The Inside Story

Chapter Seven

I woke up in the middle of the night to Alex whispering my name. I sat up, and  he gestured for me to follow him. I climbed out of the bed, and followed him into his room.
  "Are you okay?" He asked. I laughed.
  "Obviously, I mean I'm a little tired but-," I muttered, but then he pulled me into a tight hug.
  "Alex, what's wrong?" I asked.
  "Nothing," he said.
   "Then can I go back to bed?" I asked.
   "Can you stay in here?" He asked. He looked down at me, and I could see tears streaming down his face.
   "Yeah," I said. I got under the covers, and laid on my side. He wrapped his arm around my waist, and I shocked that I didn't feel uncomfortable.
  "So you aren't going to tell me what's wrong?" I asked.
  "Maybe tomorrow," he said.
  "Ok," I whispered. "Goodnight, Alex."
  "Goodnight, Lottie."

___________________________

  When I woke up, I was in a different position than I had been when I fell asleep. My head was against Alex's chest, and both his arms were wrapped around me. My arms were wrapped around his shoulders, and his head was resting on top of mine.
   I slowly unwrapped my arms, and got out of the bed. Alex moved slightly, and I was afraid I had woken him up, but I was relieved to see that I didn't.

  I went back to my room and got dressed. I wore the skirt and shirt that Alex had picked out when we went shopping. I curled my hair and found some cute shoes and a necklace, and decided to go wake up Alex. As soon as I walked out of my room, Alex walked out of his. As soon as he saw me he sighed in relief.

  "I was wondering where you went," he said. He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I'll see you at breakfast." I nodded and walked down the stairs.

  I was shocked to find hundreds of people in the main foyer.

  "Oh, Charlotte!" Queen Margaret said, calling me over. "Which tablecloths do you think we should use for the Christmas Ball?" 

   The Christmas Ball was an event I had read about online. It was held every year on Christmas eve and the royal family buys the best of the best for food, decorations, and music, and have a big event for all their friends. 

  "Definitely the white and gold," I said with a smile.

  "Blanc et doré," Queen Margaret translated to the work man. She turned to me. "So do you have a dress for the ball yet?" 

   "I did't know that I was invited," I said. Queen Margaret gasped. 

  "Of course you're invited! You don't even have to pay!" She exclaimed.  Pay? 

  "Oh, okay. Well I'll get a dress for the ball," I said. 

  "I'm so excited, and I'm sure the children are too. They'll love seeing you dressed up like a true princess," she said. Children? "Madame Louise and I could take you shopping today for a dress. I'm sure you don't want Alexander to see you before the ball."

  "I'd love that!" I said. As soon as we all ate breakfast, Madame Louise, Queen Margaret and I all stood up to leave to go shopping. 

  "Lottie," Alex called. We looked over at him. "Get a good dress," he said awkwardly when he realized everyone was listening to him. I smiled and nodded, and went to the main door with Madame Louise and Queen Margaret, and a car was already waiting.

  When we got to the store, the two women had me sit down while they went and picked out dresses. When they came back, they had armfuls of dresses.

  I hesitantly walked into the dressing room, and I ended up spending two hours trying on dresses. I walked out of the dressing room in the last dress. It was blue and tight. 

  "I hate it," I said. Queen Margaret sighed, but then smiled.

  "Then we'll keep looking," she said. "I've had my eye on one since we sat down, let me go get it." She came back with a large dress bag. "I saw it on a mannequin, and turns out they haven't even put the dress out yet. You're the first girl to ever wear this dress," she told me. 

  I smiled and took the bag, then returned to the dressing room. I slowly unzipped the bag and gasped. It was beautiful. 

  I slowly put it on, then looked in the mirror. It was a red strapless dress with a sweetheart necklace, and had a large full skirt that trailed behind me into a train. I walked out of the dressing room with a smile on my face. 

  "That's it, no question," Madame Louise said, clapping her hands together. Queen Margaret stood up, and walked around me, inspecting the dress. She got back to the front and looked up at me.

  "It's perfect," she said, with a big smile. I laughed and she pulled me into a hug, and Madame Louise joined in. 

  "Now you just need shoes and jewelry," Queen Margaret said. 

  "Where can I find that?" I asked. Queen Margaret smiled. 

  "I know a place."