The Clash, Book One

Chapter 15: Masquerade, Part D

Hyperion Heights, Present Day

Little did Alena know that her true love was standing across the room from her.

Unfortunately, like the rest of the population of Hyperion Heights, Jack was cursed. He believed he was a lawyer named Nick Branson.

Just then, Nick was making his way to the refreshment table, where Alena was still lost in thought.

The blonde was blocking the punch bowl, and Nick tapped her shoulder to get her attention.

She jumped before she looked at him. He then apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Oh, it's fine," Alena assured him. She then asked him, "Did you, uh, need something?"

Nick chuckled lightly before he told her, "Uh, yeah. Some punch."

The blonde then glanced around and realized that she was standing in front of the punch bowl. She shook her head at herself before she spoke, "And I'm just in the way. I'm sorry."

She then stepped to the side. As Nick grabbed a glass and ladled the drink, he reassured her, "Don't even worry about it. You were just enjoying the dancing."

"Yeah, I was. I have been looking forward to the ball," Alena conceded with a small smile. Thankfully, she had mastered the art of living in this town.

Nick hummed in response before he told her, "It has been pretty great. Better than I originally thought."

He then leaned back against the table and took a sip of his punch. He then looked at Alena and asked, "Can I, uh, ask you something?"

The blonde hesitated for a moment before she nodded in response. Nick then spoke, "Why aren't you dancing?"

Alena thought over his words before she just answered honestly: "I really don't know," with a chuckle.

Nick chuckled as well before he told her, "Well, at least you're honest."

The blonde took a sip of punch before she observed, "It is pretty ridiculous to come to a ball and not dance."

Nick then suggested, "I think we can fix that. Maybe we can dance - you know, just for the heck of it," as he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

Alena tilted her head before she told him, "How about I finish my punch, and I'll get back to you on that?"

He nodded in response before he headed back across the room.

Alena then thought about the offer. She really did want to dance, and this guy seemed nice enough.

She furrowed her brows when she realized that she didn't know his name.

Her mind then wandered to Jack. He had been the last person she had danced with, and she wasn't sure about dancing with someone else. She didn't know if she could do that to him.

And as soon as that thought crossed her mind, she was confronted with reality. It was just a dance. A simple, meaningless dance that was, how had he put it? Ah, just for the heck of it. Just for fun.

Even though Jack was cursed somewhere in this town, and he wouldn't even recognize her if he saw her, Alena's heart belonged to him. Nothing would ever change that.

Just as she was about to make her way over to this mystery dance partner, she heard someone calling her name and walking toward her.

Alena raised her eyebrows at said person, and he explained, "It's me, Henry."