Winter
Her head spun, and she felt as if she was made of air. Was this truly happening, or was it all just a sick dream. Jacin asked to be her plus one. Then Winter remembered, she wasn't the only one who liked the guard. Her dear cousin and bosom friend Princess Selene also had a not so minor crush on the ruggedly handsome guard. And even though Winter was sure she liked him first, Selene didn't know that so she couldn't be so cruel to her.
"I. . . " Winter stammered out, then continued. "I can't."
Winter turned around so fast that she almost got whiplash, she couldn't let them see her cry. What would Selene think if she saw her crying.
Jacin coughed and straightened up. "Well I am sorry to intrude, Princess." And with that he walked away.
Winter slumped to the ground and curled up in a little ball, while Selene just stood, dumb-founded, looking at the door.
"I'm. . . so sorry . . . Selene." Winter's voiced squeaked out, but it was such a mess of sobs you couldn't understand what was being said.
Selene turned to look at her cousin. Her curly brown hair was acting as a veil so you couldn't see her face, and her demure blue dress lay around her as she was crouched in her corner. The sobs coming from her throat were heart-wrenching and sounded of pure distress. Winter lifted her head to look at Selene, the movement ruining the veil of chocolate waves. Her cheeks were red and tear stained and her eyelashes were clumped together from wetness. The tears gave her skin a sheen and the slobbering and sobbing gave her lips a plump red look. And even though she was a train wreck, she couldn't help but to look beautiful.
"It's not your fault." Selene said gulping hard. Her eyes becoming dewy now as Winter's were once before.
Winter couldn't help feeling guilty. She had liked Jacin even though she new Selene liked him and now she had caused her friend such great pain because Jacin had asked her to the ball and not Selene.
"It's mine." Selene continued. "I have known how Jacin feels about you for awhile. Long stares, trailing glances, and flustered words. And I never told you. Because in my head, I thought that if no one knew he might still come to like me. But he didn't. That isn't even the worst of it, I knew how you feel as well. It was so easy to spot, and once I figured out I knew for sure you couldn't know. So I kept it a secret, I am the one who is sorry Winter." At the end, Selene was in tears. Guilt racing across her face.
"He wants you and you the same. So go after him before it is to late." Selene told her with a weak smile.
"Winter just sat in her ball in shock, trying to process what Selene said. Selene knew Winter and Jacin's feelings for each other all along . Selene kept it a secret to keep him to herself. Yet Selene is letting her go after him.
"Go. Before I change my mind." Selene said with a sad laugh.
Pushing her self off the floor, Winter stood and looked at Selene as if asking for permission. With the same weak smile as before, Selene nodded, tears forming in her eyes.
"Go get em' tiger." Selene encouraged.
Winter's chest filled with hope and gratitude.
"Thank You." Winter said as she enveloped Selene in a hug. " Thank You."
Winter gave Selene one last squeeze before she let go and raced out the door. Winter skidded into the open where she nearly rammed into a guard. She looked up at a tall brunette, his eyes were so strikingly green she thought they might be made of pure emerald. Looking at him she noticed he had a small scar on his lip that stood out of his tan skin. She couldn't help thinking of her own three scars that marred her cheek.
"Do you know where Sir Jacin Clay is?" Winter question. Her heart pounding, and her body racing with adrenaline.
"Um.. Yes, I do believe he is in his room in the guard docks. Would you like me to send word for him?" The guard asked.
"No thank you, Sir . . .?" Winter trailed waiting for a response.
"Ze'ev." He concluded.
"Sir Ze'ev." Winter repeated with a smile, and then bounded down the corridor. The decorations and lights all became a blur as she raced through the halls. She nearly collapsed from exhaustion when she finally made it. She knocked on the door timidly, but when no one came she knocked a little harder. She heard footsteps, then the door opened.
"Princess?" Jacin asked, stunned.
"Jacin." She responded. "I'm sorry for early. My answer is yes."
When Jacin still looked confused Winter added on.
"Jacin, will you go to the ball with me?." Winter said. Her voice sweet and hopeful.
Jacin's lips parted. Then he opened his mouth and closed it again. Winter couldn't but help notice how his eyes sparkled like diamonds when in the light. They seemed to change the light into a rainbow as if is shown on shattered class. She was dazzled by them. Jacin seemed absolutely speechless for once in his life, and Winter was proud that she was the reason why.
"I would be honored, Winter."