Falling from the Top

Chapter 32

I peered at myself in the mirror. I flattened my dress for the hundredth time since I'd slipped it on. I analyzed my clothing once again. I wore a dark blue dress that was tightly wrapped around my torso and flowy around my legs. I had added a pair of plain tights and dark blue high-heeled shoes. On my finger, I wore Etienne's ring. Something was missing, something like a necklace.

I turned to my coiffeuse and looked at the two necklace boxes that were sitting on it. I brushed my hand over Etienne's velvet box, hesitating. I pushed it away and grabbed the other one. It was a present from my mother: a simple silver chain with a simple, silver long pendant.

Someone knocked on my door. Alice's head popped in. "Can I?" I nodded and asked her to help me put on my necklace. "You look beautiful. Are you okay?"

I gave her a skeptical look. "Yes. Why?"

She looked at my reflection in the mirror. She stood behind me, her hands clearly struggling with the clasp. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but I know what Etienne means, or meant, to you. It mustn't be easy."

I waved it off. "It's nothing. Who told you?"

She shrugged and moved to my side. "No one. I am just a good observer."

I put my arm around her shoulder, noticing her clothes. She wore a decolleté white shirt with a pair of black high-waisted jeans. "I am okay. I promise. It's just weird to see him. Besides, I have your brother now. He's equally important to me."

She pretended to believe me. "Okay. Now, let me do your hair."

She braided it in a nice french braid that hung loosely on my shoulder. "Thank you."

She opened my bedroom door and exited the room. "I am glad I have you. Loic never let me braid his hair."

I laughed.

*(-.-)*

The building that Amber had selected for her "New Year Party" was a simple three-floor building. The outside was made of stone and resembled pretty much a French Hôtel de Ville. From where I stood, the windows were erupting with colors on all three floors. Ava pushed the heavy door and instantly, we were engulfed by the music. 

It was dark but light enough for people to see who they were talking to. Many colored lights whirled around the room, illuminating someone's face before quickly shifting away. I left my coat at the entrance and was led by Loic to the cocktail table. A banderol said HAPPY NEW YEAR in shaky letters. 

There were mainly young people, probably students from the area, and a few older ones but that looked like they never actually got out of their college years. I spotted a few persons I used to know but no one worth the hassle. I took a sip of my drink that Loic had just poured and looked around for Jelena. She was supposed to arrive with Paul a bit later, but since we had been half an hour late on our schedule because Jamie couldn't find the perfect bowtie and Ava had insisted on us taking all the same car.

We moved to the dancefloor, which wasn't big enough to be called as such. Loic laughed when I demonstrated my best move, which consisted of swaying my arms in the air like a seaweed. Pathetic, I know. Suddenly, I was pulled back by the arm and met by Ava's clearly worried face. 

"What is it?" I ask, slightly irritated.

"Allie's here," Alice said, peeking her head from behind Ava's shoulder.

I shrug. "So? It's not like I hold her so-very-dear in my heart," I tried to turn back but Ava's hand, held on.

"She's not alone," she simply whispered to me. It wasn't even a murmur, but more as if she'd mouthed the words and I simply had made them up in my head. I pulled my arm free.