WE SHOULD STOP NOW

PART 32 - THE NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL (PT2)

JOANIE

Deep breath, you can do this Joanie. Just breathe.

Standing in front of the washroom's large antique mirror, I lean forward pretending to check my make-up for the hundredth time, but really I'm here to hide. To have a few moments of peace before I go back to my date.

I don't know what I'm doing here. I don't know why I thought this would be a good idea.

Carter is everything any girl could wish for. Kind, funny, thoughtful and as sexy as hell...but he's just not Caleb. My heart just won't flutter for him, probably because it's shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces.

Since Caleb left, I've barely left my apartment, I've just been sitting curled up in Caleb's hoodie crying, rewatching our old home videos and looking at pictures of us on my phone. Sammy has been over walking Bruce for me twice a day, I can tell that Caleb's asked him to keep tabs on me and I don't even bother trying to hide what a mess I am. Sammy's family anyways, I don't need to pretend around him.

However, today I've not been allowed to wallow in my heartbreak. Today Phoebe has forced me to get up and washed and even helped me do my hair and make up. It hasn't helped that this year's New Year's Eve Ball is hosted by The Maverick family and Jean has gone all out by hiring out the gothic looking grand town hall. It's a high society, black tie and ball gown type of affair that everyone in our local area has been desperate to bag a ticket for...I on the other hand was so unprepared for tonight that I didn't even go out shopping for a dress. So when it came to picking one out of my wardrobe earlier, there was only really one choice.

Smoothing down my long green silky dress once more, I turn to leave when my sister enters the wash room and I give out a sigh in relief to see her. To be honest, I wasn't sure if she would come tonight after Samuel texted her earlier saying he'd meet her at the New Years Eve Ball instead of bringing her. Her husbands a fucking idiot to bail on accompanying here, she looks totally jaw dropping in her long tight black dress.

"He's still not here?" I apprehensively ask.

Phoebe slams her silver clutch purse down on the counter and crosses her arms. "He's in so much shit. Things were going so well between us, then he pulls this shit on me again. What on earth could be so important at this time of a night on New Year's Eve for him not being here with me? He promised me J." She rants and I can't help but nod and agree.

"What exactly did the message say?"

"That he loves me, to meet him in the foyer at Eleven fifteen and that he'll explain everything when he gets here. Begging me not to leave until he arrives." Phoebe sighs, shaking her head with disappointment.

"What are you going to do?"

"This is his final chance, I swear to god. If he stands me up I'll find another man to kiss me at midnight and see how he likes that." Phoebe fumes.

I give my sister a sad smile. I know she'd never do that, she's just upset. I've never even seen Phoebe as much as look at a different man, her heart well and truly belongs to Samuel even when he does screw things up.

"The only person who's kissing the wrong guy tonight is me." I mutter as I pick up my purse. Reminding me that Carter is waiting for me at the bar, I've hidden from him long enough.

"Shit, I'm sorry J. You OK? You look amazing by the way, you fix up good!" Phoebe smiles.

"I think I need a drink. A large one to get through this." I say honestly, making Phoebe laugh.

"Well then, let's get to the bar then shall we!" Phoebe smiles tugging on my arm and leading me out to the ballroom.

Arm in arm with my sister, we push the huge wooden double doors open and straight away we're hit by the loud jazz music from the live band. The room is bathed in candlelight and the twinkling lights from the grand chandeliers hanging overhead. There are massive floral arrangements of white flowers and silver gems on every table. Everything here is decorated in silver or black. Jean really has spared no expense.