Charlotte arrives.

Just then, the door to the common room swung open, slamming against the wall. In the doorway stood Charlotte, framed by the light of the hallway. She had changed into a tight green dress with a matching pair of heels, and she had already applied her trademark red lipstick. Around her neck was a lacy black choker. What was unsettling, though, was the smug and confident look on her face. They all recognized that look, and whatever followed Charlotte making that face usually ended either poorly or amazingly for all of them.

"Good evening, ladies," Charlotte said, as if she hadn't just thrown the door open with a loud bang. "Thank you for following my instructions. There'll be a lot more of those before this trip is true, and you'll have to listen to me if this bachelorette party is going to be the total success that all of us know it can be."

The other five exchanged looks. More instructions. Somehow they knew that not all of those instructions would be as simple or innocent as "meet me across the hall in five minutes." Most of them didn't know whether they should be terrified or excited.

Charlotte had a bag in her hand, and she held it out in the air before her. "Mel, my beautiful darling," she said. "This is what you'll be wearing tonight, so everyone knows who we're celebrating for. Go run to our room and get changed."

Melody had anticipated something like this, so she didn't bother putting up any sort of a fight, grabbing the bag from Charlotte and running across the hall. Their door shut, and Charlotte leaned in the doorway to the common room, refusing to look at any of her fellow bridesmaids while they waited for the bride to return.

And what a blushing bride Melody was. She changed quickly and opened the door again to reveal her new outfit to her friends. Charlotte had picked out a short, tight, and scandalously low cut white dress that fit Melody and her curves perfectly, matching it with a pair of very high heels, a fuzzy silver crown, and a sash that read BRIDE TO BE in large cursive letters. "Charlotte!" Melody gasped, looking down at herself. "You shouldn't have!"

"I should have, and I did," Charlotte said. "What else is a maid of honor for? Now, let's go over the game plan for tonight..."