BLOOM

Her attitude, that's what I loved most about her. The snarky comebacks and witty comments she could shoot at you unexpectedly. I liked one thing even better: the way her eyes would blaze fire and ice. Definitely. It completely represented her. And I do not even attempt to deny that I loved every damn second of it.

Of her.

SKY'S POV

She was being stubborn. Of course she was, I thought as I gritted my teeth in a fruitless effort to gain patience. She could not help herself. It was one of her main features. I withstood her fiery glare calmly, refusing to give her an explanation. It was for her own good, really. As soon as Diaspro had told of her folly, I had dragged Bloom off to the corridor, where she was now protesting heavily.

"Why do you insist on limiting my movements? I am still a free woman!" She yelled at me. I rubbed my eyes wearily and decided to tell her before she could turn this into yet another crusade against me and our engagement.

"Because your sister is stomping around there like a madman. I thought I would spare you from her childish scorn." That was putting it lightly, honestly.

"Oh." Her eyes softened slightly. "I apologize sir, I am very easily irritated this evening." She confessed, staring at her creamy gloves. I was puzzled by the uncharacteristically confusion and uncertainty she displayed. I took her lace-covered hands in mine.

"What is happening, Miss Elliot? Are you having second thoughts?" I was unsure why I ventured to ask that question since I had recently decided that I did not care about feelings. Hang it, that was absolute nonsense. I had started to want her to want to marry me. And apparently my grammar had detoriated in the process.

She shook her head, looking very confused and doubtful about the whole situation.

"I cannot tell you how I feel. You know I never gladly consented to this." She waved her hands at me, effectively freeing them.

"You don't have any feelings for me then?" I ventured brazenly.

"That is a very ungentlemanly question, Sir!" She reverted to her usual aloof politeness. I would not let her this time.

"Tell me our I will announce our engagement to the entire ball room." That should convince her. She only glared at me, eyes blazing. She continued to hold my gaze until she looked down and finally relented.

"I… I am so terribly frightened." She finally croaked out. She refused to even glance at me now, her eyes were trained to the plush red carpet.

"Why? Have I done something to distress you? Tell me. Please." It was too late, she had retreated to her shell again. "Why do you insist on shutting me out?" I laid my hand on her cheek. By Jove, I wanted to kiss her. So I did. I clasped my hands around her and pulled her closer. As a response, her hands tangled in my hair and tugged slightly, which only spurred me on. Just as I wondered if I would venture to trace my tongue between her lips, she pulled away forcefully. She practically stumbled backwards and quickly wrapped her arms around her upper body protectively.

"I do not want to give myself to you." She said, fierce again.

"Damn it! Blast this bullshit about bending and breaking! Do you realize how little you reach by being this… unyielding? Do you realize how much you will miss out on because of this? Just let me in." I grasped her wrists again, but she did not flinch. She sent me a steely look as a reply.

"It is the choice I have made." She replied coldly and walked away from me, I imagine to search for her sister.

How ironic.

I decided to forego chasing her and went to look for Diaspro instead, but she was nowhere to be found after the havoc she wreaked. And no, that was not an exaggeration.

Bloom's POV

"Stella, you have to help me. Please, I am asking this as your sister." I pleaded, grabbing her hand affectionately. I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing. Although I was pretty much convinced that I was running from Sky. I… He was falling in love with me and I would never be good enough.

"I am afraid I cannot help you, sister." Stella's pretentious coldness astonished me as soon as I had entered the ballroom. We retired into a more quiet room. I was still rather wary that she would cause a scene. Because I knew she could. Sometimes, that sufficed.

"But you can. I do not wish to marry Prince Sky." I ignored her incredulous stare. "Well, I would only want to if I were truly certain of his affections. And I am not." I added, with a hint of sadness. A glint of hope seemed kindled in her lively hazel eyes. She glanced at my hand furtively, which made me wonder about her current thoughts.

"How can I help you, sister?" She appeared to relent. "Are you sure you are not making a mistake? I assumed this was against you ghastly moral principles." I could not help but notice the insinuated mocking tone in her voice. And… triumph? The latter I could not believe. Did not believe.

"This matter would not tarnish my reputation. It is a woman's right to break off the engagement if there are serious objections against the gentleman concerned. Do you not share my opinion?" She only nodded her assent, therefore I continued. "Furthermore, the engagement has not been publicly announced. Of course," I conceded as I watched her protest, "his family and some of my relatives are acquainted with this information. However, I do not find it presumptuous to believe that my own family would forgive me and support me after this.. misfortune has befallen me. To be frank, I do not care particularly for the approval of his family, I was never tied to them. Although I would be sorry to lose Diaspro. She has been a very dear friend to me these past weeks." I spoke these last words mainly to myself.

Apparently, I had lost her attention, because she was twisting her golden curls around her fingers listlessly.

"I want you to consult mama about this. I wish to leave this place as soon as possible after severing all ties with Prince Sky." I tried to keep my faltering voice in check as I spoke these words. Her eyes lit up again and a contented smile appeared on her face.

"I will do my best, sister. For you." She kissed my temple and bounced out of the room happily.

Something struck me as rather odd: not once did she call me by my name.

I was oddly placid as I went to look for our carriage. I failed to notice Diaspro and Sky, but their servants found me after half an hour of walking about. They escorted me to the pretty barouche. I was not surprised when one of the servants slipped a piece of paper in my hand. I folded it open and found my mother's whimsical writing: "Attend the Grand Ball the day after tomorrow and we will fetch you." I reread the words until I arrived at the house and then folded it neatly into my sleeve. As soon as I got out of the carriage, a body collided with mine.

"Bloom! I am so so so so so sorry! So incredibly sorry!" Diaspro flung her arms around me and almost squeezed me to death

"It's quite alright, Di." I replied calmly. I was actually feeling infinitely more collected after talking to my sister. I felt as if I had a way out. Away from him. Which was exactly what I wanted.

Exactly.

Precisely.

Just so.

A/N: would you look at that! I produced something! It is a short one, I know. I have been working on the last chapter as well. Then there is an epilogue and that will be all. I apologize profusely for not updating earlier, but I did have the worst writer's block. In any case, I promise to finish this story by Christmas. Thank you for sticking with me! I do hope the people who are still reading review because I have missed you :)!

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