The Ecstatic Life Of Sofia

Chapter Nineteen: The Founders Ball

The next morning Sofia woke up in her bed. She was lying down and still in the gown from last night. She didn't know how it had happened, but she was grateful to be lying down.

She walked into the rest of the house in tights and a sweater. It was still the nighttime probably about 4:30. She realized most of the mess from last night had been left so she gathered up plates and put them in the sink. She returned with a mop and broom and cleaned the house. She put away the tables, then moved to the kitchen to begin on the dishes. By the time she finished the last dish, with cold water so showers weren't interrupted, the sun was rising. She sat down and closed her eyes, then she rose to make breakfast, surprisingly enough, all of the food from last night had disappeared. She sat out the last of breakfast just as Anthony walked in.

"Did you clean the house?" He asked.

"Yeah, I woke up early and had nothing else to do."

"How early?" He asked sitting down to breakfast.

Sofia shrugged, then sat down.

Sofia enjoyed the next week at the inn, things were weird with Anthony, but eventually they were back into their normal routine and he enjoyed showing her different things on the land the inn sat on. The problem was, with each thing she found out about him, almost with each passing moment, she fell more in love with him. She enjoyed any time she was around him, no matter what they did. The problem with that, was that she grew more anxious, she wanted to be with him, but he didn't want to be with her, she kept herself quiet, she knew his position and didn't want him to be uncomfortable as she had been before. However, even she couldn't ignore the lingering stares, the light touches he gave her, so gentle and always lingering.

Sofia wasn't sure what had led to it happening, but it had happened.

One night, Sofia walked into her room. On her bed, Anthony sat holding some flowers.

"Anthony?" She asked.

He jumped a little. "Sofia. These are for you." He handed her the flowers.

"Thanks. They're beautiful." She said.

"Listen," He began. "I've thought it over and one thing has become evident to me. I've fallen in love with you, and with each passing moment my love grows. I know we need to hold off until you're out of my class, but it's only a few months. I want to at least give this a try."

Sofia stood, almost lost. "This... is unexpected."

Anthony's confidence faded.

"But, the answer is yes, because I am feeling something for you and I don't know what it is, but it's there and I don't want it to go away or die." Sofia smiled up at him.

He looked down at her and pulled her in close. They sat on her bed, his arms around her, for a long time.

The other week she spent at the inn, including New Years flew by leaving Sofia in a dream like state. The months afterwards passed slower. She and Anthony secretly met in the woods or outside town, but in the university or the town they acted as professor and student. Sofia didn't mind, but sometimes she wondered if what they were doing was healthy, she decided yes it was. Anthony wasn't a bad guy, he didn't pressure or terrorize her, and the secrecy protected them both. Everything went well, until the town's founding months. It was a year since Sofia had first visited Meadow View and the founders masquerade was right around the corner.

The day of the ball Sara and Sydney met up with Sofia at the inn. They laughed and did each others hair and makeup. Sofia admired the three of them standing in front of the mirror. Sofia wore a dark blue gown made of silk, the dress shop had amazing things. Her hair was lightly waved, with two sections in the front pinned back. Her mask was blue with white trim. Sara and Sydney wore forest green, Sara's dress was an a-line cut that reached the floor, while Sydney's reached her mid-thigh, it hugged her waist then spilled into ruffles. Sara's hair was waved away from her face, with one side pinned back, while Sydney had a loose braid that gave her hair a shorter look. Sara's mask was brown with green trim and Sydney's was the inverse.

The trio walked to Sofia's car and drove towards the building the masquerade was held in.

"You know, Brad's gonna be here tonight." Sara said.

"And?" Sofia asked.

"This is the perfect time for you to make up with him and you guys could even start dating!" Sara was practically bouncing in her seat.

"Look, I told you I don't like Brad." Sofia said simply.

"Sara, leave her alone." Sydney had a distant, sad look.

Sofia cocked an eyebrow at her in the mirror and Sara rolled her eyes.

They arrived at the ball, and the night began fine. Sofia talked and danced completely oblivious to what was about to happen.

About the middle of the evening, Sofia was approached by someone familiar. Brad held out his hand and Sofia tentatively took it and danced with him.

"I've missed talking to you." He said.

Sofia remembered the past months and how he'd done his best to avoid her.

He pulled a bit back and spun her around, then he pulled her back to him and caught her lips in a kiss.

Sofia stopped moving and tried to push him off. Before she knew what was happening Brad was on the ground, she looked up to see Anthony glaring down at him. It didn't take her long to put two and two together, especially with Brad's bleeding nose. Sofia paled as she realized everyone was staring at them, they were whispering. She stared wide eyed at Anthony, who just seemed to have realized what he had done, he met her wide eyed look.

Sofia didn't know what to do, she searched her head for a lie, something, anything that would leave both her and Anthony unscathed.

"Son!" An older man stepped out from the crowd and crouched near Brad. "What happened!"

Something clicked in Sofia's mind. "Your son kissed me forcefully. I tried to push him off, but he was too strong."

"I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, but that kind of behavior is not acceptable, especially at such a respected occasion." Anthony said. "Forgive me for defending this woman's integrity."

The mayor glared at them both, then at his passed out son. He helped him up, then exited with. "Please, enjoy your night everyone."

Sofia graciously thanked Anthony, then walked away with Sara and Sydney. The party eventually ended, but that was the least of the problems Sofia and Anthony would come to experience these months.