Last Year of Seventeen

Chapter 21 - Say Yes

The hallways were buzzing with excited conversations. It wasn't really unusual during the early hours of a school day but the electric vibrancy that seems to inhabit most everyone today is palpable; it pricks my skin and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand. The often cold halls feel warm because of all the giddy laughters and pitchy shrieks of lovestruck girls every once in a while. It wouldn't take long for one to figure out that the date of the Chevaliers de la Roine Ball has been announced.

It is the biggest annual event of the Academy where all students can dress in gowns and tuxedos and play-pretend to be Princesses and Princes as if they don't already do that everyday. It's a night where they can showcase their wealth by hiring the biggest names in the fashion industry to style them and arrive in limos or choppers or private planes. There was a year where a Sophomore Student arrived in a glass carriage in the shape of Cinderella's pumpkin– it was Dove– that sophomore student was Dove. While Raven arrived also in a carriage but hers was open and in gold pulled by seven white horses. It was the year that the twins fought before the event and decided to outbest each other. Neither won, because the crown for the Star of the Night was given to Gwen who came in carried by twenty-something men in a golden embezzled chariot, with a trail so long it covered most of the staircase. It was the time I found out that dresses can actually be that long and shimmery as if she was actually a comet blazing a dark night.

It's ridiculous, really. Well, I think it's ridiculous now. After meeting August, I have found that the overly display of wealth and luxuries felt wrong and painfully privileged of us. I realized that I was happier in the simplest of things. Like the morning donut that she would sometimes give me from The Old Scroll or the pen she lent me one time because I forgot mine. Or the paper origami she left on my desk as a thank-you for helping her in the library or that little Peter Pan keychain I still kept dangling on my car key. I smiled as I walked past couples asking each other as dates and I knew who I'd want on my arm for that ridiculous ball to make it bearable.

"I'm not going." August said. Her eyes show no emotions as she diligently file the returned books on the library counter. It was one of those days where she looks exactly how she does the first time I tried to ask her on a date. Cold and threatening.

I expected this actually, realizing that I have never seen her in all of the previous balls. But I was determined to have her as my date. "You would love the theme though," I started. Still, there was no reaction. I watched her as she expertly logged the books and placed it on the cart by the section it should be placed on.

"It's The Night of the Holy Grail." August halted in the middle of turning over an old copy of Don Quixote. I knew that would get her attention. In the weeks I've known August, there is nothing she loves more than everything classic and medieval. She quickly flickered her eyes on me before returning to her work.

She sighs deep, her eyebrows shooting up yet her gaze remains on the computer screen. "Even if I wanted to. I can't." She finally said. August stood and I knew it was time to push the cart and return the books to their respective shelves. I took the handle to push it for her, an action she anticipated and she walked in front so she could pull the cart on the other side.

"It costs too much." She explained. I was about to say I'll pay for everything but she knew that and spoke again before I could even exhale a breath. "And I won't accept it if you pay for everything."

"Come on–" I urged. "It's your last year in highschool. You can't graduate without even attending just one ball."

August turned so suddenly that I accidentally hit her with the cart that I was mindlessly pushing. Fortunately we were walking so slowly that the impact didn't budge her that much.

"Henry–" I've come to realize that whenever she uses my first name, it is when she's about to say something serious. "The ball's being held in Chatsworth House in London. There is no way I could afford it and even less chance I would let you pay for me."

I haven't considered the location if I was being honest. Because it never was a problem for me. I've still got a long way before I can finally deconstruct my brain from all the privilege. But I didn't want to lose this request. I've bent for most of August's whims. I was focused on winning this one.

"If you agree to come with me," I stood taller and held her gaze. I didn't want this to be our last date, but it's the only card I can play. "Then it will be considered as our fifth and final fake date."

I can see her considering it, but she quickly reorganizes her thoughts. Before she could shake her head, I said what I knew would make her say yes, "And wouldn't it be so much more convincing if that's also the place you fake-fall in love with me? In the house where Elizabeth Bennet realized her feelings for Mr. Darcy."

The glimmer in her eyes when I mentioned her favorite classical love story told me I've gotten into her. How I wished I could have taken a photo of that.

I still wasn't able to get a final answer but August said she'd think about it and that was more than I can hope for. I might not be able to read her entirely but the way her radiance glowed gave me hope.

That night, I received a call from August. It was the first time she rang me and in my panic, my phone slipped from my hand which made me almost drop it.

"Hello?" I said breathlessly. My heart was pounding so hard that I could feel my ears deafening. I was scared that I won't properly hear what August was about to say.

There was a long silence before I heard August sighed, "You're lucky Hughes, you won't have to pay for me for the ball–"

The anticipation was killing me. Did she suddenly chance upon some money? Did Gwen offer to pay for her? Did her parents decide to finally reward all her hard work? I wanted to ask but my tongue was in as many knots as my stomach so I remained silent and waited for her to finish.

"The Head of the Academy just called me and said that they wanted to award me with the invitation to the ball, all expenses paid for all the pride I've given them in my four years as a student."

She laughed heartily and I tried to imagine how she looked from the other line, "I told them it's about time I get more than the acknowledgement they give me."

"So–" Words still failed me as the excitement spread from my head to my toes.

"I guess I'll be your date Hughes."