Oh what I would do for a review! Pictures for chapters 1-6 are up on my profile along with a link to the music they are dancing to and the song Mira sings. I own neither of them…Mira's POV is going to start just when Tarrant drops off the dress.

Disclaimer- Enough with this…it's not helping my self confidence! But no, I still do not own the characters…except Julia, the Hightopps (other than Tarrant), and Mirana's parents…maybe.

"She doesn't know she beautiful (never crossed her mind). She doesn't know she's beautiful (no she's not that kind). She doesn't know though time and time I told her so."—She Don't Know She's Beautiful, Sammy Kershaw

Tarrant POV, 13 years old

Tonight was Iracebeth's 20th birthday ball! I had been planning on asking Mirana to go with me, but every time I tried to ask, some other boy asked her. Luckily, she always said a polite "No, thank you" and they left her alone. By noon, she'd rejected about a dozen other men- including my own brother. I know he'd done it to bug me, but still. My own brother. He knew I wanted to ask Mirana…Oh bother. I just had to keep trying. When ever someone asked her, she glanced in my direction just before she denied an escort. Maybe- just maybe- she wanted me to ask her. I may as well give it a shot.

"M-Mirana?" I stuttered.

"Yes, Tarrant?' she asked, her general mood lightening from what it had been a few moments ago.

"I was…just wondering if you maybe would want to go to Iracebeth's birthday ball tonight…with, well, with me?" I let out a long breath. I'd finally asked her! Her whole face lit up as she realized what I'd asked her. She smiled brightly and started nodding her head quickly.

"Of course! Why, I've been waiting for you to ask me all day! You started to ask, and then you stopped, every ten minutes for hours." I grinned, showing my gapped teeth. She giggled. "Come get me at my room just before the ball is to begin, alright?' she asked. I nodded and headed off in the other direction, muttering under my breath. How much trouble would I be in? I'd just asked royalty to a ball, for heaven's sake. Well, Tarrance had asked Julia. He was a good deal older than her, too. She was only 8, but rather sophisticated for her-

"Tarrant!" shouted someone from behind me. I spun around and saw the 8-year-old in question running towards me. She wrapped her thin arms around my torso, giving me a tight hug. I let out a whoosh of air as she knocked the wind out of me. I put my palms on her back, holding her lightly to me. It'd been a while since I've seen her. I lifted her up in such a way that she was sitting on my hip. I smiled at her.

"My how you've grown! How long has it been?"

"It's only been a couple days!" she exclaimed. "I have a job for you, Tarrant." She whispered into my ear like any seven year old would- loud enough for anyone to hear. "I want you to make sissy's dress for the ball tonight. To surprise her." I pulled my head away and smiled slyly. That was the best idea I'd heard all day.

"I'll get right on that. She deserves a new dress. And someone I know," I said vaguely, looking at her, "should help me." She seemed to grow in happiness as she nodded her head faster than I thought possible. I laughed maniacally as I pictured the dress I planned on making. It would be a little formfitting, flowing out a little at the waist. It'd be simple, a solid color with a few details around the torso and chest. I smiled and started walking to the workshop, Julia still fighting to get out of my arms.

About an hour later, Julia had me convinced that I should make a dress for her as well. I put down Mira's dress and picked out a powder blue piece of fabric. She squealed in satisfaction, and I got to work measuring her thin frame. I started sewing it together, and another half hour later, I had finished most of it. It had a few layers of see through fabric for the skirt and the top was sequined. It was "in your face" sequined, but just enough. I cut off the last piece of loose thread and placed it in her arms, waiting for her to go and try it on. She ran off to the corner where I had a make shift changing area and quickly changed into the dress. I heard her giggle as she came out and twirled in a little circle for me to see. I smiled in satisfaction.

"Just perfect!" I exclaimed. "Now do that twirly thing again!" She did so, laughing the whole time. I caught her in my arms as she got a little dizzy. I told her to get out of the dress before it got dirty and sent her off to see Tarrance. She had, for some reason, accepted his invitation to go to the ball with him.

