Watch Me

Fake a Smile

The party thrown in Edie Webber's honour was the very definition of extravagant. Servers circled through the grand rooms, miniature desserts, and appetizers balanced on trays. Every famous, or respected figure in the city was in attendance. But Edie couldn't bring herself to make an entrance. As she stares at herself in the mirror, her face is a traitor. Her smile is too wide, fake. She couldn't shake the feeling of survivors guilt. Violet and Dominic were ripped away and Edie was at home. All dolled up for a party. Edie felt as though she should be out searching for them. But she couldn't do that unless she got through this party. So she got ready.

No one could ignore the fact that Edie was beautiful. Her skin glowed in the long dark red dress that clung to her curves. Jewels dancing on her collarbones showcased in a necklace that had been passed down through centuries of Webber children. Edie's dark brown hair, which was usually left to run down her shoulders, was pulled back in a half updo. But the most striking part about her was her eyes. They were an almost unnatural green. When she was born the doctor laughed, asking if they had plucked two emeralds straight from the mountains and placed them where her eyes ought to be.

Edie finally managed to ease her smile into something more natural. But it was interrupted by a frantic knock. As Edie opened the door a flushed Vivian entered the room. "Edie, there you are! This is your party, what on earth are you doing up here?" Before Edie could respond, Vivian was pulling her down away from her safe place and into the party.

As Edie descended the steps she could swear, just for a moment, she saw a familiar face. But she decided that it must be her mind playing tricks on her. She hadn't seen Dominic since his testing, and that was 3 years ago. But there was something about that stranger darting through the hallway that made her heart stutter the same way it used to. Dominic, Violet, and Edie grew up together. Every prim and proper society event suddenly became less dull when the three were together. When Dominic was sent away Edie felt it just as strongly as Violet, and now they were both gone.

Tomorrow Edie would discover what was behind the doors of those huge steel council buildings. She'd begin work for the council. Pimento Ridel, now wearing a lush purple suit bounded over to Edie as soon as he saw her. "Now isn't it the lady of the hour, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to arrive at all." Edie gave a polite nod and smile, "I could never miss it, we're in such great company." Pimento had a glint of something in his eye. Unreadable, Edie couldn't imagine how it must feel to be the Watched. Having their minds probed, no thought private. The Watchers had that privilege of privacy. His voice was a low, almost inaudible rumble when he spoke next. "You look absolutely ravishing tonight, but tomorrow the real work begins. I look forward to having you on the council." And then he walked away. Leaving Edie with a weird feeling in her stomach.

The party seemed to go on and on, and Edie was running out of conversation topics. One can only say thank you so many times or discuss the weather in Dontas for so long. Tomorrow would be a new day, but Edie wasn't sure if she could work for the council without Violet. When Dominic, Violet, and Edie were young they had planned to go to the council together. She had decided three years ago to go on with Violet. But now it was just her slated to step through the steel doors, and she didn't know what to expect.

As Edie walked the edge of the ballroom avoiding partygoers, a man caught her eye as he walked straight toward her. "Edie Webber, may I say you look beautiful?" A small girlish giggle escaped Edie's lips. Real. "You may, stranger." The man quite literally facepalmed as he looked into Edie's eyes. "Oh, sorry. My names Ivan. Thorn, its uh Ivan Thorn." His dorkish grin didn't quite belong on his masculine face, but it worked in his favour. There was a pause, only Ivan seemed to find it awkward as his dirty blonde hair rebelliously swung in front of his eyes. He swept it out of the way before jutting his hand outward towards Edie. "Do you wanna dance?" "I'd love to." Edie trilled placing her hand in his. The song was too fast for a slow dance, but they still made an attempt. Edie found herself not trying to smile anymore, it was real. At least until she placed her head on Ivan's shoulder and met a familiar set of eyes in the hall beyond. There was a pulse of what might have been jealousy, or longing in the man's eyes. But it disappeared with him as he vanished into the hallway. It had to be Dominic, but it couldn't be. Edie let the thought subside, she had to. So she danced with the handsome dorky blonde boy until the ballroom was near empty.

Their parting was just as awkward as their first meeting, but it left Edie with a smile on her face as she climbed into bed. That was before the nightmare came, the same nightmare she'd been having for years. But now instead of just Dominic being yanked off the stage, Violet was by his side, and like usual Edie was standing with the council in white watching. As Watchers do.