This is Prompt No. 88-Star
The harlequin led Mitchie out to a balcony on the top floor of the hall. The rain had ceased, leaving France shining and wet in the moonlight. Mitchie glanced around her, taking in everything, including deep breaths of fresh, cold air. "France is very different than I expected," she said softly, looking out over the city, or what she could see of it.
The harlequin stepped up next to her, his eyes watching her face as she scanned the relatively dark streets of France. "What did you expect it to be?" he asked.
Mitchie realized that he really wanted to know. He wasn't just making conversation; he actually cared. "I'm really not sure," she admitted. "I guess I always thought that France was this glamorous city with lights and music and romanceā¦" she trailed off, lost in her unrealistic world until she turned to him with a sheepish smile and said, "But I was wrong."
The harlequin shrugged. "Life is rarely what it seems," he told her, leaning over the balcony. He smiled, his eyes taking on a softer light. "But it doesn't hurt anyone to dream, now does it?"
Mitchie pretended to be thinking for a moment. "No," she said at last, smiling back. "I don't suppose it does."
They were both quiet for a moment until Mitchie remarked, "Aren't the stars beautiful?"
The harlequin tilted his head back, following Mitchie's gaze, and nodded. "Yes," he said quietly.
The rain had cleared the skies so that the stars could be seen, their pure, white lights twinkling brilliantly down on the two people staring up at them. Finally, after a long moment, Mitchie turned to the harlequin and asked in a soft, uncertain voice, "Will I ever see you again?"
The harlequin turned to look at her, slightly surprised. "Do you want to see me again?" he asked curiously.
Mitchie bit her lip, squirming as he looked at her so intently, truly wanting an honest answer. Did she want to see him again? Of course she did! The only problem was that she couldn't understand why she wanted to see him. If she had felt gratitude, then her feelings would be understandable, but these feelings that he invoked in her heart were anything but grateful. "Yes," she finally decided.
Somewhere inside, a gong chimed the hour of midnight and both Mitchie and the harlequin turned instinctively at the noise. When she turned back around, Mitchie found the harlequin staring at her intently. "What?" she asked, fearing that she had done something wrong, although she couldn't think of what it might have been. Perhaps she had been too forward by asking to see him again?
"Nothing," the harlequin said, shaking his head. He smirked at her and said, his eyes twinkling behind his mask, "You know, in the spirit of the ball, we should take our masks off."
Mitchie tensed. "Why?" she asked.
"Because midnight is always the time for unmasking," he explained. Then, with another smirk, he added, "Plus, it's not like these masks hide a lot anyway."
Mitchie was forced to admit, "Good point."
The harlequin smiled at her this time and offered, "How about I go first, and then you?"
Mitchie nodded. "I guess so," she said quietly, her hand creeping up to touch the fabric of her mask.
With a flourish, the harlequin pulled the mask off, and Mitchie had to admit that he had been right. There was not much that the mask had covered, but it was still different to see the harlequin's full face. She found herself blushing as she looked at the handsome young man in front of her, and in order to cover her embarrassment, she too pulled off her mask with a little flourish of her own. Though she was completely clothed, Mitchie had to admit that she had never felt more exposed in her entire life than by taking off that meager piece of fabric, for now, the young man seemed to be staring right into her heart once more.
"You are beautiful," he said in a low voice, and Mitchie knew that he meant it. This was not a man that played the flirtatious games of the court. What he said was what he meant, and she was grateful that she didn't have to decipher his meanings.
"Thank you," she said softly. She looked up and met his eyes, extending her hand. "I'm Mitchie Torres."
"Mitchie?" he asked, startled by the different name.
"Michelle, actually," Mitchie clarified, "but I have a twin brother, Mitchell, and it's easier if people call me Mitchie." She shrugged as though embarrassed by her explanation. "We don't get mixed up that way."
"I see," the young man said, his chocolate eyes once again twinkling, reminding Mitchie very much of the stars they had recently been looking at. He took the hand she offered and brought it to his lips, kissing it lightly. "I am Shane Grey," he said. "I'm so pleased to meet you, Miss Torres."
"Mitchie," Mitchie insisted, "please." Her eyes widened, for she was not quite sure where the added courage had come from, but Shane just smiled at her.
"Mitchie," he said softly, and pulled her closer, bending his head to kiss her.
With any other man, Mitchie would have pushed him away, but this man was different. There was something about him that set him apart, and Mitchie found herself actually leaning up into the kiss. Her eyes closed, anticipating his lips on hers, but she never felt them.
"Mitchie!" someone called, causing Mitchie to jerk back in shock and surprise.
Shane jumped as well and turned to find Mitchie's friend standing there, her mouth hanging slightly open in shock. He turned to Mitchie and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I really must go," he said. "I have to find my brother." He looked deeply into her eyes and said, "I do hope that we meet again someday."
"Me too," Mitchie murmured. "Goodbye, Mr. Grey."
Shane touched her cheek for a moment and said, "Shane, please." And with that, he was gone, bidding a polite "goodnight" to Tess, who was still standing there, slightly in shock.
After she had seen that Shane was gone, Mitchie breezed past Tess, calling over her shoulder, "Come, Tess. It's time we were getting home." Inwardly, she smiled. Rarely did she ever get to stun her friend, and this was a golden opportunity that she would not take lightly.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think! Reviews make my day! :D
