Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (2 page)

P
erhaps Louie hated his cousin, I was not sure. I was afraid to ask, feeling that I would be shunned and looked upon with disgust, which I did not wish to provoke since I liked Louie. However, I felt myself growing to him in a way that I felt disloyal to Pete.

I knew Louie liked me and wanted me away from Pete maybe because of jealousy or of the idea that he was partially blind, which Louie knew about. He had always been drawing me away from Pete, if not by talk then by physical means. He would sometimes come over to me when Pete and I were talking and tell me he wanted me to meet someone - usually someone I had already met.

It seemed he always reminded me that he could see from both of his eyes and he would show off to me whenever he got the chance. Sometimes he would go too far.

Dissecting my dream, I found there might be tension between them. I figured that maybe Louie wanted to protect me from Pete’s disability and quick temper, acquired, I assumed, from his household and
father.

I suspected this is why Louie had brought me to a fancy restaurant. He was probably hoping to have an elaborate meal and attempt to pull me closer to him and away from Pete. Of course, we both knew that if Pete came into the restaurant, he would be angry with me and betrayed by his cousin.

I glanced up from pretending to read my menu, involved in thought, to see Louie looking right at me. Heat rushed to my face and I pretended to read some more, hoping he didn’t notice. The worst part of it all was that he knew I liked him and that it would not be hard to get me away from Pete.

The waiter came over to us asking for our orders. All I wanted was a cheeseburger deluxe, what had been on my mind for ten minutes, as I ordered that whenever I usually ordered. I did not want this to be fancy and so expensive to see Louie pull out his wallet stuffed with enough big bills to rent a condominium on the spot.               Even if he pulled out a credit card with his name engraved on it, I would feel uneasy. He always reminded me that he was just as rich, if not more, than Pete. Louie could still outsmart me though in making the night as expensive as
he
wanted. He must have known what I wanted to order. I figured Pete had told him about my
cheap taste in food
, but Louie would just have to outdo what Pete had done for me.

When asked what he would order, Louie uttered out a list of food, probably the most expensive on the menu. He then completed his order, shifting his glance to me. I handed my menu to the waiter and once he left I sat forward in my seat.

“We’ll be here all night eating!”

He only smiled at my remark, but did not comment or interject. His expression changed and I could tell he was distinctly staring at my necklace with a look of pure hatred. He must have hated the idea that my necklace represented Pete and me as a couple. I nearly turned away from him by the time the food came.

Dishes upon dishes of tropical fish, a variety of meats, and several salads piled onto the table. A few plates were nearly off the tabletop. Louie looked at the numerous plates of food, probably checking to see everything he ordered was there, and shifted his smug stare to me. I was not impressed. He picked up his fork, nodded the waiter off, and started on his feast.    

“You think you’re better than Pete.” I remarked, pulling a salad over to me.

“He has nothing to offer you.”

“What do you mean?”

“When he becomes totally blind with no more than a penny to his name
you
will be caring for
him
.”

“He has money, more than you.”

“Once his father finds out he is blind he won’t have a cent under his name.”

“You think I’ll end up marrying him?”

“You shouldn’t even think about that.”

He smiled, twirled his fork in his hand immaturely like a baton. He said my name, trying to catch my attention, but I ignored him. When he continued I stood up, almost without thinking, and left the restaurant. I could have walked home, but I noticed his brother Monty in the parking lot just outside the restaurant. His sleek black convertible shined against the parking lot lights. The window was down. His arm rested on the door of his car as he caught my glance.

“What brings you here?”

He smiled. “I should ask the same to you.”

“I was leaving actually.”

“Louie stole my wallet on the way out.”

I put my hands up in alarm. “He’s a thief too?”

Monty laughed. “You need a ride back home?”

I nodded, wanting to get away from the restaurant. I sat next to him surprised he was related to Louie. He looked nothing like him. His hair was light brown, with a pair of dark, intriguing eyes.

“So did Louie scare you out of the restaurant or did you leave?”

“I left. He was being obnoxious.”

“He was dumping on Pete, wasn’t he?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He paused, waiting for the car to come to a stop at a stoplight and nodded toward my necklace. “He can’t stand
that
.” 

“What’s his problem?”

“I don’t know. He’s just jealous, I think. I don’t see why he’s so tense though. He knows it’s not going to last.”

“What! You think so too? How could you say that?”

“Listen, I know he’s partially blind. I’ve seen what he’s gone through and I know that he cares for you but-,” his voice trailed off as though he tried to gather the right words to say and shot a glance to me. “You know deep down it’s not going to last.”

