-Nessa's POV-
The ball was magnificent! I was enjoying myself, taking it all in... And searching for the handsome Dr. Slye as well. I have to see him, I thought. Tonight. Tonight is the night!
I almost giggled, but caught myself before I did. Filía thinks my giggle is obnoxious. She's right of course, but still; it's my giggle, not hers. Some people actually think I'm cute when I giggle. Of course, I'm cute all the time, sooo...
"Ness, stop! I think that's Liir." Filía grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with her. "Liir!" She said, "Liir, is that you?"
The young man was wearing a plain black mask and suit. He wasn't even wearing a tuxedo, not even a cummerbund! How not-stylish, I thought. Liir, who I think is in several of my classes, lit up when he heard Filía call his name and saw us coming.
"Filía, is that you? What are you wearing?" He said, staring at her, obviously entranced by her beauty. He glanced over at me, mumbled a quick hello, then turned back to Filía.
"A dress?" Filía held her arms up, using sarcastic tones. Liir laughed, but when he remembered that I was standing there he cut off his laugh with an awkward squeak. He's so taken by her he forgets everyone else is around, how sweet! I thought.
"It's pink," he smiled at her, glancing over at me. Then he did a double take and looked at me intently this time. "And your hair is brown!?"
"She dyed it," Filía said. "To match mine. Ridiculous, I know. It's so hard to tell us apart now, I'm sure." He shook his head at that.
"Oh, no," he insisted. "I can tell you apart."
"I don't see how," Filía argued. "How can you..." I blocked her voice out of my ears and continued to look around the ballroom... And I finally found who I was looking for!
I managed to slip away from my sister and her new friend, hoping she would manage to have a decent time without me.
"Doctor Zedekiah Slye," I said, tapping him on the shoulder. He was surrounded by a group of five or six other girls, but he immediately turned. "I apologize for not finding you sooner, but it's a little difficult to get away from everyone else who wants to talk to me. You know, adoring fans and all that..." I smiled at him, and he laughed.
Oh, he is so incredibly perfect when he laughs, I thought, dying on the inside.
"I've been waiting for you," I blushed when he smiled at me. "You look absolutely beautiful. That dress is lovely on you." He held out his arm and I took it, happily. I reveled in his praise, even more so when I noticed the other girls glaring at me.
If looks could kill! I thought. Haha, go ahead and be jealous! I noticed one girl in particular, a red head wearing a pale yellow dress and a white mask, seemed extremely upset as I walked away with Zedekiah.
"May I have this dance, Nessarose?" He said my name so softly, so... Perfectly! Of course he could. We danced in comfortable silence for a couple minutes before I couldn't take it anymore.
"Dr. Slye," I murmured into his neck as we danced gracefully around the ballroom, feeling like we were the only people there.
"Yes," he whispered back... I shivered in delight.
"Do you like me?" I said softly, seductively, into his ear... I prayed that he would say yes. He waited a moment before answering me.
"I think I do," he said softly, slightly hesitant to admit it. "But you remember the no student-teacher affiliations rule..."
Of course, there are always rules. I have always been good at keeping the rules, but this time... Well, the rules are getting in the way of love! I justified it in my head.
"Well, I like you," I said, then, acting on impulse, I kissed him gently on the cheek. "Don't forget it."
I can't believe I just did that! My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it might burst. He was blushing now, and he didn't say a word.
I was embarrassed, but that didn't mean I was just going to run away. I can do this, I thought. I will win him over. I will, I swear it... We finished our first dance then began our second. I was on cloud nine!
"May I cut in?" Zedekiah was interrupted by the young man I had left Filía standing with. Zedekiah glanced at him, then back at me. This was a good chance to play hard to get...and so I took it.
"Of course you may," I smiled and stepped into his arms. "Zedekiah, I'm going to dance with..." Oh no, I can't remember his name... Improvise! "This charming young man here for a while. I hope you don't mind?"
The handsome doctor smiled, but this time it wasn't genuine. He's jealous, I almost died on the spot. How wonderful!
"Of course not," he said. "Enjoy yourself, Nessarose. Liir." He nodded at my new partner, whose name of course was Liir (I knew that), and then he walked away.
Tonight couldn't be going more according to plan.
-Alethea's POV-
I spent so much time and money on my appearance for tonight. I had to look perfect. I did look perfect! I was beautiful.
My butter yellow silk and lace gown with white accents perfectly complimented my silky red hair. Really, I don't see how that child Zedekiah walked away with even compares to me. Her dress is an atrocious shade of pink and is covered in ruffles. And that hat! There are no words. Really, she looks ridiculous, I thought to myself. I wasn't even willing to admit that I was jealous of her, even in my thoughts. I blatantly refused.
