Lavenders green, lavenders blue (spot conlon love story)

Chapter 24- fall ball

Friday morning I woke up early.  Spot was gone selling. I hadn't sold papes in a long time because I usually sell in Manhattan but since jack and I aren't speaking right now I've just stopped selling.  I'll start back up soon though, have to make money somehow.  Anyway. I woke up early on Friday morning to head off to Ellie's. She always does my hair and makeup for the ball. I don't really love getting my makeup done but it always looks nice after. And I love when she does my hair because ellie has a fancy curler and everything.  She brushed out my waves hair and curled it and then brushed it out into waves again. I didn't really understand why she did that since my hair was already waved to begin with but she says it looks nice this way so I trust her.  Then she did a braid going around my head like a crown. For my makeup she does just a touch of mascara and blush.  Once I'm done she gets to work on her own hair and makeup.  

I  can't wait to put on my dress. I've been staring at it all week wanting to try it on, but holding myself back because every year ellie and I do a big reveal to each other where we don't try on dresses until the day of the ball.  This night is a big deal to me because it's the one night of the year where I get to dress nicely and go somewhere fancy.  It's something a lot of newsies don't get to do so I am very very lucky for ellie.  

Finally she gets done with her hair and makeup. She looks beautiful, much prettier than I do. I hope spot doesn't like her better because she's prettier than me. What a dumb thought, ellie has mush so no way spot will make a move.  Still, sometimes I feel silly standing next to ellie because she's so gorgeous all the time.  

It was just past 6 and ellie and I had been sitting in her room talking, ellie ducking out often to talk with her mother and get primped and other fancy things.  Then finally it was the time we had been waiting for.  I went to Ellie's bathroom to change into my dress and ellie stayed in her room and changed. It was part of the big reveal.  I put on my dress. It fit perfectly. It had long sleeves and ended just below my knee. It was tight fitting until it hit my waist and it flared into a skirt.  It was a beautiful light blue and matched my eyes perfectly,  there was a gorgeous white lace around the end of the sleeves near my wrists and at the bottom of the skirt. It was perfect. I was ready to go out and see Ellie's.  

Ellie's dress had a short sleeve that puffed a bit at the shoulders. It was purple and very pretty. When we saw each other we squealed and jumped up and down.  This is something I usually wouldn't do but hey, it's a special occasion.  

"Oh honey" ellie said "you look marvelous" 

"So da you!" I smiled a big ole smile.  

"If spot is not all over you I oughta kick him In the shins"  I giggled at Ellie's preposterous suggestion.  

"And the same from me to mush"  I did a little cutesy to ellie, who curtseyed back to me and then took my hands and we started dancing around the room which ended in us falling on the floor in fits of laughter.  It was now almost 7.

"I should probably get back ta da house an' make sure spots all ready"  I was extremely nervous for spot to see me in my dress. He had never seen me all dolled up before. What if he didn't like it.  No, addy, listen to yourself, so what if spot doesn't like it. You like it and that's all that matters. Even if he may be the most important boy in your life - even if he doesn't know it - you cannot let him rule how you think of yourself.  I left on my way to the lodging house with confidence.  

And yet. With all my confidence there I was. Standing at the door to spots room,  I had made it though all the stares from boys on my way up, can't chicken out now.  I opened the door and walked in spot was already in his suit and straightening his tie when I did.  He stopped at looked up at me.  His eyes widened and his mouth opened a little.  I smiled, a bit embarrased by his looks.