Chapter 2: The Envelope

Author's Note: Many thanks for the reviews everyone! Keep 'em coming! I will now be updating this story every Friday. ^_^

As I continued to stare at the envelope, debating whether to open it or not, I heard a noise come from the hallway. I looked up and saw that my brother Gregory had woken.

''What are you doing?'' he asked me.

''Nothing.'' I replied nonchalantly.

''Why are you sitting by the front door then?''

''No reason.'' I said as I moved away from the door, back into the dining room.

''What's that?'' he asked gesturing to the envelope in my hand.

''Just…something for school.'' I lied. I didn't want to tell him what it really easy until I found out myself. ''Are you done asking questions now?''

''I think so.'' He then made his way into the living room, sat down on a chair, and turned on the TV.

I sat back down in my seat by my computer and eyed the envelope suspiciously. I still didn't know who shoved it through my door or why. And the only way I'm going to find out if I open it. I grabbed a pair of scissors that were lying on the table and broke the red seal on the back of the envelope. I glanced over at Gregory to see if he was watching me, but his attention was no completely focused whatever was on the TV screen.

I opened the envelope and pulled out a folded piece of paper that was inside. It looks like letter. As I began to read it, my eyes widened.

Miss Cynthia Lucey,

You have been exclusively invited to a ball at the Young Earl Phantomhive's manor. As per request, you are to dress appropriately for the evening, in genuine ball attire. The event will take place this Friday night at exactly 5:00p.m. There will be food, dancing, and entertainment. Live music will be performed as well. Do not worry about how to get there—we will have transportation provided for you. No need to RSVP need either—simply be ready by 4:45p.m, and we will take care of the rest. We trust you will have a grand time at the ball, and hope you will enjoy your stay at Phantomhive manor.

Sincerely,

Sebastian Michaelis

I put down the letter in utter shock. I couldn't believe what I had just read. How was it possible that this letter was written by Sebastian? He wasn't even real!

This must be a joke, I thought. The letter has to be a fake. But who would send it to me and why? The only people who knew I had an obsession with Black Butler were my family and best friend, Katie. But all of my family members were sleeping (with the exception of Gregory who had just woken up) and my dad was at work. My best friend lived too far away to have walked all the way to my house, and she had school today anyway.

But if this letter is real, what am I supposed to do? I thought. It didn't seem like there was any way out of going to this thing. I didn't need to RSVP, and somehow transportation was going to be provided. It was almost as if I was being forced to go.

Not that I wouldn't want to go, I thought to myself with a sly smile. I always imagined myself getting to meet the characters of Black hundreds of times. I did online roll plays, and I even took online fan quizzes to see which Black Butler guy would be the perfect match for me. But getting to meet them for real seemed almost too good to be true. I stuffed the letter back inside the envelope and went into my room. I put the letter on my dresser underneath a pile of papers. It should be safe there, I thought. I couldn't let anyone from my family see the letter. At least, not yet. But I knew someone who I would be able to show it to.

Later that day, my best friend and I met up at track practice. 'So…do you know how far we're running today?'' Katie asked me.

''Eh, the usual distance. We're doing eight laps around the track with a short break in between each one. Plus, a warm-up.'' I replied.

She sighed. ''We always seem to do that same workout, don't we?''

Before I could reply, the coach called out in a loud voice "Warm up!" Everyone on the team started heading towards the track, but I stood in place.

''Aren't you coming?'' Katie asked, already getting a head start on me.

I shook my head. ''There's something you need to see first.''

She walked back over to me with a questionable look on her face. I pulled the letter that was sent to out of my pocket and gave it to her.

''What's this?'' she asked.

''Read it.'' I said. She did, her eyes widening just like mine did when I first read it.

''Well?'' I asked, hoping that Katie had recognized what she just read.

''That's quite an interesting letter,'' she answered. ''Did you type that out or something?''

''No,'' I replied. ''I thought you did! It got shoved underneath my front door this morning. I thought you might have sent it to me as a joke or something.''

''It wasn't me who sent that.'' Katie replied. ''How did it get underneath your front door without you seeing the person that put it there?''

''I have no idea.'' I said in exasperation. ''I looked outside, but there wasn't a trace that anyone had been out there. My dad was at work, and the rest of my family was sleeping. And besides you and them, no one else knows that I watch Black Butler.''

''True,'' Katie said. ''Then…who sent it?''

''I wish I knew.''

''You don't think…'' Katie started.

''What?'' I asked. ''That, somehow, this invitation is real, and that the actual Black Butler characters are responsible for sending it to me? Ha!''

''You never know.'' Katie replied. ''I mean, that seems like the most logical assumption at this moment.''

I didn't want to let on, but I was starting to believe that the invitation was real too. ''Katie, take me seriously for a minute. Let's say, that this letter does turn out to be real. If that's the case…then what do I do? Do I actually go to this ball?

''I would,'' Katie said. ''I mean, how cool would that be? You'd actually get to meet all of the characters.'' She paused before adding, ''And Sebastian.''

I smiled. It was true that the idea of getting to meet any kind of anime character was cool. But when Sebastian came into play, it was a different game. He was a demon butler. A really hot demon butler that caught the attention of both Katie and I for more reasons than he should have. Had Sebastian not been a demon, he definitely would have been #1 on our ''Perfect Guy'' list.

''Well,'' I began. ''I really would want to go if this thing turned out to be genuine. I mean, going to see these characters in real life would be insanely awesome! But, my family…I can't exactly tell them about it. They'd never believe me. And the ball is scheduled for Friday—which is tomorrow night. I don't exactly have time to mull this thing over.''

''Tomorrow night?'' Katie exclaimed. ''Jeez, talk about sending something at the last minute.''

''Ugh, what am I going to do?'' I asked.

''Well, you've got to come up with something. It said transportation will be provided for you, so whether or not you make a decision, someone's going to be showing up at your doorstep.'' Katie said.

''If it's real,'' I quickly said. ''But I mean if it is...then it doesn't seem I have much choice in the matter.''

''If you need me to cover for you somehow, I'm sure I could work something out.'' Katie said.

''No, no, it's fine.'' I replied. ''I'll think of something.''

''You'd better.''

Silence passed between us, and I saw that the other track members were almost finished with their warm up.

''We'd better go join them now before the coach yells at us.'' I said walking over to them. Katie followed, but my mind wasn't focused on running. The only thing I was thinking about was what I was going to do about my potential predicament tomorrow night.