Chapter 80
1531words
"I don't know why you keep touching that pink dress, Em. You're definitely wearing the blue one that makes you look like a sparkling planet."
I smiled and looked at the dress she was talking about,
" I was sort of aiming for the look that didn't make me stand out."
"Well, that's sad, because you're coming with me, and when you're with me, it's mandatory that you stand out."
I tucked my lower lip between my teeth and sat in my bed,
"you want to know the truth?"
"Tell me."
"I don't really want to attend this ball."
"Well, that's only normal. I mean, you like being at home and all. But, it'll be fun, I promise."
"It's not just about the fact that I'm an introvert. It's the fact that all the men in my life are going to be there, at the same time. I won't be comfortable."
She thought for a moment, and sat beside me,
"So, you want to ditch?" she finally asked.
My initial response would have been yes. But this was my brother's banquet, even if most of the people who were coming would have no idea that he was my brother. In any case, I owed it to him to be there. Especially with the fact that he had some plans that seemed to involve me.
Maybe that was another reason I felt the anxiety I felt. The fact that there were so many ways the night was bound to go, and one way could be really bad for Paris and I. I was trying to keep hope and trust alive. But both of those things were hard.
"I do." I said and reached for the blue dress, "but that would be me, simply acting like a coward. And I am no coward." I said and looked up at Ashley,
"so, I'll wear the blue dress, and look like one of the planets, and should I manage to gather any kind of attention I don't like, I'll find someplace to hide." I watched as a smile spread across my friend's face.
" I like that for you, and for me too, because I really didn't want to have to avoid this ball. Axel says it's going to be a blast."
"Of course he did," I said with some sarcasm and rose.
At the banquet, even though I had decided to come, I still did my best to remain out of sight, but Jean true to nature found me where I was hiding,
"You seem to be having a good time," he said and sat across from me.
My heart jumped, raced, and then settled all in a matter of seconds,
"Jean." I sighed out, and reached for my champagne flute, "I'm having anything but the time of life. My friend who promised to be by my side left me at the first offer of a dance, and I am left to myself to think about my life, under the influence of the alcohol in this flute."
"so, I suppose what you may be lacking is some company." he said and reached for a glass, poured himself some champagne, lifted it, and then drank from it, "it just so happens that I would like some company too."
I smiled against the rim of my glass, "good for me." I said, and watched as my brother strolled gallantly toward us,
"I trust the champagne is to your liking." here was the part where my brother played the gracious host, and I was forced to pretend that I didn't know him from Adam,
"Yes, it is, sire," I said, but couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. It was just so funny when we were like this,
"Ah then, then my life's purpose is complete. For it should be, nothing but the best for one as beautiful as you," he said graciously and I rolled my eyes, causing him to laugh,
"excuse me, will you? I must go see the other guests."
"Prince Axel insists on treating me like a maiden when we are out and about." I said and shook my head fondly, "I think it might be a game we have both come to enjoy actually."
"you should know though, there are some that think you both to be, ah…entangled."
"Is there anything that gets past you, Alpha Jean?"
"no, not really. Not even the fact that your Alpha friend is sitting over there, burning that I'm with you, even though he knows you've rejected me."
"Who?" I turned and saw William watching us with a question in his eyes, and I raised my hand in a wave, he waved back and smiled, but was distracted by Axel's sudden appearance and then I had to turn back to Jean,
"I don't think he likes me very much," Jean said,
"I'm not sure he likes me so much as well. But I can't blame him, and I guess, neither should you."
"if you say so," he said and looked over to the dance floor, where a bunch of couples slowly danced. I watched his mind calculate decisions before he even said the words, and I smiled when he finally said them,
"would you like to dance, then?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
PARIS'S POV
"Why don't you want to go?" Kate asked, all dressed up, our invitation in her hand,
"because I have a lot of things I need to get done, and would be more than happy to get them all done in the peace and quiet of my home."
"but one day of a good night out won't hurt," she said, taking my hand in mine.
"Kate, " I said and tried to untangle myself from her, "I really would rather not see so many people tonight. You go, have a good time."
"alone? I don't want to go alone. Who will I laugh with, or dance with? I'd look pathetic."
"good. Then stay home. You won't look pathetic if you stay at home."
"You and I never spend time together. This would be the first time in a long time. Why can't you just do this one, then you can come back to your work, and I won't even try to bother you."
I looked at her while her eyes pleaded with me, and sighed when I finally relented. I was a weak man, and I feared being a weak man would only make me make wrong choices.
The banquet was majestic. Well, there was really nothing else I could expect from Prince Axel. However, I was unsettled. Unsettled, because the last thing I needed was Ember to see me here. Or she found out I came here with Kate. So I had one dance, just one, and stayed at the dimmest part of the hall. For all the good that did, Kate was all over the place, she had a word for everybody, and I was on the brink of losing my mind.
After an hour and a half, I decided that I had done enough,
"Let's go," I said when she finally made it back to the table she looked at me with wide eyes, her lips tinged with red and I groaned,
"don't tell me you're drunk."
She laughed and hiccupped, "I did have a couple of bottles."
"Mother of God," I said, and took her hand,
"Where are we going?"
"to pour some water on your face. It'll help you cool off."
"water? Oh no no no. It will ruin my makeup." she whined as she followed me,
" So be it then," I said when we got to a pool and she squealed,
"Why, Kate? Why?"
"It's a pool, Paris! How about we take a swim?"
" a moment ago you didn't want to get your makeup ruined, now you want to swim?"
"I want to swim! I want to" She tugged free of my hand and was falling head-first into the pool before I knew what was happening.
And here was the problem, the drunken woman wanted to swim. But the drunken woman couldn't swim to save her life.
"Paris! Paris, help me!" she screamed and I swore before I jumped head-first into the water.
She coughed hysterically when I got her out, and her teeth began to chatter,
"silly woman. Why did you jump when you knew you couldn't swim?" I said, drawing her close to me to give her some warmth, and she clung to me for dear life,
"I-I-I f-f-forgot."
"silly woman," I said again, and lifted her off the ground,
“Paris, I feel really cold.” she said, pressing against me, and I had to grit my teeth against any foof desire her closeness drew,
“You went into the water on a cold night in a thin dress, Kate.”
“I know. I know. I'm sorry.” she crooned against my neck.
"It's okay. Let's get you home then."
I was so close to my car. So close to successfully ending the night without being caught with Kate in my arms, when I heard Ember's voice. And I swear a lifetime of happiness flashed and vanished before my very eyes,
"Paris?"
