A.N: Hey Guys!
If you want to check Rose Ball dress you can fin the link on my profile. Well the Ball chapter is divided in 2.
I really hope you like it. Don't forget to review!!
Steffy =D
Chapter 19:
I received the dress Adrian ordered for me on Wednesday but I stupidly refused to have a look at it before Friday night.
The rest of the week was better than I expected it to be. The Nytol tablets did help me to sleep and all my odd symptoms did decrease at the same time as my sleep deprivation.
Christian managed to brush off the training incident with his usual humor.
"I told you Liss… She ain't sleeping well because she misses my hot body." He said to me with a wink as we were ready for a Guitar hero battle.
"Yeah it's true…" I said pretending to be ashamed. "I mean when I couldn't sleep I just looked at him, drooled and I could sleep after that." I added pretending to be serious.
Eddie burst in laughed as Lissa jumped excitedly.
"Oh my!! I do that too!" She said taking my hand.
"You girls are just evil… Evil and mean." Said Christian with a feeble pout.
"But we love you fire boy!" I said kissing his left cheek as Lissa kissed his right.
"Not laughing anymore, you Douches, huh?" He said to Eddie and Chris. "I hope you learned your lesson."
I felt lighter during that evening, even if Adrian was always in the back of my mind, but I was starting to accept the fact that I won't be with him ever again. If I knew he was happy again then I'll be better too. I needed him to be happy as I imposed this break up on him. I knew I would always love him that was a fact but I really hoped he could move on even if I wouldn't.
I just got out of my shower, walking back to my room when I saw the little 5'1 jet black hair girl waiting in front of my door.
"Rose, sorry I'm a bit early," she said bouncing with expectation.
"That's ok Jade, thanks for helping!" I said sincerely opening the door to let her in. I knew she was pretty pleased to be 'working' tonight during the ball. She was one of the feeders here and I could see she needed her fix of vampire endorphins.
She was a pretty sweet human girl who just made some wrong choices and ended up a junky. I used to chat with her while I went along with Christian to the feeders and she explained me how she used to be a beautician and Cosmetologist at Vogue New York before ending up here.
I went along to the feeders yesterday with Christian and she very sweetly proposed to help me to get ready for the Ball. The offer was just too good to refuse for many reasons. The first one was that I wanted to make Adrian proud and secondly I didn't want to look to plain compared to Mr. 'sex-god' Chris Walker.
"Can I have a look at the dress please?" Asked Jade pointing at the garment bag. "I mean I need to see it to pick the hairdo and make up." She added this time pointing to the big bag she brought with her.
I nodded "Of course!" I said carefully opening the bag and taking the dress out of it and delicately hanging it on the mirror.
"Oh. My. God!" Said Jade completely stunned like she was witnessing a resurrection or something.
I tried to hide my surprise but it was true that the dress was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. A real work of art.
It was a strapless silky Red dress. The bodice was embroidered with nice very refine sparkly thingy (Jade told me later that it was diamond dust).There was a small red bow that rested on the left hip as the dress flared out. I already knew that I would feel like a red bell when I'll sway in that dress.
Jade took 2 steps toward the dress before turning around to look at me incuriously.
''Is that an Evy Jones dress?'' She asked pointing
I shrugged and mumble an 'I dunno.'
She touched the dress like it was glass and squealed.
''It is!! And it's a special order! Custom made!!'' She said astonished. ''Either you are super rich or you have connections girl because That's not something you see everyday!!'' She said shaking her head. ''She almost refused to do one for vogue.'' She now looked at me with admiration. ''How did you manage to get it?''
''It's a present,'' I said evasively.
''W.O.W,'' she said giving a last glance to the dress before concentrating on me again. ''Well I need to give 150% if I want to honor this dress and let me tell you this person must love you very much to go through such a hassle for a Ball gown.'' She added with a smile.
''Yeah or at least they used to,'' I said in a hush tone. I knew she heard me but she was kind enough to drop it.
