A ball is never something that I'd ever imagine attending...ever.
Sometimes I'm scared that I'm going to wake up and this is all some kind of sick dream and ill be back in my small house with my mum making me hot chocolates every evening after she came home from work.
But this is real. And ive never felt more alive.
I stare at my reflection in the vanity mirror as Jane and Anna yet again outdo themselves with my hair and light makeup, feeling still slightly uncomfortable that I'm having to make them do my hair, but after arguing back and forth they insisted they really wanted too.
And now as I gasp at the finished outcome, I again cannot even recognise my reflection. I look regal. They've somehow curled my hair into a light half-up-half-down style, with twists and plaits around the back, and loose strands out the front which frame my face perfectly.
After they slip me into my ballgown do I really gasp.
Anna and Jane squeak and gasp in awe as they admire their work. "I believe it will be hard to outdo this look next time," Anna winks at me through the mirror and clasps her hands together in excitement.
Jane brushed off speckles of dust that isn't there on the dress, her eyes sparkling with giddiness and adoration as she nods her dead at Anna, "oh certainly! Not to mention she will catch every eye of the guest at tonight's ball," Jane wiggles her brows at me jokingly and I laugh along with the two.
They're been so welcoming to me since staying in the palace.
My dress is beautiful. The gray accompanied by a dust of blue lavish material fits me snugly from the chest to the waist, with petal-like swirls that wrap around my torso perfect and glisten in the light. My fingers brush the petals that reach up on the right side of the dress towards my collarbones like wings, making the dress shimmer in its wake. The fabric flows out elegantly from my waist down, giving me the perfect amount of room to be able to dance and twirl without taking up too much space. The petals wrapped around my torso fall like snow towards the bottom of the dress, slowly fading into the material and the blues mixed in with the grey is astonishingly breathtaking.
(See dress and hair below)
I told the guys that I'd meet them in the ball when it begins, as it takes me far longer to a) get ready, and b) mentally take some time to prepare myself to walk through the double doors wearing a something so regal and elegant in-front of all of these people.
Jameson said that the palace usually hosts a ball every few months, to which typically acts as a political and social gathering that is a societal expectation here in Lacuna for the aristocracy.
Then you have people like me. My dad may now be a CEO, but I didn't grow up with this lifestyle. I haven't absolutely no idea what I'm doing so I'm just going to have to wing it...which now on second thought, making one of the guys wait for me would have been a better idea.
Oh god, why on earth did my extroverted earlier self agree to that.
After adjusting the dainty necklace that drops in a straight v like down my neck, and slipping on my silver heels, I thank Anna and Jane for all of their hard work again, and make my way towards the door.
Here we go.
***
The ballroom doors open to a set of stairs leading straight down to the dance floor, flanked both left and right by guards stations in their most prestige uniforms, barely batting an eyelid.
I suck in a deep breath which is extremely hard to do with how tightly Anna and Jane tied the back of the corset on this dress, but I make my way forward nonetheless.
Walking down these carefully carpeted stairs is both surreal and absolutely terrifying. The carpet feels soft and lush under my heels, but I walk down slowly so avoid twisting my ankle and making an absolute fool of myself. My heart begins to pound the further down I go, and I lift my gaze hesitantly, trying to scan the room for any of the guys.
Then they lock on a pair of green blue.
The world stops.
The music fades.
I continue my slow steps, my eyes never faltering as I hold eye contact with Jameson and my heart skips a beat as the confers of his mouth lift up in a small smirk, his eyes absolutely captivated in mine and vice versa.
The look he gives me is enough to make any woman stop breathing, and to be honest, I have no idea how I still am breathing. His eyes shine with an emotion I can't quite place, but I know that my eyes are showing the exact same as I make my way down the steps.
Jameson is clad in his signature all black suite, with his black pants fitting him in all the right places, and his black suit shirt is made for him and him only, hugging his arms and muscles in a way that I never thought was possible. His chain peaks out from under the top buttons I down at the top of his shirt and catches the light, the formal tie has clearly been distressed and tossed away. His rings just make the entire outfit even more attractive than what it needs to be.
His gaze is piercing as he rakes his eyes down my body as he takes in the dress and elegant hairstyle, and I have to fight myself to remain calm.
I reach the bottom of the steps to where Jameson is now waiting for me, and suddenly the music is back and I'm snapped out of my trance as the world begins to continue around me.
"About time," Jameson offers me his hand with a playful smirk on his face, and I raise my eyebrows at him as a smile touches my lips, mirroring his as I place my hand in his soft ones. "I was beginning to think you were lost," I attempt to reply but I'm engulfed with his cologne, a mixture of mint, leather and wood completely putting me under a spell.
I force my eyes to his again, trying to get myself under control. "I was beginning to worry I couldn't find you guys down here. There's so many people,"
Jameson laughs as my eyes scan the ballroom, couples waltzing and twirling all over the dance floor as the classical music of violins and cellos fill the room.
He's suddenly looking at me so intently like we were on the stairs. "You look regal tonight, Clara. Your maids have outdone themselves."
Heat threatens to flush up my neck and cheeks but I manage to push it back down and lock Jameson's ocean eyes. "Thank you, as do you."
We weave our way through the crowd and I'm awestruck at everyone's ballgowns and outfits as we make our way over to the drinks section despite having servants walking around with them stacked onto golden dishes they carry one one raised hand, where, of course, we find Xavier and the twins.
"About time you showed up C," Grayson gives me a mischievous look as he looks between Jameson and I and he starts to smile as he takes a drink from his glass. I can't help but think back to our conversation during hide n seek.
"Ive never seen him act like this..."
I snap out of my thoughts before the pause is too long and reply to Grayson, "wouldn't miss a party," and with that I take the glass Thomas offers me and throw whatever drink this is down.
"Whoah, easy there Clara, we don't want you tripping up on the dance floor," Thomas chuckles and I smile sheepishly, shrugging my shoulders. He then downs his own drink.
Hypocrite.
Xavier gets lost in a conversation with some random man that's approached our table, and the twins go back to...actually I don't even know what they were doing. Probably planning another prank that's going to get us all killed.
"Everything okay love?" I turn back to Jameson who stands behind me, drink in hand, looking at me worriedly.
I need to stop zoning out.
"Yes, everything fine," I pour myself another drink. Geez, I need to loosen up. I try to avert the conversation, "so, do you attended these often?"
Jameson smiles and looks around the ballroom, and I don't miss how his eyes turn a shade darker as they sweep over his father, but when he looks back at me, his eyes soften every so slightly. "I used to when I was young, but now...I try to avoid them. I don't admit to enjoy spending hours on end appeasing everyone and spending about politics."
I stifle a laugh and down my second drink, which Jameson is now trying to take out of my hand.
"Easy love," He chuckles and gently places my glass back onto the table. "Tom is right, although I think we need to watch them more than we need to watch you," his eyes darken slightly with mischief before we both look up at the twins who are bent over laughing.
Yep, they're gone.
Suddenly the fast melody of the music suddenly drastically slows down, nearing the end of the song.
"I have no idea how to dance," I exhale deeply as I watch the dancers slow as the music fades, signally that another song is about to start soon.
Jameson follows my gaze to the dance floor and good gods he is beautiful. His jaw is so perfectly chiselled, and his lips-
Pull yourself together.
He looks back at me and his gaze is so intense I have to remind my alcohol induced mind to breathe.
"I can teach you," my eyes snap to his to make sure I've heard him right.
"Are you sure," I smile and let out a nervous laugh, "I don't want to make a fool of myself or fall over infront of all of these people-"
"I'll catch you if you fall, love. Relax, you'll be fine." Jameson seems to find my distress amusing, "Besides, I'll be leading you through the dance" and with that he holds his hands out with a smirk touching his lips and his eyes flash.
"Clara Rose, may I have this dance?"
I take his hand and let him lead me to the dance floor, my dress bellowing out behind me.
"I swear to god Woods, if I fall I'm taking you down with me," I semi-joke as my heart rate starts to go up again.
"I wouldn't doubt you for a second," his hand lands on the small of my back as we arrive in the middle of the dance floor. He keeps my hand in his as his other hand gently wraps around my waist and slowly tugs me towards him, ready for the waltz.
Time slows.
My body is hyper aware of his being pressed against mine, and I just hope that he can't feel the way my heart is skyrocketing right now.
Is his too?
I have no idea, but as I stare into those ocean green eyes for the millionth time today, all I can focus on is us in this room, and no one else. His thumb gently strokes my back in small circles as we wait for everyone to get into position.
"Ready?" His playful smile dances on his lips and I mirror him, feeling confident that I won't fall because he'll catch me if I do.
"Ready." I confirm.
The music slowly starts to drift around the room, and we all begin to dance.
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Whoah, another update two days later? Who would have thought?
But seriously, sorry for leaving you guys hanging for so long. You're all amazing, and your comments make my day.
Sorry for any grammar mistakes, I haven't edited this.
Have an amazing day/evening everyone xx