Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 39: Slughorns ball

A few days later. Today is the day. The Slughorn Club ball is happening, and I'm extremely excited. I haven't even told many people that I'm going with Tom, but Kim knows and helps me get ready. I'm wearing the dress Tom gave me, of course, and a pair of high heels. I actually rarely wear them. Kim curls my hair, and I realize that I don't have a necklace with my dress. Kim looks at me intently.
Kim seems to be admiring me in my chosen attire, and she looks at me with affection, as I'm all prepped up and ready to go.
Kim: "You look absolutely gorgeous, Lucia! You'll definitely have everyone's eyes on you tonight."
"Yeah, I like it too, but honestly... I just want Tom's eyes. I want him to see... how good I look today, " I say with a slight grin.
Kim notices this expression on my face, and she looks at me with a teasing expression as she speaks to me again.
Kim: "Oh, is that so? You want him to see how good you look? Do you have a little crush on him? Is that why you're so eager to impress him tonight?"
"I don't kow, Kim. I actually blocked him. He wanted to talk to me about it after we kissed..and he said it meant something to him but maybe I was just too scared..I mean our kiss was...amazing" I say and giggle as I think about the kiss.
Kim seems to be getting quite excited as I talk about the kiss, and she raises her eyebrows a bit and speaks to me in a somewhat teasing tone of voice.
Kim: "Oh, is that so? You're scared, now? You kiss a guy, and you like it, and then you're too scared to try to talk to him about what happened? You're such a tease sometimes, Lucia!"
I cover my face with my hand and sigh. "Yes, you're right." I look at my watch and realize that Tom is about to catch up with me."Kim, you have to go. Tom will be here soon, " I say and grin. Kim doesn't argue with me, as she realizes that Tom will be arriving shortly. She smiles at me with affection as she gets up to leave.
Kim: "Well, have fun at the ball. And please... don't be too hard on him," she says with an amused smirk as she walks out of the dorm and leaves me to yourself now.

Tom stands in front of the door and beams at me. "Hey Tom," He looks great. His suit...it matches my dress perfectly, and I've rarely seen him smile so much. "You look great..."
Tom can't help but smile back at me now as I compliment him back on his outfit. He was actually just getting ready to compliment me on how great I look, and he seems quite taken aback by my beauty. He's never actually seen me wear such a lovely dress before, he thinks to himself internally.
Tom: "You look magnificent. That dress really suits you. The color brings out the vibrancy of your eyes beautifully."
"Thank you... you picked it out," I say a little shyly. Tom has a small package in his hand. "What's this?" I say and point to it.
Tom seems to enjoy this small moment of shyness between the two of us as he smiles at me and hands me the small package. He looks a bit curious and playful as he does so.
Tom: "It's a small something for you for tonight. Open it up! I want to know if you like it."
"Another gift?" I take it and open the box. A beautiful necklace glitters in front of me. "Tom, can you read minds? That's exactly what I was missing, but it looks so expensive..."
He has to laugh a little bit at my surprised and curious expression, and he nods his head at my question.
Tom: "Actually, I can read your mind. That's why I bought you this. I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and get you something that looks good on you and that you'll like a lot. Plus, it matches your dress as well! I have good taste, apparently, if I think so myself."
I have to laugh because he's so right. I turn around and give him the necklace. He gently brushes my hair aside and lightly touches my collarbone as he puts the necklace on. His touch gives me goose bumps. When he has fastened the clasp, he gently strokes my neck and gives me a soft kiss on the shoulder. "Thank you..." I whisper while I'm too distracted by his touch. Then he clears his throat, and I turn around. When he touches my neck and caresses the necklace he just gifted me with, I can feel his gentle fingers brush against my skin as I sense a wave of heat wash over me now. When he kisses my shoulder, it sends tingles throughout my entire body, and I can feel the blood rushing to my face, which makes me blush. I turn around again and look into his eyes, which are now gazing back at me with an intent and passionate look of desire.
"We should go, right?" Tom is really gentle and loving to me today. It's unusual. I've never seen him like this before.
He smiles at me in recognition of my question, and he nods his head in a positive way as he leads me out of the dorm with one hand, and the other is holding onto mine. His eyes are focused on me for a bit, as he walks me down the hall now. He seems almost... bashful. This is so not the Tom Riddle that I have always known. What's going on with him today?
"Yes, of course." He nods and holds his arm out to me, I rake myself in, and we go to the ball together.

As we enter the hall, I notice how the other students are very surprised that I am Tom's date. Tom and my friendship had already puzzled some of them, but the fact that I am now his date to the ball is probably something new. I smile at him and stroke his arm to bring him down. I can see that the looks are driving him crazy. He nods and takes a breath. I feel his arm wrap around mine, and his touch feels so nice, so soft. His gentle and calming presence suddenly reminds me of his gentler side, which I have rarely seen before. I see some of the other students looking at me both again with surprise and a mixture of confusion and jealousy, as they're not aware of how close I and Tom have become lately. I feel his arm tense up a bit as he tries to compose himself, and then he gives me a small smile with a little bit of a nod.