She made me sit on the bed while she took a sit in front of me on a chair and she stared at me for a couple of minutes.
''Okay, it won't be hard work and it won't take long,'' she said opening the bag that was full of high brand make up and some stuff for hair I presumed. ''You are already so so pretty.'' She said just stating a fact.
''Thank you.'' I said really pleased.
''Don't mention it,'' she said staring to apply some concealer and foundation on my face.
30 minutes later she was helping me into the dress very gently closing it. It was fitting like a glove.
''Perfect fit,'' she said rearranging the loose curled she just made. She said that I had such beautiful hair that I needed to let them down. She just curled them lightly so it was falling in gentle waves just under my shoulder blades. ''We can say the person who ordered that dress knew exactly how your body is like...You just have the perfect body for it.''
It made me blush and it made her chuckle.
''Well got to go. I start in 30 minutes but I can assure you…all eyes are going to be on you tonight, no doubt about that!'' She added closing her bag.
I just had time to say thanks she was already out.
I went to my desk and took the necklace out of the first drawer and very carefully put it on. It was perfect, matching the dress but I was pretty sure that it was Adrian's intention from day one.
I sighed and walked to the mirror to give myself a last look, as Chris would be here any minute now. I just couldn't believe I was the girl staring straight back at me.
I really was beautiful in a very classy way. Jade really was a professional, you really couldn't deny that.
She didn't overdo anything. I was natural she made my eyes slightly smokey. She additionally, use a small amount of a silver color eye shadow on the brow bone to bring out the smokey look. She also used a mascara that made my eyelashes twice as long and thick. She left my cheeks tinged slightly pink but not really blushed up, very natural. She just used some strawberry red light gloss on my lips and gave me the tube for touch up.
I looked like a princess with a designer dress and designer necklace.
I heard a light knock at the door.
''Coming...'' I said putting my strappy silver high heels on before walking to the door.
Chris was of course absolutely flawless in his classic black tuxedo and his white shirt was a perfect fit with his copper skin he would easily the most beautiful man tonight well for everyone else I guess…The most beautiful man for me will be there too and I hope he will find me pretty enough.
''Are you alright?'' I asked worried when I saw his icy blue eyes were as wide as saucers.
He was just staring at me with his mouth open.
''Chris?'' I asked putting a hand on his arm.
He shook his head. ''Sorry you are just… It's that…'' He seemed to be so lost.
''What?'' I asked getting self conscious by the second. ''It's bad?'' I asked looking down.
Chris shook his head vehemently. ''No it's the… exact opposite.'' He said still stunned. ''Don't get me wrong you are always gorgeous but right now…'' He slightly whistled. ''You are absolutely divine I mean… Believe it or not you're what I wish I would see when I'll made it to heaven…or Hell''
I blushed slightly and rolled my eyes. ''Right…Let's go pretty boy.''
''I'm just honest Rose,'' he said gallantly giving me his arms. ''All eyes are going to be on you tonight and I'm sure every man on site would be ready to kill to be at my spot. You are… I'm speechless.''
I chuckled. ''Well thank you I said you are very, very attractive yourself.''
''I'm an insult compared to you,'' he added looking down at me like it was still difficult for him to believe it was me.
''Stop looking at me like that it makes me think I look fugly usually!'' I added with humor.
''Ok,'' he said grinning ''but I just wanted you to know that I'm very proud to be your date tonight, and I wouldn't trade my place for anything.''
I elbowed him playfully. ''Come on Pretty boy. Let's show those moroi what we're made of.'' I said but I had a very uneasy feeling in my stomach. I was about to face my two nemesis, the queen of Bitchland and Dimitri as well as the love of my life… It was going to be such a long evening.
As soon as we crossed the threshold the buzzing of voices stopped and the room turned so silent that it made me uncomfortable.
I immediately saw Adrian at the honor table and his eyes widen slightly when he saw me but he regained his smugness almost immediately. He was so beautiful…it was painful.
Chris stood straight deploying his already very impressive muscular chest.
