Behind the Mask

According to me.

"Move, Nerd."

I feel hands shove me from behind as I hit the ground. I look up glaring at the person who shoved me as I pick up my spilled books. It's Ellium Branch, captain of the basketball team. I hate Ellium with a passion. He's top-dog at our school no one invades his stage unless he allows it: which is little to never. Without fail Ellium has every girl in school crushing on him, except me. Even so, Ellium has a reputation as a bully, not that the teachers do anything about it, but apparently I qualify as victim and it's getting worse all the time.

As I walk back to my locker, I hear my friends Shauna and Laney crowded around my locker talking about this weekend. Which was understandable, it's exciting. This weekend is our town's annual ball, and this year's theme is "Masquerade". I can't blame my dear friends for being so worked up. I'm excited, too. I'm going to wear light, icy blue dress with my hair in an elegant up-do, courtesy of my mom, and for the first time ever I'm ditching my dorky, outdated glasses for my brand new contacts! "No wonder the basketball team thinks I'm a nerd.

The next few days go by in a blur as the whole school gets worked up for the coming event. Saturday morning I woke up late, and I hastily pulled on some sweatpants and an old t-shirt.

"Dad!" I yelled, "DAD!"

"Yeah, what'cha need kiddo?"

"I'm taking the car. Mom's going to do my hair for the ball," at first he gives me a confused look, but understanding dawns on his face, and he smiles wide and nods.

"Thanks, Dad," I barely hear his reply as I skip out the door and jumped into the car.

As I'm driving I think about what my mom would say if she knew about the "Basketball Losers." Undoubtedly, she'd be more than just upset. She'd do everything in her power to make sure they never gave me trouble again. She'd take it to the principal. It might solve the problem, but I doubted it. And, it would attract attention. I hate attracting attention. Better to say nothing.

At Mom's, I try my hardest to be still as I let out a steady stream of events, some from school, others from my work at the coffee shop, and some about random town gossip. My mom just quietly works sometimes telling me to turn my head or tilt up my chin, but letting me talk out the stress of the past week. I tell her everything. Except the parts that involve me getting pushed around by populars and basketball players. I can tell my mom everything. Except that. That would tear her apart.

Finally, after much hairspray, a buttload of bobbypins, and nagging at my mom that it doesn't have to be perfect, I'm finally ready to put on my dress. I struggle into the corset tied dress and pull the strings taut. Once it's on and secured my mom drags me over to the mirror and places my mask on my face, the finishing touch. She sweeps her eyes over me once and gives me the biggest smile I've seen since her and Dad divorced. The sight warms my heart. All I want is for her to be happy.

I lay my purse across my shoulder just as I get a call from Shauna that she's waiting on me outside. I hug my mom and start towards the door, but she stops me with a hand on my shoulder. I turn to look at her and she says, "Calilia, do me a favor and enjoy yourself," my heart sinks. She knows I'm upset, but I put on my bravest smile and step outside to Shauna and Laney.

As we make our way inside the venue of the ball, we glance around at some the people nearby trying to make out who is who. Of course, the searching is in vain as they're all in masks. The music starts and many people find the closest person to them and make them their dance partner, and I, being no-good at dancing, slink off to a corner to hide from any potential dance partners. But to no avail. I see a black haired gentleman who appears to be about my age, with the same plain white mask as seen in the crowd, and a traditional tuxedo. I try to dive into the crowd and possibly lose him, but he seems determined, so I turn around to face him.

"You just won't let the prey escape, will you?"

"Perseverance pays off in the long run," he smirked, "Will you dance?" I shake my head.

"Oh, come on," he coaxed, "It'll be fun."

"Oh, fine," I say finally.

At first I'm stiff and unyielding as we step with the music, but as we continue, I start to relax and enjoy myself as I lay my head against his chest. We dance for a while then walk out to the balcony to rest and talk.

"Why were you following me? I mean, there are other girls here. Surely, there's one here more worthwhile than silly old me."

He shifts uncomfortably, and the look on his face seems slightly embarrassed and red, but with the mask on it's hard to tell.

"I'd had my eye on you as soon as you walked through the door. I'm surprised you still haven't figured out who I am, not that it matters. All that matters is you're the most beautiful girl I've met in my lifetime." I want to know his name so badly it almost hurts.

"Take your mask off," I say, "I want to know who you are." He shakes his head ever so slightly. "Please."

He sighs and his resolve collapses under my scrutinizing gaze. He slowly, ever so slowly, removes his mask.

"Ellium? Is this another one of your stupid jokes to make me look like an idiot? Make a poor little girl think there may actually be someone who loves her, and take it all away from her?"

"I'm sorry, Calilia," He turns facing the door. The absolute sorrow on his face is murderous. I think about our night together and instantly feel sorry about what I said. I flinch."I didn't know what to do. I was confused the first time I saw you. I didn't know what to do with the emotions mushed up inside me. I thought I was getting your attention by picking on you like that. But I realized the effect it was having on was opposite of what I'd desired, and I came here to make things right. Like I said, as soon as you walked through the door, I knew it was you. You light up an entire room with your smile." He blushed.

"I didn't know...y-you felt that way." I tumble out. I'm awe-struck, star-struck you might say, but also terribly embarrassed and angry. "There were definitely different ways to go about this, ya' know?"

"I know. I'm sorry." He steps closer.

"I'm sorry, too," That's it, his lips on mine, my arms around his neck, his around my waist. I put my forehead against his. "I'm glad you saw through my mask."

"I'm glad I did too."