The Forbidden Six

November 17th, 1938

"Otto. Otto. Otto. Otto!" Werner yelled from his front yard.

"What?" He peeked out his open window and looked at his blond friend. "Why didn't you come in through the front door?"

"That doesn't matter. I need help. I haven't asked her yet."

Otto sighed and closed his window. A minute later, he opened the door and invited Werner in.

"Why haven't you asked her yet? The dance is tomorrow. Liese's going to kill you."

"Well, have you asked Mena yet?" Werner countered.

"Yes, actually. A few days ago. I just 'forgot' to tell you. Just like you 'forgot' to ask Liese to the dance and how you 'forgot' to tell her about it. I told Mena about the dance a fortnight ago. She just kept it a secret until now. I told her if she tells Liese— because they tell each other everything— I wouldn't attend."

Werner frowned. Otto closed his window after telling Werner to go to Liese's house. He shuffled to her house and knocked on her door.

"Mena's here," Liese said once she opened the door.

"Oh. I shouldn't have knocked."

"It's okay for now. One of these days Mena is going to get mad at you for not remembering. Anyway, would you like to come in?"

He nodded. "I have a question for you."

Liese stared at him. "Okay?" When he didn't say anything, she spoke again. "What is it?" She absentmindedly fiddled with her locket, clicking it open and close.

"Uhm, so you know how the military ball is tomorrow?"

"Oh, mein Gott im Himmel," she breathed. Her eyes lit up with excitement and her mouth turned up into a smile. "It's going to be so fun. I have this beautiful blue dress that I'm going to wear. I already tried it on and it's so pretty. I think Mena has a dress too. She might not. I'm not really sure. I also have this—"

"Do you want to go with me?" Werner interrupted. "To the dance. Like as a date?"

Liese blinked. His confidence wavered each second that she didn't say anything. Her face broke into an even wide grin. "Ja! Oh, this will be so much fun. Thank you! Ooh, we have a surprise for Leyna. You're coming with me to see it." She grabbed his hand and led him to her room. "Can I tell Mena and Leyna?" she whispered, leaning close. A smile still lingered on her lips. Her eyes were filled with mirth and she was close enough to kiss him. Werner noticed this with a wry smile. He leaned closer before Liese pulled away and led him into Leyna's bedroom.

A white box sat on the bed. Mena and Leyna were seated upon the bed and conversing in quiet tones. The two looked up when Werner and Liese came into the room. Liese told them what Werner had asked and they all started screaming with joy. Mena took Liese's arm and shook her back and forth. Werner awkwardly stood in the doorway until Liese invited him to sit. She smiled at him and he marveled at the way her blue eyes lit up. He blinked and looked away as Leyna began to speak.

"Okay. What's the surprise?" Leyna asked, looking at the box with an eager expression on her face. Although it had only been a few days since the fires, they were all pretending that all was normal.

Liese exchanged a glance with Mena. She walked to the bed and opened the box. She pulled out a bundle of black fabric and held it up. A black Grecian gown with a small red line over the waist unfolded into view. A section of red fabric flowed down from the red line, getting bigger as it neared the ground, like a slice of pie. It had an asymmetrical neckline and one of the shoulders was exposed.

Leyna gasped and her hand flew over her mouth. "Where did you get that? It's so pretty."

"We bought it for you. For the dance. We assumed that you would go. Do you like it?" Mena asked.