Spellbound [COMPLETED]

Chapter 7 Welcomes and Presentation

It was great seeing mom again. She had been away almost half a year. She was traveling, expanding her company as well as doing charity work. As much as I love that she's making the world a better place, it's great to have her home.

She has my brown eyes, short, wavy hair that ends at her shoulders, tan-ish skin, and an average figure. She's wearing a business skirt and jacket with a buttoned red shirt, black pumps and a warming smile.

We hugged, she hugged Ryan, greeted/welcomed her, and sat for an hour or two catching up.

"Oh my! Thank God your father's still alive. Thank God you're still alive," she said, panicked and relieved.

"Don't worry about it mom. I'm tough, and dad's tougher."

"Not to mention that she's got a night in shining armor ready to take a bullet for her," Ryan added haughtily.

"Ah yes, your father told me about your little date. So who is he? Tell me all about him," mom said, waving her hands; her eyes glowing with excitement.

"Mom. Please don't turn into that parent."

"At least tell me his name."

I sighed.

"His name is Ben. He's new in town."

"That's nice, I'm sure you'll have a great time. But more on that tomorrow, it's getting late. You girls should be in bed. And Ryan, are you sure you're allowed to sleep over on a school night?"

"This is basically my second home."
Mom and Ryan smiled at each other then we all group hugged goodnight.

• • •

"I'm so excited for tomorrow Ben."

"Me too, I'm so glad you could come. My sister wasn't sure if we'd get permission from her boss," I explained to Ana.

"Why? Is it exclusive?"

"Something like that," I tried to find the words, "Only people in their particular circle can come. We get early access and, uh, the public gets to see it next month or so."

"Cool, so can I bring friends or is it just me and you that can go?"

"Just us and my sister since she works there."

"Kind of like our own place to get away from everyone."

"Yeah," I said. She smiled at the thought. Just us. Wow.

"There's something else. I want you to know that it's a safe place. You don't have to worry about anyone thinking you're different or anything like that. You can do whatever you feel comfortable doing."

Ana gave me an I-think-your-crazy look. Then she looked down, smiled and looked back up at me.

"That's comforting to know. But I've gotten pretty use to feeling out of place. In fact, I am most of the time. But I've become pretty good at hiding it."

"But that's what I'm saying, you don't have to hide anymore."

"How would you know?"

"I just know."

She looked down at her textbook and we continued our homework in silence.
This went on for a while. My house was quiet, tranquil. It was a strange thing, Carly not being home. She and Ana haven't even meet yet. She's been gone all day at the Brew, helping set up for tomorrow. Hopefully, everything will work out the way it should.

• • •

I stare up at the ceiling, absent mindedly, wondering about what Ben said yesterday. You don't have to hide anymore. I knew he meant to come off as comforting, but a bigger reason lingered behind it, behind what he said. It seemed as if he knew. Like he knew everything I've been through.

A knock on the door struck me out of my reverie. I checked the time; 4:30.

Ben's gonna pick me up in less than three hours and I have nothing to wear!

"Come in."

Mom stuck her head through the ajar door.

"Hey kiddo."

"Hi mom," I turned my head to her and smiled.

"Something wrong, you look worried, hun."

I sat up from my bed and put my head in my hands in frustration.

"I have nothing to wear! And The Brew's opening is in less than two hours," I said looking up at her.
She pushed the door and walked in with a sly smile.

"What? Do you want me to look horrible in front of Ben on our first date, during a big event in front of the whole town?"

"Now if I wanted that, would I have gotten you this?"

She showed me a bag that she was hiding behind her back. I looked at her stunned, took the bag and looked inside.

I took out a beautiful, strapless white dress with a heart shaped neckline. Simple, yet stunning.

"Oh my God, mom, it's beautiful. Thank you so much."

"It's my coming home present to you. Just don't let anyone get you out of it."

"Mom!"

"What? Mother's instinct," she smiled.

"I won't."

I give her a hug, and she leaves me to get ready.

I changed into above-the-knee, see-through white stockings with matching underwear. And of course, the dress.

Then I went to my vanity and sprayed some Dior perfume, put some neutral eyeshadow, brown eyeliner, and red lipstick on; I curled my hair about half way down to my shoulders then combed it out.

Now for the shoes. I had to think about this. I usually wear my black pumps to special events, but this is a date. And heels aren't usually my style on dates. Then again, Ben is like 6'1", so I'd be as tall as him. I decided on my three-inch, black platforms.

I looked at myself in the mirror, but instead, I saw a glamorous, other-worldly person. She embodied a neat mixture of Marilyn Monroe's style with Audrey Hepburn's features scattered on her body. Yet there were some parts that were unique and all her own. She was a beauty that was set apart from my everyday reflection.

I no longer felt like tonight would be so bad. Like it would become a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, I found myself at peace. I wouldn't go as far as to say I was calm, but I'm pretty sane for now. But I still had this feeling that something was going to happen. Not something bad, but something life-changing. I could be crazy, but I feel like that pretty much all the time.

"Ana! Ben's here!" Mom called from downstairs.

Woah, time went by fast. I grab my black bag and walk downstairs.

As I approached the doorway, I saw Ben. He looked dashing in a black suit with a white t-shirt underneath. No tie, just a two-unbuttoned parting in the middle of his shirt, which had slightly shown his chest.

"Wow. Umm, I, uh . . . Just . . . Wow."

"Well hello to you to Ben," I gave him a playful smile. He smiled back and looked down, then looked back up at me.

"Hi. I'm sorry, it's just that you look so-"

"Wow."

He chuckled.

"Yes, you look very 'Wow' Ana. Shall we go?"

"Yeah. Let's go," I said. Then I wrote mom and dad a note and we left for the Brew's grand opening. My first big event. This should be interesting.