Her Only Secret

Masks hide secrets like ours

Updated
I looked across the room, bored out of my mind. These parties are always to formal for my liking. I'd rather be out with my friends at the movies or just hanging out watching Netflix than wearing a fancy ball gown and heels standing next to my older brother and parents waiting for them to stop talking about the stock market and the next high class social event. There was nothing to do here for me. Anyone near my age here are just like their parents. They think I'm weird because I'm not like them. I'm not high maintenance and a snob towards people who have less money than I do. I like to go to public school with the "lower and middle class" kids.  They liked money and going to galas and balls. Like their parents. I look around for something to do besides stand here and look good for my parents. A blur of dark hair catches my eye. A waiter looks directly at me and smiles. If only I could see all of his face. Since this is a masquerade ball, every ones is wearing a mask. Even the staff. All I can tell is his eyes are dark green and his hair is as black as the night. He went back into the kitchen and suddenly I felt disappointed. I don't know why. He could have never given me company. He had to work and my parents would have died of embarrassment if they caught there daughter mingling with the kitchen crew. I excused myself from my parents to go outside for a walk. The security guards open the doors for me and I thank them. My parents hate that I'm always polite to the staff and have a great relationship with our maids and butlers. She believes that the economic classes define a person and determine who they can associate with. She thinks I should not  associate myself with lower class people. I walk down the steps and sit at the bottom. I take off the heels I'm wearing and examine the blisters they created on the heel of my foot. I stand and walk barefooted down path that leads to the garden behind the Montgomery's mansion. As I walk, I look up at the stars. They are so beautiful I could stare all night but I can't because I run into something and fall backwards. I squint my eyes and brace for the impact of my body hitting the ground but it doesn't come. I open my eyes and see dark green ones looking back at me. I catch my breath when I realized the eyes belong to the waiter from earlier except he is no longer wearing his mask and I can see his entire face. A face that, while radient and friendly, also has worry lines and his beautiful green eyes also show a glimpse of sadness. "Hi." I say awkwardly. "Hi" he says. He clears his throat and says "sorry bout that." He stands me up straight and I say "its okay. I should have watched where I was going." He says "me too. I'm not very observant." I realize he's also dressed differently than he was earlier. Instead of his tux and bow tie, he was instead wearing a black T-shirt ,holy jeans and converse with a long sleeved red plaid button down.  I awkwardly smile and say "Sorry again. I'll just go now" and  turn to walk out of this conversation before it gets any more awkward but he grabs my arm and says "wait. " I turn around and say "yes?" He says "want to go some where?" I smile and say "please. I've been dying to leave since we've got here." He chuckles and says "I know. I saw you." He puts out his hand and I place mine in his warm palm. He turns back towards the way I was going and walks with me towards the garden. I thought we were going to stop at the garden but instead he keeps going. I try to match his fast pace so I don't yank his arm off from being so far behind but its useless. He doesn't seem to mind too much though. After walking for about five minutes in the woods behind the mansion, we come to a clearing and at the clearing is a cliff. The cliff looks out onto a lake that reflects the night sky that can be seen perfectly out here due to no city lights. I gasp at the beauty and walk towards the edge for a better view. I'm so mesmerized by the view I don't realize the waiter is looking at me. I remember I never got his name or he mine. "What's you're name?" I ask. He answers "Bryce Stevens. Yours?" I say "Kaylen Henson. " he smiles like I just said something amazing. "Why did you want to get away from the party so badly?" He asks. I answer " Because it's not really my scene. I don't like their whole snobby attitude, high class standards. It's not me. And no one really likes me anyways. I'm just there because my parents make me come. They want me to be just like them. But so far theyve been unsuccessful and all they have gotten so far is utter embarrassment. I'm the family disappointment. " He replies "I'm sure you're not. "Well I'm sure I am." . He steps closer and says "Even if you are to them, you are a gift to others." I look up and say "maybe. But I don't mind being a disappointment. I'd rather be looked down on by them than be one of those snobby rich spoiled kids stereotypes." He smiles at that. "So Where do you come in at?" I ask the question that's been on my mind. He looks up and says "what do you mean?" I elaborate" why are you working for the Montgomery's?" He just shrugs and answers "I needed a job and they're an old family friend." "Oh" I respond. I feel like there's more he's not telling me but I'm not going to make him say anymore. That's none of my business. I just met him like 10 minutes ago. I look back out to the lake and close my eyes. "I wish I could fly like a bird. Be free to do as I want. Be as beautiful and fast as a hummingbird and as mysterious as the raven yet as free as them all. No one to tell me how to sing or act and no responsibilities. Just me myself and I." I turn to Bryce and he is smiling. "Don't we all?" He says. He comes closer to me and brings his hands to my face. "May I? He asks. I'm confused for a moment and then I realize he's referring to my mask. I nod my head and he gently removes the mask and reveals my true face. He reaches up and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. "So beautiful" he whispers. Then my phone had to ring and ruin the moment. I pull it out and see its my mom. I click answer and say hello. "Kaylen. Where are you? You were right beside us and then you just vanished. We thought you went to the powder room but then you never returned. Did you finally find some good company to keep besides those friends from the school you insist on going to?" My mother asks. I roll my eyes. She always finds some way to look down on me. I answer her question and say " It got to crowded inside so I went out for a walk in the garden." She responds back with a disappointed "Oh." She then continues and says "Well your father said he's ready to go. He has that big meeting in the morning and if he stays and tries to keep up with Mr.Montgomery's drinking he definitely won't be able to wake up in the morning." There's an outburst of laughs that break out around her and she giggles as well. I roll my eyes and say "OK. Well I'll head back towards the entrance and meet you at the car."  