Elements of Madness

Fear

Chloe was feeling brittle. It wasn't an uncommon feeling for her but the intensity was beyond anything she had ever experienced. Monday had almost ended her; sitting there listening to his confession.

She hadn't screamed. To scream would be to admit losing. All the screams had stayed inside and been directed at herself. Luka had given her just enough to cling to with his honesty and fumbled explanations, just enough to believe the game wasn't completely lost yet.

Then her own move. She hadn't had a plan when she led him up those stairs, no plan when she darkened the room, no plan as she shed her clothing, only the need to be the one person in his heart.

She couldn't explain the providence made her think of the evening she had left in such anger, the evening she had chanced across him in the rain. She took that evening back, rewritten with him beside her and no reason to leave. Marinette might have stolen something passionate from her, but she stole something sweet back.

And so sweet. As she stood now looking at herself in the mirror she imagined herself in the gown again. She would keep it. She would wear it, protocol be damned, to every ball she could drag him to.

But for how long? Until. That thought would not leave her alone. Until I make him mad, until I screw it up, until I stop being exceptional. Those thoughts haunted her, and after Monday a new one Until Marinette wants him back.

So here she was, two days later looking at a new Chloe in the mirror. The third in two weeks. Gone were capris and her classic cardigan. No more black stripes, what was the point? She would never be the bee again.

Instead pressed white slacks and a Double breasted piqué jacket by Balmain, with her own custom gold accents at the collar and cuffs. A champagne silk blouse under the jacket and grecian strappy heels completed the outfit. She kept her signature ponytail but teased it within an inch of its life to add height and volume to her presence. Earrings, a first, simple gold bar stud backs and on her left ear a cartilage hoop with a diamond butterfly.

Chloe fussed with the jacket and tried to consider herself objectively. "Well, you look like your mother's daughter now. Let's hope that's what they see." She told her reflection. It made her look older, she hoped, adult. The world would take her seriously if she had to hold it down. Would it be enough?

"Sabrina. Have the limo brought around." She called.

Her erstwhile companion poked her head in from the other room. "No skates today Chloe?"

Chloe turned to present her new look for the first time. Sabrina wasn't the best test, too much spooked her, but the open mouthed stare seemed a step in the right direction,"Now, Sabrina."

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Start of the day, lots of looks. Were they for her new look, or just because Chloe was doing something odd again? Chloe finger waved to Juleka when the dark haired girl walked in,"Today's the big day, are you ready?"

Instead of bolting Juleka stopped. She had her bag held protectively in front of her but managed a small smile and a nod.

"Well, as one sophisticated woman to another let me just say you look fabulous, utterly fabulous, you'll do splendidly."

Juleka touched her bangs, a nervous habit even when they were already pushed back,"I hope so. It's kind of scary."

Chloe stood, her heels putting her taller than Juleka now. She took the other girl's shoulders and gave a squeeze,"Don't you worry, I'll be there. I won't let them abuse my very first star."