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Last Minute Nerves

The next day went by too quickly unfortunately. Not that I couldn't wait to see Raoul but I'd never felt so nervous. I felt queasy all day. I attempted to keep busy in the hope that the feeling would pass.

I handed my notice in at work in the morning, now that it had been confirmed that the opera house would definitely be reopening soon.

I then had lunch with Meg who rushed me back from a little bit of shopping in her haste to get me prepared for tonight. She insisted that there was still reason to make as much effort as I could for him. I supposed that if it helped me appear a little more human given how pale my skin had become, then it was better than nothing. I was glad that Meg was helping me though. She was brilliant at this.

The dress we had both chosen tonight was quite plain but I liked that. It was a steel blue shade, the color of Raoul's eyes. It buttoned up at the front, with creamy frills lining the short sleeves and the top of the dress too. The skirt was patterned with cream against the blue background but it didn't flow outwards a lot like most of my dresses. Instead, it hung delicately to my frame instead and towards the floor.

Meg had created an eloquent hairstyle. She had pinned the sides up as she often did, but brushed the remainder of my curls from the back forwards, guiding my ringlets down each of my shoulder until they fell against the material of my dress.

She had kept my make-up quite simple, the only main difference was the curl of my lashes, the rouge on my cheeks to highlight them and the rosy lipstick to accentuate the profile of my lips more.

"You are an amazing stylist Meg, just as you are an amazing dancer too of course." I added with a smile, twirling a little bit as I appreciated the girl in the mirror, still feeling as though this wasn't actually me at all. I still felt like the clumsy, messy-haired girl I found myself to be in the future.

She clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh you look so beautiful! I imagine that the Vicomte will hardly be able to keep his hands to himself." She teased with a giggle.

My eyes widened at that. "Oh god, do you really think so?"

She blinked at my reaction, her smile dropping. "Well I was only joking, but-"

I groaned, feeling my face grow hotter as I thought about all the ways that tonight could go wrong. Oh god, I felt so nauseous! What was I thinking? Agreeing to tonight!

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea actually!" I sat down on my bed, taking my face within my hands.

"I was only teasing Charlotte; you truly have nothing to worry about!"

"But how do you know that?" I gasped from between both of my hands. "What if he starts to realize that he made a massive mistake in inviting me out? What if he realizes that he doesn't actually feel anything for me? What if he doesn't show up just to be cruel?"

"Why would he do that, when it was him who asked for your company tonight?-"

"What if tonight goes horribly wrong and then he really will begin to hate me instead?" I gasped.

"Don't be silly! He wouldn't have arranged to meet you if he wasn't certain on his feelings for you. When are you due to meet anyway? That will be the hardest part of this evening."

"Oh erm…" I glanced towards the clock seeing that it was half six now. "Well the dinner reservation is for seven so I guess, anytime now."

"Right," Meg sighed as she headed for the dormitory door.

"Wait, where are you going?"

She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling as she turned back to glance at me, with my burning hot cheeks still perched between my clammy hands.

"I shall go and inquire if he is downstairs to see if he has actually arrived like he said he would." She replied with a sigh.

"Wait, but he might see you!" I panicked.

"I can be conspicuous!" She insisted. "And stop leaning your head against your hands! I have done your make-up beautifully and I don't want you messing it up!" She complained angrily.

I struggled not to laugh as I did as she requested, watching her leave and feeling like a bundle of useless nerves yet again. I stood from my bed, pacing up and down as I waited for her to come back from spying, still feeling certain that tonight was going to go horribly wrong. Maybe he really hadn't turned up after all.

I turned to see Meg bursting back through the door, a huge grin on her face as she bounded back over to my side.

"Yes, he is definitely waiting for you." She confirmed.

"Oh god," I groaned, feeling utterly panicked now. I was looking forward to seeing him but I was so convinced that this would somehow end badly.

"I have to say he looks rather handsome tonight. I feel as though he definitely made the effort for you." Meg giggled. "Oh it is so adorable though! I could see from the balcony of the staircase that he had a bouquet of flowers in his hands! Don't you think that is tangible proof of his feelings for you?"

"Oh I don't think I can do this!" I complained, beginning to pace the room once again in my panic.

"Well why ever not?" Meg huffed impatiently. "I know you are nervous but he has prepared himself to come along and greet you, to escort you to dinner. That doesn't sound like someone who might have changed their mind about their feelings about you."

"Yes but I just feel as though this isn't a good idea!"

"Stop being silly!" Meg complained, stopping me by pressing her hand to my arms and shaking me. "You need to forget your fears and go out there to meet him. Tonight will go amazingly and then you'll be wondering why you made such a fuss for in the first place. So go out there and stop wondering why he did or did not decide to come here tonight and have a good time."

"Okay, okay," I finally said.

I took a deep breath and stood properly, knowing I could at least pretend to be confident about tonight. I was an actress after all.

"Good," Meg sighed, before brushing away any stray hairs of mine. "You look beautiful and I am certain that the Vicomte will agree. Did you want me to escort you downstairs to meet him?"

I nodded, sharing a timid smile. I knew it would help having Meg beside me and it would also mean I wouldn't worry so much about tripping on my dress and falling down the stairs of something.

She led me out of the dormitories, heading for the grand staircase.

My breath caught as I spotted Raoul stood at the bottom of the staircase, stood patiently as he waited for my arrival. Whilst he hadn't realized my presence yet, I stared freely. He really had made quite the effort.

He was wearing a black trouser suit, with a matching waistcoat underneath. He wore a white shirt underneath that with a royal blue tie. He looked so handsome and the anticipation at spending the evening with him soured within me. Sure enough, he also had a delicate bouquet of roses in his hands. Oh, they were truly beautiful! My heart instantly sped up as I bit down on my bottom lip.

He must have overheard out feet upon the marble flooring as he glanced round, his eyes instantly widening as they trailed over my dress and past my free hand which shook around the middle part of the dress as I held it up from the floor.

I offered a small smile as he found my eyes again before a shiver broke free without my permission at his intense gaze.

"Charlotte," he greeted me informally and I blushed even more as we finally reached his side. "You look…" He trailed off though, as though searching for the right word.

"Beautiful?" Meg enquired from beside me, sounding as though she was teasing him. I would have glanced round to see for myself, but I couldn't take my eyes away.

He nodded. "Beautiful, exquisite, delightful, the list is endless." He teased, quickly locking his gaze back onto me.

I pretended to roll my eyes, though I could feel my cheeks growing hotter. "Well as flattering and a little exaggerated as those compliments might be, you look quite handsome yourself." I complimented him, surprised at just how even my voice seemed to remain given how unstable I felt inside.

"Well I shall leave you both to depart," Meg cleared her throat from beside us, gathering both of our attention again as she began to step backwards towards the staircase. "But I hope the two of you have a great evening." She smiled.

"Thank you Meg."

"Thanks Meg."

We both spoke at the same time, turning again to glance at one another before we both broke out into laughter because of it. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad after all.