Hey y'all! I was mean to leave you hanging like that, so I decided to do it again with this one!!

But you can't blame me... I like being mean!!

Disclaimer: This shouldn't be necessary...

So reviews shall be given, right? –grins-

-Chapter Three-

I couldn't believe it.

I just couldn't believe it.

I stared at the letter, and read it one more time:

Dearest Lightning,

I know you think it's strange to receive a letter like this – I feel strange myself even now, as I write this. I'm too shy to tell you face-to-face what I'm going to tell you now: that I think you're the prettiest and most exciting girl I've ever met. I just wanted you to know that even in this school of normality where everyone dislikes strange things, there's someone who has liked you since the day you entered it.

Sincerely,
NLC

Oh. My. God.

NLC.

Noctis Lucis Caelum.

It just wasn't possible. ... Okay, so it was. But for me, that was a total no-no.

Well, at least I had one of my desires and fears answered: I wasn't completely invisible to everyone except for Vanille, Lebreau, Snow and (sometimes) Bradley. Oh, and the jerks who thought making fun of me and calling me 'lightbulb' was a good idea. Which it wasn't. For them.

God, why did this happen to me?

--

I spent the rest of the day with my thoughts on that note. I debated whether I should show it to Vanille, but I decided that it was too dangerous if Bradley, also known as Noctis' best friend, overheard, if he hadn't read it already. But why take chances?

As soon as the bell rang, I shot out from my seat and was the first to get to the door, drawing me strange looks. I surmised (from the way they were looking at me) that they were thinking, well, she finally cracked.

But I shrugged it off and caught up with Vanille at the doorway. She looked surprised to see me there so fast – usually I waited until all had cleared out from the halls before making my entrance.

"Shall we?" I asked her, and she raised her eyebrows. I tried to shrug innocently. "I'm... hungry." Then, I leaned in close to her ear and murmured, "We have to talk. At home. Alone."

She looked at me, surprised, but went, "Okay."

Thank goodness for good sisters.

--

"So what's up?" Vanille wanted to know as we sat down on her my bed (at least I knew my bed wasn't bugged. Not that hers was, but what would Bradley do in her room for hours on end without her inside? Bug it). "Why'd you rush me home so fast?"

I solemnly handed her the note and she unfolded it, looking slightly confused.

"What..." she stared at it for the longest while, and then squealed so loudly I was surprised that the glass was still intact, "OH MY GOD! LIGHTNING!! This is fabulous!"

"Isn't the new word 'fab'?"

"Yeah, well, fab was too... well, it'll make it the understatement of the year. D'you know who it's from?" she asked me, grabbing my arm.

I tried to shrug her off. "Erm... ow."

"Sorry." She let go of my arm quickly, but continued to stare at me with her emerald eyes. "So... do you?"

"No, but did you see the initials?" I put a finger on the end of the note (written in elegant script).

"Erm, no, I sorta overlooked... Oh. My. Gosh. NLC. Noctis... Lucis... Caelum!! LIGHTNING!!!!!"

"OW, VANNY!"

"Sorry! But... it's... well... awesome! Unbelievable! I can't believe it!" She bounced excitedly on my bed, and ran her eyes over the note again. I sighed internally. "The hottest guy in school saying you're the prettiest and most interesting girl he's ever met! Do you know what this means?"

"Erm... I'm going to stay away from him?" Because I couldn't control myself around him? I added in my head.

"We're going shopping for your dress for the masked ball!" She grabbed my hand and tugged me away. "Come on!"

"Speaking of the masked ball, d'you think the slaves would go on strike with the number of people coming and the amount of food they have to get ready?" But I was ignored... as usual.

Well, she didn't know about my feelings for Noctis, that's for sure.

--

That weekend, the Caelum mansion

"I feel like I'm drawing way too much attention to myself," I murmured under my breath to Lebreau and Vanille. They laughed quietly.

"You look beautiful, that's why," Lebreau murmured back.

We were seated at our table, wearing masks. At least, I was. The other two were holding elegant old-fashioned masks up to their faces. They were strange, strange people. Surely their hands hurt now?

"I swear they're not looking at me, they're staring at my chest! It's your fault, Vanny, for choosing such a low-cut one..."

"Don't be silly, how else are you gonna catch his attention then?"

Thanks a lot!

"Anyways, they're looking at you because you went out of your t-shirts and jeans, and they've never seen you so beautiful before," Vanille assured me. Not that I felt assured. I just grimaced.

"Excusez moi, je mai cette danse?"

