Someone Hit the Mute Button

Chapter Three- Dancing Through Life

Chapter Three- Dancing Through Life

     The rest of the week wasn't quite as eventful as Monday was. I had expected to see Dustin hanging around, but the only time I ever saw him was in our only shared class, Chemstry, and we never got a chance to try and talk. Or maybe I was subconciously avoiding him...

     Guess what I had with me all day, every day, all week long? The pen. I didn't know why, but I felt like I couldn't just leave it laying around somewhere. That would have defeated the purpose of Dustin getting it for me. I can't believe I'm going to say it, but that would have made me feel awful. Like how I felt when he was asking people for a pen and I was going to ditch him...I couldn't do it.

     Anyway, it was Friday, and I had gotten out of school early again. This time, though, I had permission.

     I had to go home to get ready for a chairty Christmas Ball that my mother's law firm was having. Normally, I wouldn't even bother with anything like that, but mom's image was at stake here. Note the sarcasm. 

     In otherwords, I was being forced.

     I had to wear a dress. I had to do my hair all fancy. I had to wear lots of makeup. I had to wear heels. I had to carry a clutch. I had to be polite. I had to look cheerful.

     I had to be everything I wasn't for a night.

     On top of that, I had to figure out a miraculous way to cover up the scratch on my forehead. Makeup would probably do the trick, but I couldn't be bothered with that at the moment. I actually, I couldn't be bothered with anything at the moment.

     I sat on my bed, cuddling Violet in my lap, delaying getting ready for as long as I could. April would be coming in to do my hair and makeup, without a doubt, so I knew my time was minimal. She'd barge right in without knocking, and she'd yell at me for not already being dressed. I had showered an hour ago, so at least that was one less thing to do.

     April and I had agreed a long, long time ago that she'd help me get ready for any event like this. Prom, graduation, Christmas dances, the whole nine yards. I was probably around nine or ten when we made this promise.

     It was going to be kind of weird, actually, going to this charity thing. Last time anyone there had seen me, I could actually talk to them. I'm sure they know what happened. After all, this is Lee Valley. This place is so small, well...let's just say, if you brush your teeth with the wrong hand, someone will know.

    I heard a soft tap at my door, and April ever so slowly poked her head inside. I wasn't really surprised, but there was no point in trying to stop her. I motioned her inside with a blank face.

     "What haven't you started getting ready yet?" She groaned. She was already completely done up, minus a dress. Her hair was falling in gentle curls down to the middle of her back, and her blue eyes sparkled, highlighted by her perfect use of makeup. There was nothing alike about us at all. She and Aria could have been twins with their platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and I was the oddball, with regular old auburn hair and eyes that were so dark they were almost black. They weren't a dark brown, though. They were a dark blue. Weird, right? As of late, though, they were usually lifeless and empty. Even I saw it when I looked in the mirrior.

     I shrugged in response to her question.

     "Show me what your dress looks like," She commanded, having taken full control of the situation.  Not that I minded. I'd rather listen to her bossy instruction than do it all myself.

     I stood up and headed for my closet, pulling out the dress that mom had picked out for me a few weeks ago. Of course, I had no say in the matter, so it was much to fancy for my tastes, but I had no choice but to wear it.