"Who is she anyway?" Asked Jayvee Lynn, my roommate, a thin girl with pointed features and angular cheekbones. Her golden brown curls, piled precariously on top of her head, bounced as she spoke. She was also blinking her hazel eyes rapidly, like a bird. Really, she could never hold still.
"I don't know," I spoke quietly, intensely. I was mad. "But I intend to find out."
And so I watched the two of them like a hawk the entire time they danced. It was torture to see the man of my dreams in the arms another. I could feel my anger increasing with each passing moment.
"Calm yourself, Alethea," I murmured to myself. "You will get him back. You always do."
And I had complete confidence in myself. It was true, no matter how many times he's left me for some other girl, in the end Zedekiah always comes back to me. That's just the way it is.
Finally, someone cut in to dance with the mystery girl. Zedekiah nodded and walked briskly away... And disappeared into the crowd.
I was torn between following him and learning more about my newest rival. I had to make a split second decision!
I chose to go with the girl. I had to know who she was.
That was a decision I would regret for the rest of my life.
-Nessa's POV-
Dancing with Liir was actually pretty alright. He seemed nice enough, and was actually a very interesting conversationalist. I found myself laughing a lot... With him, not at him, as I would have expected.
"Hahaha! Oh, wow," I giggled, suddenly feeling really happy that he had cut in. "You know what, Liir?"
Of course I didn't give him enough time to answer.
"You-" I leaned in close and whispered in his ear...
"I'm really glad we were able to spend some time together tonight. It's been fun." He blushed crimson, and nearly tripped over his feet.
"Nessarose!" He gasped, smashing into me- an accident of course, but still. We both stumbled, and I actually almost fell backwards- someone stuck out their shoe and tripped me- and I would have landed flat on my back if Liir hadn't have caught me.
"Great Oz!" I swore, regaining my balance and pulling myself out of Liir's arms.
"Nessa, are you alri-" I whirled around to face the smirking redhead from earlier.
"YOU!" I hissed. "You tripped me!" The woman stepped dangerously close to me, and hissed back.
"No. You slipped up," she smiled maliciously. "Nessarose. I don't believe we've met." She held out a thin little hand, which I graciously IGNORED.
"I don't see how," I smiled back. "After all, you seem very friendly- well, to the men, anyway. No wonder you haven't met me yet; I don't usually affiliate with hores."
By then a crowd had gathered around us, and a majority of them gasped at my bold words. The redhead paled, and took hold of some other girl's arm.
"Let's go, Jayvee," she said. "She isn't worth our time." The brunette shot me a nasty glare and walked off with my 'new friend.'
Oh, joy. Just making friends, everywhere I go.
Liir grabbed my arm, and I looked at him. He was sweating.
"Nessa! What on earth?" He said. "Alethea is the wrong person to cross!" I sniffed prissily, and tossed my curls over my shoulder.
"She crossed me first." I wasn't one to take crap from idiots like Alethea and her crony Jayvee. I mean, I never start fights... But when someone attacks me, I'm not going to just sit there and let them win. I'm the one who finishes the fights.
If Alethea wants a fight, I thought, She'll get one.
My claws are out. This is going to be fun.
-Alethea's POV-
I couldn't believe it! It was that flirty blonde girl, Nessarose Chuffrey; Filía's little sister. I remember Filía... It's difficult not to.
She's quite famous around the university for her wild remarks and beliefs. She seems so radical! And she's so popular, maybe even as popular as I am. Ugh! That bothers me. Whatever! She's not my problem right now; her sister is.
"Nessarose Chuffrey is going to regret the day she was born," I seethed as Jayvee and I walked over to the bar where a dressed up young man was serving green punch. I took a glass and gulped it down angrily.
"Why that day?" My idiot roommate wondered out loud. "Why wouldn't she just regret the day she stole your boyfriend? I mean, he's not really your boyfriend. After all, he did break up with y-"
"SHUT UP!" I yelled and splashed punch in her mousy little face; it drenched her face causing her mascara to streak, and it also dripped generously down the front of her dress.
A job well done, if I do say so myself. She sputtered dramatically, obviously very upset. I don't see why; after all, her dress is cheap and ugly. Chiffon... Ugh...
"A-a-Alethea! What the-"
"Oh, nooo, you spilled punch all over your pretty little self," I said sympathetically. "You should really go back to our room and clean yourself up. Why don't you?"
