Back To Her Roots

Chapter 2: Playing The Part

Yay! Chapter two! Luckily, this one was planned out during my stroke of inspiration as well. Chapter 3? I have no idea.

Note: this chapter is a little more PG-13. It is the main reason that this book is PG-13. If desired, you can skip it, and I don't think you'd be too lost. There won't be things like this later on.

(Claire Holt as Kaylee at side>)

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The evening began seemingly well. Women in gowns, men in suits, all floating around enjoying themselves. So far, Gram hadn't wrangled me to meet my future husband, so I was fairly happy.

I made polite small chat with the guests that I knew, and introduced myself to a few that I didn't. Most of Gram's elder guests were showering me in compliments, not only due to my gown, but also 'the model you provide for other young ladies of this age.'

They thought I was a saint because of the fact that I had been trained my whole life to be a proper lady. Most of the young men and ladies that I was forced to meet at these parties would often give me sympathetic glances, understanding what kind of a situation I was being pressed into.

On one occasion, at a party that I attended with Gram back in the fall, the couple that was hosting the party had a daughter my age. She had pulled me aside later into the evening, when enough champagne had been consumed by surrounding ears to make them less alert.

She had given me a scowl, and hissed into my ear,"You think you're so good, don't you? Don't you hate the way that everyone pressures you to be what they want? You're either a really great actress, or you actually enjoy this."

I took no offense, and simply grinned at her. When a look of confusion crossed her face, I gave her my answer.

"Has it ever occurred to you that this isn't what I am forced to be, but what I have to be? I have nothing outside of my grandmother. Nothing. Why would I want that? You have options, and that is where you suffer. Choices to make. When you don't have to think about it, this is actually very fun."

I had left her there, dumbfounded. I had realized this a long time ago. When I refused to play the part. You can't refuse to play who you are. And so I performed, as convincingly as I possibly could, and everyone but me bought it...

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The party continued, with as much pomp and circumstance as ever.

On this particular evening, due to the vast number of guests, Gram's watchful eye was deterred from me, and I was able to sneak quite a few flutes of champagne. I wasn't drunk, but I began to feel slightly light headed, and enjoy myself quite a bit.

As I watched the couples dance in the foyer, the five-piece orchestra Gram had hired was in full swing. I had never been a fan of dancing like this, but I was perfectly content watching.

I was standing with my face across from the gallery the party was being held at, leaving the study and other random, empty rooms behind me. Suddenly, I felt a strong hand on the small of my back, and I was turned from the dancers to face those eyes again.

"Well, don't you look lovely this evening?" Colin asked.

I just stood there dumbfounded. Here was my hot beach boy, dressed in a tux, his hair combed, and well kept, and he smelled so good.

"Want to dance, yeah?" he asked.

"I-" before I could even answer, he had taken my waist, and was twirling me across the floor.

Still trying to form coherent speech, I let myself be steered around, as he looked at my face in amusement, well knowing the effect he had on me. Damn.