Valentine Masquerade

Hope you enjoy! for entertainment only!

Chapter 9: See You Again

Betty woke up early to start her day, unlike her horrible day yesterday. She barely got anything done, and just felt terrible much of the day.

She woke up feeling a lot more refreshed and more herself.

She had this great dream.

She was dressed in this beautiful gown, in this beautiful, almost magical, garden, there was a marble post that had a breathtaking red rose floating above it, glowing and sparkling. She was drawn to it and the closer she got, the more it seemed to glow.

Once she was standing in front of it, her eyes shined as she reached for it and took it in her hand, this burst of light surrounded her, the rose disappeared from her hands and in front of her was this charming prince. When he looked at her, it was Daniel and she felt butterflies at the sweet look in his eyes and that charming smile on his face.

She woke up, her heart was racing and she felt flustered, but a smile was on her face. She shook her head and said "Great! Now I'm dreaming about him!" she sighed in annoyance.

She finished her shower, and decided she wanted to go to the library today and get some writing down. She got the best idea for a book. In fact, she wrote a considerable amount the night of the party, and almost posted it to her blog, but was really glad she didn't, since it was about Daniel.

She bit her lip as she dried her hair; she quickly got dressed and straightened her hair and put on a little makeup, then put on her glasses. She looked in the mirror and smiled slightly, remembering how much fun she had with Daniel.

She took a breath and hoped she wasn't doomed to be alone forever now. She wasn't sure she'd ever meet anyone she felt such a connection to besides him.

When she got downstairs, her sister looked at her with a bright smile "Betty! You're looking so much better today!"

Betty rolled her eyes "Gee, thanks Hilda"

"What? You looked awful yesterday"

Betty shook her head, but smiled and said "I felt awful."

"And today?" Hilda asked curiously.

Betty bit her lip and shrugged "I don't know. I still feel upset, but I'll be fine Hilda."

"I think you deserve better than fine, Betty. You should find him!"

Betty rolled her eyes again "Hilda, not again"

"Betty, I'm convinced Daniel is your prince charming. He clearly liked you. And I know you like him!"

Betty sighed, "So what if I do?. It doesn't change the fact that he is Daniel Meade! He is this handsome, rich, charming guy who is used to models and superstars, and I'm just Betty, this normal girl from Queens. Why would he want me?"

Hilda grinned "Betty! Obviously, the same reason you want him! You just...clicked!"

"I'm going to the library, ok. I'll see you later" Betty said, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever Betty. Fine, be miserable!" Hilda shouted as she left the kitchen. Betty laughed as she made it to the door. She took a breath and left wondering if Hilda was right. Should she find him?

She shook her head "Yeah, right!" What would Daniel Meade want her for?

When Daniel woke up, a bright smile crossed his face; he was feeling much more hopeful this morning, hoping he could make amends with Betty.

He took a shower and got dressed, making sure to look nice. He suddenly couldn't decided what to wear, changing shirts several times, finally opting for a light blue shirt, black tie, pants and jacket. He looked himself over in the mirror about a dozen times feeling so anxious.

He nearly laughed at how flustered he was getting. He needed to stay cool. He took a deep breath and picked up the envelope from the counter with its special content inside. He smiled knowing how much she was going to love it. He couldn't wait to give it to her. He was so glad he even still had it.

He got his keys and left, nerves all through him, but he wanted to stay hopeful. He got in his car and started his drive to Queens in search of his Bella. He sort remembered where she lived, but didn't have her address after all this time, so he hoped that he'd find the right house.

When Daniel finally felt like he found the right house he parked his black Jaguar XKR-S outfront, forgetting that his car would stick out like a sore thumb, but not caring as he practically jumped out and ran up the steps to the front door. He took a deep breath and knocked.

The door opened and he was confused to see a kid on the other side, who's eyes seemed to grow bright and say "O.M.G. You're Daniel Meade!"

Daniel looked at him in wonder, "uh, yah...that's me."

"I just saw you on Fashion Buzz. You were just voted bachelor of the city since that crazy Sofia lady broke your engagement!"

Daniel groaned in annoyance, feeling so embarrassed. "Right… uh, so anyone else home besides you, kid?"

Justin nodded and turned toward the inside and called "MOM! You will never guess who's here!" he shouted.

Daniel was a bit confused. He wasn't sure if he was at the right house; he didn't remember Betty having a son. Maybe he was at the wrong house.

"What's going on sweetie? Who's at the- Daniel!" Hilda's eyes grew at the sight of him.

Daniel sighed. Geez, did everyone know him?

Hilda grinned, folding her arms across her chest "Well, well, if it isn't the Prince Charming?"

Daniel smirked, and said "Uh...you must be Betty's sister?" he asked tentatively.