I sat back trying to understand him. “It’s not because of his blindness, it’s because no one else but us knows about it. If his father found out, all of us would be accused and whether you like it or not he wouldn’t trust you. He might think you told him,” he continued.

“I wouldn’t tell.”

“
He
doesn’t know that.” He looked desperately over to a café hearing the irritation rise in my voice. “Are you hungry? Do you want a coffee or something? I know you were in such a rush to leave Louie.” He said quickly.

“Fine.” I sank into the leather chair again and felt myself relax.

He led the way into the small café. We were seated quickly. When asked for our orders I said I wanted nothing. I could not eat anything anyway, even if I tried.

I stared awkwardly at my friend who was tracing the edge of the silver napkin holder. He was probably trying to gather his thoughts. He probably wanted only to refrain himself from bringing up the previous subject that had enraged me.

“Did you hear about the ball?”

“What ball would that be?”

“The masquerade ball Louie and I are throwing in about a week.”

“Oh really, am I invited?”

“No.” He sat back crossing his arms.

“Why not?”

“I know you don’t own a mask.”

“I don’t own a mask? Since when? Do you not remember the mask you gave me on my birthday from your last trip to Italy?”

He smiled. “I must have forgotten. I’ll have to tell Louie.”

“Oh no don’t tell
him
,” I teased.

“At least you’ll have a mask. It will be impossible to find you.”

I wondered if he was referring to Louie or himself. The server came over, placed Monty’s drink before him, asked us if we needed anything else, and left. I watched as he lifted his cappuccino up, hesitated, and placed it back down.

“You will come right?”

“Of course, Louie’s behavior won’t prevent me from coming.” I assured him. 

“Good, I’ll make sure you’re on the list then.” He went to pick up the cup again and watched as I gawked at it. Wordless, he pushed it in my direction and I quickly pushed it back to him. “I insist.”

Sitting back, he studied me with his eyes half- closed as though he was in a daze, but when I moved he followed my movement with his eyes. Taking the cup in my hands, I glanced back at him, my lips curving over the edge of the mug in a smile. I found myself thinking and mumbling to myself a name that came to mind and at once, I chuckled to myself. Breathing into the cup, I whispered the name into the steam so he couldn’t hear me.

“Fitzray.”

T
he next day I found myself in Pete’s presence. He felt bad about the day before and asked me to meet him back at his house again. It was then that he apologized for his outrage and pleaded for my forgiveness. 

“You know I forgive you.”

“I didn’t know until you told me,” he admitted. He took the silver dragons in his hands, tracing against its engraved, polished surface. “This necklace looks wonderful on you,” he said, focusing closer on its detail.

“Monty invited me to the ball.”

“The masquerade ball,” he mumbled, “is no more than a party.”

I was surprised by his relentless expression. “Weren’t you invited?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Monty and Louie are my cousins, why wouldn’t they invite me?”

I shrugged, feeling he didn’t really need an answer. “You don’t want to go?”

“I don’t have a choice,” he sighed, “I already told them I’d help them. Besides, all of the party stuff is packed downstairs.”

“What kind of stuff is it?”

“Decorations mostly. Do you want to see?”

I nodded and he let go of my necklace to lead me. He took me around the house and down to the basement. Down the stairs, an entrance into darkness, led into the basement. Pete pulled a string I hadn’t seen that turned on an overhead light, what one would have expected to see in a closet. It illuminated only a portion of the basement.

“The dungeon,” he said, making a gesture to the lightened portion of the room as if to introduce me to it.

I took in the musty atmosphere and insecurity wrapped itself around me. The dank, stale air I breathed in gave me a sense of apprehension and my eyes immediately flicked toward the jumbled mess of decorations piled high to the ceiling. Party favors and bowls, cups, utensils, and tall candles filled the room. I strained my eyes to see that the decorations were even scattered in the darkness. When I was finished taking it in, I turned to Pete.

“Where’s your mask?”

“It’s upstairs I think.”

“What’s this then?” I pulled a gold mask from the pile.

“That’s Louie’s.”

“What is it doing here?”

“It probably got mixed in with all of the other stuff they brought here.”            

I looked at the mask surprised. It was gold painted and flexible. I was sure I made a face at it because Pete chuckled beside me. It was prefabricated painted plastic with cut slits for seeing through. There wasn’t an elaborate pattern of glitter or feathers that I was used to seeing on mine. I turned to Pete and then back to the mask. Perhaps he thought he was above the whole masquerade thing, or wearing a mask, or if I knew him at all, just thought he could carry it off. Poor Louie wouldn’t know that wearing a mask to cover his whole face would make his identity unknown and unless he stated who he was at the beginning of the party, he would have to cope with being subjected as
the one who wears the pathetic plastic mask
. The people who would be attending this party had wealth and would have fancy masks with feathers, glitter and glam, and I knew if Louie wore this, he would be frowned upon.

