This World That Divides Us

CHAPTER 43

"Knock, knock. Can I come in?" my dad asks from the other side of my bedroom door. I'm currently holding up a gold, shimmery knee-length dress that I wore to my aunt's bridal shower a few years back as I stare at my reflection in the standing mirror. My dad takes note of the pile of clothes on my floor and then asks, "How's it going in here?"

"I have nothing to wear to the party this weekend."

"What's wrong with the one you're holding?"

"Honestly, I don't think it's fancy enough. The invitation says black-tie."

"Do you have any other options?"

I reach for my phone on the nightstand and hand it to my dad. "I was going to order this gown, but I'd have to express-ship it, and that's an additional 30 dollars."

"$200 total? Anastasia, that's ridiculous."

"$200 is pennies to these people, dad."

"Honey," he sighs, "you don't have to compare what you do or don't have to anyone."

"It's hard not to," I say, shrugging my shoulders.

"I know," he pouts at me sympathetically. "But Jack likes you for you. Remember that."

"I know. I just can't help but feel like it'd be easier if our worlds weren't so divided."

"You know what they say...nothing worth having comes easy."

"Yeah," I smile as I release a breath.

Dad comes over to me and rubs my shoulder, lending me a smile. "Dinner's ready when you are."

***

The next few days pass by in a breeze, and before I know it, I'm getting ready for Mr. Carrington's birthday bash. I'm sitting at my vanity, curling my hair with the curling rod as Molly sits on my bed, flipping through a magazine.

"Are you going to let me do your makeup?" she asks me.

"Do I have a choice in the matter?"

She pops off my bed, and makes her way to me. "Hey, don't blame a girl for wanting her bestie to feel her best tonight. Plus," she says, going to turn around, "it'll be a FU to Jack's dad."

"I'm not trying to get on Peter Carrington's bad side. I'm already teetering."

"Yeah, well it's pathetic, if you ask me. The fact that he wants Jack to be with a girl like Jordana just goes to show how much he truly cares about his son's well-being."

"Tell me about it. It's just as heartbreaking as him not supporting Jack's dream to be a writer."

"Asswipe," Molly mumbles under her breath as she picks up the magazine and starts skimming it again.

My phone suddenly rings and Molly reaches for it on my nightstand. "Your dad's calling."

"Weird," I say, getting up, and making my way toward her. "He's downstairs."

I hold the phone up to my ear and answer, "Hey, dad. Everything okay?"

"Hi, sweetheart. Can you come into the living room for a second?"

"Okay," I skeptically say before hanging up and looking at Molly.

We head downstairs and meet my dad in the living room, where he's standing next to a big brown bag that's stuffed with tissue paper.

"I know how much tonight means to you," he begins, "and while I think that you're the most beautiful and amazing girl on this planet, I want you to feel and know that, too." He picks up the bag and reaches it out to me. "This is for you."

Molly watches on as I take it from my dad's grip and unravel the tissue paper. I remove the item from the bag, which happens to be the dress on my phone that I showed him the other day. It's a long, silk periwinkle gown that has a deep draped neckline.

"Holy shit. That's gorgeous," Molly remarks, holding her hand up to my dad. "Shit, sorry, Mr. M. I didn't mean to say shit," she says.

"It's okay, Molly," dad chuckles.

"Dad," I begin, my eyes teary, "I can't accept this. It's too much."

"It's not enough," he tells me otherwise.

"Dad..."

"You do so much for me, Stassie, and you don't even realize. I know moving here wasn't ideal for you, but you did it. For me. And now, I want to do this for you."

"I love you, dad," I smile. "Thank you."

"I love you, too. Now go finish getting ready so you can show these people what you're made of."

***

I keep silent the entire car ride over to the party simply because I'm a bundle of nerves.

"Stop biting your nails, Stassie," Molly says from the back seat of the car. "I spent an hour on that manicure."

"You're right," I say, immediately removing my fingers from my mouth. "Gosh, I'm just so nervous."

Dad covers my hand with his, but doesn't say anything, so I look over at where he's sitting in the driver's seat and see him smiling as his eyes stay fixed on the road.

We pull up to the Carrington residence a few minutes later, and one of the valet attendants comes to my side, opening the door for me.

"Good evening," he greets me, and I smile.

"Hi."

Molly rolls down the back window and then says, "You got this, Stassie. You always do."

"Thanks," I nervously state and then walk over to the passenger window to see my dad.

"Remember you're worth, Stassie. No one can take that from you," he tells me and I nod with a smile.

Remember my worth. No one can take that from me.

I slowly enter the Carrington residence, which is completely decked out. Everything about my surroundings screams glamor and elegance, and while I was second-guessing myself at first, I do feel good about being here. For Jack, but also for myself.

"Stas?" I hear a voice call out from behind, and I turn my body around to find Jack standing before me in a tailored tux; his hands dipped inside his front pockets.

His sandy brown hair is gelled back and I can see the sharp definition of his face perfectly. The way that his blue eyes stay on me tells me that I'm the only person he sees in this room full of people, and I get it because I see no one else, too.

He glides in my direction and every single nerve that I was feeling up until this point escapes my body. I've said it from the beginning – before I ever knew I loved him – Jack's presence makes me feel safe. He doesn't have to do anything in particular to make me feel that way; I just do.

He stops right in front of me so that only an inch of space separates us and then says something that will stay etched into my mind until the end of time.

"You're beautiful. Really. I must've done something incredible in my past life to know you in my present."