DECEIT-behind the scenes

Chapter 23:James

Sage and I walked through the lair, heading towards the disguise room, filled with dyes and all sorts of disguises.

"So, why blonde?" I asked curiously.

"Wanted a change," Sage simply shrugged, avoiding eye contact. Something wasn't right. Ignoring my paranoid feelings I opened the door to the disguises.

Sage picked up a pack of dye and excused himself to get his hair done.

With nothing left to do, I headed towards the library.

***

"Etiquette, Etiquette, Etiquette..." I mumbled to myself as I shuffle through the maze of books, searching for something on etiquette in the castle.Sage suggested it so we would't act 'barbaric'.

"One, two, three!" I heard a faint voice from the corner of the library.Eager, I headed towards the sound.

In the very corner, I saw Tara holding up a book and tapping her feet to an invisible beat.She looked like she had two left feet because she kept tangling them up in weird angles until she finally fell.Almost.

I ran towards her just in time to stop her from hitting the ground,her eyes were screwed shut- waiting for impact. With her eyes closed and her mouth forming a cute little pout she looked so adorable.I just wanted to pinch are cheeks!

Wait,what?

"Better be careful!" I said, almost teasingly as I help her back up to her feet.

She quickly backed away, her cheeks tinted pink.

"Thanks! I just realised that we had to dance in the gala and I- I-" she started.

"You kinda suck?" I finished, a smirk on my face.

She looks back at me, her mouth parted slightly before she wired it shut and glared at me in anger.

"I just never felt the need to dance!" she said defensively.

"Ya, I can kinda see that," I said, letting out a small chuckle.

"Oh please, stopping acting like you can do any better!" 

I chuckled again before pulling her towards me, placing my large hand over her petit waist  and grasping her hand with the other.

"One, two, three!' I displayed, moving her stiff body along the beat.It took some time but before we knew it, we were swaying to a random beat, engaging in small talk, making her laugh was always the best.

The way her mouth would form a grin and then she would start giggling- it was just too cute!

Just like the end of a song, we suddenly came to a stop, our faces inches away from each others.

"So, how do I look with blonde hair?" a husky voice interrupted, making Tara jump back 2 meters.

Sage appeared out of the blue but immediately backed away when he saw our embarrassing situation.

"Umm, ya like some guy said you were here so..." he started but was clearly trying not to laugh at our tomato red faces.

"I think I will leave now!" Sage and Tara said in unison before practically tripping out the library.

Leaving me alone.

I couldn't help but smile at what happened, I let out a light chuckle.

But then scowled when I realised that things would have ended differently without Sage's rude entry.

Sighing at my slight misfortune, I head back up the stairs, getting ready to pack my bag for tomorrow and sleep. I wasn't really hungry.

As I head up the stairs, a crumpled piece of paper managed to stick to my sole. Mildly annoyed that people couldn't throw it in the trash ,I pick it up.

I was about to throw it in the trash bin when I realise that just a few feet apart, Raven's satchel was abandoned on the floor. It might have come from there.

I opened the parchment to quickly read through the contents and decide its worth, but what was written inside was not what I expected:

Dear Maria,

This is a letter that I am writing to you at the age of 20. I am sorry. I want to see you again. I want to give this letter to you personally... but I don't know if will. I am such a coward. I saw you yesterday- why did you act like that? Who is Raven? Is it because of what I did- did it turn you into that?

Fine, let me get to the point.I know I talk to much- and yet you never complain. So patient!

Doll,

You are like the fire that I set up beside me. Magnificent and majestic, you have that aura that no one can meet. And you are always so... energetic, showing your incredible brightness (even in the darkest of times) to everyone and giving light to those who need it.Like me...

And just like a moth drawn to the flame- I am drawn to you! I don't care if I burn, the heat is still warm- like your hugs! I don't care if I come out of the flame burnt or even if I don't come out at all. I still want to be with you- I am so pathetic right?

I have all this... love and cooped up emotion that I want to just spill out to you, but, I cant and I don't know if I ever will...

Who knows, your probably reading this letter after I died, but I don't want to leave this planet without telling you how I felt all these years.So, I wrote this letter...

I hope.Actually, scratch that, I have no hope that you will come to me. I just wanted you to know that I love you.

Always in love with you,

Sage

This was not what I had expected.

--------------------------------------

OMG!!