even the negative Nancy sitting in the back seat. Nico looked out the window watching the trees pass, becoming memorized by the scene displayed in front of her. The longer Nico sat in the car, the more she dreaded their destination. Nico is starting to regret opening the door this morning, let alone putting Nate in charge of the plans tonight.

~7 hours earlier~

"No, no way I am not going," Nico said, standing in her doorway, staring at her two best friends. 

Nate rolled his eyes and continued looking through her closet, looking for the best outfit for her. He tossed whatever seemed fit toward the bed where Emily was looking through the clothes Nate picked out. Emily examined the clothes she thought would look good on Nico, and she would put them in two piles, one pile for yes and the other for no. Nico groaned at the fact that her friends were ignoring her protest.

"Why not? It would be fun", Emily chimed in, sitting on Nico's bed. She watched Nate pull out multiple dresses and face them toward Nico before throwing them toward Emily or shoving them back into her closet.

"Why not! Do you understand what you guys are asking me?" Nico said, stomping toward her desk, grabbing her chair, spinning it around, sitting in it, crossing her arms, and pouting.

"It is just a little party, Nic," Nate said, holding up two dresses and surveying them closely before throwing them on the bed. Nico huffed, sliding deeper in her chair because this was no little party. This was the biggest party of the year and was hosted by no other than Megan Willams, aka her enemy.  

"I don't understand why we have to go. Megan throws a party like every other week." Nico grumbled to herself, but Nate just shrugged it off and moved on to Nico's shoes.

"You never know, Nic, you might have fun," Emily said as she picked up a black dress and examined it before putting it behind her for herself.

"Yeah, I highly doubt that, and why are you okay with this? Wouldn't it be awkward that you would be the ONLY college kid at this party?" Nico sat up in her chair, asking Emily.

"Actually, I won't be. I heard from some people around my campus that they are also heading to this party," Emily said, causing Nico to sink deeper into her chair. Emily sighed and looked at Nate for assistance, but he was immersed in Nico's closet.

"I just don't know why we have to go," Nico said.

"Look, this wouldn't be an option if we didn't think it would be fun," Emily said.

"For you, it would be," Nico grumbled. 

Suddenly Nate slammed Nico's closet doors, causing Nico and Emily to jump. Nate whips his head around, locking eyes with Nico, and she gulps at the fact that Nate can silence a room with just one glance, which terrifies Nico. Nate silently walked up to Nico's bed and grabbed the dresses laid in a pile on Nico's bed. He stalked toward Nico and shoved a fistful of dresses at her chest, uttering the words go change before Nico meekly shook her head and rushed to the bathroom.

~Present~ 

"Nic. Hey, Nico, you alive back there?" Emily called out, looking at Nico through the rearview mirror. Nico snapped out of her daze, and her eyes met with Emily's concerned eyes.

"Yeah, what's up," Nico asked.

"Uh, we're here," Emily said, pointing at the house in front of her. Nico tilted her head and saw this giant house in the distance, and the more she looked at it, the more it made her uneasy. Emily looked at Nate and exchanged some concerning looks before looking back at Nico.

"Nico, are you okay there? You don't look so great." Nate asked.

"Wha- yea, I'm okay," Nico said, shifting her attention toward Nate.

"Okay, well, you two go ahead, and I will meet you guys once I find a decent parking spot," Emily said, gesturing that they were still in the middle of the street. Nate nodded his head, unbuckled his seatbelt, looked back to Nico, and saw that she hadn't moved an inch.

"Well, come on, Nico, you can't stay here all night. "Nate said.

"I could try," Nico mumbled before she unhooked her seat belt and threw open the door, hopping out and shutting it behind her once she was out. 

Nico stepped onto the sidewalk and watched Nate get out of the car and talk to Emily about where they would be once she parked the car before closing the door and joining Nico on the sidewalk. They walked toward the house, and the closer they got, Nico got a better view of the house and the lights dancing behind the dark windows, making Nico feel nervous. The front yard was decorated with statues and a fountain. The yard was split in half with a stone pathway leading up to this massive house with a lovely porch with matching furniture. Nico started to play with the end of her dress nervously as she watched some people rushing past her and Nate to get inside the house.

"You can't bail out now," Nico heard Nate say, and she turned her head toward Nate, and he was looking at the massive house. Nico sighed and glanced back at that house. Even though it looks nice and big, something about it made it look unwelcoming to Nico.

"I know, but I am leaving after an hour," Nico declared, and Nate shook his head, now facing her.

"I can only do three," Nate said, holding up three fingers toward her.

"An hour," Nico said, standing her ground, crossing her arms sternly.

"Two hours," Nate said, putting his hands on his hips.

"Nate, no," Nico said, annoyed.

"Come on, Nico. Okay, how about this? We can stay for two hours, and I will pay for your food at joe's later." Nate pleaded. Nico thinks it over a little, and she agrees because she can not turn down free food.

"Fine, two hours but not a minute after," Nico stated, and Nate grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. You won't regret this." Nate excitedly said.

"Won't regret what." they heard Emily say. Nate and Nico turned around and saw Emily walking up to them with confusion and the scene she had just witnessed.

"Me staying longer than I should have," Nico said.

"Oh, he manages to get you to come." Nico nodded. "Good, maybe you would have some fun," Emily said, placing a hand on Nico's shoulder and giving her a crooked smile.

"Oh, you will," Nate quipped. Nico rolled her eyes, pushed Emily's hand off her, and started to walk toward the house.

"Come on, let's just get this over with," Nico said, tugging at the end of her short dress. Nate looked and Emily and smiled at her. Emily gave him a chuckle and started to follow behind Nico, with Nate flowing close behind.