"Welcome, welcome!"
"Hello!"
"–All the refugees of 2701!"
A civil greeting staff waits hungrily by the door.
Civils stand with trays next to the refreshment table. The round plump ginger woman from the receptionist's desk in the municipal building hustles toward us.
"Evelyn, William." Reggie nods between us –seeping with sheer admiration.
The refugees are ushered onto a low rectangular platform with an ivory backdrop. It's not complicated to spot the quirky Harvey Galvin busy at work arranging a group shot for the refugees and their escorts.
"Garner Fynn, if you please, this way," instructs Mr. Galvin, eying Riley and directing him away from Gwyn.
William and I are placed in the center like some sort of focal point. After a few snaps, Charlotte charges into the room and demands the refugees be returned to the party.
"You look stunning, Evelyn. Oh, I'm sorry, beg your pardon. Tonight you are Miss Katton," she coos. "William, doesn't Miss Katton look positively stunning?"
"Miss Katton, you look positively breathtaking." William bows his head.
I shift awkwardly between us, balancing my attempts to mask my smile and forget his flattering remark. I can't help but roll my eyes.
"Thank you," I say.
"And..." William trails off, waiting. "Don't you have something to say to me?"
"I already said thank you." I quip. "What more do you want?"
"Hey! There you are!" Nic strides toward us carrying an obtuse pine tree.
"This one's just fallen over. The first of many." He holds up the silvered evergreen. "You two look great by the way. Good job Will."
I squirm in my dress as my face adopts a scarlet shade of red.
"Of course they do!" Charlotte agrees. "Here, let me help you. I've stored all the extra decorations in the back room." Charlotte takes the tree and leads Nic down the corridor.
"I believe there's this sort of party thing we have to get to." William extends his hand. I oblige.
We pass a band of civils –each carrying trays of hors d'oeuvres and sparkling crystal champagne glasses.
"Miss, care for a bubbly?" A freckled man holds up a tray of drinks.
"Thank you." William swipes two glasses from the silver plate and places one in my hand.
"A toast..." He raises his glass and narrows his eyes. "To the night. And to you, Miss Katton."
"To the night. And to you, Garner James." I can't help but think my voice sounds a bit like Teho's.
I raise my glass to his and a clink resonates between us. I sip the sweet sugary champagne, allowing the tart carbonation to tingle my lips.
"Charlotte's holiday elixir. Should ease your nerves for the night." William watches as I drain my glass.
"In that case, let's have another."
YOU ARE READING
ARRIVAL (ERA 1)
FantasyWhat if time chose you? After a tragic and untimely accident, young Evelyn arrives in an afterlife unlike anything she could have imagined. The year is 2701, in a distant land once known as the continent of North America. It is a land for fairytales...
