A/N: HAPPY 2013! I would like to thank all the people who have been reading this story because it is nearing its end. This is the first story that I have written that I have been truly proud of and everyone who has read this has been a part of that. THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS CHAPTER IS FOR YOU
A screech woke me up from my sleep like ice cold water hitting my face. I sat up from my bed and jumped out. I surveyed around the room and relaxed my stance when I found Liz and Bex helping Macey put some cream on her head.
"What happened?" I asked surly, annoyed that it was just 6 in the morning and they had woken me up
"My hair" Macey turned and said to me, eerily calm. I looked at her head, half her hair was curled and the other half was as straight as ever.
"What about it?" I asked with an eyebrow raised. Liz looked like she was about to cry, Bex was nonchalantly biting her lower lip and Macey was fuming.
"I-i-I accidentally burned it" Liz said, stepping forward, her hands gripped around a curling iron
"The cream help though, but it'll take 24 hours to repair" Bex said coolly. Macey sighed and looked at me then Liz.
"It's okay Liz, if I can't do anything about it now. All I can do now is help you guys" Macey said with a shrug "I'll start with you"
"Uhhh, it's okay, really. Bex can go first" Liz said, slowly backing away from Macey. I went back to bed to get some well-deserved sleep, mom gave us the day to prepare and we had to be in the grand hall by 5:30 in the afternoon. My eyes drooped shut as Macey pounced on Liz with a rouge brush and a mascara wand.
"Camieee, wake up or I'll give you a black eye" Macey sweetly whispered to my ear. I woke up and ran to the bathroom to take a bath. It was now noon and Macey's hair was slick and straight once again. I came out of the bathroom and Macey started on my makeup.
"Where's Bex and Liz?" I asked without moving a face muscle. If I did Macey would have killed me before I could even think to yell for help.
"They went to the grand hall to get some food" Macey said as she applied a coat of moisturizer.
The day went on and it was all a blur to me. Bodies were racing to and fro. Hair was all over the place. It was chaos, but somewhat controlled.
"Cammie, 26 minutes. If you don't look absolutely fab in your gown by then, I will kill you with a bendy straw" Bex said as she snapped her hands. I let out a soft sigh and went over to my closet. On the closet door hung a beautiful red gown, my gown. I put it on slowly, not wanting a wrinkle or even crease on it. As Liz zipped it up for me I stared at my reflection from the mirror across the room.
"Wow" I muttered in shock. I was known as the Chameleon, I liked it that way, but right now I was feeling very un-chameleon like. My hair was curled then braided loosely and was now resting on my right shoulder. My makeup was done professionally, yes, Macey Mchenry is a professional. This meant that my makeup was simple yet eye catching and worth a second glance.
"I know, right?" Liz said as she added the last touch of lipstick
"Come on girls, don't want to be late" Macey said as she opened the doors and pushed us all out. Students were scattered around the foyer and the grand staircase. Teachers were lined on one side of the staircase helping students fix what they had forgotten. The doors opened and everyone piled inside. Madame Dabney was twirling around taking pictures with her brooch. Mr. Solomon was chuckling as he imitated Madame Dabney and started waltzing as he gave folders to each student.
"Welcome to the first ever Gallagher academy masquerade ball" My mother said through the speakers around the hall
"Masquerade?" Kim asked
"We don't have any masks" Courtney murmured
"Each student has been handed an envelope, these are your covers. You have 3 minutes to learn what is in front of you. Learn your covers well, though this is a ball, this will account for 60% of your grade" Mr. Solomon said as he and my mom struggled for dominance over the microphone.
After 134 seconds I had memorized my cover:
Name: Tiffany St. James
Occupation: Assistant to the undersecretary of the interior
Age: CLASSIFIED (a woman does not reveal her age no matter what)
Likes: Dancing (13 years of dance lessons), Romantic comedies, Fresh roses, Horseback riding, has travelled to every continent, cheesecake
Dislike: boats (easily seasick), rain, cats, the daughter of the CEO of Charles & Baker firm (Eva Alvarez), tight spaces (claustrophobic)
Interests: Scrapbooking, programming
Languages: English (main language), French, Spanish, Finnish, Italian.
I nodded and threw the folder to a burn bin.
"Tiffany, oh tiffany!" Mr. Mosckowitz bellowed as he rushed to me "Cammie, I'm your boss tonight. I'm the—"
"Yes Mr. Secretary" I said with a nod of confirmation
Madame Dabney twirled by as she checked a small box and said "Addresses undersecretary of interior as Mr. Secretary- check"
I let out a sigh of relief. "What can I do for you Mr. Secretary" I said confidently, the way a secretary would
"I would like to meet the first lady of France" he said as he twirled his mustache. I smiled at him and led him to the middle of the room where my mom and Mr. Solomon were dancing. I tapped Mr. Solomon's shoulder and motioned with my hands toward my boss. Mom curtsied and Mr. Solomon bowed before he walked away. I looked at 'Mr. Secretary' and he gave me the thumbs up so I could leave. I curtsied towards them and walked away. I walked to a corner of the hall where there were less people.
"Enjoying the party?" Zach said as he handed me a drink. I lift it to my mouth and took a sip.
"Yes, but I haven't been asked to dance by someone I was hoping would ask me" I said as I fluttered my eyelashes
"Oh? And who might that be?" he said with a smirk
"Mr. Casanova (Grant), he just looks extremely charming in his tuxedo." I said dreamily. I glanced at his reaction and I let out a small chuckle. He was scowling.
"That is the single most disgusting thing I have ever heard" He said
"His eyes are so sexy, I feel like I could just melt into them" I said, just to annoy him. His scowl deepened, I bumped him on his ribs lightly and winked at him.
"Oh, terrible of me not to introduce myself, my name is Tiffany St. James, the assistant to the undersecretary of Interior" I said to ease the tension
"My name is Ivan Vonwosticz, I own an oil company in Russia" He said and offered his hand for a handshake. I shook it and smiled graciously.
"So what brings you to the states Mr. Vonwosticz? Business or pleasure?" I asked
"Both. I met with a possible business partner earlier this week, now I am just staying to meet some new people"
"Do you like what you have seen so far?"
"Oh yes, I've liked you a lot" He said with a smirk
A/N: Sorry for cutting it short! If you've noticed that usually I each chapter is 600, 700 or 1200 words (without A/Ns). Oh wait; you have no way of knowing that. Well they are. I like my chapter uniformed so it has a pattern. I just made up Zach's cover and name. I'm sorry if his name is not believably Russian, the W is pronounced as a W, not a V. I tried my best. I apologize to any Russians who (and if they) are reading this and do not like the name. So far I have not seen any Russians in my traffic stats. Oh well. REVIEW A BETTER NAME FOR ZACH?