A Daisy's Prerogative

Chapter 1

Friday - Summer Holiday (Southern Hemisphere)

Daisy frowned furiously, tugging on her rented glittering silver dress.

The frilly skirt attached to the gem-studded bodice bellowed like a tent around her, barely skimming her knees. She fiddled with the straps of the oversized bodice, thankful that it had miraculously remained in position.

Regardless of being pressed up against the whitewashed wall behind the drinks table and enshrouded in the shadows of the blue and gold curtain drapes, she felt like an overexposed frumpy disco ball.

No relief could be found from the overcrowded community hall. The whole town must have pitched for the yearly event. People were chatting and dancing to the local band jamming on the makeshift stage in one corner. The ear-deafening music and the smothering of bodies all jumbled together on the dance floor were causing an influx in the hot summer night temperature.

Daisy shifted deeper into the shadows, wishing she was anywhere but here. She should never have promised her aunt to come. This had been a mistake she had regretted the moment she had agreed.

She did not know anyone here.

She did not want to know anyone here.

She rubbed her forehead tiredly, the threatening headache from her tight high ponytail was on the edge of bursting. She tightly shut her eyes against the noise, the heat, and the vibrating floor. She inhaled a shaky breath to ease her tightening chest.

She needed to get out of here.

*

Shawn slipped in behind the curtains, catching a glimpse of the girl just a few feet away. His eyes narrowed, and he pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose when they slipped down for the umpteenth time.

He had noticed the girl earlier entering the hall with Mrs. Shaw, his art teacher. The similarity in their flaming, auburn hair confirmed their connection. He had watched them move across the hall, and his stomach had knotted, noticing the girl's expression had mirrored his misery.

He raised an eyebrow at the sudden strangled grunt floating towards him when she got tangled up with the drapes around her. He quickly stifled a chuckle, averting his gaze from the pained expression caused by the futile attempts to escape the strangling folds of the drapes.

He hesitated for a second, his thoughts conflicted about whether he should walk away or stay before he moved.

*

The noise and heat all blurred into a painful pulse of blood in Daisy's ears. The more she struggled, the more the silky curtains tightened around her. Her foot slipped and twisted. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the sickening descent towards the floor when the drapes suddenly gave way.

The wave of nausea caught in her throat when two arms surrounded her, pulling her firmly against a chest.

"Are you okay?"

Daisy opened her eyes, locking squarely onto a pearly white button. She blinked several times, focusing on the button before inhaling deeply. Slowly her gaze drifted up, over the loose, black formal tie, the smooth neck, and the jawline. Her eyes widened at the notably perfectly shaped lips, then quickly darted up the straight aquiline nose to meet a pair of chocolate brown eyes. Their intensity is unobscured by the dark-rimmed glasses framing them.

"Are you okay?" Shawn repeated, suddenly uncomfortable underneath the scrutiny and intimacy of the situation.
"Maybe I should find someone to help." His arms slackened and he began to move away.