Hollow Grounds

Won't you say hello?

' Jasper,' he was back. No it wasn't possible right? But she'd recognize him anywhere. He had built some muscles and was definitely taller than when he left six years ago. He was looking a bit different but it was him. It was Jasper! How come she didn't know? Had he just arrived? But why wasn't she informed?
Jasper was her soulmate if you ask her. Her childhood lover. ' has he come to ask for my hand in marriage?' she couldn't help but wonder. It was possible right? He chose  the perfect timing when all suitors would be  lining up. He was definitely looking for his bride. Honestly, she had eyes for only one young man, Jasper Quinn, the second prince of  the kingdom of Lyra. Many others would call him the king's bastard. He was conceived out of wedlock and his mother abandoned him. At least that was what rumors said. Others agreed that though, he was an illegitimate child, he was the king's favorite.
   All that didn't matter to her , to Luna , he was just that innocent boy she had feelings for. And here she was , staring up at him.
(song recommended for their staring contest.. for you by  EXO)
- - -

" Luna!!" before she realized, she was been escorted to the ladies chambers . She wasn't supposed to be out there , among the crowd. " I knew I should have left with you." Helen , her mother mumbled. " look where George brought you." she sighed worriedly . " what if an evil eye spotted you? hmm?" She rummaged in her bag and brought out a pearl necklace " this here my child , was given me by your grandmother ." she said as she proudly fixed it around her neck. "You look so elegant in your white dress and satin gloves. The pearls match perfectly. I could even cry . I wore this during my debutante ball and the next day i had suitors lining up for me."
   " There she goes , rumbling on and on about how she met the perfect husband ."
She joined the group of elegant and classy girls like herself . Everyone was putting up their best behavior. They had to impress their families by having a respectable and wealthy suitor.
She took a seat in hope to pass time until they were called .
  ***
" who was that girl you were eyeing earlier?" 
Andre , his courtier questioned while handing him a glass of red wine . ' just how i like it' he smiled .
" you don't recall her?" Jasper asked surprised. Andre was confused for a second. " She's Luna, we used to go down the lake with her."
Andre choked on his water. He couldn't be seen drinking in public . " oh she cleans up well. I almost didn't recognize her. Are you going to approach her ? She doesn't know you returned? Is that why you came back? Do you-."
   " You ask so many questions Andre." he cut him off. " my glass is empty" he signaled him away .  Jasper slowly leaned on the rail and watched her receding steps.
" how have you been?" he mumbled to himself or more or less to the girl he was trying to avoid. He had been back for a week and made no effort to look for her.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for had arrived. The King and his queen's presence was announced and the ceremony began. "Ladies and gentlemen," the host began, "it is an honour to be your host again for this 58th annual Lyraen debutante ball. It's my 18th ball and every single one of them has been special and tonight is no exception. I'd like to congratulate our Ball Committee that has done another splendid job. And I'd particularly like to congratulate our debutantes and their partners without whom there would be nothing to celebrate tonight. You are a credit to your parents, your families and your communities - - - "
The debutantes line up and show pleasantries to the queen. Afterwards, the queen selects the 'diamond of the first water' ( the finest and most elegant bachelorette) and then possible suitors line up to have her first dance( this is an opening dance by the season's diamond).
Who will be the chosen one? This season's selection was special since the crown prince was getting ready to chose a wife. The ladies were at their bests. It seemed every bachelorette had their eyes eyeing the crown prince and ways to woo him . Meanwhile the young miss Luna had her eyes for only one person and didn't realize her name was mentioned a second time. She mumbled some words to herself and stride towards the queen. " stop!" luna halted in her steps. Was she not walking right? Was her posture terrible? Is it because she was not on cue ? All these thoughts run through her head as she stood halfway across the queen's seat waiting for what was coming next.