CHARLES

"Damn Charles…that is a quality costume, we almost didn't recognize you " Gabe said, laughing as the party began to gain momentum again.
"Where did you get it?" Camille asked, and I looked down at Maddie.
"Let's just say I stumbled on it about a week ago." I said, grabbing Maddie's arm.
"Charles, your father looks a bit drained, is he alright?" Maddie asked and I looked at Dad, who was smiling and laughing but it did look a bit forced.
"Come on, let's go talk to him." I said and we moved toward where Aunt Meg, Granny Giry, Uncle Will and Dad were talking. Granny was eyeing us suspiciously but with a faint smile on her face.
"Charles…well well well…I see you did clean out that old room " She laughed and I stole a glance at Dad, who had stopped smiling.
"We found it in a heap on the ground. I couldn't throw it out…the material is so nice."

"It is nice…" Granny agreed as Maddie walked over to Dad.
"Are you alright Raoul?" She asked and he nodded, patting her shoulder.
"Fine dear…just fine. That's um…some outfit you have there Charles " He said and I looked down at myself. I thought it was perfect. It was a masquerade after all, was it not? The awkward moment was interrupted with Dan asking if he could have a moment. Everyone looked at him expectantly. He grinned, putting an arm around Deirdre.
"I guess it's no secret now that Deirdre and I have been seeing each other…but we wanted to wait until everyone was together to tell you all that she has agreed to marry me." My jaw dropped I think, with everyone else's. Aunt Meg cleared her throat.
"Well…that was fast…" Aunt Laney said, looking up at Uncle Garrett who shrugged.
"I know it was fast Mom…but I've known since we began to court that she is the one for me."

Deirdre looked over at her parents and her mother nodded at her, smiling a bit nervously but still seemed happy for Didi. Uncle Will looked a bit less amused but kissed her cheek and shook Dan's hand. I motioned for Maddie to follow me and led her away from the crowd to get some fresh air.
"What a night " She said as we got outside the doors. I pushed the mask back off my face again and sat on the steps on the opera house.
"Indeed…" I said, looking up at the clear cold sky. She sat beside me and pointed ahead.
"Make a wish Charles…shooting star." I looked down at her smiling innocent face.
"But it already came true." I said and she looked over at me, so I took the first chance and kissed her. She pulled back at looked at me confused, biting her lip. "What?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Why me Charles? Why not Deirdre or Bella or one of the other girls? Why me?" I smiled.
"As much as I cherish Deirdre, she is like a little sister to me. As for why I was drawn to you, it was your inner beauty. Yes, I said inner beauty. Bella and the other girls are very pretty, but not beautiful. Outside beauty is not what makes someone beautiful. I could see that you were a good person. It just showed, whereas when I looked at Bella, all I saw was a pretty face." I sighed. "I am just so sick of girls looking at me and only looking at me. All they care about is looks and money and you…didn't. It's nice." Maddie smiled.

"That's the nicest thing anyone ever said to me." She said, leaning against me. We weren't touching really or holding hands, but I felt very close to her in that moment. We sat silently for a moment, just staring at each other in the dim light from the party pouring outside when a single snowflake fell onto Madeleine's eyelashes. She laughed, blinking until it melted and I stood, helping her up.

I pulled the mask back down and motioned that we should probably go back inside since it was cold. She shrugged and stood, brushing off her huge pink skirt.
"It's not so bad out here really," She said and leaned up, just barely touching my lips with hers. I pulled her close again, partially because I was freezing and partially because I just wanted to feel her close to me again when I heard a few oohs and aahs. We both turned our heads to see all of our friends standing there with big stupid grins on their faces.
"Nice," I said rolling my eyes, "Really mature." Maddie laughed.
"I guess you caught us..." She said quietly and Deirdre giggled.
"Yes...because you know it wasn't obvious or anything that something was going on." She said dryly, stealing a glance at her mother and grandmother. Granny Giry had a small smile on her face, for once looking really happy.

Camille ran to me and took both of my hands.
"Charles...I have finally succeeded in life. I taught Gabriel how to dance without breaking my foot." She said, sticking her tongue out at him and I grinned, not having seen her so playful since she was a kid. Gabe pouted at her and shook his head.
"I hate you Millie..." He grumbled and she shrugged.
"The feeling is mutual Ames." She said, making her brother and father laugh. Aunt Laney just shook her head.
"My daughter is a real gem, isn't she?" She laughed, nudging Uncle Garrett in the ribs. He just put his arm around her in response.
"She sure is Lane." I looked over at Maddie, who had turned her head and was staring back out into the street.

"What is it?" I asked her and she looked up at me.
"I...I don't know. I thought I saw something..." She shivered visibly, so I removed the cape and draped it around her. "Just imagining things..." She said as Dad motioned for us all to come back inside. As we rejoined the party, champagne glass after champagne glass was refilled, the party really came to life. We danced, some I danced with Madeleine, some I danced with Millie, Deirdre, Aunt Meg. I must not have realized how giddy we were all feeling, or how drunk any of us were. As we counted down the seconds to the New Year, I stood with Maddie at the top of the stairs in the ballroom and as the New Year came, confetti spilled out from nowhere as we kissed to the chimes of the clock and the sounds of cheers. It was a night I would never forget.