I cringed as I stared at the screen then let out a sigh before running my fingers through my hair again.

"What?" I heard Lolita ask and I glanced at her, before slowly closing my eyes.

"I just want to get away from everyone and everything," I said with a sigh, sitting up on the bed as I crossed my legs. Lolita mirrored me and smiled sadly.

We sat quietly for a moment before Lolita suddenly jumped off the bed. She reached out, turned up the music, and pulled me up.

"I know what we're doing tonight," she said excitedly, dropping my hands and running into the closet.

The song "Move" by Little Mix floated from the stereo causing my lips to stretch into a smile.

"Ain't waiting, I'm on a roll," Lolita sang as she danced out of the closet with a shawl around her shoulders.

She threw the shawl around my waist and yanked me closer to her, singing at the top of her lungs.

"You got to let yourself go…"

I laughed and swatted her lips away when she tried to smother me with a kiss, then I ran my fingers through my hair and swayed my hips to the music.

"We're going to a party," she said and I froze, before twirling around hastily to look at her but she had already run back into the closet.

I followed her uncertainly and found her rummaging through my clothes, probably trying to find me something to wear.

"I can't," I said, quietly leaning against the door and crossing my arms against my chest. She ignored me and continued looking through my dress rack.

"Lolita, I can't go"

She stopped and sighed, before glancing up at me annoyingly.

"Yes you can and will," she said, blowing a strand of hair that had fallen out of place, away from her face "I'm tired of you moping around! We're going to that party so, come help me find that red dress that looks stunning on you."

I sauntered towards her with a small smile on my face "You can't make me go you know. I can ask you to leave" I said with a smirk.

She glanced up at me and rolled her eyes.

"You wouldn't dare," she said, raising her eyebrows. Then she pouted her lips, widened her puppy eyes, and gave me the 'look'.

I groaned and looked away from her face, turning to the rack of clothes in front of me

"Please?" she said in a tiny voice and I laughed, searching through the dress rack in front of me.

I pulled out the strapless gown she had been talking about and held it against myself, taking a step back so I could get a better look at myself in the mirror.

I sighed and glanced at Lolita, only to find her watching my every move with a knowing smile on her face

"So how do I look?" I asked, giving up.

Lolita squealed and clapped her hands, before ushering me into the room to change into the dress.

I rolled my eyes at her thrilled squeals, and stalked back into the room, stripping off the outfit that I had worn to school that day. I swapped my underwear for a strapless bra and matching panties, and then pulled on a pair of black tights.

The dress was short, and more on the burgundy side than red; it clung to my skin above my waist then flowed into a free skirt that stopped right above my knees.

I stared at myself in the mirror and a protesting Shay stared back at me.

What the h.e.l.l are you thinking? Are you trying to repeat history?

Lolita emerged then, in a black cropped top beneath a grey sweater, and a pair of black leggings. She was holding a pair of black flats in one hand and a pair of black heels in the other. She stopped in front of me and held both hands up, looking at me expectantly.

I s.n.a.t.c.hed the black flats from her grasp and quickly slipped them on before she could change her mind.

There was no way that I would wear those death traps, and besides, flats would reduce my risk percentage tonight.

Lolita rolled her eyes and slipped on the black heels "You used to know what these were called" she said with a smirk, and then stood beside me as we stared at our reflections.

"Do you think this is such a good idea?" I whispered slowly, tugging at the hem of the dress I was wearing.

"A wise man once said that beer is the solution to all of life's problems" Lolita said, sticking out her tongue at me.

I laughed and placed my hands on my waist.

"First of all, the same man said it's also the cause of man's problems" I said, causing Lolita to roll her eyes and stalk over to my dresser.

I laughed and held up my index finger "Second, that 'wise man' was Homer Simpson."

"I thought that was Gandhi," she said with a smirk, slowly applying her make-up.

I burst out laughing and grabbed the wig that was sitting on my bed, before pulling it over my head.

"I'm pretty sure it was a cartoon character," I said with a smile, sitting on the edge of my bed.

Lolita clicked her tongue distastefully at my wig but said nothing. She walked over to the stereo, changed the track that was playing before sitting me down at my dresser.

"No make-up" I muttered, picking up the brush to fix the wig. Lolita sighed and handed me the mascara and lipstick.

"Just these," she said, earning herself a sigh.

I quickly put on the tiniest bit of mascara, to which Lolita rolled her eyes, and swiped the red color once across my lips.

"Happy?" I said with a smirk and she slapped my arm and shook her head.

I laughed as she started dancing to the song that was playing.

"And I will hold you closer, hope your heart is strong enough" Lolita sang loudly as she pulled me up and twirled me, then threw her hands up and started dancing in circles, with me joining her after a beat.

"When the night is coming down on you" I sang as we swung our hips.

"We will find a way," she sang loudly as she grabbed my hands and twirled me once more.

"Through the dark," I finished, looking up at the ceiling as we danced around in circles and waved our arms and our hips side to side.

For the first time in a long time, I felt alive...and somewhat free.