She says "OK sweety but do please hurry." She then whispers "Seriously. Your father is already slurring his words and keeps getting handsy with me in front of everyone." I outwardly cringe and say "EWWW MOM!!!" She just sighs and says "Whatever Kaylen. How do you think we had you?" And then hangs up on me. I roll my eyes and groan. I apologizeto Bryce ans say " I guess I have to go before that gets worse." He just chuckles and says " I understand." I look up at him and say " I really enjoyed your company tonight." He smiles and replies " I ebjoyed your company as well." I blurt out "When can I see you agai" and as soon as the words left my mouth I blushed and wished I could reach out and take them back. How embarrassing and desperate sounding of me. He just smiled more and says "Eager are we?" I blush even harder and he just laughs more. I start apologizing but he cuts me off. "I would love to see you again as well but I'm pretty much always working. I work these waiter gigs most nights and I'm usually doing yard work and maintenance during the days and on the weekends I usually work in my uncles shop. Taken aback I look up and ask "How old are you? I thought you were still a teenager like me." He gives a shoulder shrug and a small smile that doesnt reach his eyes and says "Im 17. But I dropped out of high school. I have to work to take care of my siblings and my mom and myself." I respond with a sad "Oh." I realize now why he has worry lines at such a yong age and why his eyes had a deep sadness in them. He had to grow up too fast. Hes still a kid himself yet he works and takes care of a family like a middle aged father. I have an idea and decide to ask " What if I can get you a job? My parents are looking for new workers. I can get your name in." He smiles and says "Really? That would be just great. I could always use more work. With 5 siblings and my moms medical bills, these gigs arent cutting it. Again I am taken aback. I curiously ask "May I ask what's wrong with your mom?" His smile falls and then he responds "Stage 2 brain cancer. She's on chemo and it seems to be helping but it also takes a lot out of a person so she's always tired and feeling sick." I nod and say "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how terrible that must be. He gives a small smile and says "Thanks. And thanks for offering to help get me some jobs. I really do appreciate it. He puts his hand out and says "Here. Let me put my number in your phone and you can give me a call or send me a text about any job openings if you hear of anything. Or just if you want to talk or something. I dont mind either way." He grins and I blush again. I hand him my phone and he types in his number and then hands it back to me. I take it and look down at the newly added contact that says Bryce😜 and giggle. He just smiles and says "Well you better go meet your parents before they come looking for you and find you with someone like me." He jokingly says but I can see deep in his eyes that it didn't hurt him to say. I look down at the ground in shame and say "OK." I didn't like being associated with the idea of being a snob like that. I wasnt sure if he meant it the way I heard it but it still hurt as if it was aimed directly at me. I turn and walk back towards t
the house but stop when I hear jim say "Kaylen! Wait!" I turn back to Bryce and he walks over and says "Im sorry. I didnt mean that towards you. I just... I dont know. Im sorry." I give him a small smile and say "Thats ok." He smiles and says "Can I walk you back?" I smile a bigger smile this time and say "Sure." We walk back to the house side by side just making small talke. Once we get back to the spot where we first (literally) ran into each other I turn to Bryce and say "Well its probably best we part ways here. If we walk up together my mom will definitely have my head and then she would probably never hire you then." He laughs and says "Well I don't blame her. Especially when your dressed just like a princess. I wouldnt want to steal any of the attention away from you beautiful" He then grabs my hand and does a dramatic bow and kisses my hand. I giggle and blush. I pull my hand away and smack his shoulder. " oh stop." He laughs and says "but seriously. You do look very beautiful." I blush harder and say a light " Thank you." He just grins and winks at me. "I hope to get this honor again one day. Hopefully soon" he says and I say "Hopefully." I wave and say " I better go." He just grins again and says "As you wish madame. He bows again walks towards the back of the house. I giggle and turn to walk towards the front of the house. I turn to look back to where he went once more and see hes turned as well and looking back at me. I wave once more and he wavws back and throws me another wink. I giggle to myself and walk to the front doors where I see my family and Mr. Montgomery talking and laughing. I walk up and my mom says "There you are." I smile and say "Here I am." My dad finishes his last drink just as the valet pulls up in our car. My dad says his goodbyes to Mr. Montgomery as we get into the car. As we pull away, my mom starts talking about how fun she thought the party was as my dad starts reaching over messing with her and making her blush and laugh and she pushes him away. The one good thing I can say about my parents is that they are definitely in love. I always loved that their marriage was real. They didnt marry for money, or to please anyone else. They married because they loved each other and they are still happy like 2 kids in love. I smiled and laid my head on the window and watched the trees fly by. It was then that I realized I left my mask back at the cliff. I smiled again and thought about how masks hide things. It hides our true selves. It hides the secrets we want to keep from the world. Bryce is my secret. Masks hide secrets like ours.