polaroids

| maybe this is goodbye |

'You look beautiful, Rue friend.'

Sienna said as she placed a palm on her shoulder blades. June glanced from the other corner. Rue could hardly believe it herself, but for once in her life, she was delighted by the sight of her own reflection in the mirror.

It had been a long afternoon the day before, with June dragging her to boutiques upon boutiques to find a decent dress to wear. Somewhere along the way, Sienna had joined them.

Now, she stood in front of the silvered glass.

Looking at herself.

Rue wore a pale blue dress, its bottom hemline brushing against her knees. Faint silver embroidery had been done all over the skirt and bodice in the form of branches with little flowers. The neckline and shoulders were made of a gauzy fabric and a thin white ribbon was used as a belt.

It was pretty.

'If you're done admiring yourself, may we leave?' June added, breaking her out of her thoughts.

June looked equally stunning. She wore a simple black dress, the same length as Rue's, with straps criss-crossing across her back. Sienna was dainty and graceful as ever, with a floor length rouge pink gown.

'Wait,' Rue replied pulling out her polaroid from a rather large purse. 'First, we need to take a photograph.'

'Photographs!' Sienna chimed in, getting in position next to Rue. June rolled her eyes and stood on Rue's right just as Sienna counted down. A film rolled out. Rue pulled it out and showed to to her companions, all three of them glad to see their cheerful faces captured in film.

'Now, come on you two!'

From the corner of the room, Tiramisu barked, almost as if Sienna's secret pet agreed with June.

'Sienna, how long are you going to keep him in here?'

She pouted.

'I'm taking him home over the holidays.'

The beagle walked over to June, licking her ankles. He'd taken a liking to her in particular. June sighed, bending down to pet him.

'Okay, buddy. Stay safe until we get back, alright?'

He barked in reply.

With that, they scrambled out into the open, surrounded by girls dressed in elegant attire. Some of the boys had come to accompany their partners. Rue wondered where Avery was.

'There they are,' Sienna added.

She turned around to see Avery, Tom and a third boy walking towards them, all decked up in crisp suits and ties. Somehow, even the most haphazardly dressed boys looked a bit more decent, now that they had put on their formal wear.

Avery wore a navy blue suit, so deep that you'd mistake it for black. His tie was crimson red, with his tumultuous mop of blue hair hanging over his head.

'Sup, sunshine.'

Rue broke out a smile.

'Hello. Shall we?'

He held out his arm for her to hold and she took it. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Sienna entangle hands with Tom and finally, June.

It had been a shocker for Rue when she had heard about who had asked June out; Eddie Carlton, one of most well known guys in the university. Known for both his high grades and angelic smile. Secretly, Rue knew that they had been harbouring some feelings for each other.

'They look good together don't they?' Avery whispered, reading her thoughts.

'I've been waiting for it to happen.'

With a shared laugh, they left for the main hall that had been cleared and decorated for the dance by the Design students (Sienna had told her this.) It looked stunning, with blue and white paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and faint blue and purple lights streaming inside the hall. Glittery orbs had been strung around with mistletoe leaves. It reminded her of a winter wonderland.

The music was faint.

Or maybe it was because the sound of her own heart blurred everything else out.

Avery placed a cautious hand on her back. Rue held onto his shoulders, going red in the face. She didn't know how else to react. He hadn't spoken to her for over two weeks again. And now, he was acting as if nothing ever happened. She didn't know what he was trying to imply.

'Avery,' she began in a soft voice, looking down at her own dress, 'How are you holding up?'

'I guess... better.'

'Then why haven't you spoken to me for two weeks?' She dared to look up as she said this. Again, that look of guilt and hurt flashed in his eyes for a second. But as always, he quickly covered it up.

'I wanted to catch up with everything. You know, exams and all. So that before I could reach out to you, I wasn't... I wasn't "that boy" who you found crying in his room.'

'You know you don't need to lie to me.'

'I'm not.'

'You're hiding something again.'

She felt his fingertips radiating the same coldness that she was directing towards him. She knew that she could be totally off. Maybe he was saying the truth. But that unsettling feeling was still bothering her.

'I don't want to tell you.'

He was blunt and he was harsh.

'Why?'

'Because for now, I just want to enjoy tonight. Let's not ruin it.'

She sucked in a sharp breath.

What did that mean?

'Give me a hint at least, don't leave me unprepared like... like last time.'

He looked hurt.

She regretted her words.

But he gave her what she wanted.

'Maybe this will be our goodbye, Rue Hawthorne.'

And Rue realised that she would have rather not asked him for a hint at all, if she knew that this was it.

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