𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑'𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 || sodapop curtis

005 | fixer uppers

❝There's something about arriving in new cities, wandering empty streets with no destination.❞

I FOLLOWED HARLOW to the exit of the train station. She led me to a very nice (and expensive looking) white car, and opened the passenger door for me to get in.

"So, are you excited?" Harlow asked. She had a certain positive energy that I just couldn't match.
"Yeah for sure." I said.
"Y'know, I've never actually met the prince in person." She said as turned a street corner.
"Really? Wow. So I have a question- how exactly does the prince choose- I mean there's so many girls."
"Well, you don't exactly know who your dancing with, you could be dancing with the prince at any time." That gave me anxiety.

We soon arrived at the hotel I would be staying at, and I followed Harlow inside. Yet again, everything looked fancy. The foyer was massive- the ceilings had to be at least 20 feet tall, with a glass chandelier hanging above. I took a seat on a velvet bench, and waited. Harlow soon came over to me, she must've been checking me in.

"The bellhop is taking your luggage to your room, would you like me to show you the way?"
"Yes, please."

She led me through the many halls of the hotel until we finally reached my room. I had room 2204 on the twenty-second floor. As we walked in, the natural light was almost blinding. It was beautiful inside- the velvet curtains and the soft comforter on the bed.

"So," Harlow started. "I'm going to leave you to your business, and I will be back tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning to get you ready."
"Ok, sounds good."

I took my shoes off, and felt the soft carpet against my feet. I stared out the window, feeling a bit queasy as I looked below me- everything looked so small from up here. I closed the curtains a bit, because of how blinding the light was becoming. I was a bit tired, so I pulled my book, Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov, out of my suitcase; I loved a good read.

•••

I looked at a clock across from my bed, and it was already 7:00. I was pretty tired, so I decided to get ready for bed. I walked into the bathroom, and there was a huge bathtub with a basket of bath bombs. I started myself a bath, undressed, and pulled my hair back. It felt amazing to just relax, and have no worries at the moment- I tried to put the stress of the masquerade behind me.

I finished bathing, and decided to put my pajamas on; I was pretty tired from the long train ride. I felt that the masquerade was actually growing on me- I was somewhat looking forward to attending it. As I slept, I imagined myself in a beautiful, elegant ball gown. Those visions soon faded, and I was off to a slumber.

The clock read 6:32 when I awoke, and I decided to start my day since I usually couldn't go back to sleep after waking up- and it was already 6:30. I figured I could order some breakfast or some coffee.

Next to the telephone, there was a menu, and the food looked amazing. There were lots of different things I had never seen before- so I decided to try some new thing. I got prima colazione hot milk with coffee and ciambellone a lemon bundt cake along with apple cake.

When the food arrived, I sat at the table across from a window and ate, with the cool air brushing against my face. The food tasted amazing, not like anything I had ever tried before. I left my dishes for the maid, and decided to get dressed for the day. I had plenty of time, considering that Harlow wasn't coming until 10:00, and it was only 7:30.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, i threw on an emerald green button up sweater with some tan cargo pants. I tied up my boots and pulled my long, curly brown hair into a bun. I wanted so badly to venture around the city, but I knew I would get lost- I only had myself, and I've never been here before. To kill time, I decided to sketch the view from my window in my sketchbook.

•••

I heard a soft knock at the door, and I knew who it was. I looked through the peek hole, to see Harlow standing before me. I unlatched the door and she took me back out to the nice white SUV.

"So, today you will meet your fixer uppers." She said as she opened the passenger side door for me.
"Fixer uppers?"
"Well, that's what I like to call them- they're more like your personal stylists. Or makeup artists."
"Hmm. That's cool."