The School for Good and Evil: Another Story

13~The Snow Ball

"Lily! What have I done?!"

"What you've done is not fail. I thought that was what you wanted." The two were in Rose's room with Julie. "Now hold still."

"I still don't understand what you're doing. Why can't I just go dressed like the other boys?"

"Because you are not one of the other boys. You're going to the Ball with the champion of both the Trial by Tale and the Circus of Talents. And we're going to make you look like you belong by his side."

"And what is Julie doing with my outfit?" The outfit he was referring to was the same one he had worn the previous night.

"Well, now that it has been cleaned Julie is making some adjustments."

"Like what?"

"Like adding a tad more purple. It was too much white. The white is good and will give Raven some color to his skin but he will be wearing black. We need to give the two of you some color. You two are the stars of the Ball!"

"What about Mia and Richard? Don't they have higher ranks?"

"Not anymore. Winning the Crown boosted Raven well into first. The two of you sandwich them in rankings. Will you stop fidgeting?"

"What are you putting on my eyelids again?"

"Nothing! Just relax and trust me. Alright?"

Rose sighed, "Fine."

"Thank-you! Julie, will you pass me the glitter?"

"Glitter?!"

"Rose! Just relax!"

The three headed downstairs. Lily wore a shimmering lily pad green dress. Her hems were decorated with blue water waves and she wore a lily in her hair. Julie's dress was periwinkle and the back of her skirts folded down behind her like swan wings. Rose had a chance to look at what Julie had done to his outfit before he put it on. She had embroidered a purple rose over his heart and added amethyst jewels as cufflinks. She also embroidered the bottom of the cloak with what looked like vines. She also seemed to have worked glitter into his cloak, which Rose thought he could have done without. He still hadn't looked at what Lily had done to his face.

The three reached the bottom of the stairs where Mia was waiting for them in a layered scarlet dress, "About time. Rose is needed. The Ball is about to begin! Hurry!" The four of them rushed into the Good Hall where the other girls were waiting. Princess Uma and Professor Anemone rushed about getting the girls into place.

"Rose! There you are. Come here to the center," Princess Uma commanded. "Mia, you'll be right over there. Lily, there. Julie, go see Professor Anemone for your spot. Hurry up! The boys will be down any moment!"

Rose and the girls quickly went where they were instructed. They then posed in glamour awaiting their princes like porcelain dolls.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and Raven lead the boys into the room dashing as ever. Each boy was clad in black in tuxedoes with colored roses pined over their hearts. Richard's was scarlet. Peter's was periwinkle. Cedric's was white. Raven's was purple. Rose turned to Lily, "How . . ."

"Shh. Just enjoy the evening, Rose."

So Rose went quiet as Raven approached, grabbed his hand, and wrapped his other hand around his waist. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

The music started and while Raven led Rose around the center of the room the rest watched on at the beginning. The two boys danced around in a star to Richard, Stefan, Cedric, Adrian, then Jeffry and one by one the other boys led their princesses into the waltz with them. Soon all of the boys were leading the girls in the coordinated dance together.