“Show me your mask.” I said it more as a request than a demand.

He led me back up the stairs into warmth - the muggy, hot, dreaded warmth of the season. He directed me to the couch.

“Sit, I’ll be back.”

I sat on the couch, waited patiently for my friend. When he returned his hands remained behind his back as though he wanted to surprise me. When he sat down, he presented the mask to me. It looked magnificent. Seeing this mask, I wondered why Louie hadn’t gotten something like it. It was ocean blue with dyed navy blue ostrich feathers. He placed it on his face, to which it only covered half, and put it on me. He smiled as he put it down on the table before us.

“You have to show me your mask so I can find you during the party.”

“Isn’t the whole point of having a masquerade party so you
don’t
know who anyone is?”

He sank back. “So you won’t tell me what your mask looks like?”

“You’ll know who I am.”

“I won’t.”

“It’s the mask Monty gave to me.”

“I’ve never seen it before.”

“He gave it to me at the party.”

“What party?”

“The little family and friends get-together party,” I said calmly, suddenly unsure if he had come.

“Monty told me it was more like a friends and family get-it-together party. He said it was crazy.”

“Why weren’t you there?”

“I was sick.” He said simply, but looked disappointed.

“So you never saw the mask?”

“Just tell me what it looks like.” He leaned close now as if bothered by suspense.

I looked at him thinking that telling him would take out the whole mystery of wearing a mask.

“It’s pink with peacock feathers.”

“That’s it? No pattern? No glitter? No beads or gems?” he pressed.

“There is a red gem in the center where the feathers meet.”

“No glitter?” he asked again. I knew there was enough glitter on it for an entire first grade class with bottles of glue in hand.

“Yeah, there’s glitter, silver glitter.”

“Ok.” He sat back thinking. If he asked me another question, I would not reciprocate. “I’ll find you.”

“What will you wear?”

“Hey, don’t ask me a question
you’re
not prepared to answer.” 

I glanced away. “I have to wear a dress to match the mask.”

“Nothing too pink I hope. I don’t want to get caught dancing with a flamingo.”

I stood up. “No, of course not, but I don’t want to be dancing with anyone covered in
that
shade of blue from head to toe.” I nodded my head to the mask.

He looked at me now as though he just realized I was standing.

“Are you leaving?”

I started to back away. “Yeah, I have a lot of things to do.” Before he could ask me what, I was already at the door. “I’ll see you at the party.”

“I hope so,” he remarked.

“Just stick around with Louie, he can find me anywhere, anytime. It’s like he can smell me coming a mile away.”

I wanted him to laugh at this but instead his face became serious. I knew he wouldn’t be caught dead hanging around with Louie or relying on him to find me. I hoped he didn’t think I assumed he wasn’t capable of finding me. He must’ve seen my sudden panic because his face softened and he walked up to me. When he reached me, he let out a soft chuckle as though finally regarding the joke. His hand immediately flew to my necklace. He drew himself close to breathe into the collar of my jacket.

“Don’t worry, as long as you wear the silver dragons, I’ll find you,” he breathed.

He grasped the necklace harder in his hand and moved closer to me. I would have moved back because of the heat but I found myself surprisingly comfortable in his presence. He lifted it up to his chin, at first I thought to look at the detail as he had earlier, but instead he closed his eyes and kissed it. For a moment he kept his eyes closed, his head bent down to the dragons, his thumb rubbing the silver. When he opened his eyes, he frowned as though he had wished upon the charm to grant him perfect eyesight, but in dismay found it had not.

He dropped it suddenly, taking a step back as though regretting what he just did. He cleared his throat suddenly flushed and looked at me.

“I’ll find you.”

I looked away from him with certainty that he would be there at the party. Taking what he had just said and done as a way to say goodbye to me without saying it, I opened the door to leave. He was suddenly alarmed.

“Chenille, promise me you’ll be there.”

“I promise I’ll be there. I’ll be there waiting for you.”

His face brightened as though he needed to hear that. I waited to see if he needed to say anymore and turned back to the door, my hand resting on the doorknob, my body anxious to leave.

“I love you,” I heard him say.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his lips form the words and they swelled in the back of my mind like a migraine. I couldn’t wrap my mind around them. I dared not to look back at him to see his expression, the one expression with anxiousness, just hoping I would say them back. I couldn’t do it. My hand immediately turned the knob and I pulled the door toward me to make a space large enough for my escape. I couldn’t even give him my regards. My mouth was too dry to speak. I left without saying another word to him.