Chapter Fourteen-Masquerade
Where do you go when you're lonely
Where do you go when you're blue
Where do you go when you're lonely
I'll follow you
When the stars go blue
"When the Stars Go Blue" by Tyler Hilton Featuring Bethany Lenz
"I can't believe you get to go to a real life ball," Kim complained as she dabbed foundation on my cheeks. "I am so jealous I could punch you."
"Vicious thing," Raven joked as she yanked on my hair. I knew better than to complain. If you complained, Raven would pull harder.
"It's a favor for a friend," I said. "It will probably be super boring."
"Not if it's with that hottie from the club," Kim said. "Older but way too hot to turn down." Raven smacked her arm.
"Leave Bella alone," she scolded Kim. "Let her be all normal girl for one night."
"I don't know what normal even is anymore," I said with a sigh.
"So tell me what your date is like," Kim said. "Close your eyes. I gotta do your eyeliner." I closed my eyes obediently.
"Gabriel is a financial planner. The company he works for does a lot of different things. He manages high profile accounts," I said. "He's smart and definitely easy on the eyes." Kim yawned.
"Boring," she said dabbing my eyes with liner. "As hot as he is he should be something like a model."
"He was," I said. "When he was younger he did some catalog stuff but he said he hated it."
"I'd like to get my hands on those shots," Raven muttered shoving several thousand pins into my hair.
"Raven!" I said slightly scandalized. She batted her eyes innocently.
"I have eyes," she said. "And boy is fine. You could do much worse."
"This isn't a date," I protested for the hundredth time. "He just needed to bring someone to ward off his bosses ex-wife."
"No offense Bells," Kim said. "But if that were the case he wouldn't be picking complicated bar chick."
"Fuck you both," I muttered closing my eyes again.
"Be nice or I will make you look like Lady Gaga," Kim warned.
"Go ahead," I said lazily. "I'll tell Jared you said Gabriel was a hottie."
"You don't play fair," she said resuming her work on my face.
"Says the woman who wouldn't let me pick my own masquerade dress," I said. Kim had, true to her nature, dragged me to a dress shop once she heard about the masquerade. After sifting through nearly every dress in the store she had finally settled on a silky gold dress that perfectly matched the mask Emily made.
"You pick wrong," she said.
"Sorry Bella," Raven said. "I'm forced to agree."
"Traitor," I mumbled. But an hour later I was forced to admit they were both geniuses when it came to style. Raven had settled on an elegant updo with long, loose curls everywhere. And the dress…well it was perfect. Kim handed me my mask just as the doorbell rang.
"Can you get that?" I asked Raven. A minute later Gabriel appeared in the living room where we had everything set up. He looked dashing in a black suit and light blue silky shirt. His mask was deceptively simple and tied in the back. His clear blue eyes easily gave away his identity though.
"You sure know how to give a man a heart attack," he said after looking at me for a minute. "You look absolutely incredible."
"Thanks," I said softly. I turned to Kim.
"Make sure whoever is outside is discrete," I whispered. "Leah if you can talk her into it." Kim nodded and I took Gabriel's proffered hand.
The event was being held at one of the high end hotels in the area, The Beaumont. Gabriel curled a hand around my hip as we walked up. I was surprised to see so many paparazzi and even more surprised when they began taking our picture. Then I heard them calling out Gabriel's name and asking the name of his date.
"Bella Swan," he said confidently. He was obviously used to this. "Excuse us folks, we have an event to attend."
"Does that happen all the time?" I whispered as he swept me inside.
"My father is a fairly well known businessman and my mother was a model in her day," he said. "Every so often the local paparazzi get bored and start running features on me."
"I see," I murmured even though I didn't see at all. He smiled.
"They won't be there when we get out," he said. "Once they get pictures of anyone approaching famous they will pack it in." Before I could say anything else we stepped into the ballroom. It had a very Phantom of the Opera feel with lanterns and dark tablecloths everywhere.
"Gabe!" A heavy man with a gold mask approached us, his arm curved around a very bored looking supermodel. At least she looked like she could be a supermodel.
"Mr. Lutz," Gabriel said. "This is my hostage for the evening, Bella Swan. She works with my brother at the publishing house." Watery green eyes took me in and then he took my hand.
"Lovely to meet you," he said depositing a kiss gallantly on the back of my hand. "Well enjoy! And Gabe, Molly was incredibly saddened to learn of your date this evening." Gabriel nodded.
"Well you see how lovely Miss Swan is," he said. "And you see my dilemma."
"Too true," Mr. Lutz said. I could hear his laughter booming as he walked away. Gabriel sighed and his grip on my back became a little more relaxed.
"He's on his sixth marriage," he confided as we found our seats and sat down. "Molly is wife number two. She's fifteen years older than me, smokes like a chimney and definitely thinks sticking her hand down someone's pants is the equivalent of a handshake."
"So she would have eaten you alive?" I teased. He shuddered.
"And spit out the bones," he said. "So I can't thank you enough for saving me." The night passed by in an easy flow. For the most part, outside of a run in with the grabby Molly, the night was perfect. It was the first night, in a long time, that I didn't even think about vampires and wolves. Which made it historic almost.
"You really didn't have to walk me up here," I said fishing in my small purse for the key to my apartment.
"You wore heels for me," he pointed out. "It's the least I could do to ensure you made it safely to the door."
"I only tripped once," I protested. He raised one eyebrow. "Okay three times but you only saw the one."
"I'll see you Monday?" He asked. "We have to finish up Ray's stuff." I nodded. He leaned forward and then, hesitantly, placed a gentle kiss on my lips.
"Good night," I said. The smile left my face when I saw Paul reclining on my sofa.
"Hey Cinderella," he said. I tossed my keys onto the hall table.
"What are you doing here?" I snapped. "Leah was supposed to be staying tonight."
"Yeah well Embry got the house to himself suddenly and Leah begged me to take her place," he said.
"Leah and Embry?" I asked incredulously. He nodded. "Geez what a mismatch."
"So pretty boy out there everything you dreamed of?" He asked somewhat condescendingly. I shrugged.
"It was a nice evening," I said vaguely. His eyes took me in with frank admiration.
"Either the guy has massive restraint or he is gay," Paul said. I sighed.
"Good night Paul," I said wearily.