He brought his hand to the small of my back and whispered to my ear. ''Come on smile Rose! Let's show them.''
I looked up to him and smiled as we nonchalantly walked to our assigned seat with every single pair of eyes following our progression.
Thank God the Queen was not as sadistic as I thought she was and she assigned us to a table pretty far away from hers or maybe it was her way to show us that we weren't worth much.
We were sitting with Christian and Lissa, as well as with Eddie and Grazie (a junior novice, pretty sweet).
When we arrived at the table I had to chuckle as both Christian and Eddie had the same expression as Chris had when I opened the door
''See…'' Said Chris pointing at them. ''Told you that you were absolutely Heavenly!''
''Rose you are…Wow.'' Said Christian ''Sorry Lissa but I think I'll ask Rose to marry me right now!'' He said playfully.
''Well, you go ahead,'' she said laughing ''I would totally think you were a fool if you didn't. You are stunning Rose!'' She said proudly.
''Dibs!'' Said Eddie laughing as Grazie winked getting the joke ( thank god at least she wasn't a tight ass.)
''This dress was made for you.'' Said Lissa complementing me.
''Well actually it was made for me.'' I said with a smile automatically directing my eyes toward the honor table where the Queen was sat and what I saw was so painful that it took my breath away.
Adrian was not by himself but with a beautiful young Moroi. She had ginger hair and very big jade eyes. She was smiling at him and she had a hand resting nonchalantly on his forearm. He was looking at her very kindly.
It felt like I was being killed on the spot and I could feel my 'pretending' mode smile spreading on my face.
He moved on fast enough, I thought pained as I met the Queen's eyes who looked at me with both defiance and antipathy and I could see her sadistic pleasure to be a witness to the disgrace of my heart.
I concentrated my attention on Chris again as he wrapped an arm possessively around my waist. I was about to elbow him, not nicely this time, and tell him to back off when I saw him glare at Ralph ( also known as 'ewww I'm gonna puke you filthy pervert') and I understood straight away he was trying to keep the unwanted attention away from me.
''Thank you,'' I whispered.
''My pleasure….Really!!'' He said grinning and I could see he only wished he had a reason to kick his butt. He really was like me on that.
He then ,very gallantly, took my chair out and I sat trying to put Adrian in the back of my mind for the rest of the evening, knowing it would be so, so hard.
The meal went pretty well as I was too far to see the honor table and god knew I tried but my friends were doing their best to keep my mind to something else and I had to thank them for that.
At the end of the meal a DJ came and the couples started to dance on the central dance floor. I expected some crap ballroom music but it was not the case at all it was actual music.
''Uh, that's nice'' I said really agreeably surprised.
Christian and Lissa excused themselves to go and dance almost as soon as the music started. They did love to dance those two. They were quickly followed but Eddie and Grazie.
''Awww I love that song,'' I said as Hero by Mariah Carey started to play.
''Would you like to dance with me Rose?'' Asked Chris gently reaching for my hand.
''I…'' I looked around. ''I don't know.'' I said sincerely.
''Come on we're friends right? And you are not cheating on anybody. Plus….'' he looked around and caught the people eyeing us not that discreetly. ''Let's give them something to gossip about, as they will anyways.''
I chuckled. ''Yeah, I guess you're right,'' I said taking his hand and following him on the dance floor.
It felt nice to dance with him, no pressure! He was always so open, he was not playing games, not expecting anything from me.
As the song ended, I saw Adrian actually laughing with the girl and that was just a bit too much. I needed to regain my calm and fast or I would blow everything away.
''I'm sorry. I just need to go freshen up a bit... I'll be right back.'' I said to Chris smiling tentatively.
I saw him give a very discreet, quick glance to Adrian's table. He nodded. ''Yeah, take your time Rose I'll just wait for you while trying to keep the groupies away.''
''I'll be back soon.'' I said padding his arms. ''I'll never forgive myself if you get assaulted by a horny teenage girl.''
