Irei, Sascha, Emily and Echo
Emily checked her reflection in the mirror one last time before she and Echo left their forest cottage to head towards the Tiki Hut for Irei's birthday party. It offered an open bar and was late in the evening, but Echo insisted that she attend to give Irei her birthday wishes. She also wanted to be the one to give Irei his present and Emily relented. If she kept an eye on her, everything would be fine. After all, it was a party and she had to loosen up a little bit for it, which is why she wore her white dress and a pair of white open-toe heels with her hair down and in slight curls past her shoulders. This was the first time that she would see Irei and Sascha since the revelation of them being together and she hoped she wasn't going to be awkward around them. She was pretty sure that she had nothing against them swinging the other way - she hated the thought of her being unconsciously biased.

Echo, as always, talked a blue storm as they walked the fair distance to the Tiki Hut. Excited wasn't the word for it. She was allowed to go to a party with alcohol and adults, and she was not going to waste the opportunity. "I am so going to wear the dance floor down. I'm not leaving it very often because there has to be loads of cute guys. You know I like Charlie and everything, but it's just dancing and they'll be too old for me anyway," she said with a laugh. "Oh my gosh! Do you think Warren will be there? He might not be the partying type, but I hope he is! I may have to dance with him." She tucked the present for Irei close to her stomach and grinned at her mom. "Do you think I can try a cocktail tonight? Pleeeease?"

Moral depravity indeed. Emily furrowed her brow for a couple of seconds. "I don't know if Warren will be there," she said, "and you may have a sip of mine. I still haven't forgotten your behavior at the festival, you know." She might have warned Echo a bit longer, but suddenly the Tiki Hut was in the distance and butterflies suddenly darted around in her stomach. The Plancks searched the crowd of people before they spotted the two men. Emily's smile was big as she walked up to Irei, saying "Hi! Happy birthday," and wrapping her arms around him to give him a warm hug. Sascha was given a small smile and she had to admit she liked the shirt.

Finally, Echo had the opportunity to give one of her famous cheerful greetings. She grinned and hugged Irei enthusiastically before turning to Sascha for a hug as well. "Happy, happy birthday!" she exclaimed. "I hope you've been well and had a really good day today. You look awesome." She giggled before handing Irei his present, a pocket knife with a carved design on the handle. "I hope you like your present. It's from both of us, but I requested the design." Her grin was large. "Just don't use it when you're drunk! And just so you know, I'd like a dance if you can fit me into your schedule."