Change of Heart
(Requested by @Heatherallen017!
In this story, River and the reader are both still young. I hope you like it!
I'm so sorry it took me so long! I've lost motivation for this book..)
(Y/n) was sitting in her bed room, enjoying a quiet evening with a book in her lap. Her window was open and a cool breeze gently blew her (f/c) curtains around. Her peaceful reading was interpreted by a harsh knocking at her door. She let out a sigh and placed her book on her nightstand. Who could be at her door this late in the evening, she had no idea.
As soon as the door was opened, a rapid stream of sob wracked jumbled sentences broke the silence of the night. "S-she chose! She didn't listen to me! She was- was- was with him! Him!"
"River!" (Y/n) grabbed ahold of the young man's shoulders. "Get a hold of yourself!"
River, who had been (y/n)'s best friend for as long as they cared to remember, straightened up and cleared his throat. "You're- you're right, (y/n)." Despite his calmer tone, new tears still spilled from his bright blue eyes. "May I come in?"
"Of course, you silly boy!" (Y/n) led him by the arm to her couch. "Now, tell me what happened?"
"I was going to ask Moon to go to the ball with me, but Count Mildrew got to her first! I'm never going to get to talk to her..." He let out a sigh. (Y/n) knew that River liked some girl named Moon, though she had never met the person herself. She hoped she never would. She didn't know how she would feel if she met her crush's crush.
"I'm sure you'll get another chance, River," consoled the girl. She gave his back a gentle pat.
"Well I can't go to the ball alone. That would be so embarrassing!" He let out yet another long, heavy sigh before sitting up straight again. "(Y/n)! You could go with me! Then Moon will get jealous and she'll talk to me!" He looked over to see his friend's shocked expression. "You will go, won't you?"
(Y/n) hesitated. Her face was heating up. She couldn't help it, even if she knew that River's request was to get another girl's attention. "Yeah, sure River. Anything for you."
"Oh, thank you so much, (y/n)! I'm going to go home and get ready! I'll be back in an hour." He sprung from the couch and raced to the door, not even bothering to close it behind him when he left.
She took her time going through her clothes. She had never been inside the palace where the ball was being held, but she knew that all the people there would be in beautiful, expensive clothing beyond her imagination. She had been in her own for most of her life and never could have afforded anything as fancy as anyone else would be wearing, but she did have one dress that was far prettier than other things in her closet. It was her mother's from a long time ago. It was a light (f/c) shade with beads sewn on it in swirling patterns. It somehow fit her form perfectly, and ended just below her knees.
The knock on the door came exactly on time. (y/n) swung it open to reveal River, dressed in a fancy light blue tuxedo. His face reddened slightly when he caught sight of his date. "W-wow!" he stammered. "(y/n) you look... Amazing!"
A blush of her own creeped on to her face. "Thanks, River. You look nice too."
River tore his eyes away from her and stared at the ground. "A-anyways, we should get going."
The girl responded with a nod, and River took hold of her hand to guide her along beside him. It didn't take them long to reach the palace gates. They were wide open, and the distant sounds of dancing music fluttered out from inside. The guards greeted them as they passed through the intricate hallways, finally coming to another set of wide open doors. The music was louder now, obviously coming from the room before them. Inside, many important looking people danced in circles wearing beautiful dresses that swished and twirled with their movements or tuxedos that made them look far too uncomfortable to be dancing so gracefully.
"Come on, let's go!" said River after a moment. It seemed that he too was slightly overwhelmed by the others there. He tightened his grip on her hand as he pulled her out in to the crowd. Immediately they began to sway with the music, blending in with the mass of people. (y/n) expected River's gaze to be searching for Moon, but when she glanced his way, he was staring directly at her. She blushed at their closeness. River looked away bashfully.
Not much was said between the two as the night wore on, but they often caught each other's gazes on their partner's faces. River didn't look around to see if Moon had noticed him, not even once. His blue eyes were locked on to (y/n). He had a strange feeling in his stomach. He had felt the same way with Moon for so long that he know now what it meant, but it confused him. Never before had her actually looked at his best friend. He followed her (h/c) hairline and traveled to her (e/c) orbs, and then to her adorable nose and her soft lips, and finally he took in her face shape. She was beautiful, and he had never noticed.
(Y/n) wasn't quite feeling herself either. Normally her feelings for River were not so intense. They could easily be dismissed. Right now, however, as he held her so close and gazed upon her so fondly, she could barely keep herself from capturing him in a kiss and spilling her emotions for everyone to see.
The ball had been called to an end, and the many people that once filled the room with laughter and graceful movement were now gone. River and (y/n) were not far behind them.
"Did you see Moon?" (Y/n) asked sheepishly, breaking the silence that had taken hold of them until now.
"Oh, uh, no," muttered the blond boy in return. He twisted his fingers and blushed nervously before he gathered the courage to continue. "So (y/n) uh... I was um, wondering if uh, maybe, you'd like to go out with me?" He didn't look at her as he awaited rejection.
"Yes!" River looked at the girl in disbelief. "I thought you'd never ask." (Y/n) was dawning the brightest smile he had ever seen her make, and he couldn't help but return it.