''But I would…'' He said with a grin.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Guys… I thought walking to the bathroom.
I took a tissue walking in and locked myself in a toilet.
I was taking some deep breaths, I was not the kind of girl to hide in toilets but I was so emotional these days. It was so not Rose! But I figured that losing the man I loved, the threatening to the persons I loved and the lack of sleep made me a bit vulnerable.
With so many people to love in my life, why do I worry about one? I thought carefully drying my eyes before any tears could run down. He will move on… I thought nodding to myself. It's okay, everything will be okay. I thought about to open the toilet door when two woman came in.
''I mean really did you see them?'' Said the first one chuckling.
''I told you…'' Said the second that I recognized as being the Queen puppet of Best friend bitchy Voda. ''Hathaway and Walker…'' She laughed now. ''The couple of the year! The Queen agreed with me there I mean we had to admit who would want to go steady with either of them? I'm pretty sure every male of the Academy humped her as for him…I'm pretty sure he can't even remember her name in bed!''
''Well He is a pretty good guardian and from what I've heard she will be one of the best too. You have to give them that!'' Added the other woman I didn't recognized.
''Well yeah it's true,'' said Voda slightly displeased with her friend. ''But as I said they do match I mean they are total misfits! Freaks even for the Dhampirs community! Even her mom doesn't want anything to do with her.'' She added so pleased with herself.
''Yeah that's true'' said her friend. ''And they are just ridiculous trying to act like they belong… I mean with his second hand tuxedo and her slutty Dress" she tsked. ''They can't even match my domestics!'' She laughed.
Bitch you are as evil as that fucking Voda! I thought and I balled my hands into fist as it took all my self control not to get out of that stall and shoved their dog faces right up their asses.
''Pathetic…'' Said Voda. ''Well at least we're lucky Dhampir can't procreate one with another. Imagine those two whores having kids.''
''Scary! Poor kid...It will doomed from birth with those parents.'' Said her friend.
And they left laughing to no ends.
I stepped out of the stall completely speechless and I could almost imagining myself kicking their asses but I had better self control than that or at least I was starting to do.
''Don't listen to them.'' Said Camille Conta from behind me.
I jumped and looked at her with suspicion. The girl couldn't stand me and she didn't like Lissa either…The battle for being the Queen of the Academy.
''You look absolutely stunning Rose believe me! And most girls would kill to be at Chris's arm right now.'' She added with a genuine smile.
That girl never smiled!! Not to me at least. I thought incuriously.
''What do you want Camille?'' I asked warily trying to keep my voice even.
''Nothing,'' she said shrugging going to the sink to wash her hands. ''I just thought they went too far and it was totally unfair. They are just jealous of you Rose…green with jealousy!'' She shook her head. ''I was jealous too before when Jesse gave you his full attention you know…'' she admitted.
That was the reason of her attitude!! She thought I wanted to take Jesse Zeklos from her? Geez!! I would rather walk naked in the snow! I added to myself but I just smiled.
''And the way you're dressed with that necklace?'' She shook her head again. ''There is nothing cheap about you!!'' She added apparently very sincere.
''Oh… Thank you'' I said automatically reaching for the necklace. ''It's crystal.''
''Oh Honey…'' She started and it sounding like a mother talking to her mentally challenged kid but it was not insulting coming from Camille she had such poor social skills when Royals were not involved. I knew she didn't mean anything bad so I let it go.
''What?'' I asked curiously.
''I knew how to recognize jewelry before being able to speak Rose and that…'' she said pointing to my necklace. ''Is the lead model of Tiffany winter collection.'' She said so sure of herself. ''It's diamond and it cost I think 85 000$.'' She added really impressed.
Liar liar! Pants on fire!! I thought childishly pissed at Adrian. He took me for a fool.
''It's a loan'' I said automatically. Anyways I didn't intend to keep it now! I'll shove it up his ass if I had to but I would not keep something worth that much I mean come on! It wasn't right!
''Well your friend is very nice,'' she said simply before walking out.
