Butter for the Balls

Chapter Seven

Chad spent the day thinking about what he should wear to the Ball, and preparing what to give Adrianna as well. He wanted their outfits to match, so he made sure that both of them would be wearing the color purple. But Chad hadn't seen Adrianna in anything but her kitchen clothes. He didn't even know if she had any formal wear, and what style she liked, but Chad had to just guess. Chad tried on his outfit, and propped up the dress on a mannequin. He put the mannequin to his left side and stared intently in the mirror. It was almost as if Adrianna was standing next to him, the paleness of the mannequin the same bright white as Adriann's real skin. Before Chad could practice seductively ripping the clothes off of the mannequin, he thought to himself I need to add something that is more personal and unique to Adrianna. There wasn't a lot that the girl liked, but there was one thing he knew she did, and he wanted to incorporate it in any way that he could.

By the time he was finished, he crept to her room after lunch, when he knew that she was working hard in the kitchen, and placed the dress (and the added touch) on her bed. Chad was so excited to see her in it, and he wanted time alone so that he could take it off again, too.

The day passed so incredibly slowly as Chad watched people bustle by, asking questions about where to put everything, setting up the ballroom with tables, chairs, and decorations. For a second, Chad forgot to stress about Adrianna's centerpiece, until he saw a random stick of butter, and his memory was flooded with images of Adrianna (and her body).

Night had fallen once more, and Chad was about to take a stroll around the gardens to help with his stiff "affliction", when there was a quick knock, and a note slid under his door. He picked it up and unfolded it.

Mr. Walkplease,

I apologize for announcing this in a letter, and not to your face, but I am too much of a coward to say these words out loud. Unfortunately our fling will have to come to an end. I have just received an offer for my hand in marriage by a man my brother has approved, and I will be accepting his offer. After the ball I will be moving to the country with him. I am sure you will forget everything about me. Please move on. I never loved you.

Signed,

Adrianna Sasquatch

Chad couldn't believe what he was reading. He didn't know of any fiancé! Heartbroken, he put the note down on the table and stared at its words until they blurred in his tears. Then, he took the letter and crumpled it up into a small ball and threw it out of the window. Good riddance, then, he thought, half-heartedly.

He thought tomorrow would be a pleasant night where he would be able to dance with Adrianna and enjoy something nice to eat, but any thought of Adrianna made him sick to his stomach.

Chad drank a jug of water to clear his mind, and headed to bed. He couldn't help but wonder if Adrianna had managed to finish her sculpture, and what it would be. Chad tried his best not to think about Adrianna, but she followed him to his dreams, making a husband out of butter and then running away with him. The perfect man. Even Chad Walkplease couldn't compare to him.

It was morning before Chad knew it, which meant that it was time for him to get to work. He required many hours to shimmy into his new outfit, and he didn't want to waste a second of it. Chad wondered what Adrianna was doing with the matching dress. Perhaps she wouldn't even show up. What if she just left without finishing the butter sculpture? He was inches away from the doorknob before he caught himself. He was about to go downstairs to the kitchen to find Adrianna but his pride caught himself. He couldn't go down there and beg! That's not very bad-boy of him! Ashamed, he paced his room, and so he did for the rest of the morning.

Evening fell sooner than Chad wanted, which meant that guests were starting to arrive. Carriages were pulling in, men and women were pouring out in gorgeous outfits, elaborate dresses. This was the event of the season, and Chad had invited everyone. For a while, he considered feigning illness and not moving from his desk near the window, but obligation drew him to his feet and marched him towards the Ball. He didn't know what made him stay, though.

The ballroom was bright with excitement and elaborate decorations. The arched high ceilings hung large chandeliers that glowed, and light colored wallpaper made the hall look bigger than it already was. Two dozen guests were already roaming around, and even more people slowly seeped into the hall.

Chad walked around the tables, and noticed something interesting. They all had the same unlit candle. That was odd, who would forget to light such a thing? But as he stepped closer, it wasn't wax he was looking at, but butter. A butter Holiday candle, one for each table which must have taken Adrianna hours to complete.

Just as Chad thought that he couldn't stare at any more butter, two servants rolled a table onto the floor holding the centerpiece of the entire Ball. The amazing sculpture by Adrianna herself.

Chad looked at it. And he looked again. It was a sphere. It had some rough edges, but no matter which angle Chad turned it, no other details emerged. It was simply a large ball.

He heard murmuring around him and couldn't help but feel bad for Adrianna.

"What is that?"

"Is that made out of butter?"

"Oh my god, it smells."

"Get that out of here, it's an eye-sore."

Chad noticed a figure dash out of the hall and all thoughts and reason dashed out with her. He chased Adrianna out onto the patio, finding her tear stained and shaking. She was wearing the dress that he had placed on her bed. When she turned, he saw his own handiwork pinned right on the front of her chest. The words 'BUTTER' sewn neatly on the front of her dress, each letter easily five inches in height. It was a bold statement, but so undeniably Adrianna.

"Oh, hi." She said, wiping her tears away. "It's you."

"It's me." Chad said. "Is everything alright?"

"Everyone keeps making fun of it!" Adrianna sniffed.

"Of what?" Chad needed her to define what it was. He knew it was the sculpture, but what even was that?

"My snowball!" Adrianna cried, blowing her nose into a handkerchief.

"A snowball... yes, right."

"Everyone says it looks like crap." She wailed, and Chad had to find the right words to respond without revealing his own opinions.

"What do they know about butter? Don't listen to them."

"I guess. I thought it was clever because when it melts, it will look like snow melting!" Adrianna exclaimed.

If that was the goal, she sorely missed the point. He couldn't imagine that anyone would want to purchase her services now.

"I have something I need to tell you." Adrianna stepped forward but Chad stepped backwards, suddenly remembering the note that was slipped under his door late last night.

"I think you have said enough already," Chad said, distant and formal. Adrianna's face fell even deeper, into confusion.

"What have I already said?" She asked.

"I am not reciting it to you now." Chad turned to walk away, "Go tell your new husband hello for me."