Connections

Chapter 6: Persuasion

School flew by later that day, the only thing of real interest happening being the twenty or so times I walked by people who were whispering, only for them to quickly stop when I walked by. It wasn't until after school when I saw Ric that I asked him what was going on. He spoke slowly, trying not to break out in laughter as he told me it was because the latest gossip was how loner Bones Moon was taking freak Sly Dubatch to the end of the year formal. The boneheads.

I had managed to leave for school that morning, after being woken up by a careful Melanie (I think she was still freaked out over our conversation the day before), late enough that Ruler had already gone to work in his office, and early enough that I only arrived two minutes late to class. Unfortunately that meant that enough time had passed for Ruler to hear about Bones taking me to the dance from some of the people that work for him. So, as soon as I stepped over the threshold to the Center, it was like walking into another world. The foyer was covered with many dresses ranging from black to white, plain to intricate, frilly to fluffy. I had just stepped into hell. It was the only probable explanation as I looked around me in horror and Ric's eyebrows rose considerably. Funny, since I don't remember dying. Then I looked over and saw Ruler smiling with an I-know-something-you-don't-know expression on his face and I knew I hadn't just walked into hell. I'd walked into hell on earth.

"Pegasisyly, darling!" Ruler said as soon as he saw me, stepping forward to hug me. "I hear you've finally come out in the open about your relationship with Bones!" he said happily as if I'd just told him I had gotten a high paying job and was getting married with a nice boy, before quiting my job when the time came and taking over for him as the ruler of the Aftermath.

Now, just like with the shopping fiasco, I guess this could technically be my fault. I should have thought less about how much I wanted to get back to sleep, and more about how Ruler would see it when I agreed to go to the dance with Bones. But I'm not good with technicalities and as soon as Ruler said that, I glared. "There was never a relationship, Dad. His mom just wants him to go and he couldn't go alone, so he asked me. It doesn't mean anything, we're not even friends."

"Oh, pish, posh!" Ruler said, waving away me protests. "Don't think I don't know what you two have been up to!" I didn't think he didn't know what we'd been up to. I knew he didn't have any idea about what we'd been up to. Otherwise, he wouldn't't be half as happy about it. "Now, Pegasisyly, I have set up a number of dress selections! My little girl has to look her best on her first date, now doesn't she? Have you thought at all about what kind of dress you were hoping to wear?" Shoot. Me. Now.

"Um, actually, Dad, I was just going to go in that black dress you got me for my birthday last year." I replied. Actually, I had been planning on just going in jeans, but it had became apparent that that kind of answer would have gotten me locked up in some insane asylum.

"Oh, no, no, no!" Ruler said, absolutely horrified. "That dress if far too plain and unworthy of such a grand occasion! Come, let the dress makers help you with your selection." And then I was descended upon by three women with tape measures hanging around their necks, and pins held by their lips. It was scarier than the time Ruler took me to the zoo and a bunny hopped on me. Did I mention I was terrified of bunnies? Because then you'd get the idea that this was a horrifying situation I had found myself in.

Three hours later, it was decided, with no input from me whatsoever, that I was to wear a knee length black, strapless dress with a fitted bodice and frilly skirt, outlined with sequins. As far as dresses go, it wasn't the worst one I'd seen (pink with more frilly flowers than I could count) but the fact remained that it was a dress. And with a dress comes unwalkable footwear, which is how I spent another two hours until it was decided that I would wear black strappy heels with rhinestones accenting it. Now, the design itself wasn't horrible, but the height was. Three. Inches. If I didn't fall on my face, the embarrassment of wearing them in front of Bones might be just enough to kill me.