a/n: Um, I'm really sorry for this late update, my life has been completely insane since the demise of summer...um, yeah. I'm sorry to say that this will probably be the only update for at least a month. I'm really sorry, but RL is still treating me hard.

Anyway, thank you all sooo much for the reviews! I really enjoy them! Please keep them up!

Enjoy!

Romen

Disclaimer: Unfamiliar; mine. Familiar; not mine.

Chapter 18

The Gala

"You must have something."

"No. Nothing."

"Why didn't you take care of this earlier?"

"I didn't realize that I was running out of time! I didn't mean to wait until the last minute..."

Tom frowned. "Surely you have something."

Will slammed his drawer shut in frustration. "I don't have anything to wear!" he cried dejectedly, sitting down on the bed and running his hands over his face.

The door opened. Will didn't need to look up to know that Susan had intruded.

"I see that you have nothing to wear," she said amusedly, smiling in a smug way.

Will scowled. "Go away."

"Don't worry; I'm not going to pester you. I've come to help."

Tom cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

Susan examined her nails, one hand on her hip. "I just happen to have some clothing that belonged to a boy about your size."

Will blurted the first thought that popped into his head. "You didn't steal it, did you?" He could only imagine what would happen if he walked into the room wearing stolen clothes...

"No," she snapped impatiently. "It belonged to- someone I used to know." She paused. "So do you want it or not?"

Will sighed. "Why not?"

She pitted on her heel, and for a moment Will wondered if she had just been bluffing. However, in a few moments she returned with a large bundle clutched to her chest. She shut the door behind her, patting it and sighing as she set it upon the bed.

"You're going to owe me one for this," she told him sharply as he began to untie it.

"Yes, well..." He stopped, catching a glimpse of rich, dark blue fabric. He pulled out the waistcoat, his eyes widening. There was matching pants and an overcoat as well. "I- I can't wear this," he stuttered. "It's too expensive-"

"Come now." Susan grinned, looking at it fondly. "Try it on!"

They left the room as he pulled the clothes on, bursting in eagerly the minute he called, "I'm done." Tom stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"You should wear it," he said decisively.

Will pulled on the sleeves. "I don't know..."

"I have a mirror in my room!" Susan quipped, grabbing his arm and dragging him across the hall. "Take a look at yourself and decide."

Will's eyes widened as he took in his reflection. As much as he hated to admit it, he did like what he saw. He could almost trick himself into believing that he was an aristocrat. He hesitated, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Still, he almost felt like the clothing was too good for him. It was an awkward feeling...

"So, what do you think?" Tom waited for a reply.

Will swallowed. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Susan chuckled. "You look very handsome."

"Don't joke." He turned away from the mirror. "Really, do I look ridiculous?"

She crossed her arms. "Not really, but then again you always look ridiculous."

Tom rolled his eyes. "Will, you look fine. You should hurry; it's going to start soon."

Susan sat down on her bed, which was surprisingly very well made. In fact her room was extremely neat. "So do you have a present for her?"

"She said that she didn't need presents."

"Will, you idiot! That means that you were supposed to bring her a present!"

Will's face contorted. "But she said she didn't want one..."

Susan folded her hands in her lap, looking like someone who is fed up with another person's stupidity. "Will, she couldn't directly ask you for one, just because Mr. Brunswick will probably be the only one to give her anything, among other close friends. But it would have meant a lot to her if you had."

Will sighed. "It's too late now anyway..."

Tom clapped him on the back. "Exactly. And you're going to be too late if you don't hurry!"

Will rushed down the stairs, his heart thudding in his chest. He suddenly wondered if he had made the wrong decision when Elizabeth had offered him the invitation. He remembered being upset when he had thought he wouldn't be invited. Now he wished that he hadn't been.

'Stop thinking this way,' he told himself as he stopped outside of the ballroom, taking a deep breath as he listened to the sound of chattering voices. 'Act like you belong. Act natural...Whatever that means...'

He burst through the door, shocked to see the live orchestra and the huddle of girls that eyed him. He gave them a small smile before craning his neck, searching for Elizabeth and hoping that she wasn't accompanied by James...

"Oh, there he is. Will!"

He followed Elizabeth's voice. She was in the center of the handful of girls. He hurried over, dismayed to see that she was once again wearing blue (but who was he to talk; he was wearing blue too). "Hello," he greeted them softly.

"This is my friend, William Turner," Elizabeth continued. "This is Helen Bishop, who you met before, Veronica Thames, Penelope Henry-"

The names went on and on. He nodded at all of them, trying to look like he was actually retaining their names. He was beginning to feel overwhelmed when Elizabeth took him aside, politely excusing them from the group.

"I'm so glad you could make it!" she exclaimed cheerily.

Will felt his ears grow warm. "Thank you for inviting me, Miss Swann."

She led him over to a refreshment table, pouring him a glass of punch as she informed him about all of the guests. Will wondered how she could keep track of all of the information; she seemed to know everything about everybody. He contented himself to just listening and enjoying the moment, sipping the sweet drink and being thankful that he hadn't yet ran into James.

