The Jilly Files

Dance with me

Everyone say, "Thank you @Magicaltwilight564 !" What? You want to know why you should say thank you? Well, silly, you should say thank you because this one shot wouldn't exist without her! So thank you, Magicaltwilight564, for giving me the suggestion to write a dance one shot like I once did, but different. I have you to thank for this! I hope you love it! 

It's Jax's birthday.

You would think this would be a good thing, and don't get me wrong, it is. But it also means something else, something that's not so great. It means I'm stuck at a ball.

When Jax first brought it up, I had looked at him in confusion.

"A ball?" I had said. "Why? I thought you didn't want to have a ball for your birthday."

Jax had sighed heavily, and explained to me that he didn't have a choice. There had been so many years where he couldn't have a ball for his birthday, like the years he was at his royal boarding school and FTRS. While he considered it a blessing, his mother considered it a curse. She was determined, Jax said, to host a ball each year for his birthday in order to make up for all that lost time. And by time, of course she didn't mean time with her son. She meant time where she could show him off and use him as a resource with the other royals. Jax never talked about how his parents used him, but after a while, I kind of figured it out on my own. I want to believe they love him, in their own way, but I can't deny that they treat him less like their child and more like an asset. He's just a kid until he's needed.

Anyways, that's how I find myself here. Standing by a table full of delectable food, but in a place I never would've dreamed of stepping in. I've been here before, but it's just as shocking to be here now as it was the first time. I just don't know how to act here. It's all so beautiful, but that shouldn't surprise me. It's the Royal Manor, after all. The theme of the night is white and blue, and so everything is in that color scheme. Except for the things the royals can't change though, like the golden crystal chandelier, which makes me think about how Jax and I first met. I smile to myself, recalling the memory, but my thoughts are interrupted by an all too familiar voice.

"Anyways, I think I have to go, guys," Jax says. "The first dance is starting, and I have to dance with one of the princesses. Her name's..."

Jax hesitates, for a split second. He clearly doesn't remember her name. But she appears, without needing to be called. As if she's been waiting the entire time for this.

"Annalise," she says. "Princess Annalise."

Jax whips his head around, startled by the sudden voice. There she stands, Annalise. She's pretty, in a delicate way. Her wispy white blond hair frames her doll-like face and her pale blue eyes are fixed on Jax. Then she smiles. Not a sweet smile, but a sharp one. Like she's a cat and Jax is her prey, like she's been waiting for this all evening.

"Prince Jax," she says, putting out her hand. "Shall we dance?"

Jax smiles, but it's not a true smile. It's the smile he puts on for show. Ever the charming prince, he slips into his role of a royal easily. "We shall. I'll see you later, guys," he says, offering Annalise his arm. She takes it and smiles, her eyes going to the prince next to me, Heath's friend. Something indecipherable flashes in her eyes, but then her eyes land on me. I don't know how I look, but I know I must not look happy. I don't like this girl at all. She unsettles me. It must show on my face because she smiles even wider, but her eyes are as cold as the ice in my glass. I look away as they move to the dance floor.

And just like that, I'm left alone. Well, not really alone. Prince Heath came by a short while ago, and he brought his friend, Raymond, the prince Annalise had looked strangely at, with him. Heath left, but Raymond is still here, lurking by my side. He's so quiet that I forget he's there, until he finally breaks his silence.