Hilda nodded "that's me! Hilda Suarez!"

"I knew he liked her too!" Justin exclaimed from next to Hilda. and Daniel looked at them with a bright hopeful smile "Betty said she liked me? Really? That's great!"

Justin was grinning, whereas Hilda shrugged "Maybe, maybe not. How did you realize it was Betty?"

"I couldn't stop thinking about what an amazing time I had with her. I had to find her, so uh...I found her invite and put the clues together. I can't believe I didn't figure it out while I was with her, especially since she felt so familiar and that smile of hers is very unforgettable, even with the braces"

Hilda found a smile sweeping across her face as she listened to him. Justin grinned as he said "I just knew you had to like her since you took off your mask and gave her that rose! That was so romantic! AB is totally crazy! I can't believe she ran away!"

"She told you guys all that? So...does that mean she uh...doesn't still hate my guts?"

Justin laughed as he said "It's more like she's fallen in lu-Ow! mom!" Hilda smacked him before he could finish, but Daniel knew what he was going to say since his eyes grew and a bright smile swept across his face as he said "In love? Really? That's, that's… " he sighed, a small frown crossing his face "but...she still doesn't want anything to do with me, because of how I treated her, right? I can't say I blame her. I was such a jerk to her!"

Hilda and Justin shared a look before they looked back to Daniel and said "She's at the library!"

He looked at them in surprise, a hopeful smile on his face.

"Do you have a phone?" Hilda asked and he nodded and handed it to her. She put in the address of the library and handed his phone back, but as he grabbed it she pulled him close and said "If you ever hurt my baby sister again I'll have to kick your ass! Got it mister fancy pants?"

Daniel nodded, gulping at how nervous she made him feel, sure that she would follow up on that threat without any hesitation. She smiled and patted his back "Good, now go find your Bella" she teased.

He laughed "Thanks so much!" he held up his hands and Hilda gave him a funny smile before she smacked it awkwardly, but Justin grinned and high fived him. "Good luck, D!"

Daniel nodded and rushed off toward his car, and followed the GPS to the library where he would hopefully find his Bella. He couldn't wait to see her!

Betty was really trying to focus and get some writing done, but every time she started writing, her mind would drift to her time with Daniel and how wonderful he made her feel that night. She couldn't stop thinking about him and those mesmerizing eyes of his, his charming smile and that exhilarating voice.

Her nephew was right. She was crazy!

Why did she run away? Now she was regretting that completely.

She wondered if she should follow her sister's advice and give him a second chance and find him.

As she stood on her tiptoes to reach a book on a top shelf, she bit her lip as she remembered how Daniel helped her when she tripped at the gazebo. Those eyes of his were so captivating.

She really wanted to see him again. See that smile again. Hear his voice. Talk to him. And just see him again!

As soon as Daniel parked his car, he got out, and took a breath as he walked up to the doors of the library. He sort of felt like he was in junior high looking to ask out the girl he had a crush on.

He scoped the library for Betty as he walked in, his heart racing in anxiousness. When he didn't see her in the main area, he walked around feeling a bit weird when some teenagers watched him curiously. He was sure he looked like he didn't belong there. He felt so out of his element. He hadn't been inside of a library since he was in college.

He ran his hand through his hair nervously and felt like turning around and just leaving when he noticed her near the back.

His heart skipped a beat and he was caught off guard by his reaction to her. He almost missed her. She was looking completely different from the other night. She was wearing some dark fitted jeans and this bright yellow fitted sweater, her hair was tied up and she was wearing glasses.

He found a bright smile sweep across his face at how damn cute she looked as she was reaching for a book on a higher shelf. As he walked over, he couldn't take his eyes off her, and his heart seemed to be racing a bit.

He couldn't suppress his laugh when the book she was reaching for slipped from her grasp and fell to the flour with a loud thud, along with losing her balance a bit causing her to drop the other two books she had been holding.

"Shoot!" she 'cursed' as she got down to the floor to pick them up.

He chuckled as he got down to his knee and said "here, lemme get those for you" as he picked them up and held them out to her.

"Oh gosh, thank you so much, I - DANIEL!" her eyes grew in surprise.

He grinned "So, you do remember me?"

Betty stared at Daniel in shock, her heart racing, as she took him in. She felt frozen, not totally sure if she just conjured him up. He was looking at her with a playful smirk and this sweet gaze, and was looking so freaking handsome! Why did the man have to be so attractive?!

A soft laugh escaped him as he said "So, wow, you are really clumsy, huh?" he teased.

She blushed brightly at his teasing remark and said in a nearly breathless tone "What are you doing here?"

He smiled "I really wanted to see you again, Betty. Or should I say... Bella?" he said with a wink.