Chapter 3
"Oh you know what? I almost forgot, I'm having a little celebration ball for the signing of the pollution bill and I invited a lot of people. So us girls will have to go shopping today! Okay?" Rinoah nodded in excitement.
"Well, I have a meeting to get too," he said and stood up and I followed him out. Then a thought struck me.
"Uhh...Mom what kind of people are you inviting to the ball tonight?" I asked.
"Oh you know, just some important people. Oh yes and I'm also inviting Uncle Zechs, Duo, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei." mom replied. Oh my god, mom was inviting Uncle Trowa, which means Josh would be coming. I never told anyone but I secretly had a crush on Josh ever since.
"Speaking of important people I think you both should wear ball gowns tonight, no dresses or skirts. Lana darling, you must go shopping with us." said mom. I would usually put up a fit about going shopping but for the sake of Josh I think this time it would be good to go shopping. I mean it's all right, but it just doesn't go with my reputation.
"Alright..." I sighed trying to show some despair. We walked out to the front of the mansion and the maids were already working on the decorations. The limousine was already waiting out front. As soon as we got in we were off to mom's personal tailor. The whole ride their mom was on her cell phone talking to Mrs. Blake the tailor and Rinoah was giving me the evil eye. I hope she's not suspicious about me liking Josh. I was about to start a fight when we arrived at the store. We all quickly got out of the limousine and into the building.
"Relena dear how are you?" Mrs. Blake exclaimed kissing mom on each cheek. Then she looked down at us. "And this must be Rinoah and Lana!" she screeched in excitement. It was always Rinoah and Lana, never Lana and Rinoah only because Rinoah was a couple of seconds older than me her name was always said first out of the two of us.
"Mrs. Blake we're looking for ball gowns for the two." mom explained. Mrs. Blake looked at us and began examining us from head to toe and walking around us a couple of times.
"My my, you look just like your father don't you?" Mrs. Blake smiled as she lifted my chin and looked straight into my eyes. Then she moved onto Rinoah and ran her fingers through her hair. "You on the other hand, have your mother's hair!" she grinned happily. Oh sure, just stare me down like a criminal and then say how wonderful Rinoah is. Everyone liked Rinoah better! "I know just the thing, come come!" Mrs. Blake beckoned and we followed her into another room. There Mrs. Blake brought out two gowns and we were to try them on. They were both strapless gowns that hugged your sides and then the rest of the gown flowed down to your feet. Rinoah chose the pink one and I chose the purple.
"You two look so wonderful!" Mrs. Blake cheered. I had to admit these were nice gowns. To add to it Mrs. Blake gave us silk gloves that ran all the way up to our elbows. After about five minutes of mom talking to Mrs. Blake we quickly got out of the gowns and changed back into our regular clothes. Mom paid for them and we were on our way back home.
Turns out we spent a little more time at the tailor than we had expected and mom had scheduled for the hair dresser to come to the mansion. As soon as we got back the two of us were to run up to our rooms and take a quick shower. We thought we were late but actually the hairdresser was. I was about to go downstairs but mom told us not to come down and just sit patiently in our rooms. I was already halfway down the stairs so now I had to trek all the way back up. In my bedroom doorway stood Rinoah, with her evil eye.
"What?" I asked her impatiently, trying to get into my own room. She didn't move an inch. "Get out of my way, I need to get in my room!" I added.
"What's going on? All of a sudden you wanted to go shopping!" Rinoah sneered and I felt my face burn a deep crimson, she knew! She knew all about me liking Josh, ahhh!
"Nothing, I just went because Mom made me!" I retorted, raising my voice. She finally got out of my way. To past time I decided to listen to my nsync c-d. I walked over to my boom box and discovered it wasn't there. I raced over to Rinoah's room with only a royal blue robe on and my hair wrapped in a towel.
"You took my c-d! Give it back!" I shouted. Rinoah walked over to her boom box and took out the nsync c-d.
"Oh this c-d?" she smiled putting it into the c-d case and held it up. I reached out to grab it but she pulled it away. She ran out into the hall and I chased after her. I reached for the c-d again and caught hold of it.
