The Runaway Princess

Today's the Day!

"Tomorrow." I repeat. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes." Ava calmly answers.
I feel like leaping into the air, but I don't want her to change her mind, so I fold my hands, thank her politely, and slowly backed away. I leap up the stairs and I burst into my bedroom door. Mae stands there, holding a dress, looking as if she's been caught by the Feds.
"I swear I was only looking!" She tosses the dress and the hanger back into the closet.
"Tomorrow!" I exclaim, not even caring what she was trying to hide.
"Tomorrow?" Her eyes turn crazy.
"Tomorrow!" I repeat.
"OH my gosh, Skylar! Connor comes tomorrow!" Mae pulls me into a hug.

***

"If you keep stopping me to go look outside the window, I will never get this done." Mae complains as I stop her from applying my make up to look outside for the sound I heard.
"I could've swore I just heard a car door." I sit back down, as she motions for me to close my eyes.
"You're just anxious."
"You can say that." I sigh, "What do you think he'll say?"
"I don't know... 'Hello' maybe." Mae cracks a joke and I smack her hand.
"I'm being serious!"
"So am I!" She keeps laughing and tells me I can open my eyes now. She wanted to put jewels on my face, but I told her no; I want to be ready by the time he gets here. I hear a knock and I run for the closet, Mae groaning once more.
"Is Princess Jocelyn ready?"
"Go away Johnny." Mae teases and opens the door.
"Is she really ready? Her mother is not being very patient right now...."
"She's right in there!" I hear Mae's hand hit his chest, her voice grows quieter than before. Instead of acting on impulse, like I usually do - well, did - I brush down my black puffed up (shorter than I like) dress and I step out.
"You look amazing!" Johnny exclaims.
"Sky- ugh, I mean, Jocelyn!" My mother calls up the stairs, stopping everyone from saying anything else.
"Lover-Boy is here!" My dad shouts. I run outside my bedroom door, shooting down the stairs a little too fast... These heels will literally be the death of me one day....
"Someone's excited...."
"Someone's wearing red underwear..."
Even while tumbling down the stairs, I knew it was Mae and Johnny talking. When I reach the bottom, I land on my bottom. My dad offers his hand and pulls me up. When I stand I go to take a step, but instead I trip on the fabric. I land face flat on the floor once more, and I start to tear up. Mae runs down before I start to bawl, helps me up and guides me up the stairs.
"We'll be a minute..." She announces while we tread up the stairs. When we reach my room, Johnny and Mae help pull off the torn fabric that once formed a dress. "Now, let's pick another dress." Mae speaks to herself.
"You know what," Johnny looks at me, and I finally make eye contact, "why don't you pick?"
"Me?" I'm confused. Maybe he's talking to Mae, but looking at me....
"Don't you want to be confident? Confident that you look gorgeous?" He helps me up and Mae stands there by the closet. I don't know if her smile means she's upset or happy... This is what she's pro at. "Pick one." Johnny says, while closing the closet doors behind me.
"You're gonna let her pick? Without my help?" Mae drags out a sigh.
"Let her pick what she wants to wear."
"But she isn't an expert in Fashion; I am!"
"Let her pick." His voice is stern, but loving. We've all made a special kind of friendship, even though Mae and Johnny met last week. I run my hand across the closet inventory; mostly dresses. My eyes find nothing appealing, but then I stop. A red gown, with a jeweled neckline and waist. I pull it on and I fall in love with it; it's modest, but also shows some skin. It brings out my broad, but gentle shoulders. I toss the heels into the corner, hoping no one noticed that they snapped and broke during my tumble. I brush off the imaginary dust, and I take a deep breath before walking out to show them.
"Are you even supposed to be up here?" Mae teases, but keeps her act up.
"No but-" Johnny stops mid sentence and drops his jaw, and Mae turns and closes it for him. She crosses her arms and smirks.
"Well, I'll be darned."
"You look-"
"Like a princess?" I breathe; part of me praying he says yes.
"No." He straight out says that... To me. I'm like 'do you know who you're talking to?'. "You look like a beautiful princess." He finishes and then I realize I was holding my breath. I guess part of me has fallen in love with this life....

***

I have heard his voice for over thirty minutes. Mae hasn't let me go see him yet, and I'm getting anxious. Mae had to redue some of my makeup, but decided that Black to Red wasn't that bad of a deal. My smokey eyes and winged eyeliner stands out, and then I realized that Connor hasn't seen me with makeup.... Johnny eventually leaves, seeing that he was anxious to see Connor as well; plus he was dragged away because of duty.
"I don't think I have ever been this nervous to see Connor." I sigh, trying to straighten my back.
"It's not like he's going to absolutely hate you." Mae snorts, and I glance at her wearily. "I'm just kidding...." She has to reassure. Mae was also dressed for the occasion; a short, pink and purple knee length gown with a heart neckline. Jewels bedazzled her dress, to where you couldn't count even if you wanted too! It was beautiful... Something I'd never wear.... My gown has jewels, but just the amount for something like me. Mae finally gives me the okay to head down and I make her go first on the staircase. I take one step at a time, watching my steps carefully. I hold my gown up enough to where I don't step on the fabric trailing behind, but low enough for others to not to see my calves. Johnny is at the end of the stairwell, doing his job as security. Once I'm in reach he takes my hand and helps me down slowly. I release my dress once I'm even on the floor. Ava is already standing, but everyone else is still talking. Mae stands out for everyone to see, so they eventually grow to a stop. My mother stands, along with my father. When they look they gasp in awe at their daughter, whom I actually thought was behind me, not actually me.... My mother looks away and grabs a familiar hand beside her. For my last few seconds I fiddle with myself, catching Mae's look.
"You look fine." She mouths, noding to make sure I understand. I swallow, anticipating this moment. His long legs straighten and I see his tall body, which is now close to my height thanks to these heels, grow larger. His fit muscles that I rarely let hold me are loose and relaxed. Jeans and a T-shirt. It feels as if he's here to pick me up to head to school, or to the skate park. But then I feel a touch of disappointment when I see his attire. A suit would've been nicer.
Wait... What?
It's Connor. Connor doesn't wear suits. He wore jeans to our first dance together! I wore a skirt, but as soon as we got there I put on jeans in the girls bathroom.
Connor doesn't need a suit, he's perfect the way he is.
He turns towards me and everything feels as if in slow motion. Every conversation, every touch, every tease, runs through my head and I smile like an idiot. When I see his face... I fall for him again and again; this time isn't an exception.

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Thank you for reading!

Man, am I tired! Ughhh this chapter had taken FOREVER to complete!

I hope you guys love it 💘❤

- Emuna_Jasmine