"I brought your dress," Caroline tells me as she comes through the bedroom door with many things piled in her arms. I quickly grab some before items go tumbling to the floor.

"What's all this?" I ask.

"I thought we could get ready together, you know since this entire party was our idea," Caroline explains and lifts up the dress for me to see. "Don't you love it?"

The dress is entirely black with an off the shoulder neckline and thick straps. It hugs my body all the way down, exposing every dip and curve with a small, elegant flare at the bottom. Gazing in the mirror, I call to...