But the moment was short-lived.

"Ah, Lizzy!"

Elizabeth turned her eyes on him, smiling. "Hello James."

Will wasn't insulted by the fact that James ignored him. In fact it was a bit of a relief. Still, he was annoyed by the fact that Elizabeth was giggly and coy, complimented him on everything...

He pulled his eyes away from them, observing the three boys surrounding James. One was tall and lean, the other was short and plump (the opposite appearance was ironic), and the last one had thick, dark, hair that hung over his eyes. He wondered if they were like James's in any way. Hopefully they weren't.

"Mr. Turner, I didn't notice you there." His pale blue eyes flashed in his direction. "You're as quiet as a mouse. But then you'd know more about mice, wouldn't you?"

Before Will could say anything, Elizabeth blurted, "James, stop."

Their eyes locked for a moment. James shrugged. "All right. My sister wants to speak with you..."

Elizabeth mouthed, 'I'll be right back,' to Will apologetically, walking arm in arm with James in the other direction. Will shuffled his feet, watching as people around him conversed.

"So are you going to ask her?"

He jumped, whirling around. Katherine stood beside him. "I'm sorry, I'm Katherine Bishop. We met before...?"

He nodded. "Yes, I remember."

She shifted her weight. "So are you going to ask her?" she repeated.

He blinked confusedly. "Ask who?"

"Are you going to ask Elizabeth to dance," she stated, with an expression that said, 'Wasn't that obvious?'

"Oh." His eyes trailed over to her. She was speaking with a girl who looked similar to James, except everything about her was paler, from her skin to her blue eyes to her fine blond hair. They were both laughing, though it looked strained. He sighed. "I suppose..."

"Don't be nervous," she advised coolly.

"I'm not," he said quickly, looking back at her. "I'm fine."

Katherine blinked. "Good. Then go ask her."

'Why am I listening to her?' he thought to himself as he crossed the floor with determination. He guessed it didn't matter anyway. He'd taken the lessons so he could dance, hadn't he? Hadn't he been planning to ask Elizabeth all along? What was the problem? It was very simple actually. It would be the easiest thing he would ever do in his life. He strode up to her and stopped, drawing in a deep breath. "Miss Swann."

She turned around to face him, looking perplexed. Will was relieved to see that James wasn't there. "Yes Will?"

His mouth went dry. "I was...I was wondering if...if maybe, you, uh...could...or, if you, er, wanted to..."

Elizabeth's brow was furrowed. The others stared at him blankly. He cursed himself. What was he doing? Why wouldn't his stupid tongue work?

He cleared his throat. "Maybe we could, um...What I mean to say is, um, uh..."

"Here you are Lizzy." James swaggered over, handing her a glass of punch. "Oh, hello Mr. Turner. May I introduce you to my sister, Wendeline. Wendeline; William Turner."

Wendeline held out a delicate hand. "How do you do?"

Without thinking, Will shook her hand shortly, before turning his attention back to Elizabeth. He mustered up all of his courage. "Miss Swann, I was wondering if you would like to dave this hance." He paused, flushing furiously. "I mean-"

James interrupted as the orchestra began to play another song. "Ah, this is one of my favorites! Lizzy, would you like to have this dance?"

"Yes, but wait one moment." She looked at Will. "Is there something that you need to say?"

"Um..." He hesitated. "I was just-"

But before he could finish, James led Elizabeth away. Blood pounded past Will's ears as he watched James bow and Elizabeth curtsey first to the audience, and then to each other. The dance slowly begun as they weaved around each other, dainty and refined. Their eyes flickered to each other and looked away restrainedly. He scowled, trying to concentrate on something else. But he always found himself looking at them...

The dance finally ended with them repeating the honors. Elizabeth walked back over to him as James headed toward someone he recognized. She smiled at Will, pulling a strand of hair behind her ear as she clasped her hands behind her back, standing next to him.

"You did very good," Will managed to say.

She chuckled. "Thank you. I like dancing." She paused before continuing. "Do you?"

Will cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. "Yes," he finally stated simply.

Elizabeth rocked back and forth on her heels. "It truly is an enjoyable activity."

"Yes," he agreed.

She glanced at him before playing with something in her hands. "I wouldn't mind dancing again."

He stared at her. Was she saying what he thought she was saying?

"Miss Swann," he began uneasily.

She grew still, looking up at him. "Yes?"

"Would..." He paused. "You don't have to if you don't want to..."

"Yes?" she repeated, her tone expectant.

He blinked. "Would-you-like-to-dance-with-me?" It came out in a rush, sounding like one, long word.

She grinned. "Of course!"

The dance went smoothly. Susan had indeed taught him well. He couldn't help but make a mental note to sincerely thank her, even if she did laugh at him. She deserved it for letting him see the abashed look on James's face.

But even more so for the beautiful smile of Elizabeth.

TBC...