A Spring Times Kiss: An Imperial Love Prequel

Chapter Three

Jamie never imagined himself to ever attend a fancy ball, especially with Mabel and her family. He didn't know what to wear, how to act, or who to talk to in those kinds of situations. He never imagined himself to be with a woman going to one of these things especially.

He was lucky to find a suit for the ball that Mabel's father loaned for him to wear. It was a black jacket, and a black tie, which suited him perfectly. He thought he looked handsome for himself, but he didn't want to be too vague about it. He smiled looking at himself in the mirror. He didn't even recognize himself. He was used to wearing regular clothes or his military uniform constantly.

Mabel came in as he was getting dressed, which didn't take him by surprise. Jamie was fully clothed, and Mabel wrapped her arms around him. He saw her dress, it was a beautiful silk, dark, black dress, which suited her dark hair and dark eyes. Jamie thought she looked nice, but that was all he felt in that moment about her. She was different than most of the girls that he had seen, she was more aggressive, cold, and brash than most of the girls he had been with. She was also completely different from Ciera. Who he missed entirely. Mabel started to kiss him on the lips, and he kissed her back for a few seconds. Jamie let go of her for a few minutes, and he looked at her for a few minutes.

"Is this going too fast?" Mabel asked, "I know you weren't yourself lately, and I'm just wondering if this is all too much for you."

"No." Jamie answered trying to be honest, "I need to clear my head more than anything,"

Mabel looked at him for a minute and double-checked to make sure that he was alright. Especially when things like this weren't really Jamie's scene. But Jamie wanted to step out of his comfort zone. Jamie looked around and sighed, wondering if he was going to fit in with everyone else. Wondered if he was going to find himself in the City.

"I just want to get all of this over with." Jamie said to Mabel, "I want to go... and just talk to people like a rich man does."

Mabel rolled her eyes at his comment. She felt as if he was stereotyping rich men a little too much. She knew he always had something smart to say, but sometimes it was growing to be too far.

"Will you try and behave?" Mabel asked.

"Alright," Jamie answered her, hoping that he could contain his behavior. But she wasn't sure how he was going to act.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but I really hope that you can contain yourself," Mabel argued

Jamie looked at her and rolled his eyes and walked outside of the house, with Mabel following him. Hoping things would go well between them. Mabel went outside and Jamie turned around and took his hand. And the two of them walked for a few minutes, exploring what the city was like, and just enjoying the city, which was something Jamie wanted to do.  It felt like the war didn't exist around New York from what he saw, and that was something that helped him move passed the war. And made him not want to leave.

As they finally got to the home that hosted the party, Jamie was amazed by how big the house was. He never expected anyone to live in something like that, especially with being in the city, he expected a smaller home. 

 But he was intrigued by everything. He looked around and saw everyone drinking and talking, thinking that he was going to fit in with everyone entirely. But seeing everyone, and then looking over at Mabel. He didn't see why he wouldn't have an issue with talking to everyone. 

He walked in with Mabel, not realizing that the rest of Mabel's family was already there, he didn't realize it until he saw Ethel talking with Mabel's parents. Which got Mabel wanting to move the other way to stay away from her family, who she openly despised. Especially her father and mother. Mabel pulled him to the corner and Mabel gasped and then started to laugh for a little bit.