Summer Falls in Love

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Havana looked at the gold letters above the grand double-doors of Ballroom 2. She was sure this was the right ballroom. Finally, after looking left and right to check for anyone watching, she pushed the doors open and entered the what-she-thought-was an empty ballroom.

Firstly, it was dark; no, like pitch black dark. Havana was just about to step back out to the safety outside Ballroom 2 when suddenly a spotlight switched on, startling her. It was directed straight at a small table in the middle of the huge ballroom.

Measuring her risks, she took slow hesitant steps to the small table, draped with a white tablecloth, sitting in the middle of the ballroom. Her heels clacked against the floor, echoing throughout the ballroom.

As she approached the small table, she realized that there was a single red rose lying on top of it. Curiously, Havana picked it up and to her disappointment; she found no note attached to it or anything at all. There were only fresh dew drops evaporating on the rose petals, signing it was fresh.

Scrunching her eyebrows, she squinted her eyes in the dark but found that she couldn’t see anything. And then she realized she didn’t know where the entrance was anymore. It was just that dark; except for the very bright spotlight right in the middle of the ballroom. She grew frightened and…helpless. Fear was evident in her eyes. But somehow…the red rose that she held in her hands gave her a sort of assuring curiosity.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps, getting louder and louder as it came closer and closer to her. A very familiar blondish-brown haired boy revealed himself, wearing a smart suit and a mask, of course. He looked intently at Havana as she tried to narrow down those familiar eyes…

  “Havana,” He said and she recognized him immediately.

  “Zach!” Havana said with relief as recognition flooded her mind. She ran to him and hugged him, carefully plucking away the intricate mask from his flawless face.

  “So have you figured out who your secret admirer is yet?” Zach said, with a mysterious glint in his eye and a knowing smirk plastered across his face. Havana scrunched her eyebrows for a second before her eyes widened when the truth hit her.

  “It’s you!” Havana said, backing away a few steps, gasping. And then all that guilt that had drenched her previously evaporated. It seemed to make so much more sense now and she let a genuine, breath-taking smile engulf her lips.

  “Of course it’s me,” Zach said smoothly, stepping towards her and grabbing her waist, “Now that you finally know, I’ve been waiting all night to do this.”

And before Havana could respond, Zach had his lips on hers.

~*~

The emcee of the evening grabbed the mike and gained the attention of everyone in the ballroom, including Summer and Amanda’s. It was a young, slim lady who had her hair done up in a fancy bun and was wearing a butterfly-like mask. Once she felt all eyes on her, she proceeded.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” she started clearly, “welcome, officially to the Magical Masquerade,” Cue the massive sophisticated, rhythmic clapping of the audience, “as you all know, we evaluate everyone here and we will pair the best dancers up to dance to a specific song chosen.” Murmurs were heard. “We have already chosen, and if you are, one of us will notify you. Let the dance begin!”