My Safe Haven

20: Why Did I Feel So Uneasy?

Dali's POV:

"Is Ace coming with to the party?" Rose asked as I played with Kayla and her dolls.

"I doubt it. He doesn't really like the host so I don't think he's going." I said.

"I guess I'll have to make him." she replied and I laughed. "Come on Kayla." she stretched out her hand and Kayla grabbed it. "If you need anything, feel free to ask okay?" she said in a sweet tone and I nodded with a smile plastered to my face.

"Thank you." I said. Kayla waved at me and I waved back before they both exited my room.

It was Ryder's party today and I really didn't want to go. I mean it was a high school party, it was basically pointless but I also did not want to disappoint Ryder so I made up my mind to go. Maybe it was going turn out interesting after all.

Well apart from the party, Ace and I had been somewhat distant after I was discharged from the hospital and I was sincerely confused about it.

I snapped out of my thoughts and freshened up quickly before looking in my closet for the right clothes. I had no clue of how parties like these were and all the clothes Rose had gotten for me were boyish and baggy which was exactly how I liked it. But at that point, I needed something party-ish and not exposive at the same time.

I sighed with exasperation and sat on my bed, running a hand through my hair. Maybe I shouldn't go?, I thought but my thoughs were disrupted by a small knock on the door, making me snap my head to the direction of the door.

"Come in!" I said and the door was gently swung open, revealing Prescilla, one of the housekeepers. "Hey." I smiled.

She came in and closed the door, holding a wrapped up cloth in her hands.

"Rose asked me to give this to you." She said and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, collecting the dress. I waved it in the air and noticed it was a red tight dress that looked smaller than I was.

"I can't wear this," I said. "Don't you think it's kind of...open?" I sounded crazy but I was insecure about my body, the scars that marked me. That was the main reason why I had preferred baggy clothes to tight and exposive ones.

"I think it would look pretty on you Dali." she smiled and I could tell sincerity in her tone.

"Thanks." I smiled and she nodded her head.

"If you need help with anything, I'm just a call away." she returned the smile and I nodded my head at her before she left the room.

I placed the dress over me and stared at my reflection. It was stretchy, bright and it looked expensive. I think I actually looked pretty in that dress. I slipped it in slowly and reached behind me for the zipper but it was stuck so I guess my hair was in it. I tried again but to no avail.

Groaning frustratedly, I made up my mind to call Prescilla.

"P-"

I froze and felt tingles as a pair of hands grabbed my waist gently, pulling me into the warmth of the owner.

I inhaled a familiar scent and immediately felt a hand push my hair to the side slowly and I shivered at the contact. Looking up into the mirror, I saw a figure taller than me and it was Ace. He stared into the mirror too as he pulled the zipper of the dress, allowing it to be more tightened on me.

Ace was still behind me and he looked emotionless as he kept staring into the mirror and it looked like he was staring at me instead.

I then felt his touch grazing the side of my neck where I knew there was a birth mark. It was a weird birthmark since it had looked exactly like a tiny star. His brows furrowed in confusion as he stared at it, almost like he had seen it before and recognised it. 

"T-Thanks." I muttered and the sound of my voice made him shake his head slowly, taking his eyes off.

"You're welcome." his voice came out low as he tried not to look at me. "I came to get something and your door was open." he said in his deep, attractive voice as he turned away from me.

Nodding my head, I turned around, seeing as he took one of Kayla's dolls that was on my bed. He waved it at me as if showing the reason why he really came and I nodded with a small smile. He turned around to leave but suddenly paused, surprising me as he did.

He turned around and looked at me. His beautiful eyes were fixated to something on me and I wondered what it was. He took slow glides towards me, his gaze still focused on me.

"Is there something on my-" I paused and touched my face and he shook his head.

He was finally close to me and he slid one of his hands to my face so it was cupping half of it.

"Why does it feel like you are her?" he had an emotion in his eyes as his thumb caressed my cheek gently as though wondering if I was real. "Like she's right in front of me?"

Butterflies swarmed in my belly as I finally comprehended the look in his eyes. It was one of love. Yes, it may have sounded crazy but Ace was staring at me with love in his eyes.

I immediately brushed off the fantasy of him actually falling in love with me. The love present in his eyes at that moment was not for me but for someone else and I was fully aware of that.

"Ace you must be hallucinating." I laughed and it sounded off as a nervous laugh, portraying what I felt as that moment.

I wasn't Sage somehow right?

He shook his head as if clearing his thoughts before pulling away from me.

"Yeah y-you're right, I must be hallucinating." he closed his eyes and ran a hand through his soft, lustrous hair. "I saw the same birthmark she had on you and I thought-" he left his statement unfinished with a small humorless chuckle.

"I understand." I chuckled too.

He smiled and I knew it was one of sadness and disappointment. The disappointment of knowing Sage was actually gone forever.

"We're waiting downstairs."

"Oh okay."

That means he's coming with. 

"Yeah."

He took one last glance at me before turning around and leaving. I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding whilst closing my eyes.

Why did I feel so uneasy?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________