Mismatched(A collab with EmeraRider)

Chapter 2

I woke to my mother's soft voice.

            "Zoe, dear, it's time to get up." Mother gently shook my shoulder.

I groaned, pulling the covers over my head. I didn't want to face the day, yet; or ever. I was sick and tired of the stares of other villagers, sick and tired of the whispers that seem to follow me everywhere.

           "Sweetie, the day will go on with or without you. I'd rather you be ready for your halving day." Mother was always so calm and collected, I envied her. She slowly coaxed me to sit up. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

         I immediately looked at the window, and the sun hadn't even peaked over the flat plains of Lornia, and wanted to pull the covers over myself again. Another perk about my mother--she was a bit of a morning person, while I wasn't.

                 I slowly stumbled out of bed and fumbled for the handle of my dresser. Sighing, I glanced at the contents. Nothing seemed to pop out to me. I was never much of a beauty, so I never made any real effort to look...well, beautiful. Besides, my Half would see me as beautiful...right? I realized I had been looking at my dresser for too long.

    My mother clucked her tongue.

               "You were never much of an early riser, child." Her laugh was soft, like a lullaby. "Here, let me help you."

       Mother fished through my disheveled, slovenly wardrobe and finally came to the one she was obviously looking for. She held up a luscious, forest green dress, with gold embedded on its hem and sleeves. 

     "I, ah...Mother...you know I'm not one to dress like that," I said reluctantly.

     "Pah! Just try it on, dearest, and trust me. You will look beautiful in this." She had that determined look in her eyes that told me she wouldn' t take no for an answer.

     After going through the painful process of putting on a corset, which my mother insisted on me wearing, I slipped on the "perfect" dress. I nearly sighed as the silk softly glided against my skin. I protested when Mother began to brush my hair, but she was resolved, and one does not simply turn down my mother.  Uncertainty caused me to turn from the mirror.Most of my mother's choices of clothing were not the best for me. The last time she convinced me to expiriment with fashion, I had looked like a sunflower for my Uncle Robert's wedding. But curiousity won over fear, so I dared to steal a glance at the mirror, and gasped. Who was the girl in the reflection? 

    The soothing green in the dress had complimented her eyes which were framed by dark lashes, and the dress was so simple and elegant, Her hair, too, was simplistic in a side braid, tied with a golden ribbon. Her lips were full and tugged into a faint smile, and her  eyes looked back at me with shock and confusion. It took me a moment to realize that it was...me. For once, I felt beautiful.

      "Oh, Mother, thank you. I look..." Unable to contain myself, I wrapped my mother in a tight embrace.

      She laughed.

       "Oh, Zoe, you look beautiful. You're Half will be lucky to have a wife so admirable, on the inside and out,"

   And just like that, my happiness was replaced my fear and doubt.

         "Mother, what if I don't find my Half this year..again? I've already had two chances! This is my last chance before becoming...an Outsider." We have had this conversation dozens of times.

     She sighed, and slowly slid my necklace on me--the finishing touch to my halving day apparel. My necklace was quite strange. Now, most necklaces carried only one type of gem. However, mine was different.There were three facets on mine, and each contained a different type of gem: one was an emerald, the other a beautiful, dark saphire, and the final stone was a transparent, sparkling diamond. My...unique gemstone was strung on a plain but sturdy silver chain.