It turned out that Marella couldn't have bought the dress at a more opportune time, for Biana was so impatient for the dance that she scheduled it for three weeks earlier than originally planned. This meant that the invitations were sent out a bit late, so the dress shops were swamped as all of the elven nobility rushed to get the proper outfit on time. For Biana had literally invited all of the elven nobility, even the Heks family. The information in the invitation was rather cryptic, but Marella gathered from it that Biana had a super-important announcement to make, and she wanted everybody to be there. That is just like a Vacker, Marella thought to herself.
Marella herself spent the time leading up to the event trying on her dress every day and thinking rapturously about how surprised, how delighted, how enraptured Tam would be when he saw her wearing the dress. (The more practical side of her remembered briefly that Tam had never been "enraptured" with a girl in his life; not even Biana, but she quickly forgot with the excitement of it all). The two weeks passed in a blur in her mind, except for one conversation that kept replaying in her mind.
This odd dialogue had occurred between her and Linh, who was practically her best friend. Along with Biana, Tam, Sophie, Keefe, and Wylie, they'd gone to Atlantis on a down day to have lunch together, window shop: basically, all the things that normal humans did, just in the super-natural setting of an underwater city. At one point Linh and Marella had been privately discussing Linh's huge crush on Wylie, when Linh's gaze had drifted to Biana and Tam, who were feeding each other mallowmelt, and a strange look had come over her face.
Marella had politely ignored the couple and asked Linh if Wylie was taking her to the dance.
Linh nodded, and an unpleasant expression had come over her face. "Listen, Marella," she'd said quietly, "I think something's going on with Tam."
Marella quickly looked at Tam, who was carefully poking a spoonful of mallowmelt into Biana's open mouth. A quick scrutiny of his face told her absolutely nothing, and she turned back to Linh. "What do you mean?" she asked, concerned.
Linh furrowed her brow. "I don't know," she said slowly. "Recently, he just… he's been distant, and distracted. Sometimes I talk to him and he doesn't even answer."
Marella frowned. Tam and Linh were closer than any siblings she knew, so if Tam wasn't communicating with his twin, it was a much bigger deal than it would be for other siblings. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Linh nodded. "I'm fine," she said dismissively. "It's Tam I'm worried about."
"Maybe Keefe is sending prank love letters to him again," Marella joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Linh laughed, her face brightening. "I… think it might be something, like… with Biana, or something," she confided. "I'm not sure what to do…"
"Maybe try asking him about it?" Marella said briefly, her expression unreadable.
"I did," Linh said, exasperated. "He just… didn't respond."
Despite her claim that she was fine, Marella could see that the conflict was wearing on her gentle friend, and she pulled her into a hug. "He'll be fine, Linh. …Let me know if there's anything I can do for you."
Linh squeezed her back. "Thank you," she mumbled into Marella's shoulder. "Don't know what I'd do without you."
Hey! RJ Cadigan here. Please let me know what I can do better, and what I've been doing well: comments are very very much appreciated :) If three comments are added, I'll add the next chapter sooner than planned! Love you guys :) Adios!
-RJ Cadigan