The Soot Princess [Hiatus]

17-One More Dance

Prince Dean

Someone tapped the microphone for attention. I swiveled my head to see my mom on the stage. "Is everyone having a good time?"

Several yeses rang through the crowd.

"Well, that's great! We will be soon closing the ball, please make any last minute donations at this time. Since I haven't seen in the much of dancing this evening, I thought I would spice it up a bit. Everyone grab a partner, someone you do not know very well or at all. That includes all of you kids, too! There will be three dances, you will switch partners after each one. Does everyone understand? Good!"

Everyone moved around. I looked for an empty lady. I saw my brothers already had some cute girls in their grasps.

My turn...

"Hello, my prince. May I have this dance?" an older lady asked.

"Of course, ma' am," I responded respectfully and formally. I did a short bow to her and led the elderly woman on to the dance floor.

We danced together for a few minutes in an awkward silence, before the song ended. I thanked her for the dance and tried to find another partner. Hopefully, this time a little more suitable, than an old lady.

My eyes landed on the only female without a partner yet, Eevon. She stood against the wall, munching on a small cookie. It didn't even look like she wanted to dance or had been dancing.

I walked over and asked, "Could I please have this dance, Eevon?" I hope I said her name right.

At first, she looked like she was about to refuse, but then she brushed the cookie crumbs off of her fingers and took my hand firmly as her rough boxing wraps scratched it. Eevon looked down at the ground and her hair covered most of her face as she said, "I... I will," stumbling at first.

I led her out onto the dance floor as I had done before. She balked and let go to turn. I grabbed her shoulder and faced her. I stared deeply into terrified eyes that didn't belong on her tough, worn face.

"You said you would."

I barely saw her nod.

I put her arms around my waist and I wrap mine around her shoulders and back. I hugged her tightly to me, hopefully calming her racing heart that I could feel thumping against mine. She hugged me back with a surprisingly strong grip. I rocked her back and forth, dancing in a slow, small circle.

I felt her lean into me more and breath in and out. I did the same, putting my head next to hers. I smelt a sharp scent of mint on her.

The song ended and another one begun. I started to let go and she squeezed me tighter. I pulled her back to me.

"Would you like to tell me what you were going to say to me before when we were talking?" I said.

"I don't think you want to hear it. I'm glad Janice stopped me or I may not have a head." She chuckled at her own joke.

"I didn't mean it."

We danced in silence for a while, until I got tired of it.

"I don't get you," I said in her ear.

"Oh?"

"One minute you want me to go away, the next you say, stay, stay, stay."

"Me and people don't mix well... It's complicated," Eevon answered.

"It always is and you know, I'm not much different," I said.

"You are..." she lifts her head from my chest. Her eyes are red and swollen and her cheeks have the remains of tears on them. I hadn't even noticed! How can someone cry so silently?

I wiped the leftovers away with my large hands. Eevon shrank under my touch. I'm not going to hurt her.

"We are very different," she said without a hint of shakiness in her voice that normally comes with crying. "You have a loving family, that cares for you and an awesome house! I, I might as well be the homeless beggar on the street corner, that no one cares for. We are no where near the same."

She dropped her arms down, signaling she was done. I don't want to let go. Eevon pulls out of my embrace and walks away.

This time I'm the one saying stay.