‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ I asked as I stepped out of the dress and transformed back into regular old Fran, trying to look casual as she stood naked in front of the stranger. ‘Sneaking into the ball, borrowing a designer dress? What if I get caught? Or worse, what if I spill something on it?’

‘And what if you don’t?’ Rachel countered. ‘What if you have an incredible time? What if you spend the entire evening laughing and dancing and smoking a joint in the toilets with Rihanna?’

‘Do you think she’ll be offended if I turn it down? Only, the one time I tried to smoke with Stew, I got obsessed with the idea of making a cheesecake and ended up putting Dairylea on Hobnobs. High or not, it was not a successful experiment.’

‘I would still probably eat it,’ she replied, hanging the dress back on the rack. ‘Now, get in the shower, I’m going to order us something delicious from room service, and then we’ll get started on your makeup before we run out of time.’

Pulling on my robe, I was overcome with a sudden rush of gratitude as she shuffled out of her hideous Gucci gown.

‘You’ve been so kind,’ I said, slipping the hotel robe over my arms. ‘I don’t really know how to thank you.’

‘You don’t have to,’ she replied as she hopped up and down to squeeze into her jeans. ‘A stranger did something very similar for me once upon a time and I realized there are moments in our lives where we all need someone to remind us we’re allowed to be happy.’

I bit my lip and nodded, tears pricking the backs of my eyes even though I wasn’t sure why.

‘But seriously, get in the shower, I can smell you from here,’ Rachel said, wrinkling her nose. ‘We haven’t got all night and the Crystal Ball isn’t going to wait for you, you know.’

‘I’ll be as quick as I can,’ I promised. ‘When you call room service, can you order me a big Coke? A regular one, not a diet?’

‘One full fat Coke, coming right up,’ she replied, waving an invisible magic wand. ‘‘Your wish is my command.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

‘I am a very good makeup artist,’ Rachel declared, mascara wand in one hand, a tissue in the other. She took a step back and gestured for me to look in the mirror. ‘You like?’