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"Arielle!" My mother squashed me. "You look beautiful in that dress!" "Hi mom. Oh thanks Anna found it." My mother went over and squashed Anna. "It's so nice to see you again Anna! How are your parents?" Anna beamed. "It's nice to see you too! Thank you for letting Ari bring me! My parents are great!" "Oh anytime. You two have been inseparable since I don't know, since you were able to walk!" Anna and I awkwardly laughed while my mother pushed us inside. "Go have fun, oh and merry Christmas!" We chanted back "Merry Christmas!" I sighed as I trudged into the main ballroom. "My mom is such a weirdo. You'd think I'm not an adult." "Don't worry my mom still does that to me too." Anna pointed out. "Oohh cake!" Anna squealed. On the side of the ballroom a long narrow table was covered with all sorts of desserts. "I'm gonna get a cake food baby tonight." I whispered to Anna. "Same." We both giggled as we got plates and started picking our dessert.
"I'm stuffed. I'm gonna go get some water." Anna grumbled as she dragged her feet. "C'mon I'm going too." I dragged her along to the water and we both chugged down a glass. Anna nudged my shoulder. I ignored it. Then she poked me with her elbow. "What the heck Anna?" She motioned her head toward the left. "Oh." There heading straight toward us was my boss from work Raoul De Chagny. "Ugh." Anna looked surprised. "Why are you sighing? He's so cute!" "Hahaha Anna. No. He is not. He's just a stupid idiot who thinks he can convince me to go out with him." "Awww." "Shut up." Raoul stopped in front of us. Dang it. "Good evening. You both look fabulous. May I have the next dance Miss Arielle?" I opened my mouth to refuse him when Anna shoved me toward him. "Yes! She would LOVE to." Raoul took my hand and started leading me toward the center of the ballroom. I turned and stared daggers back at Anna while she looked like a overly excited kid at a toy shop. As the dance started I did my best to stay the farthest I possibly could from him. Noticing this Raoul tugged me closer then whispered in my ear, "What's wrong? Why are you so afraid of me? I'm a real gentleman you know." I turned my face away from him and tripped him with my shoe. He smirked back at me and tugged me close once more. "I wonder what your mother will think. Does she like my type as a future son-in-law?" I shoved him back. "You're my boss! I don't care what you think and what you're suggesting is the opposite of being a gentleman. Go find someone else to trick!" I spun around then turned back. "And don't you dare think about Anna. She's like my sister." I ran back to Anna. "Stay away from that fop. He doesn't know when he's crossing the line." Anna stared back straight and nodded.
"My feet are dying." Anna flopped down onto the chair next to me. "Same. Why in the world are so many guys asking me to dance? They're all really stuck up though. "Something doesn't feel right. I look around the room and find my mom talking to a bunch of young guys including Raoul. Then it hits me. "Oh my freaking goodness. I can't believe it." Anna looks at me confused. "What?" "My mom has been sending all those idiots to me for the past two hours." "Oh no." Anna looks down. I grab my dress and beeline straight to my mom. "Excuse me gentlemen may I have a word Mother?" I pull my mom into the hallway into a spare room. "Why have you been sending those stuck up goons to me all evening?" I grit my teeth. My mother starts spinning her ring on her finger. "Well, Arielle. You're already 24. I thought maybe there would be someone for you here like your boss Raoul. Did you know he's a Vicomte?" "Yes I do. But forcing all those stupid guys onto me isn't going to make me instantly want to go out with them. And Raoul is extremely egotistical and I don't like him." "Consider it please?" My mother looks into my eyes. "No! I thought you understood what I said earlier! I haven't found the right guy yet! Why is it so important to you that I have a boyfriend? It's not the olden days when girls had to marry at a extremely young age." I knock at the door cut me off. Raoul peaked his head in and I shot him a death glare. "Is this a bad time?" "Not at all sir. I was just about to leave." I exit the room without looking back heading straight toward the Moonlight manor gardens. As soon as I exit into the chilly night air, the tears stream down my face. Why can't my parents, especially my mom stay out of my private life? I was constantly under their thumb growing up. I was so happy after I graduated university and got my job. But I guess I'll never be completely free till I get married. I wander around the gardens aimlessly letting my thoughts swirl in my mind. I sat down at a bench then looked up. My breath was taken away at the number of stars that shone down on me with the moon. "Moonlight manor huh?" I chuckle. It was named well. I don't know how long I sat there but I finally got up when I was chilled to the bone. "Which way did I come from…" I wondered aloud. I started wandering once more through the gardens. I came to a dead end. "Oh great. Now I'm lost. This night couldn't get any worse." I take a step back and trip over a loose stone. I brace myself to hit the wall but instead the wall seemed to open and I fall into the dark.
Thank you for reading! This is pretty much the intro before the Phantom stuff happens you know (cough cough). Also FYI this is my first fanfic so if it's a little meh please forgive me. I'm trying my best. Please review!
-Rose