Chapter 54
Bayla
Night
Christopher Tyng
I looked at myself in the mirror, fascinated by what the dress was doing to my body. The lace-covered corset fitted tightly around my waist, and I had even managed to lace the thing up at my back on my own. At the shoulders, the thin sleeves hung down slightly so that my shoulders were basically exposed; and from my hips to the floor, the shiny fabric, which felt like the finest silk, hung – multilayered - down over the hoop skirt.
I wondered what Alice must have looked like in this dress. She must have had fuller hair than mine, a little shorter too. Dark brown. Her skin, pale. If she had worn it, why shouldn’t I be able to wear it?
Yep, I was wearing the teal dress I had vowed yesterday to bring back as soon as possible.
To be precise, it was Friday evening and no, unfortunately I hadn’t made it to DressinGlamour again. Larissa had even told Julie and Julian about the dress, and they had both agreed with Larissa, although I had expected them to be more sensible.
And now here I was, in a beautiful dress that had once belonged to someone who was now dead.
I should be ashamed of myself. And so, I was.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror one last time, adjusted my necklace, and checked my hair, which Larissa had cut two centimeters shorter an hour ago and then curled. And the fact that I looked even more like Alice with my haircut, even though we were so different, weighed on me a little, despite the fact that I thought I was beautiful.
My mother would be there tonight, and I wasn’t ready for the drama. Maybe I was too paranoid and she wouldn’t even notice. In the end, Alice had never worn this dress... I was probably worrying too much.
I stepped away from the mirror and tried to walk on the high heels I had borrowed from Larissa. Or rather, she had simply brought them for me because she thought my idea of walking in sneakers was a bad idea.
I hated high heels, even if they looked good, they didn’t feel good at all once you had them on.
With great difficulty, I made it into the hallway and looked down the stairs.
Oh, no. This was going to be a challenge.
I could hear Julie and Larissa talking to each other from downstairs and hoped they hadn’t waited too long for me.
Luckily, Vivienna and the other three girls had left for the ball an hour ago, so we’d had our peace and quiet.
The ball must have just started, but everyone always came when they wanted anyway. Alarik had told us that during the last lesson.
I took one step after another down the stairs.
“I don’t know. I don’t feel like it, somehow.”
“Are you serious? You can’t miss out on the Winter Ball.”
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, the two of them stopped arguing and turned to me.
Larissa’s eyes brightened as she looked at me, and even Julie stared at me as if paralyzed.
“This dress was made for you,” she whispered, and I had to smile.
“Thank you.”
“That’s what I told you!” Larissa came closer and walked around me. “Damn hot, Bayla Adams!”
Then I noticed that neither of them had changed their clothes. Julie’s hair was still in a messy bun.
“Why haven’t you changed yet? I thought we were leaving now?”
Larissa rolled her eyes. “Because a certain lady doesn’t fancy the ball.”
I looked at Julie, whose cheeks glowed red.
I walked over to the table and sat down next to her at an angle. “Come on. It’s only half as much fun without you,” I began calmly, and Julie took her eyes off my dress and looked me in the eye, but just for a second. “Look, you already bought a dress, and Larissa and I need you for the mission.”
I tried to forget how many times I had called Mady and that she had rejected every call. I couldn't fail with Julie too.
“That’s sweet, but you’re enough people for the mission. Maybe I’ll join you later,” Julie replied meekly, and I didn’t know what else to say to change her mind when Larissa pulled me off the chair by the arm.
“How about this: You already go, and I’ll take care of it.” She gestured at Julie, who sighed with dissatisfaction. “Don’t let Julian and Miles think we’ve called off the plan. Mr. DeLoughrey doesn’t answer his cell phone anyway.”
I looked at the two of them for a few seconds, and the tingling in my stomach increased. I was too excited to go alone.
“I can wait, too,” my best friend said.
Suddenly her phone rang, and she answered it. “Yes?” Larissa looked at me and I got a bad feeling. “No, she’s probably put her phone on silent. But she’s on her way.” Larissa grinned mischievously in my direction. “See you in a bit, Julian.” Then she hung up and I looked at her, annoyed.
“Well, come on. Your dress is perfect, your hair is done and if you don’t show up, the others will worry for no reason.”
Larissa pushed me toward the door and opened it, and I immediately felt the cool evening air on my skin.
Could it not have been a summer ball?
I turned to her again, and she pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“You can do it without me. I’ll try to be there in thirty minutes.”
I hoped so and left.