Masquerade (25 page)

I smiled. “It’s in my bag. It didn’t
match my dress.”

He smiled and offered his arm.
“Ready?”

“
One thing?” I held out the
bracelet he gave me. “Clasp this on me?”

He took it and did as I
asked, his fingers checking the clasp twice, even though it hadn’t
come loose once since he’d fixed
it. I
could have had my mother do this for me at home, but I wanted him
to do it. I liked the intimacy I felt between us when he put it
where it belonged. When
he was satisfied
that it was closed, he leaned to press a kiss on the inside of my
wrist. Goosebumps broke out across my arms. He looked up.
“Cold?”

“
No.”

He smiled, offered his arm and walked
me toward the party. At the door he moved to open it for me, but I
stopped him. Nerves were making their way to the surface, taking
away my earlier elation.

“
What’s the matter?” he
asked, leading me off to the side.

“
I…” I didn’t know how to
explain to him that for the past ten months I hadn’t walked into
any building or room without pulling up a hood or trying to hide. I
almost felt like I didn’t know how to enter this ball with
confidence. “Is my mask on straight?”

His eyes softened. “Your mask is fine.
You’re the best looking woman here.”

“
How do you know?” I
teased, “We’re not even inside yet.”

“
I don’t have to be inside
to know this. Besides did you see that girl that just went in? She
had toilet paper stuck to the bottom of her shoe.” He
laughed.

I laughed too. “Why were you looking
at her shoes?”

“
Because there was a huge
wad of toilet paper hanging from it.” His eyes twinkled as he
laughed.

And just like that my
nerves vanished. I was merely a girl going to a dance with a guy
who was incredible.

“
I’m
ready,” I told him as I slipped my hand into his. As long as he was
with me I would be okay. When we entered I couldn’t help but brace
myself
for whispers and stares,
tucking myself close to Sam’s shoulder, trying to hide.

“
Not tonight,” he
whispered, pulling me from his side and taking my hand instead.
“You’re
far too beautiful to
hide.”

I blinked once at his
words, shocked that he would take away my comfort. Then
something horrifying happened
.

People came running toward
us.

Sam stiffened, just
slightly.

All my old friends from
cheerleading and their dates stood close, staring. I wanted to run
and hide, but we were surrounded
.
Sam squeezed my hand in reassurance.

“
Hey guys.” I meekly
said.

Chaos erupted.

“
OMG, that dress is
gorgeous!”

“
Who did your
hair?”

“
Who did your
makeup?”

They were all talking over
each other, reaching out to finger the satin of my dress and the
curled ends of my hair. I was shocked. No one had given me this
much attention since…well
Before
.

I smiled a genuine smile and stepped
forward, out of Sam’s shadow. Just like that my old confidence came
back to me. I gracefully accepted their compliments and dished out
my own just like I used to. When everyone fell quiet, and I was
about to turn back to Sam, Amber cleared her throat. “I think I
speak for us all when I say it’s really good to have you
back.”

“
T-thanks.”

“
I mean, we were all really
worried. We knew you wanted space, but it’s nice to have our friend
back.”

I didn’t know what to say.
They’d stayed away from me all those months because they thought I
wanted space? They weren’t grossed out by my face? They hadn’t
thought I was a
freak!
Amber was still staring at me, waiting for a response, so I
said, “I’m ready to have my life back
.” I
couldn’t keep a large smile from taking over my face. My friends
had always been my friends! The reason they had stayed away was
because I pushed them away. Those baggy hoodies, my curtain of
hair
–
I used it
as a wall. I made myself unapproachable; it had all been me. My
friends were far more accepting than I gave them credit
for
.

Joy burst through me, and
I felt like I might be glowing. I could have it all again. And I
could have Sam. I felt so amazing…like I was soaring. I made
everyone promise to stop by our table before I let anyone go, and
when they did move away they were all smiling.

I turned back to Sam, still
smiling. “Did
you hear that?”

He stroked his hand across my neck and
nodded. His eyes were a little sad.

“
Heven?” Kimber gasped from
the entrance way. “OMG!”

I turned to face her as she rushed
over. “Holy crap! You look awesome!”

“
Thanks
!” I said, enjoying her compliment and accepting it. I
deserved it.

“
And so damn skinny. You
bitch.”

Beside me Sam stiffened, I squeezed
his hand and laughed. “You look beautiful tonight,
Kimber.”

She was wearing a gorgeous designer
gown in gold. Her red hair was up in a mass of curls, and she
carried a glittery gold mask that had a handle on one side. She
lifted it to her face and peered out of it. “I know.”

Beside her, Cole rolled his
eyes. He was wearing a mask that looked like the one the guy
in
Phantom of the Opera
wore. That made me realize that Sam wasn’t
wearing a mask at all…

“
Hey, Hev. Lookin’ good,”
Cole grinned.

Kimber elbowed him. He grinned again.
I laughed, and it felt good.

Kimber hooked her arm through my free
one and began walking us all toward the ballroom. “Come on
everyone,” she called. “Heven needs a few pieces of cake. When I
stand next to her I look fat.”