"P-pardon?" I stuttered, flaming red beneath the 'sexy' black befeathered mask I was wearing, staring up at the white-blond boy watching me with his gentle gray eyes from beneath his mask. I heard Vanille gasp, and nudge my back not-so-gently. I ignored her, however.

"May I have this dance, mademoiselle?" the guy asked with a faint French accent and a smile. I swallowed nervously, and whispered, "Okay..."

He swept me to my feet (there was no other word for what he did) and led me gallantly to the dance floor. I glanced back and saw Vanille grinning like a cat that's got at the cream, and Lebreau was watching us with wide eyes.

"You are very belle," the guy told me. From the little French I took ages ago, I took that to mean 'beautiful'. I smiled to myself – it's been a long time (okay, never) since someone told me I was beautiful. Well, someone other than my mother.

"Thank you. You're not too bad yourself."

I didn't know if he was insulted or something, but he just stared at me. Then I remembered that he was wearing a mask... so I wouldn't know if he was smiling or frowning.

Damn.

He wrapped his hands around my waist and I hesitantly put my hands on his shoulders. I hoped the ring on my finger wasn't cutting him anywhere.

"What is your name?" the guy asked.

I grimaced. "I'll prefer to keep that to myself for a while."

He smiled. "No matter – I will dance the last dance with you."

"The last dance?" I asked curiously.

"It is the time of Unmasking. After the dance. Did you not know?"

"No..." Okay, I'm definitely leaving before that. Waaay before that.

"Do not worry, mademoiselle," the guy told me, having seen my dubious below-eyes expression. (I was frowning slightly). "You have nothing to hide." Out of nowhere, his fingers reached up from my white dress and touched my natural curls. I tensed slightly, and averted my eyes.

That's it – I'm outta here.

At least, as soon as this song was over so he could let me go and I could leave without making a scene.

But when the next song was over, another guy came up to me and asked me to dance. And another. And another.

God damn Vanille and this dress to hell.

At last, I could escape the dance floor and return to our table (now deserted) to get some peace. I must've danced with everyone now. With the exception of Noctis. I was sure that I'd recognize him even in a mask.

Wait... speaking of Noctis, he hadn't made an appearance. Nor had any of his family.

Good Lord, the slaves were really on strike.

I scanned the area, but then I spotted them coming into the room.

Way to make a dramatic entrance.

Noctis swept in, his cool amber-y eyes not glancing at anyone or anything for more than a second. His older brother, Marcus, was beside him with his date, and his parents right behind them.

Good... God.

All of them looked equally hot.

I heard a sigh rise up from the female population (including me and excluding Vanille, who had her own boyfriend she was crazy about), and Marcus grinned flirtatiously, raising a hand to them. (I thought I saw someone faint from where I was seated).

They were all wearing masks, of course. Noctis had opted for the Phantom of the Opera one – he looked slightly bored in his tuxedo.

Pity rose in me. Poor guy – he probably went to so many parties and hosted even more to enjoy this anymore. If he did in the first place.

He strode over to the only table with places no one had claimed and sat down swiftly, his eyes fixed on the table. I noticed that he was fiddling with the edge of the table cloth – but then again, I noticed everything about him.

I sighed quietly.

He seemed to hear me as he glanced up and his eyes locked with mine.

My breathing was cut off, as though someone had blocked the airway or filled the room with some gas no one could breathe. But everyone else was breathing...

I turned pink (dammit!) and looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Like usual.

I saw Vanille and Bradley join him. I kept my gaze politely their way, but not staring at anyone in particular (or at least, that's how it looked like to others), and seemingly deep in thought. I saw Noctis ask Vanille something, and she laughed, and replied with an airy wave of her hand. I could've sworn that she was rolling her eyes.

Noctis frowned, then Vanille pointed to me. My breathing and my heart stopped this time. Then, I stood and left the table to get a drink from a passing waiter. I sipped it, and blinked. It was punch with just the littlest bit of kick. Hmm... well, I guess it was better that way. 'Cause I could swear that Vanille and Lebreau were on their fifth drink. Whatever it was they were drinking.

Then someone touched my bare shoulder, and I jumped slightly. Fortunately, the drink stayed where it was meant to stay. Until it went down to my stomach.

"May I have this dance?" a smooth voice asked me.

Oh God.

Vanille Dia Oerba, you are a dead woman.

I turned around to see Noctis in his suit, his hair spiked up at the back like usual, and his hand held out to me. There was a look on his face that I could only define as 'gentle and caring'.

