Just When We Were Good

Chapter Eleven

        Cameras of the hungry paparazzi snapped. I tried to run past them, but since I was Evie, she stopped and answered questions, so I decided to pose for the pictures.

"Evie, Hera, you look beautiful!" Someone called.

"Thank you so much," I blushed.

"Did you design the barrette?" As usual, everyone's focus was back on Evie.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? Uh, no, it's not my creation. Many of the hair accessories this evening are by a fabulous new designer, 'Dizzy of the Isle.'" I smiled and hoped that Dizzy was watching. This would cause her to freak out, and it was the credit she deserved. Done with answering questions, Evie grabbed my arm and yanked me onto the boat Cotillion was being hosted on. Lanterns were strung up above us. People were littering the dance floor, dancing with their dates to the loud music. Evie tapped my hand and nodded her head to the bottom of the stairs. Carlos stood there in a pair of red pants with a white shirt and a black and white jacket. It wasn't that different for him, but some reason, it seemed different this time around. His jaw was dropped in awe, I would assume from looking at me, but he quickly closed it and approached me.

"Hera, you look... beyond words," he gushed, placing a hand on the small of my back.

"Thank you, Carlos." I looked down at the floor, then back up to him. "This is all Evie's handiwork."

"You really are a miracle worker." He turned to Evie.

"Hera's already beautiful. I merely enhanced it." Carlos looked me in my red eyes and smiled.

"You're right about that first part." I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Come on, Hera." I took his hand we made our way to the dance floor. Everything seemed like it would be perfect, when I heard a cheery voice call out to me.

"Hera! There you are, my dear!" I looked over to see Fairy Godmother standing at my side. "Well, everything looks beautiful. You and Jane really did a good job. But Jane has requested you help with refreshments, so we have to ladle out the punch before the sherbet melts." I sighed. Jane didn't know Carlos and I were here together, so I couldn't blame her for asking for my help.

"Fairy Godmother, I would love to help, but I actually have a date." Enthusiasm crossed her expression.

"A date? Really?" Her gaze flickered to Carlos, who was standing across from me. "Do you have a date, too?" I resisted the urge to break down laughing. Carlos looked at me and smiled.

"Yeah."

"Really?" She was not catching on.

"Yeah."

"Fairy Godmother." I took Carlos' hands in mine, and he gently ran his thumbs over the smooth skin. Her gaze flickered back and forth between the two of us, and she finally caught on.

"Bipity Bopity! Oh!" He smiled at me, and my heart melted. This was happiness, right here. He gestured his head towards the dance floor.

"After you." We made our way into the crowd of people and began to dance with each other. Compared to Carlos, I was definitely the worse dancer, but that didn't matter right now. He grabbed my hand and spun me one way, then back around, causing me to laugh. It was so strange to think that only a couple years ago, I was disgusted by the thought of liking Carlos, and now I was his girlfriend. I don't think happiness in a relationship would have been something that ever crossed my mind after Harry, but Carlos was so different. Despite being raised by parents who didn't care about us, the two of us had turned out pretty all right.