There was a beautiful dress in front of me which came out of that packet which my maids gave me. It was completely astounding. I let out a short gasp which dazzled me from head to toe. I touched the soft fabric of the blue hued dress which felt like fur to my finger tips. A smile appeared on my face when I took it in front of the mirror and observed it laying lifelessly on my shoulders and hanging down my body. I turned to my maids and they cheered together. I saw Marlee and she was smiling at me. I was really glad to see her smile. I knew she wasn't delighted from inside but, at least, for some time she forgot.
"Hey... Marlee, would you come with me for a short walk outside the palace. I think the weather is pleasant today." I asked her.
"Of course, America." She smiled at me.
I was so contented to get such a good friend. I knew she wanted to be alone, but she really never did refuse for anything that I asked. I have never seen such an amazing person. Yeah, of course, I shouldn't forget Maxon and Aspen too. I still thought that I was missing someone.
"So, I need you to be ready in half an hour. We'll meet outside the corridor." I said.
She nodded and stood up. Whenever we used to say bye, she used to hug me but this time, she walked on. I knew she was upset. I didn't even want my maids to suspect anything about what was going on with her.
"Miss, you look good today. Let's make you perfect. We'll need just a bit of time. We promise we will finish this up in twenty minutes or probably less. You just need to wear this dress and then leave the whole thing for us. Don't worry for anything." Lucy said.
"No, Lucy. There isn't much time and you all know that no party is going to be held. So, for what do I get dressed up? I mean, I love this dress. It's no less than Cinderella's but the main problem is that…I want to save it for some big occasion." I said.
Really, the dress was awesome and breathtaking. If I tell the truth, I have never seen so beautiful dress before. But, it didn't seem so comfortable and this was the reason why I gave an excuse to my maids. I didn't want to break their heart. And I too, wanted to save it for some big occasion. I was pretty sure, Celeste would be jealous if she saw me in this dress. In my opinion, the dress was so much good that it seemed too much for a normal birthday party and there wasn't going to be any party.
"Please miss, we beg you. I bet that we will get you more beautiful dresses than this one. You don't need to save it. Not until, we are here." Mary said.
I looked at their sad faces and I didn't want to let them down but….
"Please wear it miss. I want to see you glowing in this pretty dress. You will be our new Cinderella." Anne said.
We all chuckled.
"Miss, you have to wear it. Please wear it for Prince Maxon. I am sure he would fall apart when he will see you in this dress. Or at least, wear it for us." Lucy spoke.
"It's okay. You don't need to request that much. So, let's get started. What comes first?" I said.
"Miss, first we need you to take a hot shower bath and that should not take more than fifteen minutes. Once you come out, we will tell you the next steps. Till the time, you take the bath, me, lucy and Mary will have everything set in place." Anne said.
I walked to my shower room and steamed it. Then I got into my bath tub and took the shower gel. I opened the lid and did everything hastily in order to fit my schedule in thirty minutes. Lying in my bathtub, I couldn't think of anything, except, but Marlee. Oh god, I felt so sorry for her. Suddenly, Daniel came to my mind and I started smiling automatically. It was pathetic to do that. It was my good luck that I was alone. What would I do when I will go for a stroll with Marlee and the smile appears again? No, America, you've got to control it. Handle it this way, or another. Maxon and Aspen will consider me a fool, I am pretty sure of it. I rubbed the loofah gently on my arms and over to my shoulders. I felt a tickle inside of my heart and remembered Daniel. I remembered when he held me in his strong arms when I was about to fall from the stairs. Does he feel the same when he holds me quite tight? God, I need to know what is inside his heart. Well, he seems kind of cool all the time and doesn't worry much as much as I know him. I kept looking at him idiotically. Am I just going mad for him? No, I don't have to. Yes, I have to stop myself from going astray. Only Maxon is in my life and Aspen. Nobody else is going to enter. Not ever….
I came out and rubbed the towel. After wearing the clothes, I came out of the shower room. My maids weren't there and the room was quite empty. I felt as if I was in some thrilling movie. My hairs were damp from the steamed shower and I swished them from side to side. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall. There were only fifteen minutes left. What were my maids doing? I called out for Anne, Mary and Lucy but no one came out. I waited some time for them but they didn't arrive, so, I thought to get ready on my own. I tried to find the comb but it wasn't here. I went forward towards my cupboard.
I opened the cupboard and there were all my clothes hanging. I really couldn't find the comb. I scattered thing to find it and in this moment I felt something touching my hand and in all these kind of sensations, only one person comes to mind, with whom I was obsessed these days. I felt someone pulling my hand.
"No…no…Daniel don't." I uttered.
"What happened, miss." I heard someone else. Oh god, it was Lucy. She was playing with me.
"Nothing. Now, will you get me ready?"I asked.
"First, tell me, why you said Daniel? I mean, do you just keep thinking about…." she asked but was interrupted by Anne.
"Shut up…Lucy. Don't." she reprimanded her playfully.
"No, it's not like what you are thinking." I said.
I knew that I was smiling and I couldn't help it.
"But I didn't say that I was thinking anything at all." They all giggled.
"And what's with that sweet smile on your face." Mary said and chuckled.
They exchanged looks with each other and broke out in a laugh when they finally settled their eyes on me.
Oh god… now, they will start suspecting me. I didn't want this. I didn't actually want anyone to know that things have gone a bit strange and a little weird between me and Daniel.
"No…I um…you know, when I used to talk to him…." I spoke but they interrupted.
"Who, miss?" They all teased. I made an irritated face. There was nothing inside of me which got hurt due to their teasing. Instead, I liked it….and I couldn't help myself from smiling.
"I mean, he used to, kind of, you know, scare the hell out of me. He is a specialist in that field." I spoke.
They all giggled.
"We are just kidding. You know that it isn't like this, so why do you care?" Mary said playfully. She nudged Lucy who stood beside her. They both exchanged looks and grinned.
"I really don't care and why would I care? I mean…." I spoke.
"Yeah, miss…we know what you mean…by your heart." They giggled again.
All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. Everybody stopped laughing and their face turned as pale as the dead.
"I told you to get me ready but none of you listened to me. Now, Marlee has come and I am standing here like an idiot." I spoke a bit louder.
They all lowered their heads towards the floor.