Chapter 5

Dance

These dreams tormented Mandy. Why were they calling her fairy? Fairies didn't exist! Every night, she woke up in a sweat, with the picture of the dark-haired boy in her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about him. Yes, he was handsome. But he seemed eerie.

"I can't survive with these dreams," Mandy thought. "I can't manage by myself."

--

The next day, someone rang on Daniel's doorbell. Daniel rushed down from his room and opened it.

"Mandy!" he exclaimed. She was standing there with her suitcase and the tiny box.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

"Yes, I'm fine." However, he could see dark spots beneath her eyes and her wearied look.

"Come on in," he said, gesturing.

Mandy stumbled in and sat on the couch. She had been here so many times. Yet it felt different this time.

"Daniel, I want to ask you a favor. Can I stay with you here? I'm afraid to live by myself."

"Yes, of course," he said without hesitating.

Mandy looked relieved.

Just then, Daniel's parents came down in their nightgowns.

"Mandy!" they exclaimed. They rushed over and hugged her. "We're so sorry about your parents. Are you alright, honey?"

"Yes," she said.

"Come on, dear," they said. "We'll fix up a nice room for you to stay in, ok?"

Grabbing her arms, they pulled her into one of their guests bedrooms. It was richly furnished with girly furniture and flowery designs. Mandy noticed that all of the furniture was a different shade of pink. It was quite relaxing, actually.

"We'll leave you here to unpack, dearie," they said, and they left the room together. Just then, Daniel came in.

Mandy sat on the bed, unpacking her suitcase. She hadn't brought much, since her house was right next door. However, she wouldn't need to be going back for a week.

"Mandy, are you sure everything's alright? You seem scared."

"No, I'm fine." Mandy said, and quickly dismissed the topic. "I just need some rest, that's all."

Daniel left the room, and left her to fall into a deep slumber that was not filled with fairies.

--

"Ladies," the headmistress exclaimed excitedly. "Next week, we'll be holding our Winter Ball of Bast. And since you girls are seventeen, this will be your first time attending!"

All of the girls excitedly exchanged whispers and giggles, wondering who was going to ask them to the ball.

"All of you ladies are going to be asked to the dance by one gentleman, so it is my duty to teach you how to dance properly so that one of you will be chosen as Ball Princess. Up, up!" she commanded.

The girls shuffled up, all hoping to be the Ball Princess. Mandy stood with her friends, wondering who she would go with to the ball. She knew she wouldn't go with Daniel, since he was so popular, and she wasn't. He could easily find a girl prettier than her. Most of the girls of the city secretly liked Daniel, but they didn't dare admit it. However, Mandy knew.

"I just won't go if I'm not asked. There." She felt a little pleased with herself with her solution. She didn't fancy dances that much, either.

"Mandy, get in place!" the headmistress gasped. Oops. Mandy scurried to her place, and stood silent.

"1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3" the mistress commanded as the girs gracefully did the steps. They were all familiar with this, and had been dreaming of the ball since they had learned how to dance when they were young.

"There, ladies," she said, after practice was done. "Now, go out there and impress some gentlemen. I do not want to see any of you at the ball alone!"

The girls left the classroom, discussing boys.

"Mandy, who do you want to go with?" asked Marie, one of her friends.

Mandy turned pink. " I don't know...I hardly talk with any boys."

"Oooh, Daniel's going to ask you," Selena, another one of her friends chimed in.

" Really?" she asked, surprised. "Why would he ask someone like me? He has plenty of other choices."

"Don't act like you're surprised. You know it." said Kristel jealously.

"Yea," said Selena. "You know that Daniel has been wanting to ask you to the dance since forever."

"If you don't want him, I'll have him!" said Lucinda, another girl.

Everyone laughed. Mandy felt embarrassed. "We'll see about that," she said. "I don't know if I'm going to go, anyways."

"Come on, Mandy!" said Selena, smiling. "There'll be no Ball Princess if you're not there. We all know you're going to get chosen."

"Quiet!" Mandy said, punching her lightly in the arm.

"Ouch!" Selena cried.

"Ooh, someone's here to see you," Lucinda said. The other girls giggled.

Mandy turned around. Daniel was walking towards them, smiling.

"He is so handsome," someone whispered.

"We'll see you later," said Selena. "Good luck." She winked.

"Bye," they all exclaimed, waving.

Mandy walked towards Daniel. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.

"I had to do some business nearby. I finished early, so I decided to come walk home with you."

Daniel did business for his family's company.

"So, anything interesting going on?"

"Just the dance," Mandy said, uninterested. "I'm probably not going. Are you going?"

"Hmm...I'm not sure anymore," he said slyly. "I think the girl I'm going to ask doesn't want to go."

"If it's you, she'll definitely go." Mandy promised, a little too early.

"Alright. Then you'll go to the Winter Ball of Bast with me?" said Daniel.