The ballroom was
spectacular. The setting actually made me think of
Phantom of the Opera
in
a way. The hotel was old and carried an authentic charm. The
lighting was low, and large candelabras, dripping white wax, were
centered every table. It should have looked messy, but it didn’t.
The DJ was set up in the far corner with large swags of golden
fabric draping from the ceiling to the floor, partially concealing
his booth. Refreshment tables lined the left side of the room with
a large punch fountain dominating the center of one round table.
There was also a huge white cake adorned with iced roses in all
shades of red. The center of the room was a giant wooden dance
floor where many couples were already dancing. Round tables were
scattered about the room, each one draped in a pale gold
tablecloth.

“
This place looks great,”
Kimber said as we approached our table. “This must have cost a
fortune.”

“
It does look good,” I
agreed as Sam pulled out a chair for me.

“
We’re going to dance,”
Kimber said, pulling Cole toward the floor.

I turned toward Sam and smiled. He
pulled his chair so close that my knees bumped his as I turned. He
leaned in and kissed me softly.

“
The feathers on that mask
tickle.”

“
I noticed you aren’t
wearing a mask. How come?”

“
I get tired of wearing a
mask all the time,” he murmured.

“
What?” His words confused
me.

He blinked and leaned in. “I didn’t
want you to confuse me with anyone else tonight, so I chose to keep
my face revealed to you all times.”

He was so romantic and
charming. But still, what he’d said
before…why do guys always have to be so cryptic?

He palmed my face in his hands and
drew me near. “Kiss me, beautiful.”

“
You guys need to get a
room,” Kimber griped from behind. Sam drew away and looked into my
eyes, smiling tenderly. What had we been talking about?

“
Speaking of…” Cole drew a
key card out of his pocket. “I got us one.”

“
You did?” Kimber gasped,
grabbing at the card, but Cole was too fast, tucking it back into
his pocket.

“
It’s for later,” he told
her.

She kissed him. Kimber and Cole had
taken the ‘next step’ in their relationship last summer. I used to
think that they were way too young, that she hadn’t been ready. But
now…

I looked into Sam’s whiskey eyes and
thought that maybe if it was with the right person, maybe, age was
just a number. I knew for sure that no one could ever make me feel
like Sam, even if I lived for a hundred years. The words I knew he
waited for were heavy on my tongue; I wanted to let them out right
then.

“
Yes?” he asked, leaning
in, as if he knew what was on my lips.

I opened my mouth. “Dance with
me.”

I thought I saw a quick flash of
sorrow in his eyes, but then he was standing, holding out his hand
and leading me toward the dance floor. On cue, a soft, slow song
began to play. His body molded against mine in a way that made my
skin burn. I looked around sure that one of the chaperones would
come and tell us to separate. No one came, and I sank even deeper
into his warmth. If I wasn’t careful, I knew that I could
completely lose myself in him. Something told me that was already
happening. A stray thought whispered that perhaps that could be a
bad thing, but I pushed the thought away. I’d think about that
later, not tonight.

“
Are you having a good
time?” he whispered in my ear.

“
The best.”

“
I want this night to be
perfect.”

“
It is.” Again, the
words
I love you
were heavy on my tongue. I could just lean up and whisper
them into his ear…

He stiffened and stood a little
straighter, gazing around the ballroom.

“
Sam?”

He stayed that way for several long
moments, then finally, relaxed and looked down. He smiled ruefully.
“Sorry, I thought I heard something.”

I frowned. All I could hear was the
music.

“
Did you want to say
something?” he asked. The alluring hazel of his eyes almost, but
not quite, recaptured the previous moment.

Slowly I shook my head. “Never
mind.”

“
You sure?” he
pressed.

I nodded. “Later, okay?”

He gave in, and I laid my head against
his chest. Our moment would come soon and nothing would spoil
it.

The Hate

I’m sick of watching. Of waiting. I am
always so close…but never close enough. She thinks she’s something
tonight. Everyone is just fawning all over her. It makes me sick. I
can see the smugness in her eyes and in the way she walks. She
thinks tonight is going to be perfect.

It’s not.

He’s thinks he’s won, but it isn’t
over.

He’s wrong.

It all ends tonight. It’s time she
knows who lover boy really is. Little girl’s dreams are going to be
shattered, and I am going to enjoy it.

The Hope

I sensed a change in the air. Tonight
she would be put to the test. I feared she wasn’t ready.

“
There’s no way she’ll
accept him.”

I turned and took in his bleak, sad
face. With a caress of my fingers, harmony and peace went to him,
hopefully wrapping him in comfort. “Pray she does, or all could be
lost.”

“
I wish she didn’t have to
be involved.”

“
Trust Him. He knows what
He is doing. Trust in love.”

He nodded and came to join me at the
water.

“
Let us watch,” I
murmured.

Gentle waves rippled the surface of
the water. Images formed and solidified. A beauty and her beloved
danced…

We
waited
.

Heven

The night passed by in a haze of
dancing and laughter. I reconnected with friends I thought I’d
lost, and slowly, I learned to accept myself a little more. I hoped
that come morning, when the mask I wore was gone, that I would
still feel the same. Sam never left my side, except once to get
some punch and cake, which he was currently feeding me. It was
decadent, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed food
more. He tried to fork another bite into my already-full mouth, and
I shook my head and stole the fork from him.

As I chewed I pointed at
him with my fork, scooped up another big bite and held it out. He
opened
obediently, watching me as I fed
him. His eyes flickered pure gold like they sometimes
did.

“
You guys totally need to
get a room,” Kimber groaned.

I kept my eyes on Sam and smiled. His
eyes flashed once more. I marveled in the fact that it no longer
frightened me, I liked it. It made me feel…wanted.