Once a Princess, always a Princess

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Preparations for the Christmas ball had begun. Invites to the rich esteemed guests had been sent and the large elaborate ballroom had started to be decorated with all manner of things such as ribbons and streamers. Large round tables were scattered around the edge leaving a dance floor in the middle with a stage at the front for a classical ensemble. Maids and caterers dashed around like headless chickens setting this table and that, with a white or red table cloth lined with gold –in the Christmas theme. A huge Christmas tree decorated in similar colours was in the corner, near the stage, and it was so tall a crane lift was needed to reach the top branches, not overly elaborate at all. The room was filled with chaos, my mother at the centre of it, firing out orders in her snobby high pitched voice.

“Oi you, maid, that glass is too far from the plate!”

“No Derek, I wanted rouge red not crimson red for the napkins!” To me though, there was no difference, I was sent down here to choose which one I liked the most and I laughed in the face of the shocked maid who had asked me. I sobered up once I realised she wasn’t joking and picked the one nearest me which happened to be rouge.

I sighed, the whole occasion was blown out of proportion and too much money was spent, money that could have been given to the needy, those who wouldn’t even have somewhere to sleep at Christmas. I admit the Ballroom looked amazing, but for me the colour scheme was too rigid and the room too pristine. Christmas was meant to be filled with all varieties of green and reds, not just a specific type, and then there were the presents rapped haphazardly in odd paper. Of course I had never witnessed these first hand, but I knew how it as meant to be from movies and books. The warmth found in the picture perfect postcards depicting a family all sat by the fire on Christmas was replaced here by a snobby need for perfection and status. That’s why over time I had come to hate this time of year, with the fake smiles and air hugs, and it is the reason for my resistance to the ball. It’s just an event to show of class and wealth.

The ball is to be held in a week’s time, one week before Christmas day and though I fight and argue, saying I’m not going, I know in the end I will have to, I have to make my first public dance with Xavier, another unnecessary procedure.

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That week at school past quickly, mainly filled with talk of Stacia’s annual Christmas party, the one in which everyone was invited to, the social setting for the next school year. If you didn’t show you were deemed a loser, an outcast, whether you were head cheerleader or not. It was a chance for the nerds to gain social status. Of course these were just the rumours, rumours taken very seriously by the Stacia wannabe’s but in my case I only wished that’s what they were. The party was being held the same day as the Christmas ball, making it even more impossible than it already was for me to be there. This would be the same problem for Xavier except he would probably find a way to sneak out by midnight, it’s not like he’s banned from parties in the first place.

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Standing outside Bella’s front door my but froze off as the once warm autumn weather had turned chilly. Xavier was stood next to me, his hands shoved deep inside his trouser pockets, his breath visible on the cold night air. It was now only two days before the dreaded ball and we hadn’t spoken a word since the shouting incident in the school corridor, a tense atmosphere was between us. I lifted my hand and rang the bell. Shuffling was heard from inside and soon the door swung open to reveal Bella clad in a cute red Christmas dress similar to the one I was wearing.

“Love the dress!” We both shouted at one another simultaneously. We grinned at each other and then giggled.

Two more figures appeared behind Bella.

“Well don’t just leave them stood in the cold Bells, where are your manners pumpkin?” I smiled at the affectionate named and stifled a giggle at the quite groan I heard from Bella.

Bella rolled her eyes before ushering us in. “Come in, come in! Before my dad says anything else embarrassing.” She said mumbling the last part.

 I chuckled and stepped over the threshold into the warm entrance hall, mouth-watering smells drifted from the direction of what I presumed was the kitchen where there would be a roast cooking. Streamers were hung along the ceiling and a wreath adorned the door. As my wide eyes darted around, taking in the warmth and cosiness of the house I was grabbed into a warm hug by Bella’s mother, Eleanor. At first I was shocked, though soon I returned the embrace, enjoying the nice sensation it brought, having never been hugged by my mother like that.

“Nice to see you again Adonnia.” She beamed at me.

“You too.” I shot back before turning to what I presumed was Bella’s dad.

He held his hand out to me and shook mine in a hearty embrace. “Hello there Adonnia, it’s good to meet you, sorry for my daughters bad manners.” He joked, a twinkle in his eye.

I laughed but brushed it off. “Don’t worry about us Mr Stevenson.”

“Paul.” He corrected, giving me what he probably hoped was a stern look, though the warm features of his face softened his gaze.

I smiled before passing over a Christmas bag to Eleanor, a box to Paul and another bag to Bella.

“Merry Christmas.” I said cheerfully, I was still dreading having Xavier here, however, the bright smiles on the Stevenson’s faces was enough to make me forget about the awkwardness between us.

“Oh love you didn’t have to.” Paul insisted, though I could tell he was curious about the contents of the little wrapped box.

“Of course we did.” It was the first I had heard of his silk voice since the fight, apart from his quick murmur of ‘hello’ when he was squashed into a hug by Eleanor and gave a manly fist pump to Paul. I slight shiver ran down my spine, I immediately put the freezing temperatures to blame.

“Well let’s not stand out here all night, come through, come through, the turkey is almost almost ready.” Eleanor said leading us through to the dining room.

Although we had initially been invited to tea, we decided to do a Christmas meal instead, what with it being so close to Christmas. All five of us filed through to the dining room, decorated with homemade decorations and candles. I and Xavier lagged behind due to my curiosity of their home and Xavier took this opportunity to speak to me while the Stevenson’s were out of earshot.

“I’m surprised you managed the weight of carrying those presents.” His cold voice echoed behind me, a stark contrast to the earlier warm words he had spoken. A pang of pain shot through my chest that the cold words were only for me and I knew that he was metaphorically speaking of the duties I couldn’t handle.

I stopped and turned to look at him, confused by his sudden change in demeanour. A hard glance was shot my way before he walked into the dining room behind Bella.

I stood frozen and upset for a moment  before I managed to get myself together and enter the joy filled room ahead of me.

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The Christmas feast was like how I imagined it was meant to be. We pulled crackers and laughed over the silly jokes that were inside, we all wore the flimsy hats and the food tasted as good as it smelled. The whole room was abuzz with joy and happiness. After we were full to the brim with sprouts and then Christmas pudding we moved into the living room and shared more laughter over a game of Pictionary. Xavier joined in too, though his bright smiles were never directed towards me, but at least it was a small mercy that he wasn’t being hostile towards the Stevenson’s, he wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about coming in the first place.

As we waved our good byes at the door, a sense of depression washed over me, my Christmas was going to be nothing like what I had just enjoyed. With that thought in mind I rather reluctantly climbed into the limo that was waiting patiently on the Stevenson’s driveway. The ride home was predictably silent, the only noise coming from the busy traffic around us. As we neared the palace dread began to creep into me at the thought of the ball. All that stood in the way of said ball and I was the final day of school before we broke up for the Christmas holidays. Only one final day to come up with an excuse for not attending.

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