''Ok that was…odd.'' I said arching one eyebrow. At least my little chat with Camille managed to dilute some of my anger against the two sluts even if those women reinforced the argument that Adrian and I couldn't be together.
If people were already that malevolent just because I went to the Ball in a designer dress with a hot dhampir what would it be if I went with one of the wealthiest and powerful Moroi?
It would have been so much worse. I didn't care I could take it all but Adrian shouldn't have to defend my honor all the time. He was better with his sweet little moroi.
I walked back into the ball room when I crossed path with Adrian's date.
''Hello!'' She said cheerily.
I frowned slightly with surprise but regained my blank expression almost immediately. ''Hello…'' I said smiling tentatively.
''I'm sorry to barge in like that. I know you will probably think I'm rude but.'' she blushed slightly. ''I really like your dress. It seemed it was made for you.'' She said nicely.
Yeah it's a present from your date and we can say he knows my body from every angle! That's what I wanted to say and that was probably what petty Rose would have said but it was my entire fault if she was standing there all sweet and pretty Damn! "Thank you that's very sweet of you." I said with my pretending smile.
''You are very welcome,'' she said with a wink before going to the ladies room.
I groaned and went back to the table apparently I looked sullen enough so that Christian let go of Lissa whispering something to her ear.
She nodded and invited Eddie to dance. She gave a look to Chris who invited Grazie. She was so pleased that she almost fell 3 times before reaching the dance floor.
Poor girl… I thought with a small smile.
I saw Christian whispering something to the DJ ear before hurrying to me.
''Rosemarie Hathaway,'' he said very formally. ''Would you dance with me?'' He then winked. ''So I can shove it up the ass of all those douches,'' he added evilly.
''You want to abuse my stunning beauty?'' I asked faking to be offended.
''Why, yeah!'' He said sticking his tongue out.
''My baby is growing so fast…'' I said pretending to be crying.
He reached for my hand and walked to the dance floor. However, as soon as the song started, my grasp on his shoulder tightened. It was I surrender by Celine Dion
''Ouch!'' He simply said but I didn't loosen my grip.
There's so much life
I've left to live
And this fire's burning still
When I watch you look at me
I think I could find a will
To stand for every dream
And forsake this solid ground
And give up this fear within
Of what would happen if they ever knew
I'm in love with you
''Why did you ask for this song?'' I whispered letting my eyes wander in the room but stopped when the locked with some beautiful Emerald ones that I could recognize anywhere at anytime. Adrian and I stared at each other like if we were the two only persons in the room.
'Cause I'd surrender everything
To feel the chance, to live again
I reach to you
I know you can feel it too
We'd make it through
A thousand dreams I still believe
I'd make you give them all to me
I'd hold you in my arms and never let go
I surrender
I know
I can't survive another night away from you
You're the reason I go on
And now I need to live the truth.
''I...I need some air.'' I said looking around.
Right now, there's no better time
From this fear, I will break free
And I'll live again with love
And no they can't take that away from me
And they will see... Yeah
To feel the chance, to live again
I reach to you
I know you can feel it too
We'd make it through
Christian gripped my arms ''I'm sorry Rose,'' he said really apologetically. ''I never meant for the song to have such an effect… I'm sorry.''
Every night's gettin' longer
And this fire is getting stronger baby
I'll swallow my pride
And I'll be alive
Can't you hear my call?
I surrender all...
''Give me 5 minutes fire boy.'' I said a bit annoyed as the nauseous feeling was back. ''I'll be back'' I added this time taking the small side door in order to get to one of the rare bay window that counted the building.
I walked on the balcony and went to rest my hands on the stone railing. The Sun was starting to raise in the horizon… it was getting late now the evening will be over soon.
I head quiet footsteps behind me and I rolled my eyes.
''Come on fire boy! I asked for 5 freaking m--'' I started turning around but the rest of my sentence died in my throat.. ''You're not Christian'' I said stupidly.
''No I'm not….''