Above

25

Estelle
Annaliesee never lowballs anything, parties included.
Ned and Melissa's reception included. She'd strug fancy lights around the old barn, bringing in a few tables from the school's cafeteria, covering them with white table cloths. The centerpieces were white lilies and roses surrounded with baby breath. She bought a CD from an antique store which played classical music over and over, so people could dance. She hired caterers to cook but then ordered them to leave, and she bought Irish whiskey for Ned, just to make it feel a little like home.
Annaliesee made Melissa's dress too. A loose-fitting white maxi-dress with lace long sleeves.
She made my dress as well, a blue cocktail dress patterned with daisies. 
"Estelle!" Wrenton says, from outside my bedroom door.
I turn from my mirror. "Yes!?"
"We're going to be late!" He yells.
I sigh, and look at myself in the mirror.
I had applied a natural makeup look with a pop of red lipstick, and I had tossed my hair up into an elegant bun. "Just a moment!"
He groans, something thudding against the door.
I slip on black flats, before opening the door. "Hey."
Wrenton wore a Maroon top, half-unbuttoned, along with black jeans.
We look ironically unmatching, it's almost funny.
"You look cute." He says, shortly. "No heels?"
"I don't need a broken ankle." I reply.
He shrugs. "Lets just get to the reception."
I nod. "Okay."
***
September snaps a photo of us on his old school Polaroid camera. "You look great."
"Thanks kiddo." I say, smiling.
Wrenton parts from me and walks somewhere.
I look at the place cards, finding my name and sitting down.
Two hands cover my eyes. "Guess who?"
"Hi Luca." I say.
He sits next to me, regardless of the place cards. "You look pretty." I grin softly. "I try."
"Anyway, how are you feeling?" He asks.
"Wrenton's being a dick, but other than that I'm pretty happy." I reply.
He smiles. "That's good."
"How about you, Luca?" I ask.
He smiles wider, if thats possible. "I'm having a good time."
I nod. "That's great."
"Ellis is so cute, I love him." Luca says. "He looks like a baby Ned, and he almost never cries."
"Really?" I ask.
He nods. "He's not even scared of me, which his amazing, considering this." He holds up his scaly arm.
"I'm not scared of you, Luca." I pat his shoulder. "In fact, I think your lizard arm is really cool."
"Thanks." He beams, looking away from me. "Felicity is beckoning me, I must go."
"Bye, Lucarth!" I call.
He turns back. "Shut up!"
I laugh, fiddling with my place card.
A gaggle of people were attempting to slow dance, which really look like a bunch of tipsy penguins.
"Estelle." A voice breathes from behind me.
I turn and see Leeciy and Cirus. "Where's Gabrie?"
He shrugs. "I think she's over me."
"Thats nice." I stand and walk over toward him.
"You look absolutely breathtaking." He smirks.
Cirus grins. "You look like a princess."
"You're a princess, Cirus." I correct.
She grins, then I notice it.
I grip her chin. "Did you lose a tooth?"
She smiles proudly and nods. "This morning."
"I told her about the Teeth Pixie." Leeciy says.
"The Teeth Pixie?" I raise a brow.
He nods. "Y'know the pixie that takes your teeth and leaves money."
"That's the Tooth Fairy, I don't think anyone would want to lose teeth if it were called the Teeth Pixie." I say.
Cirus pulls at my dress. "Estelle?"
I look down at her. "Yes?"
"Wanna dance with me?"
I chuckle. "Of course."
***
Cirus stands on my feet, her shoes discarded somewhere, and clings on to my waist.
My arms go over her shoulders and to the top of her back.
The people around us make sure to not knock us, as we weren't the most sturdy people.
"Can you dip me?" She asks.
I nod and do the best dip I can do, which isn't very good, and a few people laugh, making Cirus herself giggle.
"I'm having fun." She notes. "Are you?"
I nod. "You're very entertaining."
"I get that a lot." She replies. "I don't even know what it means."
"It means you make people laugh." I say. "And not bored."
She nods. "That's a pretty good description of me."
"I agree." I smile.
She sighs. "Also, I don't want you to be weird to my dad because the whole mark dealio yesterday." She says. "I'll be angry, and when I'm angry I drive people insane. You're not safe just because I like you."
My eyes widen.
"I see Hetij and Eura, and I have yet to meet them." Cirus says. "So, toodles."
I watch gaping while she walks off.
"What did she say?" Ned says from behind me. "I think you just got threatened by an eight year old."
"I think so, too." I spin to look at him. "Congratulations, Melissa's awesome."
"I know, rumor has it, I married her." He nods.
"I heard about that, is it true?" I ask.
He shrugs. "Probably. Anyway, thanks for coming, I'll see you around." He walks away.
I make my way back to my table, where Titanios and Mareena stand, Raheel at their feet, both looking shocked.
"Hey, what's up?" I ask, approaching, being cautious of Raheel.
"Estelle, we have news." Titanios says, touching my arm. "It's important."
"Can't you tell me here?" I ask, cocking my head.
I hear a throat clear from behind me.
"Old Man, I suggest you get your hand off my date before I have to force it off." Wrenton threatens from behind me.
I turn my head so I can see him in my peripheral. "Wrenton, it's fine."
"I don't know if sucking souls is some type of unknown kink of yours, Estelle, but I don't think you should practice it at the reception of your friends."
I roll my eyes. "Wrenton, just go away."
His hand finds its way to my shoulder, yanking me backwards. "We're leaving."
"Estelle." Titanios starts. "It's about your sister."