She looked like she was about to cry, but she wouldn't dare cross me. She knows what happens when you do that... And it isn't so petty as your cheap ball gown getting ruined. (Seriously, who wears chiffon to a masquerade ball? Oh, wait. Jayvee does.)
"Alr-right," she sniffed. In moments she was gone, and I was left alone to plot my new nemesis' demise.
How shall I make this brat pay? I decided to give it some serious thought. I let my eyes wander around the ballroom, all the while imagining terrible things I could do to make Nessarose's life miserable, when suddenly...
"What the-!? Well, well, well," I muttered to myself, not knowing whether to be angry or pleased. I was feeling good amounts of both anger and pleasure upon witnessing what I did. There they were, Nessarose and Dr. Zedekiah Slye, student and teacher, kissing in the semi-darkness of the not quite completely private kitchen.
The door was open, and I happened to be walking by the same moment they decided to song each other senseless. I'm not sure if it was luck, or fate; but I wasn't about to let them just get away with what they were doing.
I slipped my hand into my dress and pulled out a little something that would prove incredibly useful: a small camera.
I took a couple quick snapshots and felt a bitter smile tug at the corners of my mouth.
"Yes, Doctor," I whispered. "I know the rules. But that doesn't mean I follow them, now do I? I can see that you don't..."
And indeed, I could see. As a matter of fact, I saw. I saw everything.
And I was going to make sure everyone else saw it too.
-Filía's POV-
Once I entered my room, I slipped out of my wonderfully green-stained dress and tossed the ridiculous mask on the ground, put my hair up, took the make-up off, and change into sweats and a t-shirt.
"Aahhhh," I sighed happily. "Zedekiah. But you do know how to make a girl feel special."
I sprawled out onto my bed and rested my head in my hands. I sighed again, replaying the night's activities in my mind, smiling at all the good parts...
Then, once I decided I had had enough silliness, I pulled out my book and tried to read it.
However I soon discovered that I was once again blissfully, wonderfully, perfectly distracted.
Because, you see, although I was trying to read the words written on the pages before me, there was one word that continued to float before my eyes. I could see it in my mind's eye, hear it echoing in my ears, and taste it on my lips...
Just one word. Only a name. His name.
"Zedekiah..."
-Zedekiah's POV-
"...Zedekiah..." The way she had said my name sent sweet little shivers up and down my spine. Especially that last time, when she had turned back to me and looked at me with those gorgeous eyes...
Her eyes... What color were they? Blue? Green? Ah, it doesn't matter. I'm in love with her, I thought. In love. Could it really be?
I have never felt this way about any one before. Not Alethea, for sure; and I once thought I wanted to marry her! Suddenly I froze.
Marriage. That one word set my heart on fire. Is that what I want? No, it can't be. I've only just met her, I had to be wrong. There's no way I want to marry her. At least not now...
My thoughts continued to wander, always straying to her, her eyes, her lips, her name...
"Nessarose," I breathed. I knew there must be a ridiculously goofy smile on my face. But what mouth wouldn't be smiling after having just kissed the perfect lips of the lovely Nessarose? I said her name again. It was like a drug.
"Nessarose..."
I was brought out of my reverie abruptly by a shrill voice calling my name.
"ZEDEKIAH!" I looked up, eyes suddenly focusing on the owner of that voice. My breath hitched. But- but she- how? My thoughts were a jumbled mess as I made my way over to her... Nessarose.
"Nessarose, what are you doing here?" I asked her, puzzled. "I thought you were going back to your room, to cl-"
"What in Oz are you talking about?" She interrupted me, an annoyed edge to her voice. I barely recognized that voice. "I wouldn't leave this party for anything! Well, I would have left if you hadn't have come back. I couldn't find you anywhere! I wanted to dance with you again."
She gazed at me, a cute little pout forming on her lips. My, but how I want to kiss her again, I thought. But that will have to wait. Back to the matter at hand...
"But your dress..." I looked her up and down, noticing that the green stains were gone.
Then I realized she and the group if girls she was with were staring at me as I inspected Nessarose's dress. I blushed crimson, knowing they must think I was just checking her out. How vulgar. Not that I think she is vulgar; I'd look at her all evening if I could. I mean-
"What about my dress?" She broke into my chain of thought. Again, her voice seems so... Different. More hard than it was earlier... Almost as if...
"Zedekiah?" Oh, whatever.
"Your dress... Looks absolutely gorgeous. I'd love to dance with you again," I said, smiling. I understand now, I thought. She doesn't want her friends to know about the punch incident, or about our private excursion.
How sweet. I'll just play along then...
