Love Next Door

Chapter Twenty Five- Dance with me (again)

*** Music to be played during the dance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK6JQSPFzPM)***

Jay woke early in the morning with excitement and anxiety in his veins. He was supposed to be meeting in a small room off the formal hall, where the dress makers would have his costume. He would try it on for last adjustments before fitting in a practice session. Then people would be flooding into the house, and the ceremony would begin. He kept reminding himself of what was to come, but also trying to forget, calming and scaring himself alternately. He only hoped that today went okay- good would be nice, but with his luck it wouldn't be.

After showering and washing his hair within an inch of its life, he dressed in the lightest clothes he had with him and ventured into the main room. Jay was finally up early enough that Ash was the one still asleep, something he hadn't managed before. He peeked over the top of the sofa at the man, who was lying on his back fast asleep. His shirt was slightly pulled up, revealing a slice of his bronzed stomach, tempting Jay to touch. He held himself back, remembering that he had more important things to do than stare at his boyfriend.

Ash's mother met him after breakfast in the formal room. There he practiced the dance again, waiting for the dress to be delivered. His stomach, full of fruit, turned over uneasily. How am I going to pull this off in front of so many people? Truthfully, he wasn't sure how many were coming, but he knew it would be too many. There were at least thirty wooden chairs set up around the centre space, the chandelier already lit and creating a faded yellow spotlight in the middle.

Finally, the two fae women arrived, carefully carrying the costume, wrapped up in a blue silk. Ash's mother almost cried out in her excitement as she pushed him into the back room. The room was styled much the same as the main room, but much smaller, and holding a long, full length mirror. Like a dressing room.

As he stood, they unwrapped the dress and without pause draped it over him, needing him to bend his knees initially so they could get it over his head. His mouth dried nervously. They chattered away in their own language, diving around him to fix up areas or adjust the fabric. He had his eyes closed, he was scared. They were expecting him to look handsome, or even beautiful, but he wasn't going to. He was a grown man with long, easily tangled hair, skinny arms and an unsightly nose piercing. He wasn't going to be the blossoming flower they wanted.

Beatrice left at that point to prepare, people would be arriving soon. She smiled warmly at him as she left the room, saying she would be back later when it was going to begin. The tone was ominous. This is crazy.

Without letting him look in the mirror they ushered him to a chair and ordered him to take his hair out of the haphazard ponytail it had been sitting in. He obeyed, ripping the tie out and letting his hair fall into a damp wall against his back and around his shoulders. At least it's clean today, he thought. Almost immediately, one of the women took up his hair in their hands and began to manoeuvre it quickly with their fingers. He wasn't sure what shape it would turn up in, he had never had anyone do his hair. He remembered that Tahlia had once attempted a braid, but she was drunk enough that she just ended up laughing and knotting his hair.

The women kept chattering and spent at least twenty minutes going over and over his hair, obviously debating as to what the outcome would be. Eventually, they finished, but not before placing something wired to the top of his head like a headband. Flowers?

There was a knock on the wooden door which led back into the formal room. They all looked up expectantly.

"Jay? Can I come in?" Ash called out from the other side.

Immediately, both women called out "No!" before Jay could call out "Yes!" He looked to them in disappointment. He also heard a loud "Aww" from behind the door. he frowned.