I turned back to Mira's unfinished dress and looked over what was finished. I had- so far- a simple floor length white dress. It was nearly straight; except for where it would meet her hips- there it flowed out the tiniest bit. It was only made of 2 layers of fabric, just thin enough so that she won't over heat. I took a piece of purple satin and tied it around the waist line. Its ends fell down to the near bottom of the dress. I left it there, thinking it looked pretty good as it was. I smirked to myself and looked at the clock. It read 6 pm. I gasped, grabbed the dress, and sprinted down to Mira's room. I hung the dress on the doorknob, knocked heavily, ad ran around the corner.

I heard the door open and her let out a tiny sigh. She'd seen the dress. She hesitated a moment, then re-entered the room. I looked around the corner and saw that she'd taken the dress. I let out a relieved sigh and made my way to my room to get ready. I had a room here because I'd been spending so much time here. I only went home on the weekends. I looked in my wardrobe for something at least half decent to wear.

I ended up with a brown coat, outlined in red. Under it was a rose colored shirt. I pulled on my brown trousers and studied myself in the mirror. It didn't seem quite complete. I looked around the room, and saw my spools of thread. I attached them to a leather belt and draped it over one shoulder so that it crossed my torso. Now I was good to go. One glance at the clock told me I'd better get a move on.

I hurried down the halls and stopped to compose myself about 10 feet away from Mirana's door. I took a couple deep breaths and proceeded to knock on the door. There was no answer. I knocked once more, and the door swung open. I gasped as my eyes widened. And I thought I knew what beautiful was.

Mirana's POV, 14 years old (remember, they're about a month apart in age)

Right when Tarrant drops off the dress

I heard a soft knock at the door and scurrying feet. I gently opened the door and was surprised to find a dress hanging on my doorknob. I picked it up and looked around the empty hallway, trying to find the dress' creator. I found none and sighed, dissolving into my room. I studied the dress and immediately fell in love with it. It was simply white with a purple ribbon going around the waist. I had never thought of myself wearing white. (Irony?) But I figured, why not? I might as well have tried it on.

Moments later, I had the dress on correctly, the purple strip at just the right tightness. I looked in the mirror and took in a sharp breath. The girl I was seeing in the mirror looked too beautiful to be me. I leaned in closer and examined her pale face. Her right eye was a bit rounder than her left. Her nose seemed the tiniest bit too thin and long for her face. Her eyelids were a little purple from lack of sleep. These few flaws made me feel better about admitting that it was me that I was looking at. I smiled and walked over to my vanity.

I pulled out my mascara that I rarely used and applied a little. I covered my face in a white powder to hide my too-red cheeks. I put white eye shadow over my eyelids to hide the purple pigmentation. At first, I didn't do much to my finger nails, but in the end decided to coat them with a color identical to the ribbon around my waist. I slipped on a pair f white ballet flats and stood in front of the full length mirror once more. All the colors on me- brown, white, and purple- seemed to go well together. I heard a knock on the door and fumbled around, trying to get my hair up quickly. I pulled two strands back behind my head and let part of my hair fall over it in the back. I liked it. Maybe I'd wear it like this more often.

My thoughts were interrupted as another knock- this one more impatient- was heard. I rushed over and tore it open. Tarrant stood at the door, all dressed up in a nice brown suit with a pink shirt and a sash made from spools of thread. He froze in place and his eyes grew wide. He stared at me for quite some time as I looked him over. His hair seemed a bit tamer than usual and his eye color was a pale pink instead of their normal bright green. My mouth fell open the smallest bit as I realized something I should've seen a long time ago. He was handsome. Beautiful even. Of course, someone other than me would see him as ugly or insanely different. He was- in his own way- attractive. He was perfectly imperfect, adorable, fascinating, and madly mesmerizing.

"Ahem," he coughed. I looked up at him and waited. "Maybe we should- ehh- go?" I grinned and took his hand- obviously surprising him- and led him down to the ballroom in which Iracebeth's party would be. We slowed when we came to the entrance. I looped my arm through his and entered the large room. Everyone turned to look at us- including my family, who were crammed into the far corner at the moment. I saw my father's disapproving glare, my mother's encouraging smile, Iracebeth's subtle thumbs up, and even little Julia's huge wave. I smiled at them. My smile fell as I looked at everyone else in the room. Tarrant's stepfather was shaking his head disappointedly but the rest of the party attendants had their eyes on me. I turned to look at Tarrant, a silent question running across my face. We began walking into the crowd and immediately blended in.

"They're staring for, probably, two reasons. One- you're stunningly beautiful. And two- I must be the luckiest guy here, to get to come with you." I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn't be beautiful. Pretty, maybe, but not beautiful. I shook off the thought and pulled him to the middle of the floor. We began dancing the waltz for a while. After about 15 minutes, the tone of the music changed. It was a low and agonizingly slow melody. It relaxed me intensely.

Tarrant surprised me by spinning me in such a way that I had my back to him. He held my hands in his just above my shoulders. I turned my head so that he was at the edge of my peripheral vision. I could see a nervous smile playing on his lips as he glanced over my shoulder. I pushed myself back until I had my back to his front. I leaned my head on his shoulder- since he was much taller- and we stepped back in forth in time to the music. I could pick out the cellos and the violin playing the tune. They seemed to flow together so easily that after a while, they sounded like the same instrument. Well, obviously the violin was higher, but still.

We spun around again so that this time his hands rested on my waist and mine were on his shoulder. I looked up into his eyes and saw nothing but love.

Wait a minute.

Did I just say love?

I was interrupted when the music was abruptly cut off. I remembered a little too late that I had planned to sing a song for Racy tonight. I gently pulled away from him with a look of regret on my face. I rushed over to my elder sister and gave her a hug. She had no idea what was happening. I whispered in her ear, "Just listen." I climbed up on the stage and hoisted myself up onto the stool they'd set up for me. I earned a few giggles from everyone watching me as I lost my balance but managed to stay on my perch.

"This is for Iracebeth. Happy birthday, sister." The beginning bars began as the guitarist played the first chords.

"Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight

"I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

"For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

"You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always

"Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all

"And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more" I let my gaze drop to Iracebeth's face. She looked so happy. I let my voice glide easily into the last verse.

"Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
I may not be with you
But you have to hold on
They'll see in time
I know

"When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together

"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more

"Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always."

The whole time, I'd kept my eyes trained on Tarrant's face. This was the only thing that kept me from freezing up in front of everyone. When I rested the microphone down on my lap, I waited nervously. Suddenly, the sea of people broke out into applause. I dared to steal a glance at Iracebeth. She was resting her head on Illosovic's shoulder, tears in her eyes, smiling wider than I thought she could. I gently hopped down from the stool and landed lightly on my feet. I stepped down off the stage and made my way over to my elder sister. All the people kept trying to stop and talk to me, but I kept saying, "I'm sorry, I need to go," after just a few moments.

I did eventually get to Iracebeth. I barely had enough time for a simple happy birthday before she had pulled me into her arms tightly. I sighed and smiled contently as she let me go a little too soon. I stood on my toes and placed a little kiss on her cheek. She took my hand lightly and found Julia. She hoisted our little sister up and inconspicuously led us out of the room. I was a bit confused, but followed her anyway.

"You guys are the best, you know that?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Julia. We all laughed at the little girl. I guess she isn't so little anymore.

"I see you've got yourself a potential suitor over there, huh Racy?" I accused, turning the topic to anything but myself. I never really like being the center of attention. She blushed, and that's when I noticed it. Her skin was a shade or too paler than usual. Her hair was the slightest bit more pink than red. I knew it. She was turning into the White Queen.

I would not be Queen.

Damnnnnn longest chapter everrr! Review, please?