What. The. Fuck?

Then, he repeated the question, the half-smirk that I loved so much quirking the side of his mouth. I blinked, then nodded mutely, unable to believe my eyes.

"That's a nice mask," he murmured in his sexy voice as he slipped his arms around my waist (practically making my heart go into overdrive – hey, if my heart stopped, at least the parameds knew what to do: get Noctis to touch me) and pulling me closer to him. (Dear God, you must hate me so) I wrapped my arms around his neck even more hesitantly than I had with the other guys I'd danced with.

"What's your name?" he asked.

...

What was I supposed to reply to that? He didn't even know my name!

Then I remembered: I was wearing a mask, and my hair wasn't tied into a ponytail as it usually was. Right. I forgot that part.

"I'm sorry, but I'm keeping that information to myself, Noctis." The word spilled out of me for no particular reason, but I felt a tingle in my body as I said his name.

He smiled. "That's all right. I'll unmask you later." His hands were driving me crazy where they were.

"You might have to wait in line," I smiled back. Dammit... "A few others have already asked... and they promised exactly the same thing."

"Oh really?" he murmured a little huskily. "Looks like I'll have to fight for you."

I just smiled slightly, wondering where I got this bout of bravado from. Huh.

When the song ended, I took my arms from his neck and was about to extract myself from him when he pulled me back, stopping and restarting my heart all at once. "Don't go yet, this is a nice song."

"They're not even playing it yet – how would you know?"

"Because I was the one who arranged the song choice."

"Oh right – I forgot that part."

He laughed.

And I was officially screwed. His laughter just made me melt into a puddle of... well, Lightning.

I sighed quietly, and put my arms around him once again. I inhaled his scent – this was probably the only chance I'd ever get to do so up close – and trembled. He smelled better than I'd imagined.

"You're beautiful," he said to me suddenly, then turned pink. Isn't that cute? He's blushing! "Ah... I meant, I just..."

"Thank you," I told him, smiling.

He grinned back, and my mind took a picture of that moment.

Now I realized that he had danced us out to the balcony, and had let me step back, although his hands stayed around mine. Then, he led me over to the railing and finally let me go to lean on it. I stayed a little farther back, and watched the stars.

"It's a beautiful night," I said softly.

"Yeah." But when I glanced down, he wasn't looking at the stars – he was looking at me with a strange expression on his face, now unmasked. Curiosity and... what was it? I didn't know. The kind of look Bradley often gave Vanille...

I looked away, blushing.

What happened next wasn't in my control.

His hands were suddenly reaching up to cradle my face, and his eyes were burning into mine, asking some sort of question – a question that only I, seemingly, could answer.

I didn't know how, but he seemed to get an answer from... something.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I gasped as his hands moved from my face to my back, and my lips parted when he ran his tongue over the bottom one. He took advantage of this and his tongue brushed mine once before exploring my mouth. He kissed me gently but still somehow passionately, pulling me closer to him until there wasn't space to slip a piece of paper between us. My hands out of their own accord reached up and twined themselves into his hair as one of his slipped up my back and held my face to his.

It wasn't only until his finger slipped beneath the strap of my mask did I jerk away, pushing him off. My lips felt bruised from the kiss, and I reached up to make sure that my mask was in place. Thankfully, it was.

As he stepped forward again to claim my lips once more, I raised on hand, looking away. "Please... stop." My hand slipped through his and felt unbelievably light after I took it away. But I couldn't see why because of my tear-filled vision.

He paused, looking surprised.

"I... why?"

"I just... I'm..." I shook my head wordlessly. "I'm sorry, I can't. I really... have to go. Goodbye, Noctis." Again, saying his name made me tingle.

I whirled around and practically dashed back into the hall, where too many people were kissing or chatting with each other to take notice of me.

I ran up to Vanille and Lebreau, who were talking together near the exit. Thank goodness.

Vanille took one look at me, and her eyes widened.

"Let's go, please," was all I needed to say to them before we hurried out the main entrance and into the car.

Before I left, I caught a glimpse of Noctis staring at me from the entrance of the balcony, his suddenly dark eyes troubled and his face confused.

At that moment, a tear slipped down my cheek.

What was wrong with me?

Okay, longest chapter ever!

Haha, this one was fun! :D They finally kissed lol. Poor Lightning, she's so overwhelmed. D: If there're any mistakes, it'll be because I haven't been able to reread this because it's late here and I'm frickin tired, but I wanted to put this up so... :D

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