Love in Ireland

/23/

-Saturday November 25th-

I stared at myself in the mirror. The Queen's Ball is a huge deal. I went last year with Alannah but it's different when you're supposed to be "dating" the crown prince. I have been worried about my appearance all day. Which was never something I really worried about. Alannah told me to blame the media and stuffy people, which made me laugh. I looked down at my left forearm where my tattoo was. Most of the time, I forgot it was there. Very few tended to comment on it, and I was only aware of it when I traced the letters as a stress reliever or when Declan sometimes traces the letters.

"Milena!" Alannah called.

"In the bathroom!" I yelled back.

"Are you ready? What's wrong?" Alannah asked, walking up to me.

"Nervous." I shrugged.

"You'll be there with me, Declan, and Zach. Just like all the other balls. Yes, The Queen's Ball is one of our biggest events and in the eyes of the people you're technically dating Declan. But just pretend none of it matters. And if you're worrying about how you look, stop. You look stunning in that dress," Alannah said and turned me toward the mirror. "See."

She was right. I did look pretty in my dress. My dress was a light teal color, which complimented my fair skin, freckles, and fiery red hair. The dress was strapless and had a sweetheart neckline and a lace up back which made the bodice fit my curves perfectly. It also had a bunch of white and silver floral details which covered almost the whole bodice and faded down onto the skirt. The skirt was a typical ballgown style and was made out of many layers of tulle. My hair was curled in elegant curls and half of it was pinned up in the back with a simple silver hair pin. A few of the smaller front pieces were left out and curled to frame my face. I had on silver stud earrings, a delicate silver necklace Alannah let me borrow, and, of course, my black circle glasses.

"Thanks Alannah. You look stunning, too." I grinned. Alannah's dress was white with a printed green and pink pattern. The top was strapless and the top of the bodice had an accordion ruffle. Below the ruffle was a large waistband that separated the bodice and skirt of the ballgown. The skirt fell in large, elegant ruffles to the floor. Alannah had her blonde hair in a fishtail braided bun with a few pieces left out to frame her face. She wore her white royal sash with pins and medals over top of her ballgown.

"Thanks. Now let's go," Alannah said, walking out of the bathroom and I followed behind her.

"Have you thought about what I said the weekend of Bridget's party?" Alannah asked as we walked. She was being illusive, but she knew I knew what she was talking about.

"Um..."

"Milena, if you decided to try to shove down your feelings, please stop. Seriously, if you took the time to figure out what your feelings are instead of just dismissing them, what is the worst that could happen?" She argued.

"A lot." I mumbled.

"I know you think that it's the best thing to do because you believe feelings ruin everything. But sometimes they don't." Alannah replied, giving me a stern look.

"Are you just trying to meddle because you have no crush or anything right now?"

"Yes. No. Maybe. I'm doing it because I know you and you need help." Alannah answered.

"Okay, but shoving my feelings down is the right and only thing to do. What if I decide to figure out my feelings and they end up being something more? Like I said, this was only ever going to be temporary. Once March comes around, he's going to find someone else. "

"But if you take the time to figure out your feelings, you can figure out if you like him as more than a friend or just a friend. If it turns out you like him as just a friend and that's all you'll be, then fine. But if you realize you like him as more than a friend you have till March to see if he feels the same way or hope he catches feelings too. But if you just keep shoving down your feelings, you'll be even more confused when March rolls around and this ends and you'll regret not taking the time to figure things out," Alannah retorted. "If you're worried about ruining your friendship, I don't think that's possible. You've been hanging out with him for about as long as you've been hanging out with me. Over the last two years, we've become this giant friend group and we love each other even if we complain that the boys are sometimes annoying. And if things get awkward, you'll always have me and Zach to make it not awkward."