"Jessica, I'm going to my party now," my father said to me as I stood in the kitchen picking some cookies out of the jar.

"I know," I said, as I'd looked on the calender and his business partner's dinner dance was pencilled on. Plus, he was dressed up smart in a tux. "I'm coming too,".

Dad looked shocked. "You going to a party? But you never come with me...".

"I am this time," I told him. I'll be ready in five minutes,". I rushed upstairs to my wardrobe to find something to wear.

Since my decision two days ago, I had been figuring out what clubs I was old enough to get into and who I'd model my new look on. But I had only just decided to go to my father's party. The idea had just come to me, I'd thought it would be a great start.

I pulled out a navy blue dress that I had worn for a dinner out with my father last year, and put on some matching shoes. I put some makeup on and brushed my hair, pulling it back into a fairy neat braid. My father was yelling at me to hurry up so I put some earrings on and ran downstairs.

"Do I look OK?" I asked dad as we got into his car.

"Yes," he said without really looking at me. We drove to the party in silence.

When we got there, I was scared. So many people were there, I wasn't used to it. I felt self conscious, wondering if my dress was dressy enough.

I sat at a large round table next to my father as the meal was served. he spent the whole time talking to business people while I ate my food quietly. There was no-one my age there, what a disappointment...

No, there was one person my age after all. A guy...a very cute guy! Maybe it was worth going after all!

After dinner a band started playing and the guests danced. I hung around at the side of the dance floor not knowing what to do.

The guy saw me and walked up to me. "They're all so old aren't they!" he laughed.

I laughed too. "Yeah!".

"I'm Will," he told me. "Wanna dance?".

"Sure! I'm Jessica by the way,".

We danced for most of the evening, but didn't talk much. "Jessica, we're leaving now," my father said at the end of the evening.

"I gotta go," I told Will. I paused and swallowed nervously. "Can I see you again?".

He looked down at the floor. "Um... well... I don't think so,".

My heart sunk. "Um... well...".

"I gotta go,". Will turned his back and walked away.

I sank into a seat and bit my lip. I tried not to cry. My first party in years, and no luck with guys. Will must have felt sorry for me, sitting there all alone. But he didn't feel sorry enough to go on a date.

That proved how pathetic I was. What guy would want to date me?!

I spent the whole of the next day thinking it over. Would I ever get a boyfriend? Or at least, some kind of friend?

"Not looking like this, I wont!" I said to myself as I passed a mirror. I'd thought of it before and now was time for action. I needed radical action on my looks. I had plenty of money so...

My lips curled into a smile. "Time for a shopping trip!" I muttered. I went down the stairs and found my father sorting through papers in his study. "Dad, can I borrow your card? I was going to buy some new clothes and stuff?".

He looked up at me and eyed my scruffy jeans and baggy shapeless sweater. "Go ahead!" he said with a half-laugh.

"Thanks," I said, taking his Platinum card from him. "Later!".

I was on my way into town... and on my way to a new life.

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