"Give it back!" I shouted.
"Only if you tell me the truth!" Rinoah replied.
"What truth?" I asked yanking the c-d towards me.
"You like Josh Barton don't you?" said Rinoah pulling the c-d towards her. I knew I couldn't hide it anymore.
"So what if I did?" I shouted pulling the c-d towards me again.
"I knew it..."Rinoah concluded and without wasting another minute I jumped her, sending both of us to the ground. I pinched her on the arm and she pinched me back. Then Rinoah shouted for mom and I shouted for dad and coincidentally we called for them at the same exact time. At the sound of our voices mom and dad came racing upstairs, prying us off each other.
"Girls what in the world is going on here?" mom asked.
"Rinoah took my nsync c-d!" I shouted, brushing off some fuzz on my robe.
"She pinched me!" Rinoah shouted back.
"Girls please, your mother and I are busy enough with the preparation for the ball tonight." explained dad.
"Yes girls, please, just go back to your rooms and wait patiently. The hair dresser should be here any moment." mom added and as if on cue the hairdresser's limousine pulled up front of the mansion. Pagan opened the door and the hairdresser and his wife came dashing up the stairs and Rinoah and I retreated to our rooms.
"Both of them are already in their rooms waiting." I heard mom say. I quickly sat down in front of my dresser and waited. The door swung open and in came John Paul, the French hairdresser. His wife Madame Dumont was probably with Rinoah.
"Bonjour Lana, how are you?" he asked me as he began brushing my hair.
"Fine..."I replied flatly.
"Not feeling vell?" he asked me in his French accent and I shook my head.
" I'm fine, really." I said and John Paul nodded in acceptance.
"Lets see here, your mother vants you and your sister to have the same hair style." John Paul said to me. "And I know just the thing!" he smiled and set off to work. I busied myself with a teen magazine and after what seemed like forever John Paul was done. I took a look at my hair in the mirror and it looked impressive.
"How do you like it?" he asked me.
"Its wonderful John Paul, thank-you!" I replied. My hair was put into a high ponytail and the ponytail was curled. My bangs hung freely on the side of my face and a few pinches of silver glitter were applied.
"I'm glad you like it. Enjoy the party sweetheart!" John Paul exclaimed and left. I didn't bother me he called me sweetheart because he was a very close family friend but what amazed me was what he did with my hair. Next I had to put on my gown. I carefully slipped it on along with the gloves that ran all the way up to my elbows. It was kind of uncomfortable at first but I got used to it. I slipped on my heels too and sat down in front of the dresser again.
"Ooo...I hope Josh likes it." I said out loud when suddenly I heard a knock on my door. Afraid he or she heard what I had just said, I quickly flipped open the magazine and made it so that it looked like I was reading something.
"Come in..." I announced and in came Rinoah. Her hair was put up the exact same way mine was, only difference was the color of her gown. It was obvious she had heard what I said
"Please Rinoah, whatever you do please don't tell mom and dad or anyone else." I begged her and she simply nodded. Rinoah walked over to me and I stood up, prepared for any snide remark she was going to make.
"Lana I wanna, I
wanna say I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I'm sorry for not giving you the
c-d and for picking on you because I found out you liked Josh." she
smiled. This has got to be a dream, Rinoah rarely apologizes.
"You really mean it?" I asked her just to make sure and she nodded. "Well, I'm sorry for pouncing on you and pinching you." I apologized. Rinoah laughed.
" Apology accepted." she grinned and we gave each other a hug.
"Anyway, I was wondering. You wanna switch lockets to fool the grown-ups?" she asked me and we both smiled evilly.
"Sure why not?" I replied and we laughed till our stomachs hurt. Each of us had a golden heart-shaped locket with a picture of our self inside and the first letter of our name. Rinoah handed me hers and I handed her mine. We did this because it was funny and many of the grown-ups could never tell who was who and they would look at our locket. Rinoah helped put hers on for me and I put mine on for her. We applied some lip-gloss and it was time to head down to the ball. As soon as I opened the door to my room I could hear all the chatter coming from downstairs. Rinoah and I exchanged glances; we both sighed deeply, and headed down the staircase.