It's been exactly a month since I posted the first chapter! I just wanted to thank everyone who supported me and helped me get this far. babysister1997 I sent you a PM to see if that may help a bit. There was a reason it was so vague but I can't tell you that yet. Meg-sters52 I'm glad you liked it! It's not like we haven't broken a rule once in a while ;) Love the storyD thanks for the review and I'm glad you're excited for my next chapter! Erin I'm so glad to hear from you again! I understand you're disappointed but it took me a little while to decide to include this or not. Trust me it gets better! It's okay that you forgot as long as you're reading now! Thank you! Mockingjay04 well I believe if you keep reading you'll find out! And it's not that she knows it's that she can tell by behavior. It's complicated let me just tell you in this chapter! rjme1006 thanks for the review and yes they did do it! I know it's shocking but it just adds in well so it shows that they aren't goody-goodies. MissMellark thank you so, so, so much for following me and my story AND adding me as one of your favorite authors and my story as well! Not to mention your review! Love you so much! I hope you enjoy this next chapter everyone!
Love Smashleigh
Chapter 26:
The ballroom was decorated in all black in white. Not one piece of furniture or decoration was any other color. Cameras sat on a table for guest to pick up when they entered and I glanced at each card to make sure I didn't miss anyone. Why pay for a photographer when you had people who would love to take the pictures for you? It's not manipulative it's just smart. Thank God Amberly kept Maxon out of the Great Hall and cooped up in his room. If he so much as stepped one foot out of that room I was told immediately so I could hide the scene.
"Miss I think it's time to get ready." Lucy said, peeking her head around the door.
I glanced at the clock and gasp. My guest will be here in less than two hours! I gather the material of my evening dress away from my feet and rush towards the stairs. Damn you heels, I think, and the dress too. But I can't let them slow me down. I reach the third floor and smack heads with someone.
"Ouch!" someone exclaims.
I rub a hand on the top of my head and look up. "Maxon!" I exclaim. "Get back in there!" I point to the door to his room.
He sighs. "But I've been in there all day!" he says. "Can't I at least go take a peek?"
I take his arm and playfully push him into his room. "Nope!" I say and shut the door. "Make sure this stays shut." I say to the guard.
"Lady America!" Anne says breathlessly. "You look…you look…"
"Beautiful." Mary finishes.
I twirl around and watch the black fabric swirl around me. The dress is beautiful I barely manage thanks to my maids as they file out of the room. The sleeves cover my arms and are pointed at the wrist. My legs peek out from the slit at my mid-thigh in the long floor length fabric that hugs my legs. It looks sexy yet sensible. I love it!
Finally I reach for the mask that sits on my vanity. It was split in half -half white, half black- and has one black rose near the right eye. Slowly I lift it up to my face and look in the mirror. My aqua blue eyes stare at me through the mask but other than that you cannot guess who I am. Perfect for the masquerade ball.
Maxon knocked on my door and strode in, he wore a tux without a tie and the first few buttons on his white linen shirt were undone. Through his all white mask I spotted his dark brown eyes which looked black behind the mask. His eyes roamed slowly from my eyes to the bottom of my dress and stopped when they came back up to my lips. "You look incredible." he says breathlessly.
I refrain from biting my bottom lip so I don't get any deep red lipstick on my teeth. He looks absolutely handsome too. Yet I cannot manage the words to tell him. So I step up to him and plant a light kiss on his cheek. Thankfully I leave no red marks on his face but I see his eyes glint under the mask.
"I don't care." he says bringing his lips down hard on mine. He kisses me roughly at first but then his kisses turn tender. His fingers intertwine with mine and he starts pulling me towards the door. "Come on. We've got a party to attend."
Everyone is already downstairs and enjoying snapping pictures of each other. A few people are dressed in colors but other than that I see no problem among the guest. Maxon is in absolute awe at the room and I smile at him. "Do you like it?" I ask.
His eager eyes scan the room. I watch him try to form words but no sounds come out. I choose this moment to pull out the camera I chose for his birthday. He finally meets my eyes and takes the camera. "America…" he manages finally. "I…I love it."
"Do you really?" I ask hopefully. Finally I've done something for him that he loves!
He places the camera loop around his neck and then pulls me towards him for a sweet kiss. "Absolutely." he whispers pulling back about an inch.
People applause and I realize some of the guests are watching us. "Come on!" I yell over the applause. "We've got to make an announcement!"
Once on stage we can see everyone crowded around the ballroom. Everyone is masked and standing on the dance floor, waiting for us to speak. I clear my throat and approach the microphone.
"Thank you all so much for coming to attend Maxon's 20th birthday!" I say enthusiastically. A thunderous applause ripples through the room. "I just wanted to say thank you for coming and I hope you have an amazing time! But I won't stay long for I want the man of the night to say a few words."
His eyes widened at me but then he strides over confidently. He places a gentle kiss on my cheek and the audience awes at us. The blush spreads across my cheeks but I disappear in the shadows before anyone notices. Maxon taps the microphone and begins. "I couldn't have said it any better." he says confidently. "But please give a round of applause for my wonderful fiancée, who organized this entire event for your enjoyment." An amazing applause rippled through the room again. "But without further or do I would like to get this party started! Ready?"
I watch as they all start taking pictures of us as Maxon strides back over to me. His eyes are shinning underneath the mask and I can't help a smile from spreading across my face. He's so happy that it almost brings tears to my eyes.
"Thank you so very, very much." he whispers softly in my ear
I pull back and kiss him. "I'm so happy you like it." I whisper back. "But now go along and have fun! I'm not being a good hostess!"
He smiles and pulls me in for a fierce kiss. Finally he leaves and strides into the crowd, who swallows him up in a mass of cameras and dancing bodies.
The entire night I spend dancing with every visiting diplomat and friend who comes to the party. My feet are so sore I sit for a minute but as soon as I take a seat someone taps my shoulder. "May I have this dance?" someone with a familiar accent asks.
I turn and meet the black eyes of Fredrick. Sadly I've been trying to avoid him all night but he's finally found me in this mass of a thousand people. "Of course." I say with false kindness.
He accepts my outstretched hand and leads me to the center of the floor. Briefly I spot Maxon watching us while he dances with one of the princesses from Sweden who whispers something in his ear. He doesn't seem to notice and I feel his eyes bore into the back on my head even as I'm turned to Fredrick. Fredrick places a hand on the small of my back and pulls me closer. Though I try to pull away he holds me firmly against him. We are closer than I would like but he won't let me move.
"Tell me my dear," he says softly in my ear. "Have you missed me much?"
His smooth freshly shaven jaw rubs against my forehead for a second and I stiffen. What an arrogant ass! He thinks that after he forced himself on me that I'd want more? It sends my blood boiling and I try pulling away but his grip on me tightens and a sharp pain runs up my back.
"Release me." I say through gritted teeth.
But his hold only tightens. "Oh why my little flower?" his asks, his lips brushing my neck. "Are you saying you didn't miss me?"
I jerk my head away and look into his eyes. My body is on fire with rage and I can feel my face growing as red as my lipstick. "Take your hands off me now." I tell him sternly. "I do not deserve this behavior from you."
"That's because you deserve a more aggressive approach." he says huskily before releasing me.
I whip around and walk out of the dancing crowd. I walk back towards the table set up for the royal family and plop down in my seat. Does he just not take a hint? And does he not realize that I'm now engaged?! I finger the ring on my finger and trace the two intertwining bands. Where was he now? Was he still dancing with that flirtatious little Sweden princess? I don't know. So I pick up my wine glass and take tiny sips at a time until the deep red liquid is gone and a servant refills it. The drink is calming me a bit and I finish another glass before finally plunging myself back into the chaos which was this party.
The last of the guest trickle out of the doors and I watch from my room as the car pulls away. It's almost three in the morning and I'm exhausted beyond belief. A hiccup escapes me and I laugh –oh and drunk. I didn't drink that much did I? No, no I don't think so. HICCUP! Nope I definitely did.
I lie down against the sea of white pillows on my bed and let out a giggle. Maxon was very handsome tonight wasn't he? Oh God now it was really getting to me! Oh but what did it matter? No one was going to see me!
"America?" I hear someone ask from the door.
I turned onto my stomach and see Maxon standing in my doorway. He's wearing deep blue pajamas that I've never seen before and is looking at me with a confused expression.
"What are you (hiccup) staring at?" I giggle.
He walks slowly towards me and peers into my eyes. "Have you been drinking?" he asks softly tilting my head up to look at him.
"Maybe!" I say and pull him down next to me.
He tries keeping me at arm's length but I snuggle into him. When his arms come around me I feel sleepy again. I hiccup one more time and then let out a yawn.
"You need to get some sleep." he says through a yawn. "You've had a busy week."
I feel a soft kiss on my cheek and I snuggle closer to him. "Stay here." I whisper softly when I feel myself doze off.
He eases himself underneath me and kisses my head. "Always."