The Romantic Turnabout [EdgeworthxOC]

13. The Turnabout Gala (2)

I don't know why, but for some reason, despite how anxious I was,

I was so satisfied to see Miles standing before me.

When our eyes met, I stood speechless. All knowledge of how to speak was suddenly dismissed. My lips shook with nervousness. I forced something-anything, to come out. "H-Hi, Miles!" I say, waving.

Miles stood for a good couple of seconds. When he tried to respond, he held his mouth shut and blushed.

I was befuddled by his gesture.

What's wrong? Do I look weird? Is this out of my taste, or his? Did I dress up wrong???

Overwhelmed by my thoughts, I began to feel lightheaded.

Miles abruptly pulled his hand away from his mouth, and glanced away, sighing. Clearing his throat, he stepped up to me. "Forgive me...seeing you in the dress...it just made me..." He blushes.

"It's fine, I'm happy to see you." I smile happily.

"Same here." He smiles shyly.

"Hey pals." Gumshoe waves at us.

"Woah. Looking sharp!" Maya coos, jumping up and down.

"M-Maya?!" Gumshoe does a doubletake.

"Aww, yeah, now the whole gang is here!" Larry jumps on Miles and I, hugging us closer.

My face was only centimeters away from his. I yelped, jolting back.

"Let the party begin!" Larry shouted.

"Larry!" Phoenix hissed.

Miles jumped in, agitatedly. "Do you mind?"

Larry shrugs, quickly swiping a glass of wine off a waitress's platter, passing by.

Giggling, I turned to Miles. "So, how was your morning?"

"It was..." The awkward male turns away and reddens. "...it was hectic getting here."

"Really? How so?"

"Do you know my half-sister, Franziska?"

"Oh, von Karma?"

"Yes. She was supposed to attend this party today, but our step father, von Karma, is still in prison. She's still angry at me for not being the one to defend him in court...but I couldn't. And she knows that."

"Oh, yeah..." I sighed, recalling the incident.

"She says she understands why I couldn't do so, but I could at least have been there by his side, since he is an old man. And he did take care of us."

"Yeah, but, the reasons that he took care of you-were they because he did it out of love, or was it because of greed?"

Miles eyes lit up with realization. "-I guess, I should have told her that. There was no way that he would have taken me in, if my father was still alive..."

I lowered my head in pity.

Of course, what Miles is saying is sadly true. When I heard on the news that Miles father had died...I thought that it was a joke-some sort of hoax. But death isn't something to joke around with...there wasn't any other choice but to accept it as the truth.

I couldn't be there for him though...I was never this close to him back then...

"Anyways, enough about my boring melancholies." Miles cut off my thoughts. "How about you? I see that you wore it-"

"Oh my!" I hold my cheeks and blush.

The befuddled prosecutor arches an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I-I'm really sorry! I'm just so embarrassed to be standing in front of you in it!"