The Girls from Downstairs

Twenty-Five: To Propose... A Ball!

Second to last chapter. Enjoy!

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Harlow and Jinx burst into my room, aggravated by excited looks splashed across their faces. I managed to climb out of bed before they began explaining why they looked that way.

“We went to talk to Mother Klara again,” Harlow began.

“But she wasn’t there, of course. The Great Griffin said she was busy preparing something,” Jinx interrupted.

“And because of that we’re going to have to wait to talk to her for another day, again!” Harlow continued.

“What is she planning that’s so important?” I asked.

“A ball!” they answered. That excited look took over. I knew they liked these big, formal events, but I’d never cared for the much. Prom was a huge disappointment for me back in Reality, especially when I realized I couldn’t’ dance and Brock was amazing at it.

“A... ball?” I repeated.

Harlow and Jinx nodded. “Yes. A ball.”

“This is why she’s been avoiding us? To sleep and planning a ball?!?” I exclaimed.

“She told us about this before!”

“But, I don’t know how to dance!” I exclaimed.

“That’s okay. I know Felix does and you’re short enough to stand on his toes,” Jinx shrugged.

“Stand on his...? That’s something you do with your father, not something you do with the person you lo...” I stopped talking. Harlow and Jinx were grinning at me.

“You were just about to admit it, weren’t you?”

“What are you talking about? I didn’t say anything!” I pointed to the dresser and vanity to my right. “Are we going to get ready or what? If I remember correctly, balls are a formal event.”

“Oh, we’re going to look so beautiful! Like Cinderella at her famous first ball where she met King Dack!” Harlow gushed. She’d been extremely happy these past few days. I don’t blame her; Adrian had been a sweetheart this whole time. Then, what she said clicked in my head.

I stared at her. “Dack? That’s his first name? Dack Charming?”

She nodded, face serious. “Yes. And his brother, Rupert is married to Snow White.”

“Rupert? Dack and Rupert?”

They stared at me like I was the weird one. It was no wonder Walt Disney choose to leave them nameless... Dack and Rupert? I mean, come on!

***

I walked into the room with Harlow and Jinx flanking me. The room went silent, the hush lasting for only a moment. Felix and Adrian made their way over to us, Adrian not looking too happy. Felix, however, was grinning.

“You look amazing,” he complimented.

I fixed my dress again. “It’s really hard to breathe in this, just so you know. And don’t expect me to dance. I can’t dance.”

He smirked. “I expected you to say something like that. Come, we’ll work it out.”

He led me to the dance floor, despite my objections. He raised a hand to the band and they switched to some sort of waltz. Felix placed one hand on my waist and grabbed my right hand with his other. One small movement, and I was pressed against his chest, my tiny feet placed on his. Then he began to dance - and it was beautiful! The way we glided across the floor, our bodies smoothly cutting between the other couples. My hair whipped around my laughing face as he eased through the crowd again and again, spinning us around like it was nothing.