Sanitorium (Roman Reigns Story)

Chapter 8: The Ball

I am awoken by Mom tapping my shoulder.

"Wake up honey. We have so much to do today!" She says excitedly.

I open my eyes slightly. "What exactly are we doing?"

"I already RSVP'd for the Winchester Ball so we are going gown shopping! Oh this is going to be just the thing to give us a good break from the daily grind. Hopefully you can get over... you-know-who." She smiles and rubs my forehead.

"Sure... in a few hours." I mumble.

"No! We are going now so get dressed." With that, she walks out.

I sigh and get dressed. I wash my face and throw my hair in a messy bun. I look at myself in the mirror. Maybe I was being too clingy? I shake my head and walk out of the bathroom. I dont even want to think about why he did that to me. I go into the living room and Mom is waiting by the door with her purse in her hand. 

"Ready? We can pick up something to eat when we get in the plaza. I got a bonus yesterday." She smiles and I nod.

We walk to the plaza and start at the clothing stores to find one that is right for buying gowns. We walk right past the expensive stores and somehow there is this shop with gorgeous gowns in the window. Actually, the only shop with gowns and tuxedos. 

Odd.

We walk inside and an associate comes by us smiling.

"Can I help you?"

I look at Mom and she speaks for both of us.

"We have been invited to a very special occassion-"

The lady cuts her off. "The Annual Ball! Of course it is this week isnt it? Right this way ladies." She says, smiling.

We follow her and Mom looks at me weirdly.

"So I guess its a pretty big deal around here, huh?" Mom asks.

The lady nods. "Oh yeah. Everyone knows about it, everyone loves to be apart of it, we hear so many stories, but only a select few actually get invited. Ive lived here ten years and never gotten invited. Oh well, maybe next year."

Mom looks back at me. I shrug. Its just a ball. I doubt they will be giving away money, though, these people here may just do something ridiculous like that... The associate stops and turns to us.

"So this is the Royal Collection. People usually dress up during the day of the Ball, even if they arent going, to feel special, but the ones who are invited get a free gown/tux and accessories from the Royal Collection." She says, sounding sad she didnt get invited.

Mom and I look at each other. Free clothes? Wow, what have we gotten invited to? Mom smiles.

"Free is always okay in my book! So we can pick from any of these dresses?"

She nods. "Yes! We will get your measurements and everything in case it needs to be tailored and we will hand you off with the designer to help you pick the perfect accessories and everything. Just so you know, a makeup artist will come to your house on Wednesday to go over some looks for the Ball and the hairstylist will be over Tuesday and Thursday to choose a hairstyle. Everything is basically done for you. They even send you a limo! Ive seen the whole process, with my sister." She looks down.

I touch a dress and look at the associate. "What happened to your sister? Did they give her a house and she moved to a nice part of town?"

She shrugs. "I have no idea. After the ball she just disappeared. She sent me a letter saying that she was off to bigger and better things and that everything she got at the ball was enough to get her on her track to the career path that she wanted. Funny, all she wanted to do was party before the ball. It does things to people. One lady does live in this nice house. She never leaves it though. I guess the ball makes people think theyre better than everyone else. I guess they are, they got invited."