-Nessa's POV-
As we were dancing, I couldn't stop thinking about that conversation we had just had, about everything tonight. He acted as if he hadn't left my side all evening.
And what was he talking about when he said he thought I was going back to my room, and then something about my dress?
Something smells really fishy here, I decided. And I want to know what it is.
"Zedekiah," I crooned into his ear. "What did you mean earlier, you thought I was going back up to my room?" He laughed good-naturedly.
"You don't have to keep up the charade now, you know," he said. "Your friends won't hear you." Charade? What? This is so weird. What charade?
"That answer doesn't count," I pouted. "Give me a real answer."
"Don't tell me you've forgotten already," he said, smiling suggestively. Oh, how I wish I knew what he was talking about.
"Let's just say I have forgotten," I said, smiling, trying to pull off that I did know and just wanted to hear him say it. I honestly just want to know what 'it' is, exactly. "And I need you to remind me. Please, Zedekiah?"
He looked at me, puzzled for a moment. Then he spoke, slowly and deliberately.
"Alright, then. You were dancing with Liir and I left. A couple minutes later I ran into you again, literally, and spilled green punch all over your dress. I still wonder how you managed to get it out so quickly- Nessarose?"
He must have noticed the look on my face. It must have been awful. I know I felt awful. I tried to smile brightly.
"Oh, yes, of course," I giggled nervously. "How silly of me! Of course I remember! It's amazing what a little magic can do. The punch came right out if my dress. Hahaha!"
Something told me that he wasn't buying it, he knew something was wrong; but he didn't know what. And I wasn't about to tell him until I knew for sure.
"Oh, Zedekiah," I sighed and leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Can't you take a joke?" He tensed up in my arms, and laughed. It didn't seem like a real laugh.
"Of course I can," he said. "You know, what, I'm sorry." He pulled away from me and placed his hands on my shoulders. "I suddenly have a terrible headache. I- I should go to bed. I'm sorry to run out on you like this." I placed my hands on his chest abruptly.
"Oh, no, no, no! Of course you should go!" I took his hands then and held them tightly. "Have a good night, Zedekiah. I hope you feel better."
He pulled my hands up to his lips and kissed them each in turn.
"Good night," he said. "Nessarose." He seemed to be waiting for something. I stood on my tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Goodnight, Zedekiah," I whispered. Then he frowned. I don't know if he meant to, but he did. And in that moment I knew I had to find out something for myself. Immediately.
And so I left the ball, leaving behind that handsome man who stood there frowning at me...
Praying that I hadn't lost him before I could even call him mine.
-Filía's POV-
It had been an hour or so, and I hadn't even read a single chapter of my book, when Nessa walked in. Something about her seemed... Off.
"You okay?" I asked. She glanced around the room, her eyes stopping at my dress.
"I'm fine." She grunted, picking up my now wrinkled gown. "What happened to your dress?"
I blushed, thinking of what had happened... Should I tell her? I answered...
"Oh, I spilled some punch on it. Sorry. I'll pay for the damage." Her face darkened.
"I paid a lot of money for that dress," she grumbled, slipping out of her own dress and putting on her pajamas.
She seemed so angry, I knew it couldn't be because of the dress. Something else had happened to make her this upset.
"What happened?" I asked putting my book down. "I know it's not just the dress."
"Nothing!" She snapped at me, as if it were all my fault she was upset. I glared at her, willing her to tell me. She held her tongue for a moment then hissed out an answer.
"Dr. Slye was odd tonight. I mean, when we got there he would flirt back, and we danced, and had such a lovely time. And then Liir wanted to dance, and Dr. Slye insisted that I dance with him, and then- there was this awful girl, Aria or Alana, or something like that and- well she tripped me and it was awful. Stupid slut. Anyway! When Liir and I finished our dance, I couldn't find him- Zedekiah, I mean- and when I did he seemed so... Confused. In fact, I'm confused. And a little upset. I'm going to get ready for bed." She said, walking into the bathroom, leaving me to digest everything she had just said.
Although it had seemed so complicated, I understood perfectly.
He thought I was Nessa the whole time…
It took me a moment to get used to the thought, but I knew I was right. Of course he thought that. How could he not have? Of course he would be interested in her...
He thought I was her... He wasn't interested in me at all! He just wanted my sister!
Great Oz, what happened tonight!? Did I really… I danced with him. I kissed him! That's not like me… And I enjoyed every moment of it.
But it was all a lie, just like every other word that comes out of Slye's mouth in his wretched classes!
This is going to be a long year.
I had nothing to do with this chapter! This was all AdoniaAlma's idea. She did a beautiful job with this!