Aurora (#1)

t w e n t y - t w o

It was the pale blue dress I had seen the day before. I didn't know who had bought it but all I wanted to do was hug them. Gently I lifted the dress out the box and smiled brightly at it.

"Where did they get this? This dress is so beautiful." Felicity said in awe.

"It's definitely custom made. Or one of a kind." Jess said.

"Do you have any idea who might have sent it?" Felicity asked.

"No." I managed to say.

"Whoever sent it has good taste in both dresses and women." Jess grinned slyly. I blushed as I hung the dress up.

"Now that we all have our dresses we can start getting ready." Felicity said as she wheeled the rack back into her wardrobe. "Shall we get started?"

I nodded and immediately Jess dialled a number on her phone. "Yes, we're ready." Whoever she called was obviously very efficient because ten minutes later three people walked through the door, two men and one woman.

"Introductions first. This is Jean-Pierre, Nicolas and Justine. They will be our stylists today. They're going to pretty us up for the ball tonight." Jess said.

I was assigned to Jean-Pierre, a tall Frenchman with an eccentric dress style and a flamboyant personality. He wore the stereotypical beret and a bright orange waistcoat, under which he wore an aqua blue, printed, collared shirt and a yellow polka dotted bow tie. On his legs he wore a pair of green corduroy knee length shorts and white knee highs. He wore a pair of brown leather ankle boots. He was definitely quirky.

The three of us were pampered from head to toe, from foot massages to facials and painted fingernails. My body felt alive for the first time in a long time and my mind felt refreshed. We spent the whole afternoon in bathrobes, listening to loud music and eating healthy food like carrot sticks and hummus. "So that we don't look bloated." Felicity had explained to us.

We had three hours left and our stylists had started to become more serious in their work. We were seated in identical, soft chairs where only our lower backs were supported. The Frenchmen, and woman, had laid out all the instruments they needed on table beside them and they began working on our hair.

"Vous avez si beaux cheveux," Pierre murmured. You have such beautiful hair.

I just smiled because I didn't understand what he had said.

"I'm so excited for tonight." Jess squealed.

"Me too. And the after party is going to be awesome." Felicity added.

"Yeah." I simply said.

"I know you haven't come before but trust me its a going to be a fun night." Felicity told me.

"This is my first time going. I usually stay at home and read or something. Plus I didn't have a date and I didn't want to go with my parents." Jess told us.

"Aw Jess it'll be the best first Governor's ball ever." Felicity promised. I grinned at my friends as they gushed about the hottest guys attending.

"You do realise both of you have dates." I told then pointedly.

"Doesn't mean we can't ogle at some eye candy." Felicity and Jess giggled. I smiled and rolled my eyes. I closed eyes as Pierre massaged my head, relieving the knots that had formed in my neck and forehead.

He then straightened my curly hair before curling it again. But instead of the mop I normally had, he had created soft bouncy curls that trailed down my back. After what seemed like days my hair was done and he was working on my make up. None of us were allowed to see the mirror until we were completely ready so I didn't know if I looked like a clown or a princess. I hoped it was the latter.