Fake smile (check)

Arm gracefully placed on banister (check)

Small train of ball gown artfully placed behind the feet (check)

It's go time

Light on my feet, I descend the stairs, smiling at all of my guests who are now clapping politely as if they aren't here for the free food.

At the bottom, I greet my parents warmly, (as warmly as possible that is... ok fine, I'm cordial towards them)

"Father, mother, thank you for this beautiful party," I thank before my mom can say anything about my dress.

"You are so very welcome, dear" she replies with a hint of disapproval

YES! That means that mom isn't gonna explode at me because the guests are watching our little performance. Too bad, I was kinda lookin' forward to her making a fool of herself.

"Darling, there's someone I'd like you to meet," mom continues.

The heirloom in my hair and the rest of my inheritance says that that someone is one of dad's business partner's son, I silently bet.

A boy with startling blue eyes and blonde, but not obnoxious blonde, hair makes his way towards me. I was soooo RIGHT! At least this one is cute.

"This is the son of..." I don't even bother listening to his name, Anthony, Antonio, something like that.

"Colletta, I'm honored to make your acquaintance, I hope that so far your day has been pleasurable?" wow, multiple syllable words, thats more than i've come to expect from my 'acquaintances' at balls.

"Very," I tersely reply. We go to sit at the table where, I make a conscientious effort to ignore my suitor, while still keeping up a charade for the rest of the ball to gaze upon at will.

"So where do you go to school?"

"Ho Academy,"

"Where is that located, I don't believe I've heard of it?" he inquires conversationally. Hmmm, no surprised look at the school name? This guy actually has manners. Not such a pig like the rest of them.

This is new, usually all I have to do is sit down and listen to them and they'll talk about themselves for a few hours. Whatever, maybe I should start looking into that alcohol i was considering stealing today...

"Excuse me, I didn't catch that," He interrupts my scheming (what's with people doing that lately) oops, I forgot his question

"It's out of town, about a two hour drive north of here, where do you attend?"

"I go to a boarding school North of here, too. It's slightly closer though. Would you like to dance?" I hear music playing and spy a band playing waltzing music near the wide open dance floor.

I feel myself being helped to my feet, and guided towards the dance floor with firm reassuring hands. I feel a tingling sensation where our hands meet, almost like electricity, but better, softer, more enjoyable. An inexplicable spark.

Did i seriously just describe someone's touch as an inexplicable spark? Wow, I don't remember drinking anything but maybe, I did...

My suitor (let's call him Blue Eyes) leads me onto the dance floor.

Looking up into Blue Eye's eyes, I find I can't look anywhere else. As much as I try, I'm mesmerized. Before I know it, we are gliding, dancing across the floor. The steps have been drilled into me a thousand times before, so I don't even notice as the song progresses, that it is time for the leap. Strong hands grip my waste and I'm flying in the air for a short period of time, before being gently placed on the ground in time for the song to end.

Back to those blue eyes. People start to applaud us, tearing my gaze away from Blue Eyes I see my parents approvingly nodding their heads looking exactly like a part of the collection on Liam's wall.

Before those eyes can capture me once again, I step out onto the balcony of the ball room, into crisp early fall air. Outside, a guest, not too much older than me, is lounging by the railing. I move to the other side and gaze out to the wide reflection pond below.

"Great party, isn't it," the guest, a man, appears close by my side.

"Yes, I find it enjoyable," I say void of emotion, this guys is way too close!

"So, what are you doing after it? Do you want some company?" Do I hear warning bells, or is that just me?

"Excuse me, I believe I hear my name being called," i try and make my escape, only to have him corner me.

"Come one, don't be like that," I smell the alcohol on his breath.

Brace yourself, Colie, don't do anything you'll regret, you maybe can beat Liam in sparring when he's going easy on you like today, but this guy is young, probably only 17, and will fight dirty. Not to mention, he's drunk.

"Please let me through," I say in an assertive voice.

"Actually, I don't think I will," he grabs my arm, and right as I'm about to let myself go and happily punch this guy in the face, someone beats me to it.

Out of no where, a fist flies and hits the guy square in the temple, successfully knocking him out. I know he's not dead because I can still see the heavy rise and fall of his chest. That punch was artfully placed.

Surveying my surroundings, I see Blue Eyes next to me, staring at the guy, checking for a pulse.

"Are you alright?" he questions, looking proud of himself for the knock out.

"I'm fine, I could have handled him myself," I hate it when people think girls are just damsels in distress.

"I'm sure you could have," Blue eyes condescendingly mocks.

"I could, and if you hadn't jumped in, I would've taught that guy not to mess with me,"

"I beg to differ, if you really could defend yourself you wouldn't have let him corner you and grab your arm. Besides, he is a male, men are physically stronger than women. No matter what women, let alone girls do, they just aren't a match for any man."

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a sec! Rewind! WHAT THE HELL DID HE JUST SAY! He did NOT just go there.

For one stunning moment, I'm speechless with anger. It takes every ounce of control that Liam taught me to not start blowing up at Blue Eyes. To think I thought this jerk was CUTE!

In my own personal, perfect world, I would have fierily shouted, "You wanna go? Anytime, any place! Hand to hand combat, no weapons, just you and me," except if this were my own personal perfect world, Blue Eyes wouldn't be here, which is why I stopped myself and just stayed quiet. No one knew about my martial arts, and I liked it that way. Easier for all of us. So, furious, but peacefully I shut up.

Until Blue Eyes's next comment, "See, I knew you would see it my way, it's not your fault really, but women need men to take care of them. In return, men need women to stay home and support them in whatever they do. I'm sure you'll make a good housewife to whomever your parents marry you off too, so don't worry your elegant head about being protected in the future if I'm not around."

I grind my teeth. Is it truly necessary for me to point out all the wrongs in that sentence?

"Ohhhh, I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me! You are so right, men are simply superior in every way imaginable. So strong and intelligent," I say as sarcastically and icily as I can (and trust me, that wasn't only dripping in sarcasm, sarcasm was flowing out of it like a crack in a dam)

Of course, pig-head over here doesn't pick up on it and thinks I'm actually complimenting him.

"Wow, people told me that you were sometimes difficult, but I'm happy to see that you are reasonable," wow, a real charmer.

If you want to see how the rest of the evening goes, find the nearest chalkboard, and drag your nails across it. numerous times. Then multiply the feeling of discontent and creepiness by ten, while mixing in a healthy dose of irritation. I'm not making sense?? Well, then lets just say I understand why teenagers commit suicide.