Cassandra and Alonzo

I did my makeup the way I normally did. Tanti said she loved the way I looked normally, so I wasn't going to the extreme. I slipped on my amethyst gown and placed on the jewelry around my wrist and neck. I slipped on the shoes and looked at myself in the mirrow. I was like a statue of violet, holding my head high as though I was completely in control. Though in actuality, I was so nervous.

It was one of those realizations that you knew would never end until the contradiction happened. I was so afraid Tanti was going to dump me or reject me, and it's not because I had any thoughts she wasn't as happy to be with me as I was with her. It's just my self-esteem was overriding me and I felt like someone as brilliant as her would never want to be with some weird girl like me.

"Cass?"

I turned to see Alonzo standing in the doorway. He had on a black tux with white stripes, looking quite nautical. "Hey Lonz," I said.

"You okay?" he asked me, stepping forward. "You look like you're about to cry."

"She's going to hate this," I whimpered.

He frowned. "It's Tanti, Cass. She is so relaxed and nonchalant about everything."

"Exactly. Prom is not relaxing nor is it nonchalant. She's going to hate it all and then think it was because of me and-"

"No," he interrupted, looking at me like I was stupid, and I was behaving pretty stupid.

"Remember who you are, and remember who Tantomile is."

Tantomile. Yeah, she's just this incredible queen I grew up with and eventually fell in love with. She always has this superior look to her but everyone knows she is so kind and caring that they treat her like she is superior, but she doesn't let it get to her head. She doesn't let anything get to her - except for me, but in a good way. I make her smile and laugh and act stupid, and no one other than her brother can do that. She makes me smile and laugh and be stupid, too, and Alonzo is the only other one who can do that to me. I sighed, remembering how she was always so calm. It'll be okay.

I turned to my friend and frowned, not happy to see him looking so upset. He was going stag, but I knew he didn't want to. Alonzo's been in love probably longer than anyone else going to Prom tonight. Longer than Bombi, Teazer, Tugger, all of them. I knew he didn't want to go alone. "It'll be okay," I told him.

He shrugged, not believing me.

"I promise you, Lonz. You never know what can happen at Prom. I mean, anything can happen. People can change and fall in love or-"

"Or get their hearts broken."

I slapped his arm. "Quit being moody," I demanded.

He held his arm and glared at me.

"I'm being serious, Alonzo. Prom is a time of change. People change, and so do their feelings. Your might change, too."

"Probably for the worst." He dodged my slap.

"Quit."

"But it's hard, Cass. Everyone else will be happy but I won't."

"Everyone?" I asked. "You mean Bombi's going to be having the time of her life? Munk's going to enjoy every little thing? Jerrie's going to party like crazy? Yeah right. Alonzo, you put yourself before everyone else all the time, more than Munk even. It might not be that fun tonight, but deep down I know you want everyone to be happy, and that you'll do anything to make them that way. That's why you're so loved by the love of your life."

He smiled, and I knew I got to him. I got everyone. It's a habit.

Hm, why is Alonzo so upset? So many questions and it all comes boiling down to the next few chapters!

Review please :)