Love in Ireland

/10/

-Sunday July 30th-

After Tara left on the twelfth, the days passed by fast. The day she left, I slowly started to work my way through all the clothes for the ball. I was not going to try to do it in four days again. Usually birthday balls are much fancier than anniversaries, especially if it's a super important birthday like Alannah's twenty-first birthday in February. However, Mrs. Finnegan doesn't really like to make a huge deal out of her birthday, a ball is just held because it's tradition to hold a ball for each member of the royal family's birthday. So since Mrs. Finnegan's ball is more toned down, the dresses aren't as fancy as they could be. Yesterday I started on my ballgown. I got up early today so I could take my time and be able to take breaks. So right now I'm sitting on my floor in a white tank top and cheetah print athletic shorts, hemming one of the layers of my dress.

"MILENA!" Alannah yelled, storming into my studio. I can't tell if it's hair I'm pissed yell or just her yell. It's 100% not her excited yell, I know that much.

"Yeah?" Alannah walks towards me and I can see her face. She looks mad, but she also looks happy. How is that even possible? Declan quickly followed behind her. He had his hands nervously shoved into the pockets of his dark grey dress pants.

"Declan just said that you have to go as his plus one. But you're always my plus one!"

"Wait what?" I asked, confused. "I still thought I was going with you?"

"Well..." Declan sighed. "Because technically you're my 'girlfriend', it's expected that you go with me and also it'll be our first like introduction as boyfriend and girlfriend since it's not like we were really announced at the garden party, and some of the press and tabloids still aren't sure if we're actually dating even though we've been spotted multiple times."

"Oh." I breathed. "That makes sense."

"But you always go with me! It's our thing!" Alannah complained.

"Why don't you take Zach as your plus one?" I suggested. "He probably thinks Declan is taking me because he thinks we're actually dating."

"But-"

"Alannah, come on, we're still friends with Zach. And it's not like we won't still be hanging out together at the ball. So until this thing is all over, I'll be Declan's plus one and Zach will be yours. Then when we break up around what? March, I'll go back to being your plus one."

"Fine." she huffed, plopping down on the couch. I shook my head and smiled at how she was trying to be dramatic.

"Oh, by the way, Declan, your stuff is over there." I said, pointing to the table where his suit and tie were.

"Thanks." He smiled, taking the stack of clothes. "How's your dress coming?"

"Good. Now let me work."

"Yes, ma'am." He said and then turned around and left the studio.

I worked for a few hours until it was time for lunch. I got up and stretched my legs since I was sitting cutting tulle for what felt like hours. Alannah and I walked down to the dining room and sat down in our normal seats. Today for lunch was salmon, salad, and then there was also bread and fruit. Obviously, I went for the strawberries.

"What are you guys doing after lunch?" I asked, grabbing a piece of bread.

"No idea." Zach shrugged. "We've been playing video games almost all morning. And Owen's been beating us at Mario Kart."

"Not my fault, you two suck." Owen shrugged.

"We do not suck!" Zach protested.

"Dude Owen and I finished before you even made a full lap." Declan laughed.