Chapter 12 #2
She’s still wrapped in the dress she picked out for herself: a bright blue ensemble that clings to her waist before puffing into a flowing skirt.
It covers her neck, as expected, but a window cuts seductively close to her collarbones and dips down to reveal her cleavage.
All the dresses she’s shown me, while simply made, have had a similar revealing feature.
I lift the pink dress up, letting its full length tumble down so I can determine what its is.
“Besides,” she continues, “if you’re the center of attention, it’ll be because you’re with Caeo. I haven’t seen that boy enter a room without drawing the eye of half the girls in it. And some boys, too.”
My jaw drops as I turn the dress around. “This doesn’t have a back.”
“Stop acting like a prude.” Alexis grabs my arm and pulls me behind a curtain. “Try it on.”
Moments later, I’m staring at myself in the mirror, feeling more exposed than I have in my entire life. I’ve accompanied my parents to a handful of balls, but I’ve never seen anyone wear anything like this.
It’s a simple dress, its only ornamentation being braids of the same coral fabric that trace its edges. It wraps tightly around my neck, then drapes down my front, connecting into a skirt at the small of my back that cascades down to the floor.
Alexis stands beside me, twisting my chestnut locks behind my head. “We’ll put your hair up like this, and he won’t be able to keep his hands off of you.”
My face burns, almost matching the gown’s color. The soft fabric clearly reveals the curves of my breasts, and the cold air tickles my bare back, making them peak.
“I don’t think I’m brave enough for this.”
“You are. You’re gorgeous—own it. You won’t be young forever, and you don’t want to get old and regret never looking this good.”
I can’t deny the wisdom of that, and beneath my doubt, it does make me feel beautiful. So I push through my twisting nerves and buy the dress.
Half a bell later, we’re walking amid dusk’s lengthening shadows toward the Academy, gowns in hand. We spot Caeo and Reid as we near the outskirts, their voices carrying on the chilly breeze as they approach.
Alexis jumps in front of me. “Don’t let him see the dress!”
Caeo jogs over with a smile that quickly gives way to confusion as Alexis continually moves to block the dress folded over my arms, and therefore me, from his view.
He frowns. “What are you doing?”
“You do not get to see her dress. You have to wait until the ball.” She pulls me around and forces me to continue walking, keeping herself between me and Caeo the entire time.
“But—”
I press closer to her back, imagining his face when he sees me wearing it. She’s right—I don’t want to spoil the surprise. “Tomorrow,” I say, just as I’m forced to look where I’m going to avoid tripping.
Reid slows down as he nears us. “We’re heading to The Duck. You should come.”
“We have to get our dresses home safely first,” Alexis says, then pauses. “You think Emmrich will be there?”
“That’s the hope.”
Her mouth twists into a smile. “Then I suppose we will. Can’t let you have him all to yourself.”
Reid rolls his eyes. “See you then.” He strolls past us with his hands in his pockets. A few seconds later, his voice drifts from further away. “Come on, man. She’ll be back soon.”
Curious, I glance behind me to see him looping his arm around Caeo, pulling him along. A smile blooms across my face before I continue on my way.
* * *
Sophie’s curled up on our settee, reading a book, when Alexis barges into our sitting room with me in tow, excitedly detailing her plans with Oliver for the next day.
Since night has fallen, firelight blooms from the lanterns hanging on each wall, a hint of brown coloring the gray smoke stains above their flames.
“—and after we tour the gardens, I’m coming back to get ready for the ball. You need to be here, too, so I can do your hair.”
I rub my eyes. Keeping up with Alexis’s energy is exhausting. “I can do my own hair.”
“No, honey. No. This dress deserves better than a messy bun. Now go hang it up before it gets wrinkled.” She pushes me toward my room.
I shut the door behind me, then take a moment to collect myself. Sitting on my bed, I slide the dress’s soft fabric between my fingers. Can I really be brave enough to wear this?
Something coils within me, either nerves or anticipation; I’m not sure which. My lungs sink with a heavy sigh, then I steal a hanger from my coat and shove the dress into my wardrobe.
When I return to our sitting room, Alexis is leaning arms-crossed against the wall, watching Sophie gather herself up. She tucks her book under her arm and grumbles, “I can’t believe you actually have dates.”
As frustrating as she can be, I sense an opportunity to smooth things over. To prove I’m not as conceited as she seems to think.
“I don’t,” I say, sitting against the back of an armchair.
Alexis snaps her head toward me. “What are you talking about? Aren’t you going with Caeo?”
“Caeo?” Sophie asks.
“Reid’s friend. You know, he’s probably in some of your classes. Black hair, kind of messy. Probably has girls fighting each other to sit by him.”
“Him?” Sophie looks to me, her brow arched.
I blink, unsure of what she’s talking about. “I don’t—”
Alexis steps away from the wall, closer to Sophie. “So you do know him?”
“Not really. He sits in the back of a few of my classes. Doesn’t seem to be very good at anything.” She shoots a smug glare in my direction. “A good choice for someone who needs to feel superior to everyone else.”
I haven’t the faintest idea why she’s looking at me that way; it’s unusual for me to lose focus on a conversation like this. When I don’t respond, she huffs, then stomps the rest of the way to her room.
The door clicks shut, and Alexis’s gaze lingers on it as she approaches. “Rude.” Then she turns to me, resting her fingers on my arm. “Don’t let her get to you. Some people just thrive on misery.”
I close my eyes, rubbing circles into my temple. “I think I’ll head to bed. I’m having a hard time keeping up.”
“Are you sure?” A frown crinkles her face. “We told Reid we’d go by The Duck.”
“You can go. I feel like staying in tonight.”
She eyes me for a moment, then shrugs. “If you’re sure. Guess I should start getting ready.”
There’s a tug in my chest as I watch her disappear into her room—a nagging feeling that I’ll be missing out if I stay. But my head hurts, and a warm bath calls to me.
I can go to The Duck another night.