enchanted

enchanted Part 1

My car pulled up in front of the Brett Mansion. I wiped away the remnants of the last tear on my face, delicately - I didn't come this far to ruin my eyeliner now. I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror - to my surprise, I looked especially radiant tonight after that silly little breakdown; My cheeks were flushed, the tip of my nose slightly red, and my eyes bright. I smoothed the stray bits of black hair down, a tuck here and there... and it was perfect. No one would ever know.

Except for my poor chauffeur. The man had seen me ugly cry for about a year now. And like a true champ, he never mentioned it.

He opened my door, and a warm breeze wafted over me, smelling faintly of baked goods, flowers and human sweat. "Thank you Jeffrey," I said. "I'll see you at midnight."

"Have a good night, ma'am."

I turned around to face a lit up mansion, with fashionable men and women walking up the stairs. Momentarily taken aback by the splendor of the people there, I drank in my surroundings - A woman with shiny beads braided into her hair, in a yellow ball gown, arm in arm with a guy in a black suit. Another lady in an intricate lace gown, with a guy in black suit. So many guys in black -

The loud screech of a car braking jolted me from my reverie. A deafening horn resounded the next second.

"Lady, are you mad?" The driver of the car shouted, leaning out of his window. "Move over!"

I stumbled out of the way. My mouth opened, but no words came out. Probably cause I'd start crying again if I said anything.

The passenger door opened, and a man in a sheer black suit walked out. He was of medium height and build, and had messy black hair...The shimmer of his outfit was mesmerizing. Coupled with the shock I just had, I felt like I might faint.

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry about that," he said hurriedly, turning to me, and then to his chauffeur. "Man, was that necessary?"

"Oh no, it really was my fault," I managed to say. "I'm so sorry," I said, looking at the blond man driving the sedan. I gave the Shimmer man an apologetic glance and began walking up the stairs, before giving anyone a chance to say anything.

It was very easy to get lost in the crowd. I felt like a baby distracted with fancy toys with all the stimulation around me - beautiful people, shiny jewels, ornate architecture, children running around, people taller than me, people shorter than me, my own gown trying to trip me... and voila, I finally made it to the top, and I looked over the crowd behind. Shimmer man was impossible to miss - he was attracting a lot of attention, eliciting 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the crowd.

Ah, at least it'd be easy to avoid the guy - I'd see him coming from a mile away.

"Nina, I'm so glad to see you here!" A woman's shrill voice I immediately recognized as Nancy Brett's, addressed me.

I turned to face Nancy - brown hair in a french knot, and her own black gown simple; The smile on her face was unwavering, like it had been stitched on. "Hello Nancy," I said, going in for a hug. She smelled of a heavy musk scent, not unpleasant. I wondered if I'd worn my perfume. Hope I wasn't smelling like Snot Deluxe. "You look fabulous tonight," I said, leaning back to look.

"Ooh, thank you," she said, foxily. "I think your choice of fuschia pink with your wild black hair is so bold!"

"Thank you, Nancy."

I didn't even take it personally at this point. The woman was just incapable of giving a compliment that wasn't back-handed.

"It is such a shame your parents couldn't make it," she said. "Where are they now... Alanis?"