Author's Note: Hi everyone! I've decided to adopt a multiple personality. (I blame cytosine and Eve Eastborne. They got the idea into my head.) After a long hard search at all the stores, I finally found one who's PERFECT. And I got it half off cause it was in the slightly irregular bin! *Jumps up and down with a party hat on, blowing one of those annoying noise makers that makes the paper curl in and out* I noticed that everyone's multiple personalities were the same gender as they were, so I decided to break the trend and get a guy. *Trumpets begin to play the music they play when the King is coming behind them* Meet…JOE!!!
Joe: Hi!!! I'm Joe! *Free2BMe whispers to him that she already told them that* What?! Why did you tell them that?! Now they're going to get me!
Free2BMe: Dude, you told them your name too.
Joe: Don't try to pin this on me!
Free2Bme: Sorry folks, he's still adjusting. Why don't you just read my story while I try to calm him down. *Narrows eyes at Joe who is swinging a sword around his head and screaming*
All the girls were sitting in Sandry's room at Duke's Citadel. She had promised to help them all get ready for the ball. Right now she was in the process of putting orange jewels into Daja's very long braids (she would tie the braids with a ribbon at the base of her neck after). The jewels were exactly the same color as the dark orange in her gown. Daja's gown was made with two different shades of orange. The top was a light orange that had sleeves that were straight at the upper arms, but belled out at the elbows. The skirt was a dark orange material almost all the way around. In the middle, however, there was a triangle of material (the same material as on the top of her dress) whose point was at her waist and it widened until it reached the bottom. Daja had a pendant with a large orange jewel in the middle and smaller diamonds around it and a matching bracelet. She had refused to let Sandry paint her face. "You'll pay for this Saati." Daja warned as Sandry finished her. Sandry just smiled.
"Come on, Daja. You know you like it. Just a little bit?" Daja sighed.
"Okay. Maybe…just a little." Sandry laughed.
"See? I knew you'd warm up to it once you saw how beautiful you look." Sandry said confidently.
"Yeah, well, don't think it will become a regular thing…but I guess it's not so bad to look…feminine…sometimes." Daja admitted grudgingly. "But if you ever tell anyone about this, you'll meet the end of my staff." Sandry laughed again.
Elizabeth stood, admiring herself in a full-length mirror. She was dressed in her dark blue dress whose color brought out her eyes. Sandry had curled her hair and left it down to frame her face, making it look more round. Her eyes were painted a dark charcoal and she had a deep red lip-paint. Her jewelry was made of diamonds. She had a diamond bracelet and diamond ear drops. She had decided not to wear her diamond necklace, and instead was wearing the silver pendant Daja had made her. Its symbol was one of strength. The strength that she desired was mental, though, not physical. After what had happened in the past few months, she figured that they could all use a little strength.
Tris was dressed in a purple gown that accented her bust. Sandry had braided her hair in a single braid down her back. The simpleness (A/N: If you can't read that, break it up: simple ness, simple-ness, simpleness. Got it?) of the braid made her look all the more beautiful. Tris's necklace and bracelet were made of pearls. Tris, too, couldn't stop admiring herself in the mirror. Sandry had painted her lips the same dark red as Elizabeth's and painted her eyes an earthy brown before she declared Tris done. Tris had been in front of the mirror ever since.
Even Evvy was wearing an elegant gown. Hers was a deep red that looked beautiful against the ebony of her hair. Sandry had done her hair up in an ornate bun and she wore gold jewelry. She did, however, have red rubies in her hair. Sandry can do anything with hair! Evvy thought enviously. Sandry had finished her off with charcoal eye-paint, a touch of rouge, and the same deep red lip-color she had used on Tris and Elizabeth.
Sandry herself was wearing a white gown with royal blue accents and was wearing sapphire jewels in her hair. The same sapphires could be seen on her bracelet. She, too, wore the pendant Daja had given her, but in accompaniment with her jeweled one. Her eyes were painted charcoal and she had a lighter red lip-paint than the one she had used on the others.
"Ready?" She asked when she had finished with Daja. The girls looked at each other and laughed joyfully. This was going to be fun.
Music filled the ballroom as the girls descended the grand staircase. The room was already filled with guests. As soon as Sandry stepped onto the floor, she was swept away by a gallant young man. Literally. The other girls giggled as they watched their ambushed friend struggle to be polite to this suitor who had so rudely begun to dance with her without even asking her permission. Tris, Daja, Evvy, and Elizabeth walked together until they all heard Daja gasp. "What is Kirel doing here?" She heard a giggle in her mind. Daja's eyes narrowed. Sandry! She mind-yelled to her friend. Sandry broke out into open laughter, causing a confused look from her partner. Realizing it, she tried to stifle her laughter. I'm sorry Daja, Sandry mind-spoke back, but this is a ball. It's only right that you dance with your knight in shining armor. Daja turned crimson.
He is not my "knight in shining armor" Sandry! And besides, he won't- by then Kirel had noticed Daja. He looked at her nervously.
"Would you like to dance?" He asked her, kind of awkwardly. Daja stared for a moment, shocked to silence. –dance with me, she finished her sentence to Sandry.
Well, answer him! Sandry prodded her. Unable to find her voice just then, Daja nodded. Tris, Evvy, and Elizabeth watched as she, too, was swept away. Much nicer than Sandry had been. One by one, men claimed the other girls. Elizabeth by Dan and Evvy by Pasco. (A/N: Pasco is a dance mage. I couldn't leave him out of a ball. That would be cruel and unusual punishment.) When it was only Tris left, Adam approached her. He bowed deeply before asking, "May I have this dance?" Tris hesitated. Oh, come on. Elizabeth, who had been watching, encouraged her, You know he won't leave you be if you don't. Tris sighed, but obliged him. Adam was shocked.
"Well?" Tris demanded impatiently, "Are we going to dance or not?" Snapping back into reality, Adam smiled and took her hand.
"Ah." He sighed, "I see you have finally succumbed to my charm."
"Don't count on it." Tris shot back. Adam smiled at her.
"Come come now, it's obvious how much you feel for me. You're practically writhing with passion." Tris laughed, and not with him.
"The only reason I would "writhe" while I'm with you, is in agony." Adam sadly shook his head.
"Still pretending I see. You don't have to be afraid. I don't bite…unless you want me to." Tris almost pushed him down right then. Biting back her anger she said, as politely as she could manage,
"I'm sorry, Adam. I've just remembered, I have to go drown myself. I would love to continue this agonizing dance and even more painful conversation with you, but I really must put myself out of my misery." With that, she disengaged herself from his grip and walked over to a chair to sit down.
Adam smiled to himself. "I love it when they play hard to get."
Tris was fuming. That boy could be so annoying!
"Would you like to dance?" An unfamiliar voice asked her. Tris looked up into the eyes of the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He had soft, ebony hair and a brown tan. His bright green eyes were looking at her hopefully as she reached out to take his offered hand. The stranger wore a white shirt under a black tunic and Tris could see powerful muscles framed by the white material of the shirt. She could spent forever in his firm, sure grip, and he danced with a cat-like grace.
Tris spent the night, talking and dancing with this beautiful stranger. When the party finally came to an end, she realized she had never asked his name. "Excuse me, sir," She said as he began to leave, "but I don't believe I know you're name." He laughed, showing rows of straight, white teeth.
"Darien." He said, "And yours?" Tris smiled back,
"Trisana, but my friends call me Tris."
"And," Darien asked, "may I, too, call you Tris?"
"I would be insulted if you didn't." She replied, still smiling.
"Well then, Tris, I hope to see you again sometime." He told her. And before she knew what was happening, she found his lips against hers. Just as soon, he turned and was gone.
Author's Note: Ooooh. A dark mysterious stranger!!! He's important. I tried to get Tris to like Adam, but you know how she is. You can't make her do anything she's set against. Well, maybe later.
Joe: *making puppy-dog eyes* Pleeeeaaaase let me out of the straight jacket? I promise I won't try to kill you again.
Free2BMe: *Can't resist the eyes* Okay. *lets him out*
Joe: YAY!!! So…ummm…where did you hide the sword again?
Free2BMe: Oh, no! I'm not falling for that one again! But if you're very good, maybe I'll get you a tazer for your birthday.
Joe: *Looks hopeful* Really? Okay. I'll be…I'll be…*cringes as he tries to say the word* good. *Runs to the bathroom to brush his teeth 5,000 times*
Free2BMe: